My Wife Is Being Induced

Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:42 pm

Hi,

Our due date 12/10/2012 has come and gone and the doctors have told us if nothing happens by this Monday we will be induced. I don't know anyone who has had an induction and was wondering what to expect and if this is anything we should be worried about. This is our first child and we are very excited. I just want our baby to be healthy and for my wife to come out safe.

Thanks!

Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:38 pm

Hello there!

Well I am in the same situation as your wife as I was due the 9th and I am being induced tomorrow. I cannot speak from experience yet, I can only tell you what i learned from my researches and talks with my Doc.

Usually Docs do not like to let a pregnancy goes long after 40 weeks and induce between 41 and 42 weeks. Reasons being baby might be getting too big and complicates a vaginal delivery, the placenta kinda expires and doesn't do such a good job after 40 weeks in giving food and oxygen to baby, and also you have increased risks of meconium in the fluid (baby's first poop that he can inhale while in the belly or while coming out and can affect his lungs). Hence the induction.

First things first, the induction is a long process. Depending how dilated your wife is when they start but my Doc has an average of 32 hours, very rarely under 24 hours, so prepare yourself for a long wait. It all depends on how your wife reacts to the drugs. There are different ones, personally since I am only 1 cm they will first insert some kind of device that releases drugs directly next to my cervix to dilate it to 4cm (hopefully). They will do that overnight. I can only eat clear liquids (apple juices, broth for example, no food).
Then they will remove it and start Pitocin through the IV. Pitocin is a synthetic version of oxycotin which the body creates naturally and make your contract (and hence, dilate), they give it pretty often even for normal labor when it stalls. By then, I can only have water or ice chips. Once fully dilated (10cm) you push, baby's out, everybody's happy.
For a normal labor from 4cm to 10cm you can gain about 1cm per hour. With an induction it can take longer.

As for the risks. It all depends on how your wife reacts to the drugs and if it all progresses well. The main risk is that labor takes too long or your wife doesn't dilate enough then she will need a C-section. Usually Docs give you a time limit, just because if it doesn't happen by X hours, no point in continuing, plus if your wife is too tired to push because of a long labor then it is not safe for the baby.

As for the side effects of the different drugs I do not know them yet, but people tends to say that contractions with Pitocin are stronger than normal labor, hence an epidural or any other help is welcome.

Prepare yourself for a long long wait, and I will think of you guys.
Fingers crossed all goes well.

Ludivine

Sat Dec 15, 2012 11:00 pm

Thanks for the reply!

I really appreciate the information. That sounds about what the doctors have been telling us so far (except for the 36 hour part). Good luck with your induction I hope all goes well for you and your soon to be baby.

Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:34 pm

I personally have no experience w/ being induced at all. My dr was talking about it at my one appt then that night I went into labor on my own thankfully. I will pray and cross my fingers that everything goes smoothly tomorrow and that baby comes calmly and healthy.

Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:49 pm

Lurker* It all depends on how far she is dialated and effaced. Also how far down the baby is. Also the hospital and doctors choices decide alot.I have been induced 4 times. Mine all started them them giving me an IV and monitoring baby for an hour. Then we went over my birth plan together. After that they started pictocin(evil stuff). It makes contraction start or if she has been having them get strong. Depending on the doctor normaly they check cervix every 1-2 hours. Once i got to 6cm though they always broke my water. Once that happens cxt get stronger and harder. If she plans to get a epidural I suggest getting a epi block/sometimes called a walking epi(like an epi but you can feel to push). My inductions have always been short labors. The first was 11 hours and the other 3 were more like 5-6 hours. That is time from when I got there til I was holding the baby. I wish you great luck.

Steph. Mother of Eva-15,Jordan-10, Christopher-9, Abigail-6,and a angel son Joshua. Host of Pregnancy and Infant Lose board. Mummieeva@yahoo.com

Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:27 pm

Hi There,

Eventhough you may be going through the process now ( You stated Monday would be induction day ) I still wanted to share my experience incase anyone else wanted some insight!
I was a week overdue and went in to be induced on June 16 If you read madeinthe80s response, she pretty much wrote my story. As soon as I was admitted they inserted medicine directly into my cervix - very uncomfortable since I was not dilated AT ALL. Almost immediately contractions started, felt more like constant cramps . After 2 hours they take the medicine out and from then on we waited for the labor to progress on its own. The whole process is incredibly slow, especially if it's your first. I had to wait until I was 3cm dilated to get an epidural and was in a lot of pain . The Dr. said I could have 2 shots of Fentanyl to help with the pain, so I tried to use them sparingly (Dont be afraid to accept meds if you need them!) Being induced forces your body to go into overdrive so do what feels right to you:) I finally was able to get my epidural - which was a piece of cake, felt the pinch of the numbing shot and thats all. Smooth sailing after that, though I will admit for me it slowed my contractions. Water broke when I was 6 cm and thats when they noticed Meconium. Dr's didnt seem too worried so again waited for labor to progress. Finally after 30 hrs of labor Dr. came in and let me know that it was time to push but that if he didnt start coming down quickly I would have to have an emergency c-section. Luckily that didnt happen and after 2 hours...yes 2 HOURS of pushing:) my baby boy finally made his appearance! Unfortunately bcse of the Mec. he had to stay in NICU for 7 days - but since then he's been happy and healthy Hopefully this helps anyone faced with being induced! Oh, and as far as eating/drinking, My dr. allowed light foods until I had the epidural...then only clear fluids:) GOOD LUCK!!