How bad is it really to be induced?

[Mip]

Hi everyone, have heard that induction makes labour (even!) more painful and that it increases risk of forceps/ventouse and potentially c-section - none of which I want. However at only 40+4 I am feeling very stressed about being overdue and starting to imagine all sorts of things going wrong, also he's still growing - won't he be enormous by 43 weeks?! (when they induce where I'm living).

I am feeling so paniky even though I'm trying to keep calm and have arranged nice things to do every day. My mother was induced when she had my brother (he wasn't late but they thought he'd stopped growing), she had an epidural but that's it, didn't find it any harder than her labour with me. Is it really as awful as midwifes and people on this website often make it out to be? Thanks very much!

P.S Not intending to ask for one any day now btw, would like to get things going just before or at 42 weeks if labour hasn't started naturally.

[christiana]

Message withdrawn

[bambi06]

ihave to admit that after two normal [but quite overdue] births my last one was induced and it was the most painful labour of all.my body just didnt have time to adjust ,it went straight into very painful contractions which basically all joined into one very painful contraction very quickly..this time i actually begged for pain relief..[didnt have any apart from gas and air with last two]
midwife did explain that inducing is more painful as its the drugs that demand the length/strength etc of labour rather than your body naturaly regulating it..i was 21 days over with my last baby and get getting grief from the consultants and we had lots of arguements about whos body it was and yes i know all the risks..total scaremongering..dont be bullied into something you really dont want, youve go tplenthy of time yet..only 40 +4...let them only try a sweep and they can tell whether youre actually ready for labour yet, they did two sweeps with me and neither worked as my cervix wasnt ready yet... im not saying you will go over by as much as me as i cook` them longer my other two were 19 days and 10 days but no inducing!! if i ever had to do it again[which im not!!] i would try acupuncture and reflexology as a lot of people have remarked ho wwell it worked fo rthem...so ...good luck and be patient..als othe baby is not necessarily big, their growth slows right down anyway at the end

[susue]

I was induced with both of mine because of their size, one was 10lbs 6 and the other was 9lbs 10 [ he was a week early]. I didn't find it awful, I was given pessarys for both of them but I only needed one lot for the second birth. They worked well and both labours were about 5 hours long. When i listen to other women saying 'Oh I was only 13 hours for a first thats quite good' I shudder! The contractions did seem to just suddenly be there but they weren't too intense and I coped with just gas and air. I wouldn't not be induced if it were to happen again, in fact it's quite good because you know when it's going to happen and that it won't be too long etc. Good luck x

[hertsnessex]

I had to inductions (medical reasons) with both of mine, had 6 and 7 hr labours, for DS1 i had pethidine and ds2 i had g&a.

i can't compare it to any 'normal' labours as i didnt have any, and yes it can lead to interventions.

i had 2 'quick' labours and with ds2 it was a fab birth.

i think alot of it is about mental preperation.

why not try some more 'natural' induction methods nearer the time. for now though relax, enjoy your pregnancy and do some informative reading.

xx

[Mip]

Hi Christiana, thanks very much for your message. Well I feel as ready as I could feel I guess. Baby doesn't though which is why I'm feeling a bit desperate, as if he could go on and on quite happily, getting bigger and bigger!

The contractions without buildup doesn't sound so nice, but at the moment I feel I'd rather have that than this waiting and worrying. Of course I can only say that as I've never given birth before and therefore have no idea of the pain! Can have an epidural but had been hoping to get by with just g&a.

[amazonianadventure]

i waqs induced with my first, it wasnt too back but my experience was shadowed with accepting diamorphine which practically knocked me out and i have little recollection of the whole thing,i dont remember contractions just being woke up and told to push.This might sound good but its not really when you look back on things

Certainly induction can start the 'cascade of intervention' and you will be restricted in your movement etc and your midwife will most probably suggesty you have an epidural but thats your choice,i didnt have an epidural but i was met with unhappy midwife.

try not to think about it to much and get stressed your only 40 weeks lo will come when hes ready.

have you tried anyone natural methods? relexology,homeopathy,sex?

[Hulababy]

I personally would avoid induction for as long as you safely can.

My induction didn't work and was really a very unpleasant experience. 50 hours later I had a c section - which I have to say was a wonderful positive experience.

[BobbyGrantycal]

i found it fine - induced at 37 weeks with ds1 due to pre-eclampsia
worked first time
gel applied at 9pm then i went to sleep
awaoke at midnight to mild contractions - midwife set up tens machine and i drifted off to sleep til 2 when i was woken mby my waters going
hurried into delivery suite 4cm dilated. They tried to rind dh but couldnt wake him til 3am!
In the meantime i had a bit of gas and air which i hated.
dh arrived at 3:30 as i was getting diamorphine.
then a bit of a blur and ds1 arrived at 5:45
no intervention
very straight forward

[christiana]

Message withdrawn

[hf128219]

I was induced at 41 weeks - first baby so nothing to compare it to! It was OK - I promise!

[TeriHatchetJob]

I had no further intervention but, as some others have said, the induction caused the contractions to come quickly together. I had no chance to recharge my batteries, as it were, between contractions, so it felt more painful than my first nin-induced one.

If I could do things over again, induction ir nit, I would just request epidurals right at the start of labour. I was always too far gone for one and no-one gives you a medal for the pain and they were both flippin' painful!

You do cope with it though (you have too!!!)

[WinkyWinkola]

How exciting - your baby is nearly here!

I'm sorry you're starting to worry. But it's great that you're researching your options.

Being induced can be very intense, overwhelming and exhausting. And if you have an epidural, chances are more intervention will be needed.

Induction doesn't necessarily mean the cervix will dilate either. You can be contracting for hours and nothing opens up.

You've got plenty of time for labour to start. Get gravity on your side.

• Lots of walking.

• When you do sit down, make sure you're upright and your hips are higher than your knees.

• Pineapple (old wives tale (?) but worth a try!)

• Sex (although I'm told the most effective way is to swallow semen!)

It's rare for a baby to be too big to come out. If he is a big baby, your midwife will make sure he comes out slowly.

Let us know how you get on. And best of luck.

[Lovingthepink]

I was induced with my third and it was wonderful. All controlled, no rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night. Dh and I were completely prepared and all went well. Even had dinner. Managed on gas and air and it was over quickly - so not bad for us all!!!

[Mip]

Thanks everyone who posted while I was replying to Christiana.

Bambi06 - sounds like a horrible experience you poor thing! Always read on here about people battling to be allowed not to be induced and I'm very impressed that you fought for that, I feel like it's going to be the opposite with me. They're very anti-inducing in the part of Sweden I live (rest of the country you can only go over 2 weeks). Seeing midwife on Thursday and I will be referred to a clinic for monitoring if I haven't given birth. I guess it is them I talk to about sweeps etc as my midwife hasn't mentioned them, like you say though I've heard that they don't always work. Perhaps they do acupuncture/reflexology there? Have heard that they can be very effective. Thanks very much for reassuring about the size!

Susue - sounds like yours went well (and well done with the big babies!) which is very cheering to read. My mother said the same thing about it being really nice knowing when it was going to happen etc. That would be nice for a first timer! Hospital 50 min away and wake up in the night thinking of all that could go wrong on the drive there... was nice and calm before reached due date and now brain working over time!

Hertsnessex - thanks for another more optimistic story. Great to hear that you managed without intervention and that your second birth was so good. Interesting point about being mentally prepared. Have been looking through all my books to get me started. Just hard to find the 'truth' or a balanced opinion.

[geekgirl]

I was induced with dd1 (my first) at 40+4 and regretted it. It was very lengthy (started on Saturday, she was born on Tuesday) and painful - yes, you can have an epidural, but only once you're in 'established' labour - and what's classed as not being established can still be extremely painful. I had complications afterwards because my body was so worn out from the whole thing.

I think it's best avoided if you can. Don't let anyone pressure you into it and don't worry too much about the size, big babies are easier to birth in a way. Mine were all big (between 9.5 - 10lb) and the births themselves were always pretty easy, apart from the induced one because I was completely knackered and couldn't push well due to the epidural.

[WinkyWinkola]

Mip, be confident. Your body knows what to do. Have faith in yourself.

[WilyWombat]

Induced twice and it was fine, they do say that your body doesnt have as much time to get used to the pain as its just nothing then full on. I had one with an epidural and one without and quite frankly I wouldnt EVER have another child unless I was assured I WOULD get the epidural, but then im a complete wimp

[hertsnessex]

Natural forms of Induction

Although these are all classed as ?natural ? they are still stimulating your body into going into labour. Many will only work if you are already ?ready?.

? Long walks
? Blue cohosh (uterine tonic)
? "milking" the thumb (the accupressure point b/t thumb and forefinger)
? Reflexology
? Nipple stimulation
? Evening primrose oil
? Visualisation ? i.e. baby coming down
? Curry
? Pineapple
? Removing any fears of labour
? Caullophilllum (uterine tonic)
? Stretch & Sweep
? Shiatsu
? Sex

[WinkyWinkola]

Oooh yes, the nipple stimulation is said to be very effective. Both of them need to be twiddled for ages though!

[Mip]

Oh wow - loads of replies while I was writing. Thank you SO much everyone for very helpful responses. It seems people have very different experiences of induction, some great, some awful. WinkyWinkola - thanks for your very boosting email!

Re acupuncture etc, as I said in an earlier message am going to be referred to a clinic at the end of the week if no signs of baby coming so will ask them if they do that. Went on a fresh pineapple hunt the other day but none to be found . As for sex my husband seems to be worried about that now and every evening tells me to go to bed early and says that I need to get my sleep. He's being adorable and caring but it's absolutely not leading to sex! I guess I should say something but I would rather he was up for it naturally!

Will definitely try the walking, jogged down all the stairs (a lot!) from our flat yesterday in an attempt to shake him up a bit!

[Mip]

And even more - thank you thank you everyone! Have heard about nipple stimulation too, tried it the other day but found it so sore (see I'm a bigger wimp Wilywombat!) and then read you have to do it 15 min every hour or something!!!

[Idobelieveinfairies]

I have been induced many a time! My midwife told me the later you are (1-2 weeks) the chances are higher are having a more pleasent birth as things should really all be ready for all systems go! This was true of ds1 who was 10 days overdue, the pessary just kicked started things.

Other inductions were 2 weeks early and bang on 40 weeks because of sizes of babies. They were horrid, horrid times!

I was very glad to have 2 c-sections with the following births.

From my personal experience i wouldn't rule out an epidural..induction pains can be (not all the time) more painful nd intense. So be prepared! Don't want to worry anyone as everyone is different..just remember epidurals take all the pains away!

[hertsnessex]

this relates to HB - but take a look as its about being 'overdue'.

xx

overdue

[hertsnessex]

p.s. i was induced at 36wks both times xx

[hertsnessex]

also take a look at say no to induction if you don't want to be induced