I had a failed induction with my first child and ended up with a c-section.
I went in on a Friday morning and they started the pitocin and nothing
happened all day, except what was barely detectable by the fetal monitor.
Around 9pm that night, the doctor put in the gel and then I was in back
labor all night and couldn't sleep. They put me back on the pitocin in the
morning at a much higher dose/rate and broke my water. Once the water's
broken, there's no turning back. I was so exhausted by the time I was in
active labor Saturday afternoon that I just didn't have the energy to push.
(It was late afternoon Saturday and I hadn't eaten since Thursday night.)
The baby was posterior and was crowning and just wouldn't come out that way
so they basically pushed it back in and took me into the OR for the section
and the baby was born around 8:30pm.

When I had my twins four years later, I opted for a scheduled c-section
because of my previous bad experience with the pitocin and from anecdotal
advice/stories that c-sections are *much* easier to recover from if they're
not done after two days in labor. I have to agree, my recovery the 2nd time
was *much* quicker.

Leigh in raLeigh

"Usenet Fan" wrote in message
m...
I got a call from a friend today who had gone in to the hospital for
induction. She was only 3 days past her due date, but was suffering
horribly from indigestion and acid reflux, so when her OB suggested
induction, she set the date.

She went in last night for the cytotec gel, then was to get pitocin
today. They gave it to her all day. Contractions apparently were
visible on the fetal monitor, but she wasn't feeling much.

After an entire night and day in the hospital, they told her that the
pitocin just wasn't working, and they sent her home. Said if she
doesn't go into labor spontaneously by Friday, they'll start induction
again on Saturday.

The conception date was absolutely certain, since it was an IVF baby,
so this isn't a case of induction terribly early.

Has anyone ever heard of pitocin FAILING to induce labor? Is it
possible that some people are just not reactive to pitocin? What
would happen next if she doesn't go into labor spontaneously? I'm
thinking stripping of membranes or something. I'm just nervous for
her that if pitocin doesn't work again they'll cart her right off for
a c-section.

Anyway, it's got me thinking and I wondered what anyone here knows
about this type of reaction from induction?


Thanks,
Robin
#1 EDD early December, 2003