hey guys it's Alice here I am a doula and childbirth educator I spin the big wheel
of birth and find out which topic we're going to talk about today okay let's do it
okay so today we got cervidil cervidil is a medication that can be used for the induction
of labour now you might hear it called different something else the generic name is Dinoprostone.
I hope I said that right it is a synthetic prostaglandin so prostaglandins can help the
cervix thin so a face so not necessarily open to dilate but to a face so if you've ever heard
of people being recommended to have sex in - in order to induce labor or to soften the cervix
semen contains prostaglandins as well so two different things that contain prostaglandins serve
adult and semen but today we're not talking about semen we're talking about cervidil so cervidil is
a medication the way that is administered is I like to describe it as kind of like a flat
tampon so it is inserted into the vagina and the medication is on the end of what you can
imagine is the flat tampon and it is put right up against the cervix so that the medication can
hopefully start thinning your cervix so when it is commonly used in for labor induction is
if someone is needing to be induced and yet their cervix has not started thinning much or opening at
all then the protocol can be some care providers suggest coming in to the hospital the night before
the labor induction is to start the maybe pitocin induction would start coming in the night before
and getting a dosage of cervidil so cervidil is generally done overnight because it is something
that some people can sleep through without too much discomfort so generally you check into your
hospital room get situated get settled in be be permanent monitors go to the bathroom be put on
the monitors and then the cervidil is inserted right but right up against your cervix so the
reason for choosing cervidil going to surveillance Oh straight to the oxytocin or pitocin since that
synthetic oxytocin would be because your cervix might not be favourable considered favorable for
a pitocin induction at this time and with cervidil it possibly could become more favorable so what a
lot of people experience when having cervidil is either no feeling at all no sensation or maybe
some mild cramping as' and kind of some that mild discomfort from creepiness it's not common to x4
cervidil to cause full-on labor contractions that is uncommon however there is a side effects and a
risk of getting cervidil and that is for your uterus to become sensitive to it and to have
very quick contractions that are are not actually productive contractions that and that come on very
strongly and quickly and if that happens generally what does happen what your care providers will do
is to remove the surface cervidil so that it's no longer up against your cervix and to calm
that uterus down and bring down the contractions so those quick short contractions are not actually
what we're looking for when they do a cervical induction that would be one of the side effects
generally cervidil stays in your vagina up against your cervix for a 12 hour dosage so it's 12 hours
and then it's removed by your care provider and some if there is no change eh I've seen
care providers suggest a second dose so another 12 hours now you can while you're there some of
the questions are can I go to the bathroom one I have a server deli yes you can go to the bathroom
generally the cervidil stays inserted even if you get up walk around go to the bathroom though a lot
of walking is not recommended because it would you know make it more likely that the cervidil would
come out so my big recommendations for if you are getting a cervidil if you are being induced with
certain bill is to set your expectations for what is going to happen that likely there is not going
to be a huge significant change in your cervix overnight which is totally normal if your if
you're finding any kind of unusual side effects or discomfort to alert your care team as soon as
possible you will be monitored so they should have a heads up on it but definitely alert your care
team and please make it your priority to sleep sleep is so important if you are at the beginning
of induction and you're starting off with cervidil because it is likely going to be a long process
and sleep in the beginning is going to be so key so setting up that room for sleep having
your support person really promote sleep and that means is you know not a lot of chitchat not a lot
of watching TV or you know any kind of distracting activities usually just getting some sleep so that
the cervidil can do its part and you can be ready for the next phase of labor in the next phase of
the induction and sleep is so important when it when it's paired with serve it up so if you are
looking for more information about cervidil we actually have put together a short but
super jam-packed with info ebook on cervidil and i'm going to put the link below in the comments
and if you have questions specifically about cervidil please leave those in the comments
below and I will see you guys next time on the big bill of birth thanks for joining me bye