Once you've been given the Oxytocin/Pitocin...is there an approximate time frame before you're ready to give birth? I'm full term tomorrow, and the @#% doctors want to induce, claiming that because of my age, they don't want me to go past my due date. I have refused this twice, insisting that I at least REACH my due date and hoping very much to just go into labor. I haven't. I'm really frustrated and feeling hateful about it, but if I have to do this....IS there a normal time frame?
They claim that older mothers (I'm 42)have a high risk of the placenta pulling away from the uterine lining if you go past your due date, but this pregnancy is A) my second, though my son is 25 years old, and B) this has been a text book pregnancy. No high blood pressure or diabetes, my weight is always right on target, the baby tested normal for everything (though in the 75th percentile for size, so she's estimated at between 8.5 and 9lbs), so I don't know why this is SO important. I've lost my 'plug' and am having random Braxton Hicks, so I think I would go on my own very soon anyway. UGH!

There is no certainty, but a general rule of thumb is dialation of 1 cm per hour.
Ask the doctor to calculate the Bishops score to find out whether your cervix is even favorable.

Unless they have something other than age, I think they are full of crap. If you had had blood pressure or some other complication, then I can understand. I haven't actually seen anything (study) that says that older women need to be induced for just reasons of age.

Expect to have an epidural. Pitocin induced contractions are more painful, or so many women report.

I went to Labor and Delivery with contractions 4 min. apart .. and then within 2 hrs. I was in full blown labor on my own (1 week after my due date) and was dilated to 4 cm (my water broke on its own 1 hr. after being there) and by that point (2 hrs of hard labor) I was begging for the epidural .. and finally got it! (the anestesiologist was in with an emergency c-section and couldn't tend to me) .. and right after the epidural they gave me the patocin (which the patocin started HARD contractions 2 minutes apart) and I had the baby out in 7 hrs.
(total of 9, with 2 hrs before the patocin .. and 7 hrs. after the patocin)
I've never had patocin without having the epidural first .. but my OB's nurse did (and a couple other people) and they literally have WAR stories about it .. it's supposedly really painful. I was in a lot of pain even with the epidural .. I don't think I would have been able to manage without it (but my baby did have a really big head .. he's in the 95 percentile .. so that might have made it worse
The patocin is like regual contractions they just make them come quicker so you dilate quicker .. I didn't have any complications whatsoever with the patocin (or epidural) .. but I would definitely get the epidural if you are getting patocin!
*I actaully dilated from 4cm-10cm within 3 hrs of the patocin being put in the IV (but my water had already brokend and I had already been in labor on my own) all the time after that was pushing that big head out!
*also, make sure your cervix is at least at 2cm before they give you the patocin . . my doctor said if you get the patocin before you are at 2cm .. then there is a good chance it will end in c-section because your cervix will not thin out just from the patocin.
congrats on the little one! God bless!

Honey, it all depends on your body, and how it responds to the Pitocin. I had an induction, and it was wonderful - wouldn't have done anything different. The nurses will monitor the pitocin level and how you are progressing, giving you more or less at different times. You will be able to track your total labor easily this way, and that's nice if you are opting to use any drugs. good luck, and blessings to you and your new little person.

My doctor told me labor usually lasts longer when induced. I was induced with all three of my kids, from start to finish my labors were all 6 hours. I think it depends on the person. Good luck to you.