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I was induced at 39+1 with my second. My OB recommended it because baby was consistently measuring big. Thank goodness I did. She came out weighing 10lbs 7oz, and her shoulders got stuck. Labor went very smoothly (12 hours and I slept through a good portion), but delivering that big of a baby was kind of traumatic! If I had waited to go into labor she could have been 11 pounds.
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@Mrs. Pickle: Oh wow! That's what my OB is most concerned about-- the shoulders getting stuck. How much did your first LO weigh?
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@crazydoglady: you should be able to delay pitocin if you want to! There are lots of induction tools and that’s just the default. I didn’t end up needing it for my induction but we tried several other things first since I wanted to stay off the iv if/until I had an epi.
Just wanted to chime in also - two of my three had shoulder dystocia, but those two came fairly easily with maneuvers (first time they did something by hand, second I just flipped onto hands and knees, but I did have the advantage of no epi to easy to do so). Those babies were 8lb 9oz and 9lb 13oz. This one with the induction and epi did not get stuck at all and she was 8lb 15oz! So you really never know. It did seem like from growth scans she was likely to be in the 8lb range but if I hadn’t induced probably would have been 9+.
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With my first I had pitocin due to my water breaking at 39+5, it went fine. I had my epidural early and delivered a baby that was 9lbs 1oz, I had a third degree tear and he did come out battered, he got stuck a few times. Recovery was ok but looking back much worse, I tend to just power through things. I stressed before my water broke since the baby was measuring big.
With my second I continued to measure big but hospital policy is not to induce until 41 weeks unless there was a health reason. We were both healthy so I put it out of my mind, I went into labor naturally at 40+4 and labored af home (much longer than I intended to since I wanted to make sure I was in labor 🤷♀️). My second was 9lbs 9oz and delivery was much easier as was recovery, I did not tear as bad and just generally felt better.
Neither of my experiences were terribly traumatic but the second was definitely much smoother and I do credit that with going into labor naturally. I will say that I have utmost trust in my ob, he is a sole practioner and delivers 95% of his patients each year, if I did not have that confidence in him it would have been a different story. My birth plan is always healthy baby and healthy mom, however that needs to be (induction or c section). Best of luck and follow your gut!
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@bhbee: That's very helpful! I am most afraid of the pitocin. At it's highest level, the pit was at 18...I am so afraid of doing that again with a failed epi. I am going to talk to my doctor about trying different things before going to pit. With my first, I took cytotec and they gave it 8 hours, but I only dilated 1 more cm from it.
What are some other induction techniques I can ask for? -
@MACSUNSHINE: Thanks for sharing your experience! I really hope my second time is better, too.
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@crazydoglady: definitely ask your provider what the options might be for you, there are several things they can do to try to work on the cervix (cervadil, cytotec, foley bulb, etc) but you probably want to do your research and decide as I'm no expert. I expressed strongly the one method at a time and take it slowly piece.
I did cytotec this time for 4 hours and it did nothing even with walking the halls (I think a half dose though). They then offered the option of more cytotec and another 4 hours, or break my water even though I was sitting at 2-3cm and not very effaced. The OB said even though that was not a great place to break the water (usually they want you further along), her gut was that it might bring the baby down to put pressure on my cervix. I knew it was starting the c-section clock to break my water but she agreed little chance I would hit the 24 hours they worry about having already given birth. We basically agreed that if nothing happened in 2 hours post breaking my water, we'd then talk about pitocin - and as you know it never got there and they never mentioned it again, even when I got the epi.
I am so hoping you both don't need the pit and get a working epidural this time!!
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@bhbee: Thank you! This really helps. The same thing happened to me, I was going on nearly 22 hours of my water being broken which is why I think they were so aggressive with the pit. I hope I have the same experience and don't need the pit.
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I was induced with my second, at 39 weeks, due to large size (was 8 lb 7 oz) and it was a smoother delivery than my first. I personally did not find the pitocin contractions especially painful until the OB broke my water. It took about 4 hours to get to 5 cm with almost no pain (I don't remember where I started. I went from 5-8 cm in the hour it took to get an epidural, and that was painful.
I did need some pitocin with my first, after labor stalled my epidural. I found it really nice getting induced in the morning on a weekday. I do think the induction was more convenient for my OB, but I feel like making things more convenient for my OB really improved my experience (and having my OB perform the delivery. The on-call OB seemed resentful about being woken up in the middle of the night and repeatedly interrupted on a Sunday).
I feel like second deliveries after a vaginal delivery are generally smoother. I needed an episiotomy with my first, and I was passing out between pushes.
I would prefer another induction if I had a third.
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@mdf106: Thank you so much for responding! I am really starting to wonder if I just had a failed epi last time. It's also a relief to hear that your second birth was smoother even if it was an induction.
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I just wanted to update that I am getting induced on Wednesday when I will be 39w5d. Baby girl measured 8lbs 6oz at 37 weeks. They aren't overly concerned about her size, but still don't want me to go past my due date.
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@crazydoglady: eek good luck!!! I’m sure it will go smoothly!
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@QBbride: Thank you! I am so ready to get this baby out!
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@crazydoglady: good luck!! I'm sure it will go smoothly for you
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@crazydoglady: good luck!
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FINALLY admitted after 9 hours! Apparently all those Christmas and New Year babies have been keeping them busy.
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@crazydoglady: gracious! I’m trying to mentally prepare for the same to happen to me tomorrow night, which is when I’m supposed to start calling! Eep! Hope it’s going wel!
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@crazydoglady: good luck!!
hoping everything goes very smoothly and you will be holding baby girl before you know it!
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@MrsBucky: @MamaCate: Thank you. Just a about to start cytotec. Hopefully it does something!
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Good luck! I hope you have a smooth labor and delivery this time around!
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Thinking of you! You’re so close to meeting your baby girl!!!
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@crazydoglady: thinking of you!
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Good luck!
Can't wait to hear an update!
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@crazydoglady: thinking of you!!!
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Now you can labor and deliver in peace knowing HB will be here lol
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Keep hitting refresh and no update
dang it!
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Not a whole lot to update.
Cytotec got me dilated to a 3-4 and they let us sleep for a while. I am now on level 4 pitocin and trying to decide when to get an epi.
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@crazydoglady: Bummer! 🙄 Been on pins-and-needles waiting for a baby update from you all day!
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@Kaohinani: Thank you!
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@crazydoglady: Now is a good time for epidural lol. Yours sound a lot like mine... I had 2 rounds of cervadil and then finally progressed enough to switch to pitocin/epidural.
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@crazydoglady: Thinking of you! My second labor (induced) went from 0-60 after they broke my water, not sure if you are at that point yet. Hang in there and good luck!!
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@crazydoglady: Good luck! I had 2 inductions and both went very well - I will 2nd that things moved very fast with both once my water was broke; I got my epi within an hour for both and baby a few hours after.
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Breaking water worked for me too! I got the epi an hour or two after. Sending you so many good wishes!!
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Eek! The epidural will either slow things down or give you some rest and let things get going. Will they let you walk?? That might help!
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Well...9 lbs and 3oz Violet Louise is here and I can't even believe it, but I ended up with a natural birth, 2 hours of active labor, three pushes and over 20 stitches. This was after 18 hours of just trying to get me into active labor. I was just about to FINALLY get an epidural when I had the urge to push, so they flipped me over and she was out within minutes. It was absolutely nuts. The anesthesiologist almost delivered her!
I will definitely write a detailed birth plan later.
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@crazydoglady: congratulations momma! I love her name!
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@crazydoglady: congrats! So excited for all of you and love the name too!
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Congratulations, mama, and happy birthday, Violet!
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@crazydoglady: congratulations! I came to check if there was an update as I’m sitting I. The waiting room for my induction. I love her name. Can’t wait to update you from the other side also!
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@crazydoglady: oh yay congrats!! Can’t wait to hear more! It’s so amazing how different every birth is. Sending you both all the
dang it!
Cytotec got me dilated to a 3-4 and they let us sleep for a while. I am now on level 4 pitocin and trying to decide when to get an epi.
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