Cervadil vs Cytotec for your induction?

[lynn07]

Had my 41 week appointment today They won't let me go past Monday, so we go in Sunday night to get a cervical ripener, then on to actual induction on Monday. I just wanted to see what people's experiences were with either cervical ripener. There's some horror stories online about Cytotec, but my doctor says they've had much better success with it. Anyway, what was your experience for your induction? Especially 2+ moms, since this is baby #3.

[meltoine]

I would run screaming in the opposite direction of anyone who tried to use cytotec on me to treat anything other than a stomach ulcer, which is its only FDA-approved use.

[lauren170]

I had Cytotec - no issues.

[cowboyjoe]

I was admitted for induction at 5pm. They inserted the cervadil at 6:30pm and told me to settle in for the night and that they would start the pitocin and break my water in the morning. At 9:00pm they removed the cervadil because I was having contractions around 1 minute apart and was only dilated 3 cm. At 12:22 my daughter was born.

The contractions with the cervadil in place were incredibly painful. It felt like razors. I was able to tolerate them much better once it was removed.

And it was awkward to pee, lol.

[djc315]

I was given cytotec at 41w and had no problems with it. I actually didn't feel anything, and I started having contractions too. Compared to my friend that was given Cervadil, she had to have much more pitocin than I did in higher amounts. We both ended up with C/S though.

[ryry]

I had Cervadil with dd1. It was inserted at 10 or so at night, but for some reason it kept falling out. Twice overnight it had to be reinserted, and they have up around 6 am and started pitocin. So...not sure if it was at all helpful. The nurses had apparently never had it fall out of anyone, so I may just be a cervix anomaly...

[lauren170]

My doctor also recommended Cytotec because she has had overall better success with it. Here's an article I read before my induction: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/712295

[InBetweenDays]

I had cervadil with #2. 41w3d, not at all dilated or effaced. Like a pp, they told me to settle in for the night but it sent me into full blown labor within 2 hours of having it inserted. My doctor had recommended cervadil because it could be removed, and I'm very glad she did.

[Brie]

I had Cervadil both times.

The first time it took me from 0 to 4 cm overnight and then they started Pitocin. Vaginal delivery.

The second time it was an emergency induction for low fluid. I went from 0 to 4 cm in 4 hours, BUT it had to be removed because the baby was not tolerating contractions. I'm glad we had that option--they pulled it and immediately took me for an emergency c section under general.

[Queen Mamadala]

Cytotec is not a method I am comfortable with.

The route it is taken can reduce one's risk for hyperstimulation.

www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0115/p279a.html

Some are more comfortable with the lower dosage of 25 mcg every 2-4 hours (it can vary) instead of the usual 50. I would prefer PE2 to help with cervical ripening or even foley, and a low dose pit drip with intact membranes.

Cytotec can be some scary stuff due to the risks of uterine hyperstimulation.

If I needed to be induced in the hospital I'd opt for a really good stretch and sweep, a few times, before induction date. If it ripens the cervix to 4 cm then induce with low dose pitocin drip to get in an active labor pattern, and then walk, change positions, to help facilitate the process (gravity and all that). Or try to get baby in OA or LOA position beforehand, which is very important factor in the start and progression of labor. And absolutely no AROM.

If you have a good Bishop's score prior to induction day then you may not need PE2 or Cytotec.

[angelstar975]

I had Cytotec. I didn't know anything about it until I had already taken it, and then I googled, and read the horror stories. It was fine for me. They gave it to me in 2 doses overnight, then started the Pitocin in the morning. I had a successful induction resulting in a vaginal birth.

I did have some excessive bleeding afterwards, and was given another dose of Cytotec to fix it. It seemed to do the job.

[imimahoney]

Cytotec.

It only got me to 1 cm and I was not given any other option. This was at the 2nd largest hospital in Boston.

[qcinoct]

I wasn't dilated or effaced at all with DS1 at 41w3d, but we tried cervadil anyways. The first one was put in at 7:30pm. Went back in the morning and was still only 1 cm. Tried a new one, and wasn't any further along by noon. And, it irritated the hell out of my bits.

[anna7602]

Neither. I had a foley bulb. It did nothing for me, despite the immense amounts of Pitocin pumped into me. I wish I'd been given Cervadil.

[greycat]

Cytotec - I was given two doses of 1/4 a pill (4 hours apart)

I was not dilated or effaced before the induction. I was induced due to pre-e (normal BP but high protein in my urine) at 40 weeks exactly.

[pennylane]

I was induced due to gestational diabetes, and was 0cm dilated and 0% effaced going into it. (Not for lack of my trying in the days prior to get things moving along.) I had cyotec every few hours overnight, then started pitocin in the morning. The cyotec got me to 1, maybe 2 cm. I don't remember exactly. Ended up with a foley bulb around lunch time.. The whole process ended up taking about 36 hours, but I was starting from nothing and then baby wasn't turned quite right so it took a little while to move him to the right place to push.

The cyotec did give me regular contractions not long after I took it.

[frlcb]

I had cytotec in the UK at 42 weeks and no issues, and didn't need pitocan.

[lynn07]

Argh, this is why this is hard. So many differing opinions. My doula said she's seen both used and wouldn't be surprised if they did Cytotec because it's not my first baby. I just wish this kid would come on its own!!! Thank you all for sharing your experiences so far.

[lynn07]

Mar 12, 2015 19:23:58 GMT -5 lauren170 said:

My doctor also recommended Cytotec because she has had overall better success with it. Here's an article I read before my induction: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/712295

Thank you. Interesting read.

[gretchenindisguise]

Cervadil with #1. It was fine. Got me a bit more effaced but not dilated.

[lolo]

Mar 12, 2015 21:01:12 GMT -5 lynn07 said:

Argh, this is why this is hard. So many differing opinions. My doula said she's seen both used and wouldn't be surprised if they did Cytotec because it's not my first baby. I just wish this kid would come on its own!!! Thank you all for sharing your experiences so far.

If you're dilated at all, I'd start with the Foley bulb. I did that, nipple stimulation and had my water broken.

I was fortunate that this worked for me. The hospital had not often seen a med free induction work, especially with first time deliveries.

[olivesyou]

Cytotec at 41 weeks. I think I told 1/4 of a pill every 4 hours starting at 8pm. My water broke at 2 am, I don't think (I don't remember) my contraction started for a few more hours though. Started pitocin that morning, then was in labor for 38 hours, ughh. It was rough.

I don't know what I'd blame, the cytotect, my body, or being in bed for most of those 38 hours. Every time I would sit up they would lose the baby on the belly monitor so I was advised to not walk around or sit up, which in hind sight I really wish I would have fought harder to do. I also got the epidural around 3 cm, so I was numb for over 24 hours.

[Saudade]

Thankfully I didn't have to make a decision as my hospital does not use cytotec.

I encourage you to use caution with cytotec and perhaps read some non-biased sources.

I am personally more comfortable with cervidil due to the ability to take it out of the body if the mom or baby isn't tolerating it. You can't do that with cytotec.

[Shreddingbetty]

Mar 12, 2015 19:10:57 GMT -5 lauren170 said:

I had Cytotec - no issues.

Same here. I was a first time mom, my water broke shortly after the 3rd dose and I never needed pitocin (I was 1 cm going into the induction). My OB only uses cytotec for the most part

[water*drop]

I had cytotec using the recommended guidelines listed in a paper published in The Journal of Midwifery (the title was the misoprostol controversy or something like that...I can get you a full citation when I'm not on my phone if you want, though the full test is behind a paywall if you don't have access to an academic library). I was 40w2d when my water broke, and I had a near zero Bishop score. My induction went really well, and I had a vaginal delivery about 16 hours after the first part of the cytotec pill was inserted.