Induction on Thursday - what to expect?

[SerenaJoy]

I'm 40+10, had a sweep last week (which doesn't appear to have worked), and I was booked in for an induction on Thursday if nothing's happened before then.

I was told to go in for a scan tomorrow, then show up at 9am on Thursday for the induction, but not much else! I'm hoping they'll give me more information when I go for the scan tomorrow but I hate not knowing what to expect so was wondering if anyone cared to share their experiences? Will I be given something to start me off and sent home? Will I have to stay in until baby appears? Will I be on a ward? Will DH be with me or will he get turfed out? Will I have CFM and be confined to bed?

I'm trying to be positive about it (as at least I know baby should be here by the weekend this way!) but would find that easier if I had some info about what's going to happen and when. I haven't even been given a leaflet! I'm in Scotland, if that makes any difference.

[ruddynorah]

when i had mine i was booked in for 11 am on an antenatal ward of 6 beds with other pregnant women who were either having problems or were waiting to be induced.

there was lots of just waiting around, with dh, while other women were seen to. i had an internal exam first to see how my cervix was and if it was soft enough to make induction suitable. all fine. had a pessary put in. this was uncomfortable but ok. this could be left in for upto 24 hours while it worked. they said it would probably fall out once i started dilating.

after the pessary was in i was on a monitor for 15 minutes then i was told to go for a long walk and find stairs to pace up and down. so my and dh left the ward and wandered around the hospital area for a few hours. we had lunch in a cafe, then tea in another. we then came back to the ward as i was tired and dh went home for rest too (he also had dd to collect from nursery).

my contractions kicked in at 1am. it was a gradual build up. i text dh to let him know. he was not 'allowed' to come then and there as that was not during visiting time. the midwife again encouraged me to move around as much as poss and stay upright. she moved me to a single room so i could make noise as much as i wanted too. she only examined me once i said i felt like bearing down. at 5am i was 7cm dilated and dh came down. he arrived as i was walked to the delivery suite. in there i had gas and air and ds was born just after 6am.

honestly i was dreading the induction, for fear of intervention and complications. but it was actually fine. much much easier than the back to back 27 hr labour i had with my first.

[WhipMeIndiana]

you'll be put on a drip that starts contractions, you'll be kept in til you have the baby, ask early for an epidural if you need one, good luck!

[WhipMeIndiana]

well, that's what happened to me, 40 +11. you'll be fine

[ruddynorah]

they only use the drip if the pessary doesn't work.

sometimes if when you get there you're already dilating they pop your water to get things going rather than using the pessary.

[SlinkyB]

My experience was a lot like ruddynorah's; I was 40 + 11, went in on the Sat am, pessary inserted (no drip), not a lot happened during the day so DP sent home at 8pm. Waters broke naturally at 9pm, examined again, midwife said "hmm, baby's head feels a bit squidgy, might be breach". Scan confirmed this was the case, so emcs at midnight! (DP just about made it on time after hospital staff kept telling me he wasn't allowed back) Hopefully your LO will be the right way round though - good luck! x

[Jemma1111]

My induction failed and so I was told only a stick of dynamite or a section would get my baby out!.

I was so nervous walking to the theatre for my section but I can honestly say the whole experience was relaxed and the Doctor's put me at ease. Usually an induction will work but if it doesn't don't worry about the possibilty of a section, you'll soon be holding your little baby in your arms!

Good luck

[SerenaJoy]

I think that's what's worrying me - it seems to be different for everyone, and in different areas! Am I likely to see a midwife or anything when I go for the scan tomorrow? Or will it just be the sonographer confirming everything can go ahead and out again?

I'm also worried about DH not being with me, although I see why they can't have lots of men wandering around the wards. I feel like such a wimp (and strange to be anxious about this rather than the actual birth ) but I've never been in hospital before!

I''ll have to just be a big brave girl though, won't I?! [steels self]

[SerenaJoy]

I haven't really thought about the possibility of a section Jemma - weirdly, that doesn't concern me too much. The thought of staying in hospital longer afterwards does though. I'm a right weirdo aren't I?

[Jemma1111]

Your not a weirdo, your bound to be anxious, yes it is different for everyone but you will be with all the women who are in the same boat and just as nervous as you are.

Don't worry you'll be fine!

[FoxyRevenger]

Serena my husband was allowed to stay with me most of the time on the ward. On the first night (after the pessary but before anything happened) he stayed until about 11pm and was back in my 9am the next day.

This is what happened to me

Tues 2pm: arrived on ward, monitored for a while, pessary inserted (not sore, honest!), monitored again then sent away for a big walk.
Wed 4am: contractions started, given painkillers
9am: went in the bath on the ward until about 1pm with my book!
TENS machine on the rest of the day, my parents came at visiting time, was eventually taken down to Labour suite at midnight, 4cm dliated.
5am: put on drip (EVIL - needed epidural immediately)
After the epidural I basically slept until lunchtime when they woke me up and told me it was time to push.
Thurs 3pm: Baby was facing up and got stuck so had forceps delivery in theatre, was no big deal, didn't feel a thing, staff were all fantastic.

Didn't get out of hosp until Sunday because my daughter wouldn't feed, but it was fine, really.

Good luck!!!!!!!

[SerenaJoy]

Thanks for all the replies, it's really helpful to hear other people's experiences.

Feeling slightly calmer now

[SerenaJoy]

Thanks Foxy. In a way I'm looking forward to it as it means the end is in sight, but I'd much rather things happened naturally - the induction just adds a whole heap more 'unknowns' into the mix. My aim all along has been to try and go with the flow, so I'll just try and stick to that and not get too bogged down in the details.

Thanks again all

[ruddynorah]

Yes you do need to read up on C sections just in case. I think I read half of inductions end in a section.

[cinnamongreyhound]

I've had 2 inductions due to being overdue, one in 2007 where I was kept in on an antenatal bay of the maternity ward and ended up pacing the corridors alone (dh had to go home after induction and was allowed 8-8.30, normal partner visiting hours for the ward) and one 9 months ago where I went home.

For both I was monitored for 30mins then cervix checked and gel inserted followed by another 30 mins monitoring.

With my first it was at 9pm as they said nothing would happen until I had another gel at 6am, this wasn't the case and dh was called back at 4.30am. I was transferred to delivery suite at 4.30pm at 4cm dilated and waters just broken naturally, due to midwife cock up I ended up pushing for 1 1/2hrs but was told to stop as actually only 5cm and had to fight contractions, this led to them slowing down and me being put on drip with an epidural (very strongly suggested). Pushed him out at 11.20am with no other assistance.

With my second I went to McDonalds for breakfast after my 8.30am appointment, then to get dh antibiotics for painful tooth while slightly uncomfortable, got home and went upstairs for lay down which triggered proper contractions around 1.30pm, back to hospital for 3.30pm where I was 8cm dilated, waters broken, ds2 born at 5.30pm again without assistance.

Found monitoring annoying with both but it doesn't have to be constant, neither were the births I wanted but they resulted in 2 beautiful baby boys and very little damamge to me. Keep telling dh that I need another one so I can do it properly but that is entirely my issue as everyone else I speak to agrees I didn't do it any thing other than properly!!

[cinnamongreyhound]

Also both times I had a leaflet with all the details in a few days before, you are not unsual to be worrying!

[SerenaJoy]

Really ruddynorah? That's a lot! Better read up on c-sections then, thanks.

Your second one sounds ok cinnamon, that's the sort of scenario I'm hoping for! But not getting my hopes up given it's my first. I'm hopeful I'll get more information at the hospital tomorrow, and if not I'll just have to ask for it...

[cinnamongreyhound]

My information said 1/3 natural, 1/3 assisted and 1/3 Caesarian but I think hospital stats vary.

[SerenaJoy]

They confirmed that I'm to be induced as an outpatient, so I'll go in the morning for a CTG, get the pessary, then get to go home. Feeling MUCH better about it now.

Thanks for all the input, much appreciated

[Dazmum]

Don't know if others experienced this but I and several others were quite tearful, think the pessary contains loads of hormones! I went in on a Sunday morning and didn't have my DS until Wednesday night. I thought it would all work straight away and I'd have my baby by the end of the same day. Duh, not always!

[Dazmum]

Forgot to say, good luck!

[SerenaJoy]

Oh god, I've been bad enough without extra hormones! I welled up at Real Rescues the other day, because a wee boy had had an accident and was crying for his mum

Ta for the heads up though, will warn DH that the waterworks may get worse before they get better!

[SlinkyB]

Have you had your baby yet Serena?! Hope all is going/went well....

[SerenaJoy]

I have SlinkyB! I had a beautiful wee boy early on Friday morning. I went in on the Thursday morning and got given the pessary, started having contractions at about 2.30, then went into the hospital at approx 7.30pm, where they told me I was 4-5 cms dilated. The induction was fine in the end, but I think I must have been quite close to going naturally anyway, as it worked very quickly.

[threefeethighandrising]

Congratulations!

[SlinkyB]

Yippee! Huge congratulations! x