Was anyone induced????

[mammaof3tobe]

Ok I went to the Dr today and it was decided that next Friday the 13th I will be induced. Now, I have two other children and L&D was pretty much a breeze for me. Now Its been 7 years and this time they are inducing me..... I am terrified if that makes any sense??? So I was wondering what you had to say, any words of advise for me and also I had my two older ones completely natural, Do you think I should get the Epidural with this one?? Any advise is greatly appreciated.

[agomez333]

I was sort of induced. I went to L&D in labor, butmy contractions stopped again. The Dr went ahead and started pitocin to help. I have already had three kids naturally without drugs, but this was much different. The pitocin does make the contractions stronger and harder and I opted this time for an epidural after planning on natural birth again. The pitocin really made a difference in the contractions.
My suggestion is try without if you don't want one, but leave the option open with the nurses. They might have you sign some paperwork beftore they start saying you consent, but you don't have to get it if you don't want it... That's what they did for me and let me tell you...The epidural was amazing! Good luck!

[KM604]

I too will be induced next week if I haven't had my baby by tomorrow.  My doctor said that I am about 1cm dilated and my cervix is soft, so when I am induced they won't have to use the cervidal (sp?) to soften my cervix - so things will go quicker.  He did say that what he will do is break my water then start me on pitocin.  Now I tested positive for Strep B (so I have to be on antibiotics the whole labor) so I don't know if that is why he is immediatly starting me on pitocin.  This is my first baby so I don't know what to expect at all.  I have only heard that inducing can cause either quicker or slower labors.  I've also head that epidurals can cause quicker or slower labors.  I'm not sure yet if I am getting an epidural, I am just going to try my best not to have one but I won't say no if the pain is too bad.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

If you are nearly ready to go, the induction should be pretty smooth.  Depends what they do also.  For many woment they may just break  your waters and that should be enough to get things going.

For others they need to add drugs to get things moving.

My waters broke naturally, but then the labor didn't progress so after about 18 hours they got me on pitocin.  I found the contractions very painful compared to the ones without pitocin and ended up getting an  epidural (but I also had some complications from a previous surgery that made things more painful than they otherwise would have been).  Before the labor I had said (to myself and others) that I definitely didn't want an epidural.  However, after 18 hours of labor and pain I was very grateful to have the option of epidural (had to be convinced by my Obe and the anaesthesiologist), but I found that the epidural was wonderful.  

It allowed me to 'enjoy' and experience the delivery with debilitating pain. Probably also saved me from cesarian as by removing the pain I was able to relax enough to let the labor progress (I only started dilating properly after I had the epidural and nearly 24 hours after my waters broke).  If I have another baby I will definitely consider epidural again, and probably earlier than I did this for this baby.

Birth of our babies and our body's ability to handle it are truely a miracle of mother nature!

Like Heather said every baby is different and every labor experience is different.  You will be fine.  

Best wishes

[Heather3418]

I think that all of this will depend on how you feel during your induction.  Since you have two children, you already know that every labor can be different.  Who knows, with the induction you may fly through labor and deliver quickly.

Sure, people say that induction makes your contractions stronger and quicker.  But with your experience at having two babies with no medication, you may be able to breeze through this labor with the same method.

Believe me, you'll know if you want an epidural...even with medication you are still having your baby "naturally."  So don't beat yourself up, if you have an epidural this time.  Like I said, your labor may go so fast, you won't have time for an epidural.  Either way you can do it, you'll do great.  

Best Wishes,
Heather