To expect my induction on Friday to be horrific

[MrsSeanBean1]

I was 7 days overdue with my 2nd baby on Sunday. My 1st baby was 12 days overdue, went into labour naturally, back to back, ventouse, traumatic delivery etc. etc. I went to the hospital today for a sweep but it could not be done as my cervix was posterior. I have polyhydramnias (too much fluid) with this pregnancy so baby has only just dropped head down into my pelvis after being breech throughout.

I have been talking into getting booked in for an induction on Friday at 12 days only. I am petrified as I have never known anyone who has had a good induction - all have tales of days in hospital, excruciating pain and often a c section anyway.

I am starting to think I should just kick up a fuss and try to just go straight for a c section even though it's not something I would want.

I had an epidural with my 1st baby and cannot image going though all the interventions I did without one so am really scared of having to have painful procedures without adequate pain relief. I even find vaginal exams excruciating when in labour.

Any advice? I cannot sleep due to this worry. I just want it all to be over now.

[bragmatic]

My induction was unpleasant but bearable. But I'd had a 'easy' birth before hand, so I think I'm one of the lucky ones.

After two un-traumatic births, I'm still a big believer in elective c-sections for mothers-to-be who are worried to the point of extreme stress.

I hope you go into labour this evening and have a lovely new human in your family this time tomorrow.

Good luck and take care. x

[EmmaBemma]

Sorry to hear about your experience with your first labour and your worries about this one.

My experience is, I had an induction with my first at 10 days past due date and it was fine - straightforward 5 hour labour or so, and only needed one pessary to start me off. I had a spontaneous labour at exactly the same gestation with my second and there really wasn't much to choose between the two experiences in terms of duration or pain (though the second one, I knew what to expect so wasn't so scared). I'm not the only one, there are plenty of others! I think it depends on when you're induced - at 12 days it's likely you'll be close to going into labour yourself so might only need something to tip you over.

Good luck.

[Weegiemum]

I had a similar first labour to you - apart from the fact I started naturally at 4 days before edd (and very glad I was as dd1 was almost 10lb!)

I'd a svd with ds.

Induced with dd2 at 36+6, because I was becoming increasingly unwell with a kidney problem in pregnancy. My cervix was "entirely unfavourable" according to the midwife. I was given a pessary at 6am and actually went back to sleep for 2 hours. Walked round and round the ward until lunchtime, contractions were short and sharp, but getting longer. At 1pm I was 1cm!

As the afternoon went by I thought I was kidding myself that things were progressing. Examined at 5 - 5cm! I was sore so as there was a spare delivery room I was taken through so I could have some entonox. After that 2 min walk I was suddenly 9cm and dd2 was born with no further help (apart from catching!) at 6.03pm.

It wasn't quite as easy as with ds, but a walk in the park compared to dd1!

Wishing you lots of luck on Friday (and especially hoping for a spontaneous delivery before then!!!). It'll be so fantastic to meet your new baby!

[WillYouDoTheFandango]

Mine was long but I definitely wouldn't describe it as horrific. I was 39 weeks (diabetic) and only needed the one pessary. I read heat for the early part of it, walked miles around the ward and managed most of it on gas and air (I did have some pethidine).

I didn't need an epidural, no forceps or ventouse, no tears or episiotomy.

I'd go in with an open mind and take it as it comes, panicking just makes everything harder. Good luck

[Doingakatereddy]

I had induction with DD and it was great! Spent few days been induced so took ear plugs, dvd's & snacks and just put my feet up. Labour lasted an hour and only ended up with forceps as baby twisted herself around.

First labour with DS was awful, truly awful - full list of intervention. So like you I was terrified BUT it came ok in the end, second time rounds you know you need to dig in & also listen to your body.

Try (know it sounds crazy) but try to relax, fab cd you have t listened to since dancing days or a great book. Eat chocolate - do whatever it takes but relax. You'll have a baby a snugly newborn baby at the end & it'll all be worth it!

[notoneforselfies]

Mine was a positive experience. I had one at 37 weeks due to premature rupture of membranes. They broke my fore waters, I laboured for 3 hours but didn't progress enough, but was is a lot of pain so they have me an epidural simultaneous to the syntocin drip. Then happily lay there for 6 hours in no pain (but with otherwise full feeling of contractions, able to walk about etc) and pushed him out in 5 pushes unassisted. 2nd degree labial tear but couldn't feel any pain due to epidural and it was all healed 3 weeks later.
If you have an induction then go for the epidural too! C-sections, though common, are still major surgery with the inherent risks and long recovery time, and really should be attempted to be avoided at all cost. (Advice given to me by friend, a surgeon, just recently after some horror stories) Induction needn't be bad at all with the proper pain relief. Best of luck to you.

[Trooperslane]

Mine was totally fine. Baby came fast and only had gas and air.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[ShutTheFuckUpBarbara]

My friend was induced for her 3rd and gave birth after a 40 min labour!

[goshhhhhh]

My experience was very much like Emma's. It was fine. Good luck!

[BearsInMotion]

Mine could sound bad - gels etc didn't work so from the first attempt to baby was about 60 hours. But most of that was sitting around waiting, or sleeping! In the end I had an epidural before the drip went in (which is what I'd asked for) and actually slept through part of labour! DD arrived 12 hours after the drip, ventouse delivery, but again all well
managed and everything was explained. Recovery wasn't traumatic, in fact a few people were surprised athlw fast I was up and about, when I was bored stuck at home!

[JennyCalendar]

I had an induction with my first birth. I was worried beforehand, but it was fine.

Pessary inserted at 8pm. Contractions started at 8am the following morning and DS born at 5pm. I had a lovely midwife with me throughout, no intervention and although painful, it was bearable with gas and air.

[Jinsei]

I was induced on the 14th day after my due date, and dd finally arrived 3 days later. I won't lie, it was pretty traumatic, and I ended up having an emergency caesarian anyway. However, I know others for whom it wasn't too bad at all, so I guess it's just the luck of the draw.

[AuditAngel]

I was also admitted for induction due to rupture of membranes, about a week before my due date, baby's head wasn't engaged, he was happy where he was!

Admitted Friday night, pressurise on Friday night and Saturday morning had no effect. I was really bored and cheesed off at this point, mainly because it was August and ridiculously hot.

Put onto drip in the evening, MW sent DH home for a shower and something to eat, telling him to be back within 2 hours for when the contractions started, meanwhile I had a sleep!

I had 7 hours of contractions, using gas and air then Meptid. After 13 minutes of pushing DS's heart was slowing down so they gave me an episiotomy and he literally flew out with the next contraction and slapped down on the bed.

I had a retained placenta so had to go to theatre for removal of that and was stitched up in theatre.

This was my first child, I was warned by MW not to stay at home too long with labour for no. 2 as 7 hours from head not engaged was deemed pretty quick.

Good luck.

[underachievingmum]

Will post as I can offer a good induction outcome too! I had induction at 38 weeks (gestational diabetes) for number 2 - although had spontaneous vaginal delivery with number one.

Pessary at 8am, established labour by 5pm, moved to labour ward for epidural, baby at 11pm. Didn't even have to push he just kind of slid out. Numbers 1 and 3 I definitely had to push!!

No more or less painful than my 2 spontaneous labours - had epidural for all three!!

Good luck - I found a relaxation audio on my phone useful for helping me sleep when I got anxious about it and during the early stages of labour. How do you get on with midwife? Is it worth discussing it her?

[stillfrazzled]

If it helps, I had an induction with DS1 and felt exactly the same as you - esp as I'd been terrified of labour anyway.

Waters being broken, gels etc didn't help so I needed the syntocinon drip. However, I was far enough along that I could have the epidural before I started.

Result: lovely, relaxed, pain-free few hours, then pushed DS1 out with only one tiny tear that didn't need stitches.

It was actually a great experience. Don't worry, but DO insist on pain relief.

[TamerB]

I am surprised reading all these stories. My first was induced because he was so late. It was very straight forward. The only unpleasant bit was having my waters broken. I think that must have been about 9am. Nothing much happened, I remember having some lunch. He was born at about 5pm and I just had gas and air. Very fast at the end.

[lougle]

All 3 of mine were induced (39+6, 35+3, 38+5) and my cervix was posterior and unfavorable. All inductions went smoothly, with only a 2nd degree tear for DD1 (hand by face in delivery) and no tearing for the other two. No intervention for any of them, and short labours (4, 8 and 3.20 hours respectively)
.

[Daiso]

I too had Polyhydramnios and they wouldn't let me go past my EDD - in fact I was induced a week early due to high BP.
I was induced on the Tues and baby didn't come until Thurs BUT most of that time was nothing happening. Once they broke my waters (which was an experience due to all the fluid!!) Baby arrived within 7 hours. Was also back to back - I won't lie, it was super painful and eventually I begged for an epidural at 7cm but as soon as I had that, it was amazing!
My advice would be to go for an epidural as soon as you are allowed it (that's if you are not against them) and I think it will make it more manageable.

[wigglesrock]

I have 3 children & my second birth was an induction. I'll be honest it was the "easiest" of all 3 of mine. Dd1 was a back to back birth - very very difficult. Dd3 was 1 day early so very unexpected, quick & a bit of a shock.
When I was induced with dd2, I had 2 gel packs, was only monitored for about 30 mins, it was my most active birth, I was barely on a bed. I'd gas & air, a few stitches & that was about it.

[Ginnytonic82]

Mine was very positive, I had it at 37 weeks due to premature rupture of the membranes. The pessary didn't work, so I had my fore waters broken and popped on the drip. It took just shy of 2 hours for my little man to arrive and I only needed gas and air so the pain was manageable. Fingers crossed for you, I hope you have a positive experience too.

[firesidechat]

I had two inductions and always wished I had experienced a "natural" labour, but my daughter's recent "natural" child birth has cured me of that.

I won't say too much about my daughter's because it's not really my story to tell, but it was back to back, very long (over 24 hours) and painful and the birthing pool was eventually abandoned for a drip on the labour ward, to her great relief.

I was induced with both of mine in the morning and had the first by 10.20 pm and the second by 8.30 pm. In retrospect it was all very simple and civilised. I wasn't too tired or too weak to enjoy the experience and I've happily come to terms with not going into labour by myself.

If it's your second it may well be very quick for you too OP.

[TwistedTrout]

Loving the positive posts, my induction was awful. No point going into details as won't help you with your anxiety. I have watched threads on induction since, to see if there is a way to make next time less traumatic. It seems that pessary and breaking waters are great, epidural and Syntocinon drip good. My advice is don't go ahead with Synt drip without an epidural. Have that in your birth plan. Good luck and fingers crossed you go into labour before friday .

[Wuxiapian]

My induction labour was my quickest, easiest, most straight-forward out of 3 births.

Don't worry, you'll be fine.

[buttercrumble]

My induction was fine , baby arrived 10 hours later. I don't think giving birth is a pleasant experience anyway, but the results are amazing. Good luck I'm sure you will be fine