Talk to me about your inductions

[CommanderShepherd]

I'm 41 weeks tomorrow with first baby and going to have 2nd sweep with midwife. Baby is showing no signs of arriving any time soon and midwife said she'd talk to me about induction. I've had a look on the nhs website and I still have a couple of questions. Do they book you in will you be seen on that day, are you allowed to eat? If you have the gel, are you still able to have a water birth. If you are hooked up to the machine, are you forced to labour on your back or can you move around? Did you opt for an epidural? Did you require forceps/end up with a c-section.

[SohowdoIdothis]

Eat for gods sake eat, you can be there for days, friday is never a good day for sweeps, as it's the weekend, so make sure you take lots of supplies.

stay on your feet, elbows on the bed at most take a ball to sit on, and lots of stairs (it helps)

I never had epidural, or forceps/c-section, after all three sweeps (mine early inductions) just stay on feet, gravity is important.

[Muddywellyboots]

I've been induced twice (39 weeks and 38 weeks). My first wasn't not interested in coming out and ended up on drip, epidural, forceps delivery in theatre after 30 hours. I 100% recommend the epidural if they mention the drip! Don't let them give it to you until you've had it!! My 2nd couldn't be more different. I was already dilated when I went in so they broke my waters and labour started naturally. It was very intense but she arrived with no intervention 2hrs 38mins later! I'd say prepare to be there for a long time as it can take ages, be as mobile as possible, eat/drink regularly, take entertainment (films/mags), bounce on ball lots etc. Good luck!

[tinymeteor]

I was induced with a syntocinon drip, skipped the gel/pessaries because my waters were gone so there was a risk of infection going the slower route.

The drip, if you end up going that way, does produce very intense contractions and they ramp it up in stages. I was offered an epidural at the start. Said no to begin with as I wanted to satay active, but in practice i was hooked up to monitors so couldn't move far from the bed anyway. Pain was very intense (poss also because DD was side on, or maybe back-to-back) so i changed my mind after 2 hours and took the epi. Good decision, as it turned out, as I had a long way yet to go. Ended up pushing successfully with no forceps etc. Delivery took only 15 mins with no tearing.

It wasn't the birth I planned but I still feel good about it. I feared that induction meant you inevitably go through the whole cascade of interventions and it would be awful. No so in my case. Just goes to show there are no two births alike. Good luck!

[Flisspaps]

My induction was horrible. 40+15.

Waited 24 hours on antenatal ward for a bed on delivery before they'd do anything.

No gel (3cm dilated on arrival), waters broken, drip, epidural, forceps, 3rd degree tear, PPH, retained placenta.


With DS I planned a home birth, declined any discussion about induction and had spontaneous labour at 40+1 (40+11 by hospital dates). Still ended up in hospital with forceps but far fewer issues afterwards and far easier mentally.

The NHS is very good at telling you the risks of not inducing, not so hot at giving you anything on the risks of induction.

[CommanderShepherd]

Thank you tiny. I just have visions of it all going to hell so it's good to know that it doesn't have to be a nightmare. Who knows, maybe this sweep tomorrow will get things going

[Tatie3]

I was induced due to pre eclampsia with both my babies and on both occasions the prostin pessary worked for me. Had an epidural first time as baby was back to back, worked perfectly and was just wearing off at delivery so I could push effectively. Second labour I had pethidine but only because they were too understaffed to get me an epidural, it was actually fine and after the pethidine I was able to nap for an hour or so which meant I had some energy to deal with the rest of the labour. Good luck, hope yours goes well.

[imwithspud]

I was induced with dd1. It was a very long process. They booked me in some time just before 42 weeks, rung on the morning and it turned out they didn't have any spare beds on the induction ward so they called me in for monitoring as I was so far along.

My bp was high so they admitted me to the maternity ward so they could keep tabs. Waters went at around 6am the following morning, nothing since apart from mild contractions so at around 10pm I was finally taken down to the induction ward. I had a pessary, made contractions stronger but still didn't progress much, at around 5am I was taken to a labour room to be put on a drip. I was also being constantly monitored.

Dd was finally born at 11:20pm. Because I was being monitored I was stuck on the bed on my back, I ended up having an epidural as I was so tired and not coping.

It was long and arduous and I hated it, but dd got here safe and sound in the end.

[HandbagFan]

I got to 40+11 and went in for the pessary. I was allowed home (after 7hrs in hospital for a 20min procedure and then. 3hr fight to self discharge as policy was to send people home but they wanted me to stay). I went back in the next day contracting. Had the 2nd pessary that night and everything stopped. Gel was put in the night after and still nothing by the Sunday morning (we'd first gone in on the Thursday morning). So I ended up with a C Section.

Turns out he was never going to come out of me - narrow pelvis, weird shaped uterus and despite the midwife's opinion he never engaged. I would have been one of the women who die in childbirth had they not intervened but it was very stressful and we had pretty much every intervention going.

Don't be scared of the induction itself but make sure you understand what could happen and give some thought to what decisions you might make as they come up through the process - my only wish was to get him out of me safely and despite everything going wrong (long story I'm not telling here), he came out safely.

[Labradorlover01]

Good luck with your second sweep..keeping my fingers crossed for you.. I'm in two minds whether to go for an induction if it comes to it or whether to ask to be monitored daily to check he's ok in there (midwife suggested this) and just wait it out to happen naturally for a bit longer as I'm worried about the extra issues inducing might cause..fingers crossed they will just hurry up and come before induction is needed! :)

[CommanderShepherd]

Thanks again all for sharing your stories. I've got the midwife later on and will update. I know it's daft and hormonal but I feel like my body has done everything it's supposed to the whole pregnancy only to fall at the last hurdle. But baby's safety is number one so I'll put on the big girl panties and suck it up. I tried nipple stimulation last night and colostrum came out, very happy with that as I've not had anything come out my boobs. It's a great comfort to know as well that the mumsnet ladies are only a question away if I do have an induction

[kiki22]

I took loads to eat and a book we went in at 4pm so between then and 10 we just sat around waiting for it to get going I went to sleep and woke up during the night with contractions ds was born at 3.15pm.

I had a really bad time with him being back to back and I was almost fully dilated but something was wrong with how I dilated no idea what now but it was wrong, also my grandad was take into Marie curie hospice to pass away while I was in labour so I was really distressed. I ended up with forceps episiotomy and third degree tear ds was born in theatre bit I often wonder how much that had to do with induction and how much had to do with my emotional state and ds's position.

[tinymeteor]

Good luck with the midwife. Not surprised you are feeling emotional at this point! Your body hasn't failed you it's just not quite ready to launch yet. Colostrum is a good sign you're nearly there though.

You do have the option of declining induction for a bit longer. Obviously it's up to you whether you feel comfortable with it, but you do have that choice. Maybe ask the midwife about whether they could monitor you for a bit longer, and what that would involve? Even at 42weeks induction is not compulsory.

Good luck whatever you choose, you'll have that baby in your arms really soon!

[MyBreadIsEggy]

First baby, Mine took 3 hours from start to finish! Pessary to start contractions, then they slowed down, so had synto drip to get them going again, baby was born after 40 mins of pushing. A little bit of gas and air, but that started making me throw up, I stopped that. No other pain relief. Went home 24 hrs later

[CommanderShepherd]

So, no change from last week, 2nd sweep done. I feel more.... Tender? after this one. Midwife says baby is in great position. I'm booked in for induction on Wednesday.

[CommanderShepherd]

Just another question, what happens with your birth partner when getting induced, do they stay the whole time?

[kiki22]

It depends if your in labour or not, open visiting closed at 9 for the ward I was in so dp was sent home until I went to the labour ward about 6am. Tbh that was the worst part I had a few hours of contractions alone in the ward during the night before my water thankfully broke and dp was allowed back it was scary to be alone I pressed my buzzer about the 10 times just because I didn't want to be alone. I wish I was more prepare for that part.

[imwithspud]

My partner wasn't allowed to stay with me at night whilst I was on the ward. Once I got moved to a birthing room he stayed the whole time.

[SohowdoIdothis]

Mine stayed the whole time, but we were in a side room.