please request something other than Cervidil. it is NOT intended for pregnant women and can cause serious harm. do a bit of google research before moving forward with that plan.

I had my labor induced back in July due to Gestational Diabetes. My doctor used Cytotec then the pitocin. The cytotec is a pill that they put on the cervix and it disolves. Contractions started for me within the hour. All together with the pitocin and the cytotec, my labor was 15 hours. There are some issues with this one also, but I researched it and found that the horror stories people talked about was for women with prexisting factors. But one pill is a very small dose of the medicine and thats all I would allow. It does make your contractions hard sooner than natural labor. Feel free to contact me if you would like more info.

irishschippewa@aol.com

The person who urged caution with cervadil - I think you may have it confused with cytotec which is not meant for pregnant women and can cause harm. Cervadil is used in just about every (if not every) induction and is the safest route to go. It is a prostaglandin that will relax the cervix (semen has the same effect and might be an easier route!). There are other natural stimulation methods such as nipple stimulation, thumb sucking and LOTS of walking. Most babies come when they are ready. Remember that 40 weeks was not arrived at scientifically, the actually average length of gestation (from a Harvard study) is 41 weeks and a day. Don't worry, you will be fine and baby will come when ready. Deep breath and a long walk =)

Cytotec, a synthetic prostaglandin (hormone-like substance), reduces the production of stomach acid and protects the stomach lining. People who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be given Cytotec tablets to help prevent stomach ulcers.

HELLO...I HAD THE CERVIDIL AND IT WASNT BAD AT ALL. I WAS AFRAID OF IT AT FIRST BUT IT WORKED GREAT! I GOT IT AT 11PM THAT NIGHT AND BY 7AM I WAS DILATED 5CM. I HAD A GOOD NIGHTS REST AS WELL. JUST TRUST YOUR DOCTOR IM SURE HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING. IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE HOLDING THAT PRECIOUS BABY AND THE CERVIDIL WILL NOT EVEN MATTER. KEEP YOUR FOCUS ON THAT THOUGHT! GOOD LUCK!

I was 41 weeks when they started the cervidil on me in the hospital on a Mon night. I was 1cm dialated. After the 12 hours were up they checked me and I was at 2cm dialated. They didnt want to start the pitocin without me being dilated more so they gave me 3, 4 hour doses of a different med that was supposed to be a stronger med than cervidil and I did not dialate anymore with that drug so they tried the cervidil again and nothing happened again so they started the pitocin on a Wed morning and had our baby at 8:15pm that night via c-section. So needless to say after 36 hours in the hospital without any futher dialation they FINALLY decided to induce. I hope everything works quicker and is more effective for you than it was with me :o) Good luck and Congrats!!

Thank you to all your responses. As it turns out, my water ended up breaking just hours after my post, at 240 in the morning. Contractions started right away and by the time we got to the hospital, they were beginning to come on pretty strong and more frequent. I thought I was going to be a quick labor and be at least 1/2 way dialated. When they hooked me up to everything and checked me, I was at 1 cm and the contractions were coming every two minutes and getting stronger. They gave me an IV drug that took the edge off for about 30 minutes, but would only administer it every hour. After two doses and about 3 hours of contractions every 90-120 seconds, each lasting about 60 seconds, they checked me again... 1.5 cm. THANKFULLY, since they were wanting to introduce Pitocin at that time to move things along, they offered me the epidural at that point. I got the epidural and the pitocin about an hour later. Baby did not like the pitocin, so it was administered off and on all day. By 12-13 hours into this ordeal, I was finally progressing, but only at 3 cm and 90%. Two hours later, no change, two hours after that, not only was I no longer dialating, but my cervix was getting hard again and I was only about 75-80% (same doctor checking). I was wheeled off to O.R. for a c-section. Never having had any surgery, I was nervous, but glad to know that baby was going to come out. 17 1/2 hours after my water broke, baby was here! We brought her home today, on the day we thought she was going to be born. She's perfect. The Dr. and O.R. team did a fabulous job; I didn't even know when they started the surgery (my husband came in and they had already make the incision). From the first slice to baby's arrival was 4 minutes. I'm healing well, moving very slowly, but I figured I'd probably be moving slow with a tear or episiotomy (sp?) if baby delivered vaginally.

My best to all those w/ babies on the way. I was definitely nervous, but it all worked out.