I got the balloon inserted at 6:45pm and it's now 2:40am. I slept for a few hours but am now just laying here awake. I was bummed because the last time I was in labor and had the balloon, I was in so much pain with the contractions, I was up all night.
They removed the balloon at 7am and I was 4.5cm. They started the pitocin about an hour ago and they're starting to get painful.
Thank you for your well wishes and prayers! I can't wait to meet this baby!
It monitors that too. Especially when you're having contractions, it's way better at monitoring how baby is responding to them.
@luv- since I have to be induced due to preeclampsia, and I've had two previous c-sections, I can't have cervadil placed to ripen my cervix before the pitocin is given. Instead, they use a foley balloon where the insert like two balloons inside of you. One is placed inside the cervix, the other outside and they are filled with water. They apply pressure to the cervix making it dilate to about 4 cm.
With my third, I had the balloon, and like you, 10 other things coming out of there too! ? They placed a fetal monitor on her head as well to measure contractions.
I hate to sound ignorant but, what is the balloon for? I've been racking my brain trying to remember if I had, or needed one? I always had medicated births and some parts where a little foggy.
I'm thinking I might had one with Ds2. He had no amniotic fluid (but they added some). And I remember them placing something on top of his head to keep a better check on his heart rate. Poor baby. He was born with 2 huge cuts on the top of his head. ?
I don't know if it's where they tried breaking my water THREE times before realizing that I had none or if it was the monitor? ?
I had so many things in there, (sorry tmi ?), I honestly don't remember.
External tocometers (the contraction monitor) do not measure the strength of contractions, only their frequency and length. If you aren't feeling them much, it's likely your nurse is just really good at monitor placement :) that being said, you definitely are having contractions at a good interval from the small strip I can see, and most 2nd (and subsequent) labors are easier and shorter than a woman's first. Best of luck to you!
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