How long do you think I will be in labor?

Question

I'm 41 weeks and 5 days pregnant, I'm getting induced tomorrow morning, I have to call around 5am and probably be in there by 7am. I'm already 2 1/2 cm dilated and my cervix is very thin. They are starting me out on the gel first. How long do you think labor will be? How long do they give you to progress before a c-section? I've also heard if the inducing doesn't work they have sent people home before, will they send me home if I don't progress? Any other advice would be great!

I'm also going to get an epi. How many cm do you have to be dilated before they will let you have one? How long do they wait before they give you pain meds if you want them?

Answer 1

I had the gel and pitocin to induce labor. It was a little over 36 hours, but my cervix was not thinned out at all, so I think you'll do better (time wise). When they give you the gel, put your hands on your chest and take deep breaths. It's uncomfortable and doing that will help. They check your cervix regularly after that (maybe every hour or two). Once they try to induce you, they shouldn't let you go home. I remember my doctor told me that if I didn't go into labor by 9 am the next morning, they would do a c-section (I actually think he "scared" me into going into labor, LOL). Epi are after 4 cm and before 7 or 8 cm.

Good luck!!!   (PS: My "baby" just had her sweet sixteen)

Answer 2

I think u will progress very quickly...with my second when i was 2 cent dialated and 42 weeks i had to get cervidil to thin out my cervix and then was going to have pitocin but the cervidil did its job and i gave birth 6 hours after being admitted to the hospital.Since u are kinda in a boat like i was yours too will prob go pretty quickly. They wont send u home either..this is oly on occasion when hospitals do this and u being already practically 42 weeks they cannot risk sending u home and something happening to u or the baby..Going beyond 42 weeks is dangerous.

I had the pi with all 3 of my kids. It really depends on how your body is prgressing, on your doctor and the hospital policy. But with my first i got the epi at 5 cents, this is because i needed major fluids as i was very dehydrated and they could not give the epi until my body had enough water intake.With my second i got the epi at 4 cents and with my 3rd i got it at 2 cent. When u get there ask them when u can get one. If u are in pain and they cannot get u the epi yet then they will give u some iv meds to knock u to sleep (which they can give u at any time during labor)...Either way, dont worry all will go well. good luck and congrats!

Answer 3

Everyone is different I was induced and my labor lasted 9 hours. I have friends who were induced too and were in labor for 20 hours before they decided for a c-section.  

Answer 4

No epi before 4cm and not usually after 7cm, so far as how long you labor will last only God himself knows, could be as little as 6hrs or as long as 22hrs.

Answer 5

You should have asked your doctor all these questions. You have multiple questions and the doctor can best explain.

In my opinion each woman is different and each labor is as well.

Good Luck and congrats.