Gloomy about induction underway

[djini]

I'm in hospital on the antenatal ward, being induced via pessary at 40 weeks today due to advanced maternal age (I'm 41, pass me my zimmer). This is DC2. DC1 was a planned homebirth at 39+2, really lovely and intimate and I felt in control and relaxed (well, some of the time) which helped make it fairly swift - stage 1 labour: 5 hours, stage 2: 15 minutes.

This, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of the kind of birth I wanted. I asked for homebirth, consultant and I settled on birth centre if spontaneous labour occurred before 40 wks, but now we're on the induction path I so wanted to avoid. Noisy antenatal ward. Nowhere to be active, just a bed to slump on, full of people who are genuinely ill or need monitoring because of a proper condition...and me, who is fine (textbook boring pregnancy, no issues) apart from being a year over some arbitrary line. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

I was so convinced I'd swerve this induction by going into labour spontaneously over Christmas or new year. Been having reflexology, bouncing on the ball, RLT, keeping upright and active. Lots of BH, and backache. Had two sweeps (38+5 + 39+5) but nada. And now I'm stuck in hospital as a patient until I go into labour, in the least relaxing or conducive place to do so. Feels like the stress is actively working against me here.

Pessary went in at 1.30 and nothing to report yet. Once it gets started I'll feel less gloomy but there are so many stories out there about propess being ineffective. If I have to go through a second day of this I'll be climbing the walls.

Please cheer me up with your tales of happy, swift induction for second babies at 40 weeks. Or imaginary baskets of kittens. Whichever you have to hand.

[teacher1984]

So sorry to hear your frustration. How come you didn't just refuse induction? Based on your previous labour there is every chance you would have had a similar short, straightforward labour when baby is ready.

You can just refuse and go home you know

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

Oh, I have two. Happy ish. From friends.

Will start with the happy one: bit of a wait to get things going then only 3 hours. All very nice and manageable. No need for drip.

Next the happy - ish. Waited a while then went off like a rocket. No drip. 15 minutes and her DH missed it cos they'd sent him home.

A proven cervix is your friend with induction.

[stargirl1701]

Inform the staff you are going home. It's your choice entirely. You are required to do anything they ask.

[stargirl1701]

Aren't FFS!

[Artandco]

Couldn't you hair have waited another week?

Meanwhile, too late now but just go home surely until your ready? It's a hospital not a prison

[littlem133]

I was induced with my 3rd last year. Was absolutely dreading it. Even after midwives broke my waters, 3rd sweep and 2 hrs of side squats up and down the stairs nothing happened. 90 mins after the drip went in I had my baby boy. I actually really enjoyed being in the hospital and getting to know my midwives before labour kicked in in the end. It was a surprisingly positive experience!!

[genome]

I had an induction with my second (They thought that she might have a problem with her bowel so needed a nicu bed ready- there was actually thankfully nothing wrong with her!).
I had the propess put in the first evening at 9pm and checked at 9am. I had a lond walk round the hospital which caused a lond run of contractions/hicks which stopped after 2 hours. Pessary removed at 9pm and given a brutal sweep! Labour started at 11pm and she was delivered by 2.30 am! Much quicker than my 27 hour, forceps with DD1!

I would take yourself off for a long walk round the hospital if you can! Can you ask for a birthing ball to bounce on while you watch something on tv? Remain positive :)

[genome]

*Long not lond!

[djini]

Teacher1984 - the consultant and this health authority are very twitchy about stillbirth in mothers over 40/over 40 weeks and laid it on very thick about the need to induce at term. I stupidly listened to them and agreed because they also said "I'm sure you won't need any of this at all though because you'll likely go into labour before your due date" "I'd put money on a Christmas baby" etc so I kind of clung onto that. Like a fool.

If this first round doesn't work, can I really just say no thanks to round 2 and head home? Feel like being here on a slow, ineffective chemical march towards c-section at the end of the week if they can't evict DC2 is utterly fruitless and bollocks.

[djini]

genome - tv? What kind of fancy health authority do you have access to? ;) I asked for a gym ball and they brought me - not even kidding - a dinky one the size of an inflatable globe in a classroom. DH is bringing mine from home (he's nipped back to help grandma with bedtime for DC1).

[Artandco]

I would go home now, and back in the morning if nothing's happened for checks.

[LibrariesGaveUsP0wer]

If this first round doesn't work, can I really just say no thanks to round 2 and head home?

Absolutely!

You can also tell them that you aren't going to consent to any more induction and that, if they are worried about you or your baby, you'd like a section. They may push back, but if they are worried they will agree. (Just in case you don't want to wait entirely, but equally don't want more induction).

[Callthemodwife]

Had an indication with DC2 6 weeks ago. DC1 had been a classic due date birth centre birth but number two had other ideas!

Pessary went in about 1, active labour by 8, birth at 10.30. Just gas and air. Really straightforward, my body knew what to do, I'd say it was the better birth for me. Definitely keep on your feet and walk as much as you can, that really helped get me going. We also paid for a private room - best £150 I ever spent, we sat in the dark relaxing, eating and watching movies until I was ready to go to the labour ward. Any chance you can do same?

[SparklyTinselTits]

I was the same as you! Was very reluctantly induced due to PROM. The antenatal wars was loud, bright and just crappy. The woman opposite me was having her 4th baby, kept informing the midwife that she has laboured quickly in the past, was ignored, then almost delivered on the bed in full view of me and DH
But it turns out once I was moved over to delivery suite it was a really good experience My labour set off about 25-30 mins after the pessary was inserted and my DD was born 3 hours later. Apart from the pessary (which was possibly the most unpleasant experience of my life), it was pretty much a normal labour and delivery!
Not that I wish pain on you OP, but I hope your baby gets moving soon!!

[Kreeshsheesh]

I was 42 weeks with pessary. First one - 6 hours of nothing! Needed another half dose and dc2 was then born within an hour and a half (first contractions to birth!) Good luck - hope it starts soon!

[3littlebadgers]

I hope it goes swiftly for you djini, try not to feel bad about it being the opposite to what you had planned, I know easier said than done, but as long as you and the baby are healthy that is all that matters. They are twitchy about stillbirth becuase they need to be. My dd2 was still born at 40+5 in March, she was perfectly healthy in everyway, just over due. The Bereavment midwife told me, I guess to reasure me, it was more common than I thought. There were three women, in that hospital, before me than months alone. My daughter was born on the 12th! They didn't have the induction talk with me. She was my 4th child I was 34 and considered low risk. I was meant to be having a homebirth too. Two days before they did a ctg and said she was a happy healthy baby, one week later I was getting her ready for her funeral.

[LBOCS2]

Positive induction story: went in at 12pm, had the gel pessary, at 10pm had SROM, straight into active labour, DD born at 10.30 the following morning. 12hrs start to finish, no drip. I was 38+4.

[teacher1984]

Of course you can go home! Agree to frequent monitoring over the coming 10 days if it helps but you absolutely don't have to agree to induction if you don't want to.

Due dates are a complete guess - only 4% of babies are born on their due date or something like that. I'd like to see the evidence that shows still birth after 40 weeks is a risk for the over 40's.

It's such a shame because your first birth sounded such a wonderful experience.

[djini]

3littlebadgers - I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how devastating that must have been. I'm not at all taking the risk lightly, which is why I agreed to earlyish induction - and the end result is of course far more important than me being bored and uncomfortable at this stage.

[Doublebubblebubble]

3 I've had a stillbirth of twins (may 2012 due to ttts) it is the single most horrific thing that has ever happened to me and i wouldn't wish it on anyone...

Op my dd(6) went almost exactly the same as your first birth 4.5hour labour (in hospital but spontaneous) my ds (11 weeks) was 40+12 ( reduced movements, 2 ctgs so it was agreed Tha id be induced that day (couldve had a elcs because of obs history... I thought id try be stubborn and go the natural route...i had the propess pessary at 3.30. Dh got sent home (i was 0cms) at 10pm. At 11:30 i had to call dh back because i was 4cm...anyway I got to 7cms, regressed to 5cms was stuck for a bit. Ds decided to poo and thusly he was born by emcs.... (good thing too really as he was 10lb 1oz!!!) op i really hope everything goes smoothly for you. Just think you'll have your baby soon!! Keep us updated if you can 😊

[stargirl1701]

AIMS can help.

www.aims.org.uk

[TeaandHobnobs]

OP I had an induction earlier this year with DC2. I would have loved a non-intervention water-birth in the birth centre, but got diagnosed with obstetric cholestatis at 40+4 and they just didn't want to risk going any further. I was so anti-induction - one of the consultants was pushing for induction at term because DC1 was born 8 weeks premature due to placental abruption, but I didn't feel I was at risk in this pregnancy and only agreed to induction at 40+14 after discussing with the registrar.
But OC changed the game and I felt induction was a sensible choice then.
Pessary went in at 10pm, and I was already 2cm dilated. Woke up in the morning having 3 contractions in 10 mins, baby born in just over 2 hours, just gas and air - 9lb 5oz! That's twice the weight of DC1!
It was very very fast and intense, and I did feel I was pushing really hard at the end just to get it over with! But far preferable to my epidural and forceps birth with DC1.

[Scarydinosaurs]

I had a really similar first birth to you, and an amazing induction second birth. I was gutted at needing an induction (like you, it was for a reason outside being overdue/health) but I'm sure the fact I laboured so well the first time meant my body just kicked in and did the right thing the second time.

My top tips: walk! I got my slipper socks on and marched round that hospital until my contractions kicked in. Baby was out in half an hour after that. It was beautiful.

You can do this!

[Gazelda]

Hope things are progressing well for you OP. I don't have any wonderfully positive tales, nor any kittens.

But can I ask you a question? I was induced with DD and almost immediately went off sweet things and fruit. Couldn't bear the sight, smell or taste of them. Very annoying as my hospital bag was full of jaffa cakes. Midwife says that she'd never heard of this before and I was 'odd'.

I'd love for you to have the same induction related symptoms .... let me know once you've got baby in your arms, are showered etc - don't be in a hurry to satisfy my idle curiosity!

[Doublebubblebubble]

Gazelda... I've had this. It only lasted a few days but I couldn't eat any of the puddings at the hospital or any lthing sweet once I got home (for about 2 weeks) very strange.. Did you have propess?