Moms Who Were Induced

I was induced with both of my babies and it was no problem at all. With my daughter, they started Pitocin at around 7am and I had her at 9:30pm and with my son (second baby), they started it at around 6am and I had him at 2:20pm. I got my epidural early on with my daughter, but I waited a bit longer with my son because I wanted to feel some of the contractions. Just a warning though, Pitocin contractions are MUCH stronger than natural ones, so keep that in mind and get your epidural whenever you want it. I waited a little too long with my son and by the time they got there to give it to me, I was in more pain than I bargained for.

Anyway, I had 2 very healthy babies and had no issues with either one. I also had super quick recoveries also. I really wouldn't worry about it at all. You may want to hold off on the epidural as long as you feel like you can because I think it slowed down my labor a bit with my daughter. Good luck to you!

i was induced with my daughter and my doc used cytotec instead of pitocin and it was great i was resting between contractions and i didnt have an epidural if i was gonna have another baby i would use it again i will never again use pitocin

I was induced with my second son. I went in at 5:30AM, they gave me the potocin at 6:30AM and I delivered at 1:20PM. I had no problems with it at all. I also had an epidural about 2 hours in. As you can see by the replies that there are a lot of women that have been induced with no problems. Congrats on the new baby!

Our first baby was induced 13 years ago for the dr's convenience, so I wouldn't recomend it for any but medical emergency, which it sounds like yours fits. We went in at about 6 am and started the pitocin at 9? baby was born at around 3 pm. I was determined to not have pain medicine and besides a couple of tylenol didn't. Just as i was wondering if something might be in order (I was having back labor) a nurse suggested a different position on all fours with a little waggle, the baby turned and was I was ready to push. My mom who had natural births said that the induced labor really followed a natural progression. Not too fast nor ineffective. The biggest difference was the effect on the baby's temperature after birth. The folks attending you will be really concerned that baby warms up, because the hormones they use in induction can effect the temperature of the baby on birth (those hospitals are sooo cold!) Plus subsequent natural home births for me have all been a week or nine days after my due date so we were really jumping the gun. She was too early.
Also because of the constant monitoring, movement during labor was limited. Beyond that the nurses were helpful and we had a good experience at Seton Central for the most part. I don't know which hospital you're using but I'm sure you'll be in good hands. Congratulations!

I arrived at the hospital to be induced in the evening but was already contracting every 3 minutes but had no idea. My doc was going to give me something vaginally but since i was already contracting she just put me on pitocin. I was on that all nite and then the next morning she broke my water. Not 15 minutes after she broke my water I was in pain like none before. My advice is if you dont need an epidural before then definitly get it before they break your water. But I had him at 5:11 pm so less then 24 hours. My baby was 9lbs 3oz and was perfectly healthy. Good luck!

I was induced when I had my little one. I went to the hospital at 5:30am got cheaked in and the nurse induced me at 6:30am. I had all back labor, I WISH that on NO ONE; now thats pain. My daughter is 4 and I still remember that pain like it was yesterday. I went 7 hours with no drugs, then I asked for an epidural for the last 6-1/2 hours. My labor was a total of 13-1/2 hours. There was no problems with me or my daughter durning or after the labor. I wish you all the luck. I hope this helped you.

It sounds like your doc is being proactive. I had a scheduled induction due to gestational hypertension at 38 weeks (which rapidly progressed to severe preeclampsia) and a second induction at 37 weeks for "mild" preeclampsia (PE).

My first induction was hard because I felt very weak due to PE and was on restricted fluids and a magnesium IV to prevent seizures. I was already somewhat effaced and 3 cm dilated and they started the piton at 6 am, maxed out the pitocin at 1 pm, and I delivered at 3pm. With hindsight I wish I had chosen an epidural since I narrowly avoided being put under for an emergency c-section due to rapidly worsening PE. Also pain can spike blood pressure (BP) a bit, and an epidural can help lower BP. My son had a bit of a wheeze (possibly due to the magnesium sulfate IV) but a good apgar score. For one reason and another it took longer for my milk to come in, so I wound up supplementing with formula.

My second induction went very smoothly. I felt a lot better, and my BP behaved day of delivery and I was able to move around a bit to switch positions. I was somewhat thinned and effaced, they started the pitocin at 7 am and I had the epidural around 9 and I delivered at 11:30 am. My daughter was a little sleepy and jaundiced being born at 37 weeks, but didn't require any extra hospital time. And my recovery went a lot quicker since I wasn't as sick when I delivered.

HTH. Good luck!

I was induced with my first two.
I would not recommend the pitocin at all.
With my first, she was already a few weeks overdue, and, I am very tiny. The doctor was worried about her getting too big, or, getting too far past due that she would start excreting feces into her water.
They broke my water about 7:00 a.m. I was progressing OK, but, they decided to try and hurry things along more about 11:00 a.m. because I was not dilating very quickly.
I was having contractions already, they were 5 minutes apart when I went in before breaking water, but, I could not even feel them. After the pitocin, I was miserable. It just does something not right to your body that is not fun. I did not even feel I needed an epidural until that, and, I was begging for one after that. Anyway, I had her at 1:10 p.m., just a couple hours after the pitocin, because it does speed things along.

With my second, I was dilating but that was it, so, my doctor felt we might want to induce because my body obviously does not kick start itself!
We went in, and, they broke my water about 8:00 a.m. I was going right along, not too quick, but, again, they felt they needed to give me that pitocin. I was feeling OK, and, not remembering my first experience, I thought I could handle it because I was feeling no pain. I was wrong, and, begging for an epidural again not long after the pitocin. I swear, it is a pain inducer. I had her about 11:05, again, just a couple hours after the pitocin was given to me.

Looking back, I would have been happy just breaking the water and going all day seeing what would have happened without the pitocin.
I have also heard of that other medication that the other lady mentioned below as being easier than the pitocin, so, I would ask about that as an alternative.

We are having our third in a couple months, and, should my body not go into labor itself again, I will request either the other medication, or, for them to be more patient and see how it goes with just breaking my water. The way I see it, as long as contractions are regular, and, you are dilating, (even if slowly), then, there is no need for the medication to "speed things up", especially if it induces pain.

First of all, as you probably already know, every birth experience is different. There is no way to gauge how long it will be or when the doc will give you the pain meds.

I do know that if you pass "the point of no return" and are dialated too much, the doc will not give you the epidural. And the reason why is because the whole point of the epidural is to take the pain away while you're in labor, not while you're trying to push the baby out. They actually cut DOWN the medication when you are pushing so that you can push harder. The epidural inhibits your pushing power.

So, if you get past the time frame where they can do the epidural too fast, then actually, you are doing GOOD, because that means you're getting a very fast delivery.

I was not so lucky on both of my birthing experiences. The first one I was in labor for more than 30 hours, and was dialated to a NINE for 4 hours. The small hick town hospital that I was at believed that I was too young to recieve an epidural. (I was 15). I would not wish that experience on ANYONE.

The second time, I gave birth to twins. I was induced because the boys were almost 7 pounds each and I could barely keep myself alive. I had a very long labor, it was more than 20 hours, and then they found out 'baby A' was transverse (he was sideways) and they ended up doing a c-section anyway.

So,,, just try not to be too nervous. It will go the way it is suppose to go, and you will ultimately end up with your beautiful baby. And like they always say, you WILL forget about the pain.

Congrats on the baby. :)

Hi-

I've been induced with all 3 of my deliveries. Each was with a different doctor, at a different hospital and each went off perfectly! I received my epidural with all 3 when I wanted it and had no ill effects to me or the babies. I know it's not for everyone, but for me I was relaxed and was able to enjoy the whole process because there was no added drama! Everything was very calm and controlled.

Good Luck!
K.

I was induced because I was a week late and baby was getting big! 8lb, 6oz. I went in at 8am, started pitocin at 10, and had him at 10:21 pm I got an epidural around 5pm. It was a long day but baby did great, no problems at all. They kept adjusting the amount of pitocin all day so the contractions were strong but not too frequent. Recovery was normal, I was still able to breast feed right after delivery. Only hint eat breakfast!! They didn't let me eat when I got there and I was starving!! Good luck

I was induced with both my daughters - the first time due to b/p being high. They gave me the potocin (sp?) at about 6am in both cases and I was able to have pain medicine as soon as things became painful. And I got the epidural at about 7 cms. but think I could've had it earlier. Both of my deliveries took about 6 hours from induction - BUT I am told that heredity plays a big part in this - meaning if your mom had fast deliveries you are likely to as well. And the doctor told me that being induced makes things go faster. My first baby was in some trouble w/a low heart rate but the hospitals deal w/that stuff every day - and everything was fine. With the 2nd one it was all great. Where are you delivering???

Having an epidural with enducing (or without) slows labor. My last son had to be induced. I had no pain meds. I was induced 8 am and he was born two and a half hours later. Painful, but I did prefer it to the epidural with my First (was in labor for 20 hours). My second was no induction, no pain meds. Wonderful experience. If you are game for pain free. You could look into the Bradley Method. Some will offer condensed classes instead of the full 12 weeks. I did a four week program.

Don't let all these gals scare you!! I had potocin with all 3 of my inductions!!! Yes, all 3 of my kids were induced!! I had 6 hrs of labor w/ 1st, 5 hrs w/ 2nd and 2 1/2 hrs w/ 3rd. The potocin simply speeds up the process that your body is not doing naturally. I was able to request an epidural at the time of my induction, that way it was ready for me when I needed it and there was no waiting around. You also get to sort of pick the day when your child will be born if they induce. Its kinda cool. Don't be nervous!! Its just like natural, just sped up some. I would not trade it for the world. All 3 of my babies were late and if we would have waited on mother nature, i might still be carrying the youngest and he's 2~LOL!!!!

Have a great day!

D.
Moms helping moms work from home!
http://www.formyrugrats.com

I was induced this past March with my daughter and it went quite well. I recommend, however, that if you want an epidural or another type of pain relief that you make sure the person who administers it is available before or very soon after you are induced. My water was broken about 9am and I was given pitocin to aid my contractions but I did not get any pain relief for another hour and a half. I felt much better and even took a little nap while I had the contractions until it was time to deliver. I gave two good pushes and out she came, healthy and happy. I didn't even break a sweat. I know that it may not be that easy for everyone but I am proof that it doesn't have to be torture. I will admit that with the pitocin and no pain relief, I was unable to breathe during the contractions so be sure to check on the nice man with the long needle! My daughter was born before noon. Good luck and congratulations!

I was induced with my daughter. I went in to the hospital the afternoon and had her the next day, but the contractions didn't start till early morning. I had an epidural and I was in no pain at all, everything went smoothly and I was glad I didn't feel a thing.

I was induced with all 3 of my children...2 for medical reasons. All 3 were born in under 6 hours, with an epidural, healthy. In fact, with my 3rd, within 30 minutes of receiving my edidural she was born...no slow down here.

I was induced with my first child. It was not a long labor, and I did get pain meds early, but only one side was numb! lol So, they had to call the dr. back to give another shot. My son ended up having a difficult time and his heart rate dropped. It didn't rise, as they'd hoped; so, we went in for an emergency c-section. I don't know if this is the norm, but I'm sure your doctor is doing what is best for you and your baby. They have to take all precautions when dealing with such a fragile and sweet little life. So, maybe talk with her about your concerns. I'm sure you're not the first to feel this way.

I hope you find comfort soon. Take care, M.!