by Alison Maciag

Created on: December 09, 2007

With both my second and third child I was induced. Induction with my second child was a breeze:
went to the doctor that morning, he decided to strip the membranes (since I had been 3cm dialated since Thanksgiving) and said "hope to see you later today". By 2:30pm I was in labor,called my husband told him it's time and off to the hospital I went. When I got there the room was ready for the work to come. The doctor came in shortly after I arrived to assure us everything was going as planned and that we would be having a baby that night. Things were going a little slower than the doctor wanted so he ordered the nurse to hook up the potocin and got things moving faster, contractions came closer and closer together and were so strong I couldn't catch my breeth, finally relief arrives, the epidural man shows up around 2 am, gets it right the first time, the world is wonderful again. A half hour later my daughter came into the world, the epidural wore of fairly quick, was able to shower,eat,stop by the nursery and then off to get well needed sleep. Recommended induction to pregnant friends, THEN with my thrid child it was a totally different story. Set date and time with the doctor and hospital(note this hospital was a TEACHING HOSPITAL which meant you were there for newbies to pratice on), arrive at 7:00am and was greated by a friendly staff. I was the only one in labor & delivery, this was great I wouldn't have any problems getting my nurse when I needed her or so I thought. Sinec I was the only one at this time there were several staffing changes. I had at lleast 10 different nurses and about 15 medical students in and out of my room, asking questions(felt like interagation), poking, checking, hooking this and that up, really driving me crazy. The nurse comes in to put in the dreaded IV and I tell her to Please get the IV nurse (you know the one that wakes you up an ungodly hours to take more blood)to do it that I have difficult veins,"Oh that's ok I can get it, you look like you have great veins!" She tried twice and missed both times, so on to the next nurse which I told the same thing, "Oh I'm the one the call when the others miss!", well she too missed both times. After being poked unneededly they finally called the IV nurse, and she got it on the first shot! The potocin is hooked up and flowing, but not doing anything,a few hours go by and I am only 4cm and the next thing I know the epidural is coming,way to early for this I was thinking. Well let me tell you this what was to be a wonderful day turned into a nightmare: The epi wore of 3 times, each time the renumbed me, I lost more and more feeling through out my entire body, I could barely feel my face and arms. I ended up having severe panic attacks because I could not move from my arms down.I tried to push but was so tried from to trying to move my dead weight body. Finally I get a nures who is here to stay and she assures me that we are having a baby with in the hour. She gets everything in place, sets me up to push again, and gets everyone that needed to be there. After what seemed like forever our son is finally born, the doctor places him on my stomach while dad cuts the cord. Then they whisk him away to clean him up and check him over. Meanwhile I still in the saddle and being ignored,the parade of medical students begin again. After this expierence I would never recommend induction or an epiduarl again, let nature take yit's course! Your body and baby will let you know when they are ready!

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