Did you have a good/bad experience being induced?

Danielle - posted on 11/26/2009

I was induced at 36wks + 6days due to my waters leaking. They induced me at 8.30am and didn't give birth until 8.19pm, about 40 minutes after having an epidural. I think the epidural sped it up, as i could finally relax a bit.

Crystal - posted on 11/21/2009

i was induced 2 1/2 weeks early bc of toxemia, when they gave me the pitocin @ 630 a.m. i was only 1-2 dilated & my water didnt break til like 7 that night after pushing for a little over an hour the dr had to use a suction to get tristans head out bc he couldnt come out on his own, & i finally delivered @ 836p.m. that same night. Tristan was just fine.

Trinity - posted on 11/08/2009

I was induced for both of my daughters. The first was because I got in a car accident and I was past my due date so they decided the best course was to induce me...over 40 hours later my daughter finally came into the world.With her, they just put me on pitocin and waited for it to work. My second wa becauses I was after my due date again. This time the put a bulb thing in to dialate me and then put me on pitocin. after 16 hours I was 6 cm and they broke my water. That's when tehy realized she was in a bad position(they call it face presentation) she was looking up which, if labor continued, would have broken her neck. So i was rushed in for emergency C section.
Both times though my babies were fine...
My advice is relax and enjoy it!

Brandi - posted on 10/24/2009

Both my babies were induced and all went well. My 1st was because I was a gestational diabetic and my second was because there was too much fluid in the placenta and it would have been bad if I had gone any longer and not in physician care when my water broke! Both childen came in the 39th week and on the 18th of the month! I had no complications and neither have they from the induction. I actually felt better about it because it came me a sense of calmness and control over the situation!

Sara - posted on 10/23/2009

hi erin,

i was induced at 10 days overdue. i went in 3 1/2 cm and 80% effaced without any contractions.i don't have anything to compared being induced to because i have only had one child but i can say that it was very fast but painful...the pain came out of nowhere and it was bad BUT i did have an epidural and from there it was very relaxed and fast. I was in labor for about 10 hours and pushed for 2 1/2.

Ashley - posted on 10/12/2009

HORRIBLE!! They changed my due date on me 3 times and on the final 1 they induced me. It STILL took 2 days! Day 1 not much happened even w/ the inducing meds they were giving me and day 2 nothing until they broke my water. After that the pain got 100 times worse so i finally asked for an epidural..they ended up shutting off my epidural right when i got numb and letting it wear off before they let me finish pushing cuz they said i wasn't pushing right and still had to help me by suctioning her out. i was terrified they were going to do a c section & if she'd taken any longer they would have. both of our heart rates dropped, it was the scariest thing ever. if i could go back i'd tell my dr no when he scheduled me to be induced. i wonder how much longer it wouldve taken her to get here but i think it wouldve been better for both of us.

Kathy - posted on 10/10/2009

I was due on the 12th of september with my first child, but I didnt give birth. So they induce me when I was 41 weeks. My cervix was opened so they put drips in me and broke my water. The labor went for around for 8 hours.



To Erin, they only do a c-section if the head is too big, if the baby is coming feet first or when they monitor the baby's heart beat during contractions, if it gets too low, they might do a c-section.

According to my mother, if the cervix isnt opened, this probably means that the baby isnt ready to come out yet.

Danika - posted on 10/09/2009

IT really does depend on how your cervix is. I was already 3cm and about 80 percent effaced. I went in at 7am, had the IV put in at 8am with pitocin. I was checked at around 11am to be a solid 4 cm, they broke my water, I had three real contractions and screamed epidural and at 1130 had that. Then I began to actively push around 830pm, and she was born at 1027pm.

Until they broke my water, I was having contractions but it was more uncomfortable then painful. Once they broke my water, it hurt so much more and they were like 2-3 mins apart. It definetly sped things up once my water was broken.

I originally asked for them to strip my membranes first, but was told that they only do that in the drs office if you haven't progressed at all, since stripping them may not even induce labor. And since I was so far along it didn't really make sense to strip them to begin with.

If we decide to have more, I would like to be induced again. I had a great experiance and would do it again.

Laurianne - posted on 10/09/2009

I just had my third baby on Labor Day and was induced with this one. I had the best experience out of all of my kids. I went in at 7am. I was only a 1+ cm and 60% effaced and still high, but my cervix was soft. Started pit at 730 got an epidural at 1030 and then broke my water. By 1245 I was ready to push and my baby girl was born at 103pm. So it was 51/2 hours all together. I hardly had any pain and was very relaxed. My husband, mom labor and delivery nurse and doctor sat around and talked for a good bit of the time. It was very nice. Anyway, I was worried about being induced as well seeing as I hadn't with my first two. But it turned out really good for me.

Danielle - posted on 10/09/2009

I was induced using pitocin. I had a good experience. However, I was already 3 cm dilated. I think I was in labor for about an hour and a half before receiving an epidural. Then it was less than half an hour before my son was born.

Rachel - posted on 10/09/2009

i've been induced twice both different ways and had sweeps.For me the sweeps didnt work,my first inducement was with the gel they apply to your cervix which turned out to be horrible but being my first i think the fact i was so nervous and stressed didnt help my 2nd born on the 14th September was induced through the hormone drip which is an aggressive form of inducement i found i personally coped really well with the drip and my daughter was born in 11 hours.I think the best advice i can give is take the drugs they offer if you cant cope no one is expecting you to be a hero and remember your breathing exercise they help a lot

Maureen - posted on 10/02/2009

Both of my children were delivered vag. after I was induced. I had short labor periods and elected to have Stadol and an epidural with both, as well. I don't consider myself to be the 'norm', but instead very fotunate.

Alexsandria - posted on 10/01/2009

my induction went well i was a week over due i had my son september 8th after 15 hours of labor without and epidural. and no i wasnt trying to go the natural route i just Toughed it out throught the contractions too long ( i wanted it when was at 8 cm's)b.c i was misinformed into beliving if i got my epi. too soon it would wear off.. umm yeah natural birth isnt that bad.. but for god sakes i will gladly get my epi @ 2cms next time!

Alisha - posted on 09/27/2009

I have 4 children, 3 naturally an 1 c-section (my last one), They induced me with two of them, the first on they did it with went REALLY well, the pain wasn't as bad an the labor only lasted about 12 hours (when I went into labor on my own it lasted ALOT longer). However I had a baby about 3 weeks ago, they induced me because there wasn't enough fluid around the baby, 9 hours after they induced me they had to put me to sleep an do an emergency c- section because his heart rate dropped everytime I had a contraction an he was stuck in my pelvic bone.

Fallon - posted on 09/26/2009

I was due the 1st of this month but went in on August 31st for my 40 week appointment and picked the 2nd to be induced because I was so uncomfortable and my doctor was going to be going out of town so I didn't want just anyone delivering my baby. (I'm a first time mom so I'm sure it really wouldn't have mattered I was just worried) But they inserted a pill vaginally to ripen my cervix 8:30-9 am (by the way I wasn't dialated at all!!) and I had to lay down for 2 hours to let it work. Then I had to get up & walk, which I did that for half hour, 45 min or so when contractions started coming. I ended up not having to have pitocin (which I'm thankful for) and almost didn't get my epidural but my total labor lasted 5 hours which I'm told is almost unheard of with first time moms. I don't blame you for being worried because all I had heard were horror stories about being induced, but all in all it wasn't too bad.

Tania - posted on 09/24/2009

I was due Aug 22 with my youngest and chose to get induced the night of Sept. 1st. This time around I chose to not use any pitocin. They put cervadil in (getting it put in is extremely painful) to ripen and thin my cervix overnight. Contractions were every couple minutes by morning. The midwife broke my water about 12:30pm when I was dilated at a 6 and Gabriel made a quick appearance into the world at exactly 1pm. If you really want or need to be induced, I'd recommend this method.

Randi - posted on 09/24/2009

i was induced september 14th.. only 3 days after my due date. they gave me some pill to thin my cervix so i would dialate more. that didn't go so well. 5 hours later i was still only dialated what they called "a nipple" so they started a potassium drip that started my contractions. the contractions got stronger and stronger but i still wouldn't dialate. my babys heart rate kept dropping. finally at about 5 pm september 15th they decided that the best thing would be to do a c section. turns out, the cord was wrapped around his neck. if it wasn't for the c section, who knows how bad it would have turned out. don't be scared of a c section/ it's not all that bad. all that matters is that your baby comes out safely no matter what that takes.

Lourdes - posted on 09/24/2009

Hi, I was due 28 Sep 09, however, I have GDM, hence the DR. advised that I be induced at 38weeks. This is my first baby so I didnt really know what to expect- pain wise.. so here goes. I checked in the hospital at 9am, inserted transvaginally a tablet for the cervix to contract ( I was 2-3cm at 9am), after 6hours, grew to 4cm, since there was no progress and pain was building... Oxytocin was injected in the IV, after another 6 hours, still at 4-5cm.. they broke my water after this... and waited again for another 3hours.. still no progress.. since I had been laboring for almost 13hours... and I could not take the pain anymore.. they did an LSCS.... after an hour or so.. my baby was out and I was relieved.. finally! however.. come to think of it.. if I waited and sort of endured the pain more.. maybe.. maybe.. I could have gone normal.. hope this helps..

Melody - posted on 09/23/2009

I was induced with both of my kids. I just had my daughter on the 17th. Being induced with my son was COMPLETLY different that it was with my daughter. My son's birth was horrible! It seriously made me terrifyed to give birth again. there wasn't any health issues, just the pain and the whole expierience was bad. But with my daughter, I had the best time ever! I had epidurals with both of my babies too, i really think that you just can't let the pain take over ur mind. You have to be stronger than the pain. I also think that weather or not you have a good birth depends on ur nurses and the ones that take care of you. With my son i had a bunch of nurses that acted like i was a burden and they had better things they could have been doing. with my daughter i had the sweetest nurses that walked with me talked to me sat in the room with me while i was sleeping, held my hand when i was in pain and acted like i was the only one there in the hospital and all their attention was on me. It was perfect. I would do that labor and delivery all over again in a heartbeat!

Angel - posted on 09/22/2009

I'm due sep25th too..my appointment friday they are going to strip my membranes and schedule an induction date

I've heard the horror stories too but it's so common to be induced that it can't be too bad, right? either way @ the end of the day you'll have a beautiful baby in your arms and thats got to count for something. good luck =]

Laura - posted on 09/22/2009

i was due the 8th, but my LO was so small my doc was worried and fig she would be better off out. so on the 1st i went in for induction. now i was 39 weeks and 1cm but still high and tight. now my doc didnt use pitocin for induction, i had to take 1/4 of a pill every hour for 4 hours (1 pill) and it induced my labor. i went in at 8am and got hooked up and started at 10am. around 1pm they broke my water.. i was still only 1cm. i was stuck at 2cm and at midnight i told my family to go home since the nurse said that i was only 2 and the doc wouldnt be in til 6 or 7am to check me again. around 3am i made my boyfriend get the nurse cause i was in so much pain, like my epi wore off. so i got another dose, at 3:20 i was still so uncomfortable i was just about to call the nurse and she came in saying my and the babies heatrate spiked and wasnt going down so she was going to check me. she then said oh theres a head dont push! the doc got there 10 min later at 3:30am and kylie was born at 3:40am. so i was in labor for 17 hours and pushed for 10 min! it really wasnt that bad...... now my sister had piticon (iv) and she was in labor for 17 hours nothing happened she was still 3cm so they sent her home. 2 days later her water broke and she had to have a c-section because my neices big ol head got stuck. haha! i have heard though that with pitocin you want to sign for your epi (if your having one) early because that brings the contractions on really strong. either way be prepared for a long labor but it will be totally worth it and over before you know it! :) good luck momma!

Shae - posted on 09/21/2009

Hey. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when I was 16 weeks pregnant and had 5 rounds of chemo while during the last 20 weeks of my pregnancy so they wanted to induce me at 38weeks, which they did. The gave me 3 large doses of the gel over about 12 hours but nothing happened. The gel brought on "fake" contractions that went for 12 hours and then just stopped. It was a bit frustrating and pretty painful but I was pretty disapointed when it came to a crashing halt! I ended up having a c section but honestly, it was still such an amazing experience. At the end of the day, you just want baby out safe and sound. And if your health team suggests induction, and they believe that that is best, its probably a good move.

Lea - posted on 09/21/2009

I'm due Sept 28th with my 3rd baby and most likely this will be my 3rd time being induced. It all depends on the person and how their body responds if labor is longer or not with the induction. Everyone is different. My first induction and first baby only took 6 hours, It went so fast that they didn't have the chance to give me the epidural, Second induction was 14 hours. From what I've been told stripping membranes is extremely painful and isn't a sure way to start labor and breaking your water could start labor but theres a possibility that you won't start having contractions and dilating which could lead to a c-section. In both of my previous pregnancies I never even dilated until they induced me. This pregnancy I'm only 1 centimeter which isn't too much better. I wish you luck.

Naomi - posted on 09/18/2009

Erin im in same situation as u. im due on monday the 21st.. she obviously she hasnt arrived yet. i dont think she will before the due date. My OB is going to induce me at midnight on Tuesday if she hasnt come out before hand.. She is will the gel and put it on my Cervix, my cervix was fully closed last week when i had my check up but it was very soft. im hoping when i see her on tuesday, iam dilated, iam also worried about getting induced, but as she said to me, if it was going to be harmful in any way. they wouldnt give u the option to be induced.