Someone give me some hope?

[catlady1]

I'm becoming increasingly certain that I'm going to have to have my labour induced and it's really making me feel shit. I don't want to go into labour for the first time on my own in the hospital on a ward full of strangers! Who does?

Don't get me wrong, I know lots of people would do anything just to be in my position and I'm very grateful to have had a healthy pregnancy and to be having my baby. But to be honest, I'm a FTM and I'm a bit anxious about what labour is going to be like and having to go through it alone (well, in a room with strangers), at least in the beginning. I'm not hospital-phobic or anything like that thankfully, but I'm a very shy and private person and I'll think I'll panic.

I'm 41+3 today and my induction is booked for Monday. It's at 8pm and I've been told my DP will have to go straight back home because visiting on the ward finishes at 8 (obviously once I'm in labour they'll move me and he can come back in).

Has anyone been this late and gone into labour naturally? I mean obviously that's a silly question, of course people have, but I suppose I just want peoples' experiences. I had a sweep yesterday but apart from what I think was a show, I haven't felt or noticed anything. I have wondered if my dates are wrong, but I would have been less than 3 weeks pregnant when I got a positive test and my early scans were always bang on with my estimated dates so I can't really be any less pregnant than I think I am, if you know what I mean.

Is it possible to just not go into labour eventually? I can't help but feel like it's down to something in my mind. I'm not particularly scared of labour itself and I normally deal quite well with pain, but I just can't imagine what it feels like? People just keep telling me "You'll know when it happens!". For ages I was on edge all the time at every little twinge, but lately whenever I feel something I just automatically think, don't be silly, it's never going to happen.

And what is induction actually like? At what point do they move you from the ward into a delivery room if the induction works? Am I going to get diarrhoea or be in screaming pain on a ward full of other women?

I know this is probably the most ridiculous post ever, I think I just needed to write it all out.

[sweetpea1112]

I was induced at 39+3 and just wanted to let you know my experience as it really wasn't that bad!

I went in at 11 and was strapped to a monitor so they could listen to baby. I was induced due to slow growth and reduced movement so not sure if this is standard procedure.

At this point I was in the induction bay with 3 other ladies.

At 1pm I was given the pessary and started contracting ten mins later. Not too painful and I didn't make too much noise. Another lady seemed to be at the same stage.

At 4pm my waters broke and it was at this point I was moved to my own room. At 0030 the next morning DS was born!

[LikeCandy]

Hi catlady I can't give you any advice / reassurance I'm afraid, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm in a similar position and feeling much the same.
I am 37+2 with preeclampsia and I have an appointment with a consultant next week to find out when I am going to be induced.
I want my body to just get on with it and for baby to arrive early naturally, but I know that is unlikely!

I hope you get ots of replies about how easy/wonderful induction is to put both our minds at ease!

[FurryFox]

I was induced at 42 weeks. Had the gel at around 6pm, dh went home about 9pm, contractions started around 2am ish but I was sleeping I between them and wasn't really aware of them. Examined at around 6am - 4cm dilated. Phoned dh to tell him to come in and I was moved down to labour ward. I didn't get diarrhoea.

I can understand your worries, but I have been induced with both dc1 and dc2 at 42 weeks and it honestly wasn't that bad. I am currently 41 weeks with dc3 and booked in for induction on Wednesday, I don't think I 'do' going into labour spontaneously .

[nancerama]

You know you don't have to be induced, don't you? NICE guidelines state that you can opt for monitoring instead. You would get an ultrasound scan to check the health of the placenta - of course if the placenta was deemed to be less healthy an induction would be recommended. You would then be expected to attend hospital every 1 or 2 days for fetal heart rate monitoring.

That's what I opted for. I did a lot of reading around the risks and benefits of induction over waiting it out. After 43 weeks though I still was showing no signs of labour so relented to the induction.

Many hospitals now induce in the morning so that you won't be labouring alone. You don't have to stay on your bed or around other labouring women (I had a moaner next to me - I had to get away). I went for long walks around the outside of the hospital and around the ward and had a warm bath.

Delaying induction definitely helped me though as I was being monitored in the same place I was eventually induced. It made it more familiar to me and I felt more comfortable around staff I had got to know.

[nancerama]

Here are the NICE guidelines for induction publications.nice.org.uk/induction-of-labour-cg70

NICE recommend a morning induction - if nothing else I would be pushing the hospital to comply with this guideline.

I was induced in the morning and DH was able to stay with me most of the day, aside from meal times. By chucking out time, I had progressed enough to move onto a labour ward so he didn't have to go home.

[catlady1]

I knew I could decline to be induced but since my only reasons for doing so are quite trivial, I thought I'd better not. Like you said, I know I'd be monitored but if something was to happen I'd never forgive myself. Also my blood pressure has been a bit up and down recently, nobody's really worried about it as it is, but it can't be a good thing.

I didn't know they were supposed to do it in the morning though. My midwife said that they pretty much always do it in the evening - they'll give me the pessary when I arrive and then if nothing's happened by the morning they'll examine me and either break my waters if they can, or try again. That's quite interesting, the main thing I'm worrying about is being on my own so if I could go in in the morning and have someone with me I think I'd be a lot more relaxed. And hopefully it will work the first time and I won't have to be on my own at all. I know DP won't be getting much rest either, he'll be sat at home waiting for the phone to ring all night, so it all seems a bit pointless doing it overnight.

[catlady1]

Oops posted too soon - I've forgotten what I was going to say now but thanks for everyone's replies :)

[nancerama]

It is a bit bonkers, isn't it? I know they need to keep a close eye on you if you're being induced, but I struggled to get my head around all the rules changing if you go overdue - especially being in hospital for a whole labour, when you're told that's absolutely what you MUST NOT DO if you go into labour spontaneously.

Whatever happens you will meet your baby very, very soon. In the meantime, relax and trust your body to do what it needs to do.

[BionicEmu]

I was induced 7 weeks ago with dc2, & it was a far nicer labour than dc1's spontaneous labour.

Admitted onto induction suite at 1pm. Baby monitored on ctg, but heart-rate wasn't great. Luckily after a few hours heart-rate was fine so had the propess pessary thing inserted at 5pm. Had a few mild contractions that night, but slept ok. 5pm next day they took propess out and examined me, I was 2-3cm dilated. Unfortunately no room on labour suite, so just had to wait in induction suite.

There was finally room on labour suite at 11am the following day, by which point all contractions had stopped. They examined me, I was 3cm & the MW managed to break my waters.

However, an hour later I'd still not had any contractions, so was started on the drip at about 1:30pm. Felt first contraction at about 3:15pm. Was checked at 4:15pm as I wanted some diamorphine (had just been using gas & air), they found I was 8cm dilated! 10 minutes later I started pushing, DD was born at 4:50pm.

Never got my diamorphine, but that was fine given how far along I actually was.

Beforehand I'd read all sorts of horror stories about inductions, but as I said, mine was absolutely lovely. Good luck!

[poshme]

I was induced on my due date (low fluid levels meant concern for baby).
Pessary did very little- period type pains but not much else the first night. DH had to go home but I was ok. My advice for the early bit is if they offer paracetamol- take it! Even if you feel you don't need it, you might want some within half an hour, and then it can be hard to get.
We had to wait around a lot- either not enough m/w in delivery suite, or not enough rooms.
We were low priority- so had to wait. Take something to do- a book/ cards etc
I had an epidural before the drip which was my request (Dc3) so I've done this before.
Overall, it was my easiest/least stressful birth experience. Don't panic- induction can be fine.

[flipflopper]

Haven't got time for a long post, just to say I've had 2 inductions with numbers 1&3 and they were both fine, both babies born within 9 hours of being induced, but the actual labours only 2-3 hours, so quick, I was really lucky.

Yes, your dh will prob have to go home, but one you get there, you just go with the flow, and it will be fine. With my first, dh was sent home as I went in in the evening, but they ahd to ring him to come back after a couple of hours.

I think you will be fine, and as you are so overdue, im sure you will be ready!

However, hope you go into labour over the weekend! I remember feeling like I had failed as I didn't go into labour naturally, but honestly, you have carried the baby for 9 months, what does it matter how it gets out, as long as you are both healthy!

Good luck xxx

[HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm]

There's still time!

At 41+3 I had absolutely nothing going on, despite 2 sweeps. DS arrived at 41+6, 12 hours before I was due to be admitted for induction. All v straightforward.

So don't give up hope of getting there on your own.

Either way, you'll be meeting your baby in less than a week. Focus on the end game, not the process. It's just a day or two out of your life.

Best of luck.

[AnathemaDevice]

Don't give up hope just yet. Like HPsauce I avoided induction by the skin of my teeth. I eventually went into labour at 40+13, the evening before I was due at the hospital. This was after 3 sweeps and trying every old wives tale I'd heard of to bring on labour. DS1 is nearly 4 now, and is still late for everything.

To give you even more hope, after all that waiting I had a quick, (relatively) easy and straightforward labour. Plus I've never gone that far over again. DD was only 3 days over, DS2 was 4 days over.

[HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm]

Thanks from me anathema, I've been worrying I'll be massively late again. 36 weeks and would love to think baby will turn up just a couple of days late!!