It can take from a few hours to as long as 2 to 3 days to induce labour. It depends how your body responds to the treatment. It is likely to take longer if this is your first pregnancy or you are less than 37 weeks pregnant.
Typically, a normally progressing labor for a first time parent from the very first sign of labor through birth of a baby can take between 24 to 36 hours. Typically, we expect an induction to last close to 36 hours.
An induction might be considered failed if appropriate induction methods don't result in a vaginal delivery after 24 or more hours. In such cases, a C-section might be necessary.
Once the induction has started, you will be monitored regularly. You can walk around but you must not leave the hospital. Your cervix is assessed regularly to check its progress. Induction is not a quick process.
It's painful
Oxytocin-induced contractions can also be very strong, and there is often less time to get used to these than when labour starts spontaneously. In addition, the increased number of vaginal examinations and other interventions (such as the insertion of cannulas) can create additional pain or discomfort.
The short answer: Being induced doesn't necessarily mean you're on the fast track—inductions can go quickly or last for hours or even days—but you're one step closer to holding that sweet baby in your arms.
In a patient whose cervix is already dilated, usually at least 2-3 cm, the induction process begins during the day with pitocin. From a timeline perspective, the induction process can be unpredictable, and especially for first time moms with an unfavorable cervix, can take more than 24 hours.
When your baby is ready to begin the journey through the birth canal, your cervix dilates from fully closed to 10 centimeters. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks. But once you hit active labor – about 6 cm dilated – it's usually just a matter of hours before you reach full dilation.
If your water (aka “amniotic sac,” “bag of waters” or “membranes”) hasn't broken on its own when you arrive at the hospital, and you're five or more centimeters dilated, your OB might recommend bursting the bag by hand—especially if your cervix seems to be making slow (or no) progress.
Try being upright
One of your biggest allies is gravity. When you are upright—standing, sitting or kneeling—the weight of your baby presses on the cervix, encouraging it to open. An upright position may also help get your baby into the best position for birth.
So does it hurt when they check for dilation? If you have a care provider that cares about your comfort and wellbeing, then it should not hurt when they check for dilation and many people don't experience pain during their exam.
On the day of your induction, please feel free to eat, drink, and shower as you normally would before you arrive. On the back, there is a step-by-step guide for what to expect when you arrive to your induction of labor appointment.
In human and animal studies spontaneous onset of labour is proven to have a circadian rhythm with a preference for start of labour in the evening. Moreover, when spontaneous labour starts in the evening, the total duration of labour and delivery shortens and fewer obstetric interventions are needed.
If you're already in labour, it can ramp up the intensity of your contractions. So you may feel that you need medical pain relief after it's been done. Induction with a Syntocinon (artificial oxytocin) drip tends to be more intense and painful than labour in response to prostaglandins or having your waters broken.
Inducing labor involves intervening in the body's natural processes by breaking the amniotic sac, using medication, or both. However it's done, it can lead to fetal distress (such as abnormal heart rate).
Once upon a time, hospitals shaved pregnant women before delivery. Now, shaving isn't recommended at all.
We advise that you stay in hospital once the induction has started. You will need to stay in overnight if your labour has not started by the evening. In this case your partner / birth partner will have to go home, but would be contacted to return if labour starts overnight.
Traditionally, in most hospitals induction of labour with medication starts early in the morning, with the start of the working day for the day shift. In human and animal studies spontaneous onset of labour is proven to have a circadian rhythm with a preference for start of labour in the evening.
Usually your cervix will open up naturally on its own once you're ready to go into labor. However if your cervix shows no signs of dilating and effacing (softening, opening, thinning) to allow your baby to leave the uterus and enter the birth canal, your practitioner will need to get the ripening rolling.
The procedure only takes a few minutes, but it can be uncomfortable or slightly painful. Some people describe it as a rough cervical exam. You should expect some discomfort during and just after the membrane sweep. If the sweep worked, you may begin feeling contractions within a few hours.
Once your baby drops, you might notice a lot of increased pressure in your pelvis. This may be a time when you develop a significant pregnancy “waddle” as you adjust. This is probably the same feeling as walking around with what feels like a bowling ball between your legs.