Anyone been induced for first & second children?

[1wokeuplikethis]

And specifically if you had to be induced on the drip the first time; what was your subsequent induction like?

I'm due on Friday but likely to go over & induction booked for 40+10; exactly the same as with my first.

My first induction took 3 days: pessaries didn't work, sweeps didn't work, they went to break my waters & there was nothing there. I just recall it being a long drawn out excruciating process. I spent 5 days in hospital & my baby was 9.13lb natural delivery.

I feel genuinely scared that this is going to all happen again. Identically.

Attempted sweep yesterday and no luck. And this baby is expected to be the same weight.
My firstborn was birthed 'naturally' and 'without intervention' but I vividly remember several nurses & doctors pouring into the room, loads of equipment clattering and the bossiest midwife commanding that 'baby needs to come out NOW with this next push or we will have to intervene'. And I was terrified of being got with the forceps so just pushed as best I could.

I'm scared.

[Parietal]

i was induced both times. second was much quicker and easier than the firs.

good luck

[lightgreenglass]

I was induced both times. The second time was miles better than the first, I slept through the whole thing and literally woke to push. Made me realise that time one wasn't what I thought it was.

[Roseberrry]

Induced both times. First time took forever and left me with a big tear.

Second time was a dream. The pessary worked quickly, they still had to break my waters but I was well away with it after that. Had a water birth, I would recommend that if you can. Even just getting in the bath for the contractions helps.

Good luck!

[KatyN]

Snap here. Induced first time took days and days.. Second time I was already dilated enough to have my waters broken. Made the process so much easier and quicker!!

Good luck k

[1wokeuplikethis]

Oh THANK YOU!!! These posts are really helping.
There is definitely a theme that second inductions are a bit more straightforward.

I would love a water birth if possible so that is even better.

[5madthings]

I have been induced for all five due to goung past 42wks.

Ds1 they discovered I was allergic to the pessary they use for induction, ended up on yhe syntocinon drip. It took three days of labour for him to arrive and an episiotomy.

Ds2 they broke my waters and I laboured walking around and in the bath all done in seven hours.

Ds3 broke my waters, again laboured in Bath etc took three hours.

Ds4 broke my waters, all took less than an hour he was born in birth pool.

Dd broke waters I had contractions but wasn't dilating due to dd being back to back so had syntocinon drip, used birth ball, knelt up, stayed mobile and used lots of gas and air and it was over three hours.

Am now expecting Dc6 and assuming I will need to be induced again.

My top tips are trying to ensure baby is in a good position, use birth ball to sit on lean over etc in late stages of preg and birth. Water helps, as does staying mobile, even if you end up on the drip or needing continuous monitoring you can stay mobile it's just more awkward with wires etc. Stand your ground if necessary.

Also if tye internals for the pessary or waters or just examination are painful ask for gas and air.

[InTheTeapot]

Induced with my first two. Tbh I don't think it was that bad but certainly the second time knowing what to expect I took more control, I walked about more and was able to deal better with pain of the initial contractions before I got the epidural.
The baby's heartbeat slowed though and I ended up getting cut.
Third baby went overdue by the same amount and I was booked in for yet another induction but a sweep worked.

[5madthings]

And yes you can still have waterbirth, I did. Big babies here as well.

Also induction is not til term plus 14 in my area, rather than plus ten, you can ask for a few extra days if you want.

[1wokeuplikethis]

Ok. I'm glad I posted because all of your consequent experiences are very reassuring.

I really do hope that I will labour naturally. But it's true that at least if I must be induced I know how to stand my ground more.
Sorry, I just generally feel tired and anxious, and quite vulnerable which I'm not used to. Just need to switch my mindset :)

[steppemum]

ds - induced as overdue, pessaries started it off very vaguely. After 24 hours in labour, wasn't dilated, went on a drip, more hours and hours of long drawn out labour. baby back to back so bloody painful Pushed for 2 hours.

horrendous, long drawn out exhausting traumatic process.

dd1 - induced. (at 38 weeks) pessary one. started labour gently, and gradually built up over a couple of hours. Properly in labour for less than 2 hours, dd born with no pain relief, very 'normal' natural labour, great experience.

dd2 - induced as overdue. Pessary didn't work, midwife said you are a bit dilated, I could just break your waters?? I said OK, went onto full labour and dd born 1.5 hours later, no pain relief, very good birth.

Oh and they were all big babies - dd2 was 10lbs 7oz!!

[Kanga59]

First labour was drip induction with failed epi and forceps and retained placenta. awful on every level . 39w

second induced with gel at 35w. laboured beautifully for 3H . then within 45 mins started active labour and baby born. euphoric. I wanted to do it all again and still do.

gl x

[Minikievs]

Absolutely snap to most other posters. Two weeks over both times, first time I was on labour for 3 days, pessary, drip, ventouse, episiotomy, infected stitches,.....it was hideous. Hideous. He was 15 days late in the end.
Second time, induced at 10 days over. Pessary at 8pm, contractions started lightly at about 2am, managed til 6cm then had epidural which slowed things down. Pushed for about 6 minutes at 4.30pm and out she popped.

I was petrified after my first experience, second one went like a dream.

[Minikievs]

8lb 14 first one, 8lb 4 second

[carrielou2007]

Very similar to above responses, dc1 horrid, took 3 days, drip, forceps just awful. Induced again dc2 40 +12 I said unless my LIFE was a risk u would not consent to the drip or forceps and if his life at risk only a EMCS. Bit bolshy second time around. Had peasary 3pm by 4.30pm things moving and told off by midwife for being 'noisy' at 7.30pm and found pushing on indication ward . He was born 9 mins later managed to get to labour ward just in time! Dc3 induced labour started within 20 mins whilst we went to put another car parking ticket in the car! Good luck, hope it will be much much quicker fir you this time

[1wokeuplikethis]

Thanks Carrie - I like the bolshiness! But what would they have done if you'd refused drip & pessary didn't work?
I hadn't considered this. It is the drip & forceps that give me huge fear so I'd like to know if that's an option for me.

[Needtoprotect16]

Dd1 was 13 days late. Pessaries didn't work; neither did sweep. Was given option of drip or elective CS and chose the latter.

Dd2 was 15 days late. I really wanted to try for a vaginal birth this time around but didn't want to have 'failed inductions' as the pressure on me to go for another CS would be greater. I read up on the Foley Catheter and consultant was happy to try that. The insert a balloon-like thing inside you and fill it with liquid which makes it press on the cervix and hopefully gear labour. It didn't but was worth a shot. Proceeded onto the drip which had to be cranked up to maximum as it wasn't having any effect. Dd2 born in 1 and a half hours of active labour as a result. Fab birth and pain entirely manageable so no pain relief.

[May09Bump]

I had a similar induction to you first time, and I am refusing to be induced / forceps / being cut this time - its either progressing naturally, ELC or EMCC. I have to speak to the birth choices team about my decision as I strongly (but politely) disagreed with the consultant - I don't want my baby coming out bruised etc again.

My DS was 9lbs 10. My little girl has been measuring smaller - so will see.

[Luckygirlcharlie]

Brilliant thread OP. I'm in similar position but 5 weeks behind you. DS1 induction was way too dramatic for anyone's liking - hyper reaction, undetected OP, ventouse, shoulder dystocia, extreme blood loss, 10.8lbs baby - so I'm being induced at 39 wks this time. Been feeling super cool about it but recently started to get a bit terrified! Loved reading everyone's reassuring posts and really feel better now! OP please come back and post how yours goes! Best of luck X

[ACatCalledFang]

I'm maybe not the best person to comment as I've only had one baby; I was induced at 40 + 12 on the grounds that baby was overdue but induction didn't work for me and (pessary, ARM and drip later) I failed to dilate past 2 cm and ended up with an EMCS.

Regarding consent, I wish I had refused to consent to the drip unless the midwife was willing to at least try monitoring me in the position of my choice, ie not on my back. I suspect the medics' desire for me to have the drip would have led them to agree to this. You could certainly consider only consenting to the drip in circumstances you feel comfortable in.

(I have a major gripe about the fact that the horrible midwife on duty for most of my time on the drip made me lie on my back throughout; I should have been more assertive as there was no clinical reason for this.)

I'd talk to your midwife; you could certainly withhold consent for the drip, at which point I suspect it would be a section, though I imagine you might be put under some pressure.

I don't know about refusing consent for forceps - I guess it depends on baby's position and what the alternatives are.

[Potterwolfie]

Induced both times, at 40+12 and 40+11. Sweeps didn't work, first labour I used gas and air, it wasn't great as I was permanently monitored, told to lie down and not move but progressed pretty quickly once they broke my waters, 8lb 12 healthy boy .

Second time around, waters broken again and labour progressed quickly, bit of gas and air, hopped into the birthing pool with support of amazing midwife and DS2 born in the water, 9lb 13, amazing experience and SO much better than first time round. Good luck!

[carrielou2007]

I was concerned for the same thing, what if it doesn't work and everyone said 'your body has done this before so it will be quicker this time' and it was absolutely true! I was adamant I wouldn't have that drip, no way, not a chance. I did tear rather than have a cut, forgot to say dc1 and 2 big babies, all three back to back and 1 and 2 came out face up dc3 came out the sunroof . Dc2 no pain relief at all as was on induction ward so was 'quite' vocal about that for dc3 though it turned out having not had gas and air before I hated it when I tried!

[carrielou2007]

Oops tore with dc2 due to his speedy exit and his position of hand near his head like superman, was cut to help forceps dc1

[greenfolder]

Dd1 took 3 days. Dd2, pessary at 11 at night. More the following morning. Born a few hours later.

[FreezerBird]

I was induced for both my DC - but in both cases this was because they needed to be delivered at a particular time and in a particular hospital because of their medical issues. So it might be a bit different to being induced because you're overdue, I don't know.

DC1: induced at 38+3; pessaries and sweeps for two days with seemingly no effect; dilated about .5cm; went down to delivery room to have waters broken; sudden onset of very extreme contractions; put on drip (that seems odd now as things had got going, but that is what happened); angel disguised as anaesthetist gave me epidural; all seemed to calm down a bit; started to push but ds very reluctant to grace us with his presence; eventual forceps delivery in theatre; big tear which healed really badly.

DC2: induced at 38 weeks-ish, can't remember; one pessary; slower build up of intensity in labour; epidural as I wasn't risking it after last time; short pushing stage; straightforward delivery; tear which had completely healed five days later.

My body just wasn't ready for it with DC1. Second time around it did seem to be. The best way I have of describing it was that DC1's delivery felt like something that was done to me, DC2's felt like it was something I did myself.

[Scotinoz]

Yes, I was induced for both children.

First time round I had prostaglandin, membranes ruptured, then the drip. Prostin at 6pm, baby arrived 3pm. Second time around my OB could juest rupture my membranes. Waters done at 8am, baby at 3pm.

Both labours were pretty much identical - only different really was first baby was 41wks, and the second was 39wks.