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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Induction

55 replies

MrsKBill · 08/02/2017 08:59

I have my induction date - 19th Feb! Excited and nervous all rolled into one - ftm! Any tips ladies? Xx

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DuggeeHugs · 08/02/2017 09:55

Be prepared for all eventualities! Mine was a bit anomalous - long but ended with a very lovely CS.
Take drinks, snacks and a phone charger to keep updated.
Good luck!

MrsKBill · 08/02/2017 09:58

Aww thank you

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DuggeeHugs · 08/02/2017 09:58

Also, you don't have to agree to anything - if you want to say no at any point, you can.

SockQueen · 08/02/2017 18:53

If they've given you any information beforehand, read it - they may not offer much discussion at the time (crap but it's how it is) so being a bit more informed can help you ask relevant questions.

My induction worked really well, delivered in 12 hours from the pessary going on, but I know they're not all like that! Be prepared for all eventualities - including that you might not even need it if you go into labour first!

Cantwait4summer · 08/02/2017 22:11

Be prepared for a long wait - dependshe on how you get on with pessary - take plenty reading material ! I was induced with my dd3- went into labour 3 hrs after pessary .be warned they do say with induction labour pains are more intense ! Good luck & enjoy x

Sleeepy · 11/02/2017 17:24

Check that your hospital allows phone chargers (Heartlands in the Midlands doesn't for example). If it doesn't get a battery pack to charge it up or you'll go crazy. Congratulations!x

Babykoala1 · 12/02/2017 00:12

Expect the unexpected! My daughter arrived only 7 hours after the pessary was in, I was 39 weeks with my first baby and my cervix was completely closed beforehand. Was a very very quick labour and nobody believed that I was in labour so I wasn't able to leave the induction suite! Which was quite embarrassing for me as there were 6 other couples in the room. They soon believed me when the head was coming out though.. My advice would be to bring books and magazines etc.. but not everyone takes the usual 24 hours for it to work so trust your instincts! Good luck on welcoming your lovely baby x

MrsKBill · 12/02/2017 10:02

Thank you ladies! A week today...so nervous but can't wait to meet my lil man xx

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PerpetualStudent · 12/02/2017 10:11

I was in for 6 days with mine (2 24 hour pessaries with a pointless day 'off' in between, waters broken then finally onto the hormone drip. There was one sissor-happy doctor who seemed to do nothing other than haunt me threatening a CS every 5 mins, she was eventually satisfied with giving me an episiotomy!) So be prepared for a potential long haul and to feel a bit 'institutionalised' by the end of it. And like PP says, you don't have to agree to everything & make sure ppl explain things to you. Good luck, it's all worth it when you have a gorgeous squishy newborn anyhow

Womble75 · 12/02/2017 13:05

Mine was just under 48 hours so be prepared for a wait. I spent lots of time walking around corridors with the pessary. Ended up with the drip in the end.
Plenty of snacks and reading material (and earplugs for trying to sleep! Wards are noisy)
Don't be afraid to question things (wish i did) and try to get as much rest as you can.
Good luck

RMC123 · 12/02/2017 18:59

I have been induced 4 times and only 1 pessary each time. All babies born between 8 and 18 hours after induction process began. First baby was a forceps but that was to do with his size and position, nothing to do with the process. I was lucky, I know not all inductions are so quick. I do think that being really active helped. My husband was really good at keeping a positive frame of mind and dragging me on long walks around the ward. For my third baby the hospital even let us go for a walk outside. My last baby was born 10 years ago and despite being induced she was a water birth. I was monitored fairly frequently but it wasn't too invasive. Hope all goes well

MrsKBill · 12/02/2017 20:10

Aww thank you :) I'm gonna stay as mobile as I can as my consultant said it would help xx

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PeachBellini123 · 13/02/2017 05:56

Ask for a ball to bounce on - convinced it helped move things along for me!

Ipad/books and nice things to eat as the hospital food I was offered was awful. Also snacks for birthing partner.

Anetaa3 · 16/02/2017 10:41

Hello ladies does anyone know of any effective natural ways to induce labour? Getting far too inpatient x

GemSingleton · 17/02/2017 16:10

I had to be induced after going over my due day 10 days.

I was lucky that my induction worked pretty quickly. Went in at 8am Friday morning. Labour started around 8pm Friday evening and my son was born 7.16am Saturday morning.

Take loads of snacks. You get your meals but your birth partner doesn't. I found I was getting really thirsty while I was in labour. Lucozade (not sure on the spelling 🙈) the pink one really helped me!

PeachBellini123 · 17/02/2017 16:29

Anetaa - if we did there'd be no need for medical inductions! Sex, bouncing on a ball etc is said to help some but nothing worked for me...I do think excersise speeded things up a bit though

Spudlet · 17/02/2017 16:36

Be firm about what you need. I went into labour after DH had gone home for the night and the ward staff wouldn't call him for me, and were so dismissive that I didn't insist. I laboured all night on my own in the dark, because I was too intimidated to ask how the tv worked! I'm not normally like that at all but the unfamiliar situation really threw me. I was really disappointed with the attitude of the ward staff.

That said, my delivery suite midwife was lovely and DS was delivered normally, so it turned out fine. But I wish I'd been a bit feistier!

Jamhandprints · 17/02/2017 16:51

The process can take a couple of days with lots of hours waiting around in between. It's boring. If you want to give birth in an upright position or stay mobile after the drip is in, let every midwife know from the start. Then they will try to facillitate this. Otherwise its strapped to the bed on your back which is much more painful. Final word, dont expect the midwives to be sympathetic because they're really, really not...although they do a great job. Good luck! X

MrPoppersPenguins · 17/02/2017 17:14

I expected my induction to take ages (as suggested above) but within 20mins of the pessary going in I was having strong contractions for 1min with only 30 seconds between each. It was very intense!! No chance to catch my breath. Not saying this to scare you but they aren't always a slow and boring affair! Good luck x

mum2be88 · 17/02/2017 17:23

I'm being induced in the morning! Very nervous now! These stories have helped - thank you!

17buggy · 17/02/2017 19:15

I had the pessary induction at midnight and nothing's happened for me, very long night and day. Having the gel tonight and hoping that moves things along. Am 12days over due now and totally fed up. Take ear plugs and eye mask, plenty of food and drinks and mags/iPad. Hope you get to meet your babies soon! Xx

PeachBellini123 · 18/02/2017 09:37

Good luck 17buggy. Hope you managed to get some sleep - I remember how noisy the ward I was on was.

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MrsKBill · 18/02/2017 11:03

Thanks for your replies! The ladies in being induced keep us updated xx

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17buggy · 18/02/2017 12:14

I didn't end up having the gel as the labour ward was too busy but my waters ended up breaking at 4am and by 8am I was 3cm and now having contractions every 10 mins!

MrsKBill · 18/02/2017 12:46

Wahoo!! Almost there 17buggy xx

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