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We decided to induce for my third and it was great! I had two non-med experiences (and also did Bradley so same perspective). First was long, second was short and only there to push also. I think the drs are right that having given birth will likely make a big difference. You can also ask to approach things without pitocin to start and see what makes sense for your situation (not sure at 38w if it’s different). I did ask for that, and for one intervention at a time (so no breaking water AND pitocin together for example). I was 2-3cm but not super effaced. We agreed to start with cytotec - that often works for 2nd time moms but did nothing for me even with walking. But it did keep me mostly unattached to monitoring. They gave me the option to do another round of that or break my water (which again works better when it’s not your first time). We did the latter and that started things going (we agreed to do pitocin only if it failed to help) - from there it was 6 hours for me. I had been sick and wasn’t up to another natural labor by that point so got the epidural and it made things so peaceful without slowing them down (well, except that I got a catheter which they misplaced and that slowed descent until they fixed it). Maybe 10m pushing and she was out! It was a totally different experience and I’m honestly happy having had all 3 experiences that I did.

There was another thread recently with lots of positive stories! Sending you good wishes for a smooth induction!

My first was sort of an induction - my water broke when I was 36+6 (in a newborn care class ), I went to the hospital, and then absolutely nothing happened. When I still hadn’t had any contractions after 6.5 hours, they started me on pitocin. My OB said she’d deliver another baby, go home for a nap, and come back before I was ready to deliver...my son had other ideas! Four and a half hours after the first dose of pitocin, he was here! I made it almost the whole way without an epidural (I actually wanted one way sooner than I got it, but nobody realized how fast I was going to progress, so I didn’t get it until it was almost too late). I don’t know how long I pushed, but it can’t have been more than about 15-20 minutes. Only very minor tearing, and a really easy recovery. I hope yours goes as well as mine did!

My first and third had similar experiences with inductions with vastly different results but I don’t resent one or the other.

LO1 ...I was induced at 41 weeks bc she didn’t have the slightest inclination of coming out. I was told that they would call when beds are available sometime in the afternoon and to be ready. We got the call at 4 am to come in by 6 am. After all the pre checks and paperwork, we started the induction at 10am. I was 2 cm dilated so just pitocin. The pain started intensifying at around 5pm at 7cm so I got an epidural. Progressed nicely til 9cm and then I got stuck there for several hours until they decided to do a csection at 6am the next morning. She ended up being sunny side up.

Lo2 came super fast at 37 weeks. No epidural and a successful vbac.

Lo3 was also enjoying her time in there and so an induction was scheduled for 41 weeks. Per my doctors practice policy, I wasn’t allowed to go past 41 weeks and technically induction wasn’t allowed either. But my primary doctor was convinced that I could still avoid surgery bc I had a successful med free vbac before and allowed me to be induced at a very slow and low rate. I was also 5cm when I was admitted. This time they told us to be ready around 6am. At 5am, they called and said beds were not available and to come in closer to 8am. After all prechecks and paperwork, induction started at 11am. Again at 7cm I asked for epidural bc pitocin contraction hurts way worse. But by the time I actually got the epidural, I was at 10cm and it was time for pushing. This one was sunny side up too and I ended up needing forceps to have the vbac. Super super super grateful for the epidural bc I had a third degree tear and the epidural helped as I was getting stitches.

Sorry for the long post but things learned: 1)inductions are called by hospital whenever they want. 2)induction labor pains are way worse than regular labor 3)sometimes having epidural helps with other pain after the actual birth.

I had two successful inductions. My second was almost pleasant. With my second I was in labor (but it was early labor) but the hospital was so slammed my ob fought for me to get a room so I didn’t have to come back. And then induced me.
My advice is to get an epidural early. With my first I had one painful contraction on pit and asked for the epidural. With my second I basically asked for it as soon as they started pit. And it worked out really well both times. I had minimal to no pain (until I waited to long for them to hang a new bag for the epidural PCA pump; I didn’t ask when it ran out so I had some breakthrough pain around 10 cm!)
But both inductions were generally great and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

I had 2 inductions, both with my water broken the whole time, which I hear increases the pain but who knows. I'm not going to describe my first birth bc it was horrible, but basically I do NOT recommend 2 methods of induction at once.... try one and see how your body responds. My only positive memory of birthing LO1 was that he was alive and healthy, everything else was 24 hours of agony. I wasn't able to get an epidural bc of low platelets.

As a contrast, once I got an epidural with LO2, I was on cloud 9. I could feel basic sensation, but not pain. I was so excited to meet my daughter. I got to rest. I kept raving about how amazing the epidural was and how much I loved the anesthesiologist and how my legs felt like puffy snowpants, haha. When I was birthing LO2, I acutally laughed a couple of times because of how amazingly different it felt, epi compared to no epi. When she was crowning, I yelled *happily*, "Oh my God there's a baby in my vagina," smiling at DH. I *honestly* feel so bad that so many women put themselves through such pain when there's such a great alternative... but different strokes for different folks?

I LOVED my epidural and if you get one I hope it will be like that.

http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/shes-here-pro-epidural-39-wk-augmented-lampd-story

@MrsBucky: Thank you for starting this! My plan is to start the epidural right before the pit.

I had a three day induction with my first and am staring down an induction with my second and trying to decide how I would do things next time. I had cytotec, then foley bulb, then pitocin, then epidural, then they broke my water. I then was still at 4cm and they brought me a pump and I pumped every hour to increase dilation. I finally made it to 10 and had a vaginal delivery.

Do not fear the pitocin. My experience was so long and miserable because I was trying to avoid the pitocin.

@Ms.Mermaid: I guess it's true that they don't start the pit at full force. I ended up with a level 18 pitocin and a failed epidural (I was stuck at an 8 for 8 hours) so I am a bit gun shy. It had been 24 hours since they broke my water and were being really aggressive.

I also took a Bradley class in NYC before my first delivery. I am generally anti-interventions for labor, though I did wind up getting an epidural for my first delivery after 17hrs and 9.5cm. (After that it still took six more hours plus pitocin to deliver him! I was stalled out for awhile!)

My second delivery was a high risk pregnancy due to identical twins. So I needed to be induced at 37w. I shared your concerns about heightened c-section risk. I was also told I was a good candidate since I already had a history with a successful vaginal delivery.

The induction went really smoothly! Here is the timeline.

11:30pm: Arrive at hospital. Confirm I am still at 2cm. Decide to skip the cytotec and move straight to pitocin.
3:00am: Start the pitocin drip.
6:00am: My OB wants to start the epidural process so she can break my water. I am still at 2cm so I ask for more time.
8:00am: Still at 2cm so we decide to proceed with the epidural insertion.
9:30am: My OB breaks Baby A’s water.
1:15pm: I am fully dilated!
1:30pm: I have been moved into the OR for delivery (pre-planned as a precaution due to the twin pregnancy).
1:47pm: Baby A is born!
1:54pm: Baby B is born!

I made it through without a single stitch *anywhere*. My babies were healthy and stayed with me throughout our hospital stay. We were all discharged together on schedule. I declined the wheelchair and walked myself out of the hospital.

It went smoothly and was a great experience!

I have two kids and both were induced so I have never experienced spontaneous labor! Both inductions went great! Epidurals for both also.

First induction was an emergency, similar to you because of IUGR and preeclampsia. Second one was elective because I went past my due date. For both, I labored for about 6-7 hours before it was time to push. I pushed for 2 hours with the first, 1.5 hours with the second. Both were an awesome experience! Good luck to you!

@crazydoglady: good luck tomorrow!!!

With DD1 I was induced at 40+ 5. I would have waited if I could go back. I was maybe 1cm dilated when I went in. They put the cervadil in overnight and said I’d hopefully start feeling something by the morning but I didn’t. They started the pit and she was born 10 hours after my first contraction. I labored pretty well for the first few hours, but then the doctor (who I had never met—pretty sure he wasn’t with my practice) didn’t write an order to turn down the pit so it was on a very high setting until my OB came in around the last 1-2 hours. I would definitely advocate for yourself and tell them to turn the pit down once you start having real contractions. I got an epidural when I was about 7cm and a little under 2 hours from pushing her out. It helped immensely but after having an unmedicated second birth I realize a lot of my pain could have been managed by turning down the Pitocin. I pushed for 18 minutes and had a 2nd degree tear with lots of stitches. DD2 I pushed for 21 minutes and had no tearing. For me I actually felt like I was More effective at pushing the first time around, when I had the epidural.

My 1st was induced at 39 weeks. Two dose of cervadil between 1am to like 9am maybe? Then started epidural/pitocin after lunch, started pushing at 9pm.

I was induced at 39+1 with my second. It was a great experience. They started pitocin in the morning, broke my water around lunchtime. Contractions were not painful until my water was broken. One painful hour later I got an epidural. I was fully dilated a bit under three hours labor, and delivered after about a half hour of pushing (baby was pretty large at 8 lb 7 ounces, the reason for the induction). I did not find it much more painful than my first labor, although my water broke at the beginning of my first labor. I did not have any negative effects from my epidural. I did not mind not being able to get up, even before the epidural, or during my first labor, I did not get up except to go to the bathroom.

So many of these inductions start at night, I was really happy with my morning induction, I did not spend any sleeping hours laboring. I did wait until I could shower to sleep that night, which was slightly later than I preferred.

I am in the early stages of a third pregnancy, and I will go for another induction if it is offered.

@MrsBucky: That's so great! Congratulations!!