Will induced labor hurts more than normal labor and what are the risks?

Question

My husband is working at a different country and can only take leave from work for 1 week or so. We both want it badly for him to be around for my delivery. My gynaelogist suggested induced labor at 38 weeks (slightly less that 2 weeks of my due date)

I am curious about whether the pain will be worse when induced labor that early. Also, what are the risks I am facing?

Answer 1

During the birth of my son, my labor began to stall, so they gave me pitocin.  It made the contractions hurt A LOT more, but it is perfectly safe to be induced. There is always the option of an epidural.  My friend also had the same experience with the pitocin.  

Answer 2

the pain is shocking but i don't think there are any risks

~MeL~

Answer 3

I had the Potossin with my first and I can say that it made the contractions a lot stronger, but with my 2nd I had nothing and the pains were not quite as bad... but everyone handles pains differently and I have a low threshold for pain...

Answer 4

Yes and no,

No, because you would get the same pains even if you were not induced, but Yes because it seems like it hurts more because there is no build up, you go straight to the worse pains.

Good luck x

Answer 5

It's really not a great idea. Your body may not be ready at 38 weeks and Yes inductions hurt more - you are almost guaranteed to need an epidural (not that there is anything wrong with that). Every unnecessary medical intervention can lead to another. If they induce and break your water, they give you 24 hours to have the baby (because you've increased risk of infection with lots of checks for dilation) and if you don't make it - now you're having a c-section.

I was always 41-42 weeks before I went into labor and I know if they would have tried to induce me that early, it most likely would not have worked.

He would be there for the delivery, but it may not be the delivery you want. I would start researching risks of induction at 38 weeks. I'm not trying to be negative, but if you were my sister, I would tell you not to do it.  

Answer 6

I have had regular, and induced, and they were the same for me... Also, some people will tell you that it 'greatly increases' the risk for c-section, but, it doesn't... If it did, docs would NOT do it. There may be a slightly higher risk, but that's about it... Feel free to ask your doc, of course.

With my first son, I was given Pitocin (after labor started on its own), to get things going, again... I had no pain meds, and managed fine... And, I was induced with my third: contractions come on more regularly, and faster, but that didn't make them hurt more... It may be just some women's perception, since it's not as much as a gradual build-up... My 2nd child came on her own, so I can compare the two, and know what I'm talking about. However: every pregnancy, labor, and delivery, are different, and one woman's experience, is not necessarily going to be the next woman's... Good luck!

Answer 7

i had induced labor with my 2nd child..first child pains weren't all that bad after getting epidural...couldn't even feel pain once i got it i just felt like my normal self at least until 10 mins before he came out...my 2nd like i said was induced i will never ever get induced again.. was already dilated but wasn't feeling any contractions..well..they stripped my cervix where they manuel go in you and with there fingers go back n forth on cervix.to rip it...not literally just there terms....i about hopped off that table...then they told me to walk that i may go in labor later that evening..so i went to the mall walked and walked...well 8 hours later i went to hospital like my Doctor said that i would be scheduled then for induced labor....well i went in there they gave me pitocin...and it went down from there...i never felt so much pain in my life...due to the pitocin my epidural didn't work...and the pressure from the baby coming down was horrible...took 2 hours to push my first child out my 2nd with the inducement better believe less then 5 mins LOL...then i went on to have my 3 rd no inducement felt contractions and pressure but nothing was ever like my 2nd delivery i refuse to...do induced labor again! altho..there has been some of my friends that has had induce labor they said wasn't that bad may just depend on the person

Answer 8

Induced labor does hurt more than regular labor. The tablet they gave me that they put under your cervix makes the contractions start out strong unlike reg. labor. They have another medicine to induce you though that more mimics reg. labor. Good luck!

Answer 9

yes it hurts much more.  I am not sure of the risks.

Answer 10

i was induced at 38 weeks and had pitocin to feel the contractions, they were painful after the dr broke my water, before that, i could not feel any of them. but, i got nubain through my iv and it felt so much better, i could feel them, but they were not painful, i feel asleep, thats how well it worked and i did not have to get an epidural... no needles in my back. honestly, i think the urine cathedar hurt worst then the contractions, bc i never had one and di not know what to expect so it hurt. everybody has a different tolerance for pain so maybe you will be one that can handle it. good luck!

Answer 11

I have only experienced induced labor so I can't compare the pain.  I was given demerol to dull the pain and also had an epidural at the right time so it was tolerable.  I don't think it is any riskier than natural labor.  Hope all goes well for you.