Just over three years ago, I was induced at 39 weeks for my first birth and baby. Halfway through my pregnancy, my doctors informed me that I would need to be induced. My son had been diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) which was scary to receive as a diagnosis and even scarier to read about online. My doctor promptly informed me that I would need extra ultrasounds and that I would be induced.
Knowing the Plan
Knowing I was going to be induced, I spent time researching what this meant. Being induced meant that I would be checked into the hospital before I was in labor. It was actually quite nice to stroll up to the hospital at my designated time, check into my room, and be able to setup before anything began. Once I got comfortable, I was told the plan. I would have a Foley Bulb put in that evening and leave it in until the next morning around 6am. I have heard that for many, the Foley Bulb is extremely painful, but for me it was a small pinch. Once it was in, I settled in and had one last meal before going to bed. During the night, sleeping was uncomfortable and crampy. I kept tossing and turning and wasn’t able to sleep that much. Other than being 39 weeks pregnant with a Foley Bulb, I was also swollen all over so I was used to the no sleep thing. Finally, it was approaching 6am and I had my last few sips of water. The doctor took out the Foley bulb. It had opened my cervix to 4 inches.
Laboring Through It
At this point, it was 6am and it was go time. I was started on a Pitocin drip and the dose was increased every 30 minutes. I wasn’t in any pain and just watched a TV show with my partner until about 11am. Suddenly, my cramps started to feel like actual contractions. It was bearable as I was able to walk around and squat, but about an hour later I knew that I would like to request an epidural. During the wait for the epidural, I was checked by a nurse and learned that I was 7 inches dilated. The pain while waiting was almost unbearable, with waves of strong contractions that caused me to feel overwhelmed and nauseous. Thankfully, about 20 minutes later I was able to get an epidural and suddenly I felt major and instant relief.
Oh God, This is it!
After what felt like ten minutes, but I learned later it was an hour, I felt a really urgent need to poop. I told my nurses that I felt this need, thinking that they’d let me use the bathroom. As it turned out, my baby was crowning and it was go time! The doctor prepared herself and then I received my instructions. I was to push when they said to push, and since I wasn’t feeling any contractions I did exactly that. The feeling of having to poop made me feel like I was going to split in half, so I was ready to get this baby out. I pushed as often as I could, and after 17 minutes little Sebastian was born. From the Pitocin being administered, to my son being pushed out, I was in active labor for about 8 and ½ hours.
Main Takeaways
Being induced for me was a relief, because it meant that there was extra caution around my son’s well-being. I knew that once he was out of my womb, he would no longer have the IUGR diagnosis and gain more weight. Knowing I was going to be induced, I was able to do a lot of research and read other people’s birth stories. It made me feel more comfortable knowing how they might induce me, and what my options were every step of the way. During the induction, I asked a lot of questions and advocated for my needs. As I am pregnant with my second, it helps me to know that birth is unpredictable and every story is different. My next pregnancy might look different, but my labor story has helped me feel more prepared for the unknowns of giving birth.
