If you first birth was induced and fast, what was your second like?

[FurryGiraffe]

I'm 30 weeks with DC2 and beginning to freak out a bit about birth.

With DS, I was induced at 40+12. One dose of pessary, monitored for an hour, nothing happening, sent home. Contractions started a couple of hours later, and within half an hour I was having 8 contractions of about 30 secs each in 10 minutes. Labour was four hours in total. The problem is that when it came to the second stage, DS's heart rate was dipping with each contraction then, because contractions so close together, it had no recovery time, so was just getting lower and lower. Ended up with emergency forceps in delivery room, nasty internal tear, blood loss etc. DS was fine, and so was I, so it could have been a lot worse, but I'd rather avoid that kind of experience this time around.

The problem is, that when I spoke to the consultant after DS was born, she said there's absolutely no way of knowing whether the closely spaced/short contractions (and consequent 4 hour labour) were as a result of the induction or just how I labour. I'm a bit panicky in case it's just me, especially as second births tend to be shorter. I suppose what I'm worried about is having a repeat of the close contractions/dipping heart rate, but faster and with less time to get hospital/added complication of toddler. The result is that I feel far more apprehensive about birth this time around than I did first time. And it's not the giving birth that bothers me IYSWIM, it's the fear of things going wrong.

To cut a long story short: does anyone have a similar experience re birth the first time round, followed by a straightforward delivery in a timeframe that gave plenty of time to get to the hospital!

[lynholmerpark]

Understandably you are apprehensive. Sounds as though you were hyper-stimulating which can happen as a result of the prostin/propess used for induction.

If allowed to labour without intervention my experience is usually that hyper stimulation won't occur so that's worth bearing in mind this time around if offered induction again.

If going for a hospital birth you could consider an early epidural to manage pain of contractions or opt for using water which can sometimes help to moderate contractions too.

[FurryGiraffe]

Thanks for the reply. The consultant was adamant I didn't hyperstimulate: apparently the gap between administering prostin and contractions was too long (about 3 1/2 hours).

The pain aspect of it isn't what worries me at all: that was perfectly manageable. I'm not bothered about me. Its the panic/terror of 'this baby's heart rate is far too low and we need to get him out NOW' I want to avoid.

[Nowthereistwo]

Mine was quick again but no interventions.

Had pessary both times. First time babies hb dipped. I ended on back to keep the monitor on and then with forceps. Everyone ok. Only afterwards did I realise she'd been back to back and hb was probably due to turning.

Second time had pessary again. Warned them on induction ward that once things get going it's going to be quick.

Got to 5cm walked to delivery room, mw were handing over, had an inch in water bath when I had to push.

Mw got me leaning over bed and a few pushes later and out she popped. No stitches or interventions.

My husband was glad we were in hospital as he said we would never have got there in time otherwise.

But second time felt brilliant. Like the birth I wanted the first. Had G&A both times but was a lot more involved second time.

Good luck

[icebearforpresident]

Much faster in my experience though I didn't have any of the issues you describe.

For starters i was never sent home

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

Watching with interest! My first labour sounds a lot like your, heart rate dipping, forceps etc. Was in labour 40 mins. I'm 98% sure I'm going to request a section next time as sustained a lot of damage!

[icebearforpresident]

Sorry,New touch screen phone hit the wrong button!

As I was saying,my hospital won't send you home once pessary has started though I know all hospitals are different. With my first I needed 2 pessaries given 6 hours apart. Was 1cm at 10am,moved to labour ward at 3am and dd was born at 4am. According to my notes my time in Labour was 4 and a half hours though I'm not sure how they got that as I always thought you weren't in established Labour until 3cm.

Induced again with dd2,only needed one pessary at 4pm. Things started much more quickly and by 10pm I was 2cm. Moved to labour ward then as there was some concern over her heart rate which was way too high. Once in Labour ward had an ARM to check for meconium but all ok. Dr examined me an hour later and I was 3cm,she hung around for about 10 minutes making notes and talking to the midwife and just as she left the room I needed to push. 4 pushes later she was out. Time in labour 74 minutes.

I've been induced with both kids at 38 weeks as I'm type 1 diabetic so never went into labour myself but my mum had fairly quick labours (though not quite that quick) so i think i just labour fast. Never needed interventions either and only had has and air.

[lynholmerpark]

Furry it's very frightening when that happens. Unfortunately these 'emergency' events (which means baby must be born within say 15 minutes) can't always be predicted so I can't give you reassurance that it won't happen again. I think you just need to tell your care givers your concerns early and if things start looking a bit pear shaped but birth needn't be imminent you can make more informed choices about how baby should be born.