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Childbirth

Due to be induced tomorrow...

19 replies

SuzanneSays · 31/08/2014 09:24

Due to be induced tomorrow- which I was really hoping to avoid as realise it can lead to a more painful labour with more chance of intervention and instrumental delivery -so am feeling a bit scared! Does anyone know what the main difference / pros/ cons are of the different methods - i.e, pessaries, gel and IV? Do you usually get a choice? Any advice or reassurance greatly appreciated!

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SuzanneSays · 31/08/2014 09:25

Hmm- maybe I should have put this in childbirth?

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imme · 31/08/2014 09:30

I was induced with my first as I was overdue and had problems with high blood pressure. I had the pessaries and then they broke me waters on the next day. I got the syntocin drip overnight and DS was born in the morning via forceps as he went in distress. So it wasn't the perfect birth experience but we were both ok. I cannot give any technical advice other than not to be afraid to ask for an epidural. Interventions are so much more likely with inductions and I wouldn't have wanted to cope without pain relief. On the plus side the birth of my second was quick and easy.

devoncreamtea · 31/08/2014 10:59

How come you're being induced? Is it for clinical need (ie high bp?)?

I am facing these decisions atm as have mild GD, but the protocol is to go for induction on due date.

I've chatted to consultants and mw's and what I reckon is that if things aren't looking favourable cervix wise, it may be an idea to suggest leaving it a couple of days - it seems to me that trying to get things going with unfavourable cervix is more likely to lead to escalation of interventions, whereas when cervix is ready, more likely to take the bait and get things moving.

I don't know your circumstances, obviously, but for myself I feel that swapping one risk (the GD implications) for another risk (the escalation of intervention leading to difficult birth etc) is a bit pointless - unless of course the implications of first risk are way worse than induction risks.

If everything is looking good with baby and you, perhaps a short delay would benefit in order to allow time for cervix to possibly 'ripen' on it's own?

If cervix looking good when checked though, I think it can often be a case of the gel stuff leading to labour pretty fast. My understanding is that you have up to 3 insertions of gel/pessary at 6 hr intervals before drip is spoken about - I am slightly afraid of the drip scenerio myself so understand your concerns!

My mw friend says that unfortunately once the induction process has begun, it is then continued until delivery, so if gel etc doesn't work you move on to drip/waters broken or whatever - you can't have a little break from it, or go home etc (which is what I thought!!). That's why I have decided to base my own decision on cervix favourability if safe to do so at the time.

I have never had an induction before though, so hopefully someone with a bit of hands on experience will be along soon.

Try not be scared, listen to advice and weigh it up for your own circumstances - very best of luck x

Aylish1993 · 31/08/2014 11:06

I was induced as I had pre eclampsia, I ended up having the pessary and the IV. I wasn't given any options other than was I ok having that done, they also broke my waters.
I found the pessary really painful I felt like I could hardly wee or walk. Having my waters broke didn't hurt at all, and I had had pethedne by the time the attached my drip ( so was a bit out of it) but it did come on quite fast after that.
If I was to go back and do it I would definitely have an epidural before you get the drip attached but then again I'm not very good with pain :)

SuzanneSays · 31/08/2014 16:38

Thanks for your replies all, I am at week 40+9 so think the dr's want to get started on induction tomorrow to give time for labour to establish after the inducement iyswim? I will definitely ask about the 'favourability' of my cervix, as well as position and health of the baby-any other questions people would recommend I ask prior to agreeing to being induced? I live abroad and sometimes you're not given that much choice, more presented with how things are going to be done. This is an IVF pregnancy, and after the initial difficulties getting pregnant, the actual pregnancy has been pretty textbook so have been really lucky, just sad that it looks like it could all go a bit wrong at the end, but I guess that could happen anyway with a natural labour!

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EATmum · 31/08/2014 17:00

Had an induction with DD1 and had been scared by lots of horror stories about them. Not minimising anyone else's experiences, but in my case it was a good experience. My midwife encouraged me to have an epidural and I was pleased that I agreed - it is pretty full on when you get on the drip. But having the epidural was like having a break and it meant that I had the energy for pushing when the time came. That DD will be 13 next month so my experience is not recent. But however you get there, very best of luck with your new DC.

devoncreamtea · 01/09/2014 11:08

Best of luck for today suzanne - keep an eye on that cervix!!

SuzanneSays · 01/09/2014 16:54

Thanks everyone- you gave me the confidence to be a bit more assertive with the Dr and ask more questions. Basically, baby is fine, but clearly my cervix is not ready yet so I have till Wednesday before they will begin induction now - so relived. COME ON BABY_HURRY UP!!!!

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cantmakecarrotcake · 01/09/2014 17:34

devoncreamtea made some great points. I just wanted to add that during my induction with an unfavourable cervix I did go home after about 48 hours for some decent food and sleep. It was against medical advice, mind you, and I had to sign a form that said I understood that but it was obvious to me nothing was happening so I bailed temporarily.
Good luck!

BlingBubbles · 01/09/2014 17:41

I was induced with my DD 4 days after my due date (due to reduced movements from her), had a pessary at 13:00 - nothing happened, DH and I sat on the hospital bed all day watching tv, MW's changed shifts at 20:00 and then gave me another pessary. Things started getting going at about 22:00. DD was born at 7:02, normal delivery, no stitches, no pain relief except for gas and air (although I did beg for an epidural. MW had to break my waters just before DD popped out but otherwise everything went really well. I was out of hospital that night and out shopping the next day

Not all inductions are horror stories, good luck I hope it all goes well.

SuzanneSays · 01/09/2014 18:28

Thanks for sharing your positive experience bling - so far have only heard about inducement leading to an avalanche of intervention!

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devoncreamtea · 01/09/2014 18:39

Well done suzanne - sounds like a good outcome. Loving the positive stories too - phew!

SuzanneSays · 02/09/2014 09:04

Well, I think labour has started! Woke up at 5am with contractions that have been pretty steady all morning about 7 mins apart. Have had a nap, now doing some light housework - trying not to concentrate on them too much. Had some very light bleeding - panicked a bit but think it was probably just my show. Excited and a bit nervous! Getting DH to download a contractions app now as keep forgetting to time them...

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BlingBubbles · 02/09/2014 18:00

Hope everything is going ok Suzanne, holding thumbs for you ??????

SuzanneSays · 02/09/2014 18:19

Thanks bling Hmmm, all seems to have slowed down now (sad) bouncing on my ball and drinking raspberry leaf tea now!

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EATmum · 04/09/2014 23:38

Hope things are going well for you.

SuzanneSays · 06/09/2014 16:58

Beautiful baby girl born 6pm Wednesday! I went into labour spontaneously at about midnight the night before got to hospital about 8 am with regular 5 min contractions, 3 cm dilated. Then basically everything stalled and by 2 pm was still only 5 cm and in agony so had epidural ( no other pain relief available here). It was such a relief not to be in pain any more- the midwife explained that I was having strong contractions but they weren't regular and I wasn't really dilating. Waters were broken, which speeded things up a bit. About 5.40 babies heartbeat slowed right down and everything went very frantic. I was whisked off away from dh and told to push with each contraction, ten mins later baby was born with ventouse intervention, cord wrapped twice round babies neck, and I needed lots of stitches. So exactly the opposite if what I had hoped for, but all worth it for our amazing little girl!

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EATmum · 06/09/2014 20:14

Oh congratulations. What lovely news that she's here, even if the journey wasn't quite as planned (are they ever?)

devoncreamtea · 06/09/2014 22:44

Congratulations! Sounds like a dramatic entrance - but so glad to hear that you are both safe and sound. x

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