During my pregnancy, I had no reason to expect that I would have to be induced other than the fact that my mom did. But since the doctor assured me that wasn’t necessarily an indicator that I would need an induction as well, I assumed I would go into labor naturally. If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I did, in fact, end up needing an induction. It was intimidating because I did not know what to expect and I was terrified of the IV. Those pesky little IV’s are pretty much mandatory regardless of whether you are induced, so other than the overzealous contractions, getting induced did not give me too much grief. If you are getting induced, here is what you can expect:
When you first arrive at the hospital, you will not be immediately hooked up to the Pitocin. First, they will verify you still need it by checking your progress and monitoring for contractions. Then they will hook you up to an IV to pump you full of fluids. You will have some time to chill out while your body is fully hydrated. After a few hours, your nurse will come in to add the “Pit” to your line. Since you’ll already have the IV, you won’t even notice the change until the Pit really begins to work.
Your doctor or nurse will likely inform you of how long they expect the Pit to take effect. For first time moms, they usually say 12 to 24 hours. It’s definitely not a definite time frame. I delivered within eight hours of my first dose.
The contractions will come on slowly at first and then intensify over time. The nurses will closely monitor your contractions and adjust the dosage as necessary. You may need more Pitocin if your contractions are not progressing as quickly as they should, or you may need less if they are coming too strongly and close together. You can count on being attached to the monitors and the IV during your entire labor if you are being induced. It limits your freedom a little bit, but you should still be able to walk around the hall with your IV while it is still comfortable.
Induction is often just one of several “interventions.” Oftentimes, your doctor will break your water to help along labor, especially if you are already being induced. Contractions will usually become much stronger once your water breaks. Women who are induced are also more likely to request an epidural or other pain relief since contractions are typically stronger and closer together during an induction.
As with all medical procedures and drugs, there are always side effects to consider. Try to reserve induction for emergencies only. Even if you feel like you’re never going to go into labor naturally, you will eventually have your baby one way or another. Usually, the less you interfere, the better.