I was just induced with cervidil. I had a great experience. Due to my health issues, I agreed to induction on Wednesday (I had been admitted the day before for monitoring.) while it wasn't the 'perfect, move around, natural labor, it was quick, effective, and my baby arrived healthy!
Here was my experience:
I got settled in my labor and delivery suite. I was told to stretch and walk around for a bit as I have to be in bed flat on my back for two hours after the cervidil was put in. When the time came, the doctor inserted the cervidil behind my cervix with a gloves hand. This part did hurt, kind of felt like someone was shoving a small pine come up me 😁, but it only took a minute. Then I was left to relax. I was told it may cause cramping and contractions, and tht it could be left in for up to 12 hours and then would be removed. I was also told that for about 25% of those that get it, it jump starts labor without pitocin.
Well, within about 40 minutes I started with mold
Contractions, within another hour they were rather intense and close. The doctor checked me and I was 4cm and 80% effaced, so he pulled out the cervidil early (this didn't hurt at All).
The plan was to see how the contractions continued on their own, but when me and the baby had some heart deceleration (due to m heart condition, not the induction!) it was decided to move on to pitocin. Within minutes, my water broke and I started contracting hard. I opted for an epidural, it was placed in and worked great, I actually took a long nap! By early morning I woke up and recognized the feeling if the baby ready to come out (intense pressure in rectum and I could feel the baby engage deep). Nurse checked me and I was 9.5 cm and cervix was fully effaced. She called my doc who lives within five minutes of hospital and he asked me to 'wait for him'! Lol. So I literally crossed my legs and the nurses set up the room for delivery. He came in the door about ten minutes later, and my daughter slid completely out in one push. I did have a small tear but no pain. Baby was on my chest nursing while my husband cut cord, my doc massaged the placenta out and put in a few stitches.
While most people with epidural a stay in bed a bit longer, I was feeling so good after I was up and about ten minutes later.
I've felt absolutely great since. It's now 23 hours later, and I'm in my hospital room cuddling my girl. I have been taking Motrin and 5mg percocet, simply because she is nursing so well my uterus is contracting down quickly and that can hurt. Ironically, the more kids you've nursed, the quicker you contract down. It's very healthy but can cause painful contractions after birth (short and only for a few days tho!!).