Date is Set
Just got a call from the doctor’s office. If I do not have the boys on my own by Monday I will be checking into the hospital on Monday night at 7 PM for preinduction procedures (things to help ripen my cervix). On Tuesday morning at 6 AM they will start the induction procedures. This will be an interesting week for me!
Taken from The American Pregnancy Associaition:
Some of the methods used to ripen the cervix and induce labor are:
1. Medications:
Prostaglandin: Suppositories are inserted into the vagina during the evening to cause the uterus to go into labor by morning. The advantage to this method is you are free to move around the labor room. (This is the “preinduction” on Monday night)
Oxytocin: The body naturally produces the hormone oxytocin to stimulate contractions. Pitocin and Syntocinon are brand name medications that are forms of oxytocin that can be given through an IV at low doses to stimulate contractions.(This and the following would be the “induction” on Tuesday morning)
2. Artificial rupture of the membranes (AROM): When the bag of water (amniotic sac) breaks or ruptures, production of the hormone prostaglandin increases, speeding up contractions. Sometimes a doctor may choose to rupture the amniotic membrane artificially. A sterile, plastic, thin hook is brushed against the membranes just inside your cervix. The baby’s head will move down against the cervix, which usually causes the contractions to become stronger. This procedure releases a gush of warm amniotic fluid from the vagina.
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i’ll be sending wonderful birthing energy to you and the boys to encourage their arrival before Monday night. i’m so excited for you - their birth will be just as smooth and safe as your pregnancy has been!