Help! Induction booked for tomorrow ahead of due date

[PassTheCake82]

Hi everyone I have been booked in for an induction tomorrow after presenting with reduced foetal movement this evening. Baby is moving like crazy now but at 39+1 they said they'd prefer just to get things going tomorrow.

I am petrified. I was really hoping to use the birthing pool, which I can't do now. I'm also unable to have an epidural (owing to a previous back surgery). My biggest fear is ending up having forceps. Any advice, stories etc would be welcome as my plan is now out the window!

[starfish12]

Try not to worry (easier said than done!). Just think this time tomorrow you could be cuddling your little bundle!
I've had 2 babies and neither birth went the way I'd planned - first was induction with EMCS and 2nd was vbac that ended in forceps. I'm not saying this to scare you... honestly all I care about now and at the time was that my 2 beautiful boys were delivered safely. Your plan could have been out of the window anyway... just try and go with the flow tomorrow and focus on the end result. Good luck!!!

[sj257]

I've had two inductions, both babies were over 10lb, no forceps needed! Best of luck

[TarynTanisha]

Hi!
Don't panick, stay positive and you'll be fine. What time are you booked in?

I was like you and planned to have a lovely water birth experience but that didn't happen haha. I gave birth to my first this year. I carried all baby but I was HUGE. I thought she would arrive early but she still didn't want to make an appearance 2 weeks after my due date. I loved my pregnancy but the thought of going in for an induction made be beyond anxious and I cried about it a few times. I had sweeps but I was 0 or 1 on the bishop scale. I had acupuncture twice in the week leading up to my induction to try and encourage her to come naturally. I definitely thought it helped. My belly dropped and I had a few pains but nothing got going properly.

I went in at 12 on a Sunday and I had the internal pessary at 2 and started feeling pains at 5ish. They were mild, similar to period pains. The midwives didn't think I was going to get going so by 6-7 my sister left and I stayed in for the night.

I got out a birthing ball to try and get things going. I was terrified that I'd have a c-section because of how low my bishop score was. So I bounced while I watched Cake (poor movie choice while you're in labour) By 9ish the pains were getting stronger. By 11 I had to keep on jumping up off the bed because I needed to walk the pains through. I told the midwife that I thought things were getting going and my contractions were strong but when she came to access me they were irregular so she left me to it.

I then proceeded to have 2 baths to help with the pain, a couple of hours apart. They helped quite a bit. By 3 I was in quite a bit of pain but I was coping ok. I almost forgot that I brought a tens machine with me so I got the midwife to sort it because I couldn't concerntrate on anything other then the contractions.

I have quite a high pain threshold so the midwives thought I was in the very early stages and wouldn't examine me. I don't think they wanted to disappoint me in case I was only a 1cm or 2. I didn't manage to get any sleep so I was up an about walking. It definitely helps to walk and burst your tens machine when the contraction peaks. At 4 my pessary came away along with my plug. Then my contractions were a minute or 2 apart.

I felt an insane urge to poo like everyone says but nothing came. I must have tried like 20 or more times because I was so worried about doing it during the birth. FYI it's also true that you kind of get rid of it all in the early stages. Apologies if that tmi.

At 6am they finally examined me and I was 6cm. She was shocked and told me she would ring down to get the labour ward ready for me. I was happy that I was 6cm because I was worrying about what the pain would be like, if I was only 1 or 2cm. I went down at 7.30am and everything happened so quickly. I dilated really quickly in the last two hours and I actually found that part less painful. I got on my knees when I was 9-10cm and the urge to push was immense. My body was doing it by itself. My waters went and then the pain was more bearable. I had some gas and air but it made me feel a little sick so I didn't have much. I actually had the anti sickness tablet before I went down to the labour ward but I'm prone to feeling queasy when my body is under strain.

My partner arrived about 45 minutes before she was born. He actually had a shower before he came even though I rang him at 6.30ish after the midwife confirmed I in established labour and told him 'GET HERE NOW'. He lives a minimum 40 minute drive from the hospital. I could have killed him. Luckily I had my sister with me.

My little girl arrived at 9.37am 8lb 2oz which I guessed correctly haha. I had 2 tears but I couldn't tell. It's a little numb after 😂 The stitches were fine. All in all everything was good. I was worried about what it would be like but I remained positive and I think that helped. Try to have a nice bath or two so you get some sort of water experience and it'll help keep you sane. I also think the lack of sleep helped because I wasn't in my right mind. Maybe that's why labour felt a lot easier then I expected.

Also you know your own body so if you feel things getting going, don't let hem send your birthing partner home. That's my only regret that my partner only got to share an hour of the labour. At least he got some sleep so I could nap while he watched the little one.

Try not to panic and make sure you eat something early for your energy levels. I had some chewable engery tablets because I couldn't stomach anything else. I had a powerade drink too.

I just remember thinking that it'll be over soon and I'll have my baby. Now I almost wish I could relive it because it was so special.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine. That beautiful baby will be in your arms before you know it.

[TarynTanisha]

Sorry not sure how much detail you wanted and just realised how much I wrote

[Hellmouth]

They've definitely said you can't use the birthing pool? When I was induced, they said if everything went to plan, I could use it.

Unfortunately, things didn't go 100% to plan!

I was induced at about 3pm with the propess. I had my first contraction about half an hour later. Within an hour, I was having them pretty much one after another. They gave me medication for the pain, which I threw up. They measured my contractions and I had had 8 within 10 minutes so they took the propess out but it didn't really help much.

They said I was hyper stimulated by the propess. Because of that and throwing up, I was nil by mouth. At 9pm they refused to give me pethidine, saying that I was close to giving birth and it would be in DSs system. I ended up going with the epidural.

Bullshit, I gave birth at 5pm the next day!

Make sure you ask them about alternative pain relief like pethidine. It doesn't get rid of the pain completely but should help.

Either way, you're going to meet your LO soon! :)

[Piffpaffpoff]

Hi, here's my take. Induced twice at term due to gestational diabetes. Both times I was told it would take a while as my cervix was not soft (?). First time round, the gel was inserted at 4 pm, period-like cramps started about 2am, contractions started about 6am, waters broken at 8am by midwife, syntocin drip about 1pm to try and move things along, I took pethedine about 5pm as it was getting a bit much, baby arrived 6.15pm. I was up and about for most of the labour, bouncing on a ball, wandering around, but I was strapped to a monitor so I couldn't go too far!

Second time round it all started the same, 4pm gel, 2am cramps but they ramped up v quickly, I went from ward to delivery suite about 5.45am. (Unbeknownst to me, DH got a call at this point to come in 'and don't hang about'), waters broke at 7am ish, three pushes later baby arrived at 7.10am. Super fast! I was so convinced it was going to take as long as the first time so spent the next hour going 'am I really done? But it's only 7o'clock!'

I have no 'normal' births to compare to, but I found both times fine - I could move about within reason and I was very well looked after.

I know it's not what you wanted but the medics obviously feel it's in your best interests. And you get to meet your baby soon. Best of luck!

[lilydaisyrose]

Just because 'they' want to induce you, doesn't mean you have to acquiese! You still have choices.

[WitchSharkadder]

I've had three inductions.

Number 1: pessary, ARM, no pain relief or intervention, 3 hours 12 minutes from waters being broken to baby in arms.

Number 2: ARM, no pain relief or intervention, less than 90 minutes from waters broken to baby.

Number 3: ARM & drip, no pain relief or intervention, just under 2 hours from drip being inserted to baby.

All fine, all textbook.

I know it's scary, there was nothing worse than the night I spent in hospital waiting for that first induction. All I could think of was what was going to happen, stories about how long inductions take, higher rates of forceps, etc etc. BUT, it's going to happen and there will be a team of experts to help you and make sure you and your baby and safe and well, just focus on the amazing bit at the end of it all and you will get through it. Good luck

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

Induced at 39 weeks. Prostaglandin gel inserted at 2ish. Told it would likely be a very long time since I "wasn't even close to ready". Period type pains started at about 9pm ish. Fairly mild. Was told this is probably just the gel and not actual contractions. Examined examined at my request at midnite. Cervix still closed and not ready. Sent DP home. Pains ramped up really fast. Called DP at 1:30 to come back. Was being wheeled down to Labour ward as he came in. Midwife was gobsmacked I'd progressed so fast. Contractions s really frequent. I could barely get a breath they came that quick. I screamed for the epidural but anaesthetist didn't get there for a while. My body started pushing as she was talking me though the procedure so it was obviously too late. In all labour was around 3 hours 58 minutes. Pushing was the least painful part because it kind of focused my pain and I was pushing. Out my waters at the same time which were quite soothing when DS was crowning so didn't feel the famous ring of fire.

In all a pretty positive experience. And not the horror show of drip, forceps, c section drama I'd been led to believe about inductions.

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

Oh and good luck op. I kept saying to myself that baby is coming out one way or another and that women choose to do it more than once so the end result must be worth it.

[PassTheCake82]

Thank you so much everyone for sharing your experiences with me. It means so much right now as tbh, I hadn't really even got to the stage of even thinking about an induction. I think I was still in shock when I wrote this post (from the hospital toilet).

I'm back home now, trying my best to get some sleep. I doubt I will. I'm a highly anxious person with a tendency to imagine every worst possible outcome but your comments are helping to meditate that!

I mentioned to the staff that I had really been hoping to use the pool but they said it would be very unlikely now.

[PassTheCake82]

Well I've just had the first pessary so here goes!

[Hooleywhipper]

No experience of inductions but wanted to wish you luck 😊

[FormerlyFrikadela01]

Good luck. After they've done the required monitoring I recommend going for a walk. I did about 20 laps of the women and baby unit which is pretty big. Helps get things going apparently.

[Frazzled2207]

Ooh good luck. Hopefully there's a lovely new year present on its way to you soon.

[HelenaJustina]

Good luck! So exciting... I get nostalgic for the whole birth process (have 4DC!) as I enjoyed mine!

[PassTheCake82]

Thanks everyone
I'm about two hrs away from the next pessary. Nothing so far except some mild back pain. Getting worried about my partner leaving soon.

[HelenaJustina]

That's natural, try to stay calm and have something ready to distract yourself with for a bit. FWIW, after the first I realised that DH was a bit chocolate tea-potty, nice to have but not essential! I tended to go 'in' and focus on me, my body and the baby. I had several births at home and left him sleeping while I laboured at night!

[PassTheCake82]

Thanks, I'm hopefully going to watch some films or listen to music. The sore back has started to get quite painful and I'm experiencing period like pains now. Wondering if I even need this second pessary now!

[Piffpaffpoff]

Ooooh, good luck OP, we're all here cheering you on!

[starfish12]

Yay keep us posted. You can do it!!!! A new year baby too.... how lovely!! X

[PassTheCake82]

I spoke too soon I had the second pessary and the pain ramped up significantly. I tried the bath for a short while and was then offered diamorphine at about 2am. Unfortunately it hasn't taken the pain awag and my internal shows I've not progressed.

I am really tempted to ask for a c section now. I am soo tired I don't think I could handle any more pain! Advice welcome again please!

[MrEBear]

Stick with it. My 7 day old was induced last week.

I was checked at 8am, not dilated at all, lots of backache, 2 paracetamol & 2 co-codimol, a long bath.
MW shouted me out the bath about 12.30 I got out baby was in my arms in about 15mins!

[MrEBear]

I should add they gave me the second pessary at 8am. All my contractions were in my back and even the later ones just made me go to the loo. Baby was born in one push.

[shhhhSleeping]

It took 4 days for ds to be born via induction for me. I found that after a while the effects of the gel/propess etc wore off and the pain subsided and I got some sleep. If you haven't already got some then get your DP to bring you eye mask and ear plugs and get what rest you can when you can.
I was barely 1cm after 4 days but it was enough to do ARM and got me on a drip....ds did NOT want to be born but eventually he turned up with no forceps needed (although did need an episiotomy but that healed fine and wasn't as awful as I thought)

Re pain relief. Ask if your hospital offers remifentanil- like pethidine but you have it in bursts via a button you push yourself and doesn't linger in the system so better for baby than pethidine.