experiences of induction, first dc?

[yuletopian99]

Hi all,
I'm currently 40+8 and have gone through the anxious, pissed off, and guilty stages and am now more or less accepting induction is looking likely after Christmas.

Sweep tomorrow and no induction date booked yet, but not miserable about it if it comes to that as it would end the waiting. HOWEVER what is it likely to be like? Have heard positive and negative stories so just looking for people's experiences really so I can mentally prepare...

[Ushy]

yuletopian99 personal experience here - but reliving my experiences I would go for only attempt at induction and then decline all further interventions except caesarean section. Most disasters seem to arise from multiple attempts at trying to get labour going when it clearly isn't going to go - ending in a traumatic labour, crash caesarean and hypoxic baby.

If labour isn't going to start after one attempt at induction then your chances of ending up with an emergency c-section, traumatic labour are far higher.

Yes, there are people who end up with a straightforward birth after multiple methods of induction and you'll get fed lots of 'positive' stories by the NHS but I am risk averse and regret listening to them.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[Ushy]

Sorry - meant only ONE attempt at induction

[Dynababy]

3 attempts at induction over 4 days ( 1 at home after pessary inserted rest in hospital. Got to 42 weeks exactly and no dilation so had EMCS.. Weird having baby but never experiencing labour. Others 1 pessary and into labour so you Just don't know what will happen. I wasn't willing to try a 4th induction or go too far over 42 weeks and consultant that seen me on the day of the section said she thought my DS couln't physically descend into my pelvis... He was 9lb 2 though!

[MasterOfTheChristmasDisaster]

Had the pressary Friday morning, waters broken Saturday at about 6pm. Then they started the drip. Things weren't too bad at first, but the pain took over. I couldn't handle the intensity of the contractions. I had an epidural.

Dd was born 9.30 Sunday morning, with Forceps. I was so tired I couldn't push her out on my own. I had an episiotomy and 3rd degree tearing.

Even though I think it wasn't a straightforward birth, I didn't feel it was traumatic. There are some things I would do differently next time;

? I spent all of my active labour on my back. Mainly to do with monitoring. I will make sure I am not on my back at all next time

? I want to try hypnobirthing. I think I panicked during labour, so something to focus on may help. I also had pethedine, which I don't think helped with keeping calm.

? I would research induction as much as possible. I went in on Friday morning with reduced movements a few days before my due date. They wanted to induce me that morning after scans and monitoring

[inadreamworld]

I was induced with my first baby - DD who is 20 months now. Waters began leaking at 40+8. 1st pessary worked but I still had the syntocinon drip to make contractions stronger. Had an epidural too as contractions very very painful. DD was born naturally after a 12 hour labour. Afterwards they told me that in my case they would only have tried one pessary anyway as there is a risk of infection when waters break so I would have been given a section if the pessary hadn't worked. It is different if your waters haven't broken though - they will try more times I think. Anyway my experience was good - ie it worked quickly but I know I was lucky this is not the case for many women. I am expecting 2nd baby in a couple of weeks so wondering if I will need induction again......Good luck and hope things start off naturally for you soon.

[snickers251]

Induced on a Friday, 2 pessaries a day until the Monday when the finally accepted my body just wasn't doing anything, they then started with an epidural to pull my cervix down and get my waters broken.
Ds was born 6.25am on the Tuesday, no problems, just long and boring for me. Only contractions I felt we're when they decided to let the epidural wear off for me to feel when to push but it was not traumatic in anyway, just long!

[GrandPoohBah]

I was induced for preeclampsia, not being overdue - I was 10 days early.

Had a sweep on the Monday night, went home. Tues lunchtime went to the hospital, had the gel inserted, started getting little niggles early evening. At about 10pm they were doing routine monitoring of the baby, asked me to roll over and my waters went spontaneously. I was transferred to delivery at about midnight, contracting 3x in 10 mins, I was 3cm by 1am, had an epidural at 2ish (well, I had to be on my back for monitoring anyway, I thought I might as well!), at 8am I was 9cm and DD was born at 10.30.

All in all, despite it not being the birth that I had hoped for, it was still a positive experience and I have no complaints.

[kid]

my waters broke and I was kept in hospital due to risk of infection. I think they've changed the rules on that now but that's how it was 14 years ago. after 24 hours, as contractions hadn't started, they induced me using the gel. 8 hours later, I was only slightly dilated so they moved me to delivery suite and gave me the drip. my body reacted badly to the drip and I had one long, 10 minute contraction. they had to keep starting and stopping the drip to try and control it. I had an epidural, which was topped up 3 times over the next 14 hours. dd was finally delivered by emergency c-section due to brow presentation.
all was fine though and I was back home 4 days later.

[EddieIzzardIsOrange]

I was induced with DS exactly at 40 weeks (bad spd)

Went in at 9.30am, got shown to bed and settled etc

Examination (said I was 'about 1 cm') and first pessary at 10.30am

Had to lie down for 1 hour (read, watched tv, chatted to dp) then walked around hospital (and nipped out for a subway!)

Started with period type pains about half an hour after pessory went in, got progressively stronger

Had 2nd examination (had got to 3/4cm) and 2nd pessary at 6.30pm

Pains again got stronger, offered some paracetamol(!)

Had a bath and gas and air before having a tantrum and being sent to delivery unit at about 10.30pm

Got to delivery, was very sick (gas and air didnt agree with me) had some pethidine and went to sleep

Woke up as waters broke (1.00am)

Rang for midwife who came in, altered the bed to a sitting position and told me to push

DS born 1.18am

All in all, was rather a nice experience and have no regrets as far as being induced

Fx, hope all will be fine and you'll have a lovely snuggly new baby soon!

[Flisspaps]

Mine was unpleasant, drip at 42+1, epidural, forceps, episiotomy, 3a tear, PPH and manual placenta removal.

I don't know anyone else who had such a shit induction IRL though.

[icovetthee]

Mine was fine, although admittedly I had no clue what was 'supposed' to happen.

They started me off at 9am with a pessary. No joy so they gave me another at 12pm. By 3pm I had mild contractions which got extremely strong at 5-6pm despite only being 2cm dilated. I was on the gas and air like a mad woman. My waters broke after an internal check at 10:30pm and things progessed very quickly from there. I went from 2cm-10cm by 2am and after an hour of pushing DC1 was out.

It hurt like hell but I was told it was because DC1 was back to back and came out with her face up and her hand by her head. Ouch. However, it didn't put me off DC2!

[MerryChristMoose]

I was due 19 Dec last year but dating scan was very late (19 weeks).

Began induction on 26 Dec. Three lots of gel over the next 24 hours. Didn't progress beyond 1cm. The OB said he thought baby's head was too big and was preventing descent. He was worried I was going to have a big baby (his estimate 8lbs) and wanted to PROM but I refused.

Decided to have ELCS at 8pm on 27 Dec. DS born 9:22pm, weighing 10lbs 11oz.

[BumgrapesofWrath]

I had a successful first induction!

40 + 8. Waters leaking (but not gone completely).

Gel inserted 10am. Labour started about lunchtime. Established labour by early evening, DS born 8.38pm. Worse bit was 2 hours pushing, and that was nothing to do with the induction.

What helped me is I did not stop walking up and down the stairs at the hospital until labour started. I then spent the rest of my time on a birthing ball until u wanted to push.

So keep as active as you can is the key!

[weegiemum]

I was induced with my dc3, but at 36+6 so they said it would be like an induction for dc1.

I got pessaries at 6am but promptly fell back to sleep so was horizontal for 3 hours, midwives were sure that helped, mine said she always advised going to the loo before a pessary.

Was twanging by 9, hurting by 11, in regular labour by 1, taken to delivery suite at 4, dd2 was born at 6.30.

Contractions felt ok. I had a drip with dd1, it made then sharp, short and, IMO, ineffective. The pessary with dd2 put me into the natural labour I had with ds (dc2).

I hope it goes well for you in the next few days. All my babies were early, so I don't know what it's like to go over, but I'm praying you'll meet your dc very, very soon!!

[ThedementedPenguin]

I was induced with my son. Went in on Thursday morning 6am had pessary at 7 then sweep at 1 ish then another pessary at 8pm. Nothing happened.

Next day got waters broken and drip started my ds was born at 10.03 pm.

I managed on Gas and air, and one diamorphine which I recommend.

They say pain is worse because of drip but after diamorphine I barely felt anything.

I preferred this type as I felt I was more in control although I dreaded it for weeks before hand.

Go in open minded to everything. My son was 7lb 7oz and was born with his hand by his face I needed no stitches, and didn't need help to push.

Being induced means you get monitored, this does not mean lying down the whole time, I sat on a rocking chair for a bit and they moved bed until it was like a chair so I wasn't lying down.

[supadupapupascupa]

I had an emergency induction with my first. Was very 'busy' in the room as DS wasn't happy. I had an epidural because it bloody hurt, but managed absolutely fine. All was good in the end.
My second was also induced but wasn't an emergency and was a really positive experience. I had the epidural again but earlier in the process and again had no problems.
Good luck to you OP xx

[Princesspond]

My circumstances were different to yours, but i'd say positive outcome as dd delivered naturally (eventually)!

My waters starting leaking at 38 weeks, but labour didn't start. Had long drawn out induction 1x pessary at 8am didn't work, syntocinon drip started at 8pm awake all night in labour had membranes broken about 2 am. By 6 am was 2-3cm dilated thought sod this I'm having an epidural so I can get some rest and have the energy to push the baby out. Was fully dilated by 10.30 2 hours (!) pushing dd was born at 12.30.

My next delivery was much faster and I'd say the natural contractions were far more manageable than the induced ones so just keep an open mind and don't rule out having an epidural if u have to have syntocin.

Good luck, once you hold your baby in your
arms that's all that matters, it's just fab

[Whiteshoes]

Again, another person who was induced due to my waters breaking, so a slightly different scenario. In fact, I think I went into labour alongside the drip, so I didn't have the pessary at all. I thought it was fab! I'm sure it speeded it up, and I managed on tens, a little bit ofhypno birthing and gas and air. Went into hospital at 22.30, had baby by lunchtime. Efficient!

[BigW]

I was induced due to maconium in my waters at 39+6 to speed things up after being in natural labour for about 20 hours. Ended with a c-section after a further 12 hours due to a failure to progress.

If I were going through the experience again, I would get the epidural before that drip went anywhere near me!

[funchum8am]

I have made a formal complaint about my induction. Make sure you are clear about what pain relief, if any, you can have prior to going to the labour ward. I was in agony with contraction type pains every 2 mins lasting 45 seconds but as cervix washy dilated I was only allowed paraxetr. DH had been sent home as I was in the antenatal ward (as not actually in labour) and midwives totally unhelpful. I don't think I can accept induction again if I have Moe DCs . But! many people have good induction experiences, I was just unlucky. Ended up having epidural, episiotomy and forceps after 3 days of labour and once they finally let me go to the labour ward my experience was very positive, it was just the induction part that was horrible.

[funchum8am]

sorry about the typos! 'wasn't dilated', 'paracetamol' and 'more DCs'

[yuletopian99]

Thanks, lots to think about! Sounds like drug free labour tends to go by the board for most inductions, which is a shame but if that's what it takes! I've been told epidural might not work well due to me having scoleosis, so will have to wait and see..

Have had a sweep today and told I'm 1cm so crossing everything it'll kick off naturally, but otherwise booked in for the 27th. Scared but nice to think there's an end in sight!

[Flisspaps]

I say this on all induction threads I am on - you don't have to have induction if you choose not to (many women don't seem to be told there is a choice, it's put across as induction is booked for X date and that's final).

It is up to you to make an informed decision, and choose if it is right for you and your baby :)

[Ushy]

Flisspaps I agree that you don't have to have induction but the problem is that really awful outcomes (i.e. placental problems which can be catastrophic for the baby) start to get commoner once post maturity sets in.

It's a little fact that sometimes get omitted from the induction threads. You are right, though, the decision is down to the individual.

[ThedementedPenguin]

Flisspaps I was asked do I want an induction booked, and I agreed as being already 4 days over was killing me and I wanted it over. I do agree that everyone should be told all facts but personally I wanted it over ASAP.