Dreading induction

[Sunisshining12]

I'm booked in for induction tomorrow - will be 41+2. Hospital policy is to induce 9-11 days after edd.

This is my first baby & I didn't think for one moment I'd be getting induced. I imagined labouring at home & a vaginal birth. I feel so deflated!

I'm dreading it mainly because it seems that getting induced is more likely to lead to a c section & the thought of that horrifies me.

I've had a fab pregnancy but the last week has been crap! It's clear this baby isn't ready cervix still high, no mp no BH & 2 unsuccessful sweeps. Bishop score 3-4.

I'm also wondering does having an epidural increase chances of having a c section?

I've seen so many different midwives throughout my pregnancy (first one retired, don't know what happened to other 2 and the latest has just gone off on maternity) Theyve all said different things.

Could someone please give me some facts & advice? I'm totally stressed out about tomorrow!

[Wonderflonium]

whatever hospital policy is, it is your right to refuse induction.

I was in the same boat: wanted homebirth, went overdue. I took the induction at 42+0 because that's when the stillbirth chances double. They offered it at 41+3, iirc. I waited because if she showed up before 42, I could still have a homebirth. She didn't, so as it was going to be a hospital delivery anyway, I took the pills.

Oh and my cervix was a bit effaced but high up and mws all said something different about dilation (between nothing and 2cm!) the head was down and engaged, baby's back was along my left hand side of my belly.

The baby arrived in the morning of 42+1, 24 hours after the first pill. I had the epidural but no section and no instrument delivery. I had been really scared and upset but the last few days of waiting until 42 helped me get my head sorted.

[GemSingleton]

Please don't stress I was induced at 41+3. I had 1 failed sweep, my cervix was still high and all the stuff you don't want to hear while your waiting lol. I went in the hospital at 8am on Friday morning. They gave me another sweep and put some gel on my cervix. That definitely started something as that afternoon I got back ache and light bleeding which is normal apparently. I had a bath and walk around the hospital. Another sweep at 7pm the midwife could see on the monitor that I was having contractions but I couldn't feel them. At 8pm I was caught off guard when I started to really feel them. By 12am Saturday I was 6-7cm dilated and got down on delivery suit. They gave me some cocodimal (not that it actually did anything) I went in the birthing pool to help with the pain. My son was born at 7.16am Saturday 15th October 2016. I hadn't used gas and air as it made me feel awful. I had pethadine but I wouldn't recommend it, just makes you sleepy, for me it didn't help with the pain. Whatever experience you have will be amazing, you will love looking back on the day your baby was born. Just don't panic. I think it's better to be induced now as you're in the hospital, surrounded by people who know what to do. Any questions I had were answered. I was in the right place if anything happened. And I knew I wouldn't be sent home because I wasn't far enough along. Good luck x

[Sunisshining12]

Thank you so much for the replies. Gosh I sound so miserable & ungrateful I need to get a grip!

I think especially with your first you build up to the due date for so long that when it passes it's almost like defeat, why isn't my body going into labour!

I do feel an immense pressure from the mw & my family to go ahead with it. If I got there tomorrow and still really really didn't want to go ahead do you think the hospital staff will be fuming with me for taking up someone else's space?!

I guess they do an internal exam when you get there? At least then I could see if anything has improved?

[GemSingleton]

I was exactly the same. Don't worry. You've just carried a baby for like 10 months (it's not 9 is it) lol. You do build up to 1 day and when it comes and goes you do feel deflated.
Why do you not want to be induced? Not being confrontational everyone to their own. I was ready to be induced after a couple of days after 🙈 I'm so impatient though lol x

[RNBrie]

There's lots of steps in an induction. Usually they start with a pessary or gel and then you're given 24 hours. They might try this twice. They might try breaking your waters. If all else fails, they'll give you a drip which stimulates your uterus to contract.

At each of the steps, discuss the pros and cons with your midwife and partners before progressing to the next step. Ask what would happen if you waited another few hours. Ask yourself if you understand why measures are being taken and if the risks have been explained to you.

Whatever happens, you'll know you made informed decisions and choices and you'll have a lovely squishy baby at the end of it! Inductions can be lovely positive births even though they are a bit different from homebirths! I've done both

[legfaced]

Why does having a c section give you so much horror?

I was induced. My baby would have likely died or had brain damage if I hadn't had a c section as he was distressed, had a heart rate that kept dropping and was beginning to be starved of oxygen.

I'm not trying to be horrible, or scary, but to make you see that even if it ends in a c section, at least there's a healthy baby at the end of it. You honestly won't care whether baby came out of your vagina or a surgical opening.

[legfaced]

Ps my induction was not fun but for 4/7 of my nct friends, their vaginal birth ended up with worse damage to them.

[Sunisshining12]

It's mainly because im worried its more likely to lead to a c section, especially after reading about bishops scores etc.

Obviously all I care about is having a healthy safe baby, it's just the thought of lying on a table being cut open omg I'm sweating just the thought of it!!!

[snoopyokay]

I was induced with the drip as my waters went but labour didn't 'establish' or whatever you call it. Still managed to have an edpiural and all was fine.

Try not to stress and just go with it, the end is in sight now which is a positive thing!

[GemSingleton]

Not all inductions lead to c sections. I know it's hard but don't go ready stuff on google. I know others who were induced who had "normal" vaginal births. From what I understand the longer baby is in there after EDD the more chance of still births etc. Plus the baby gets bigger and bigger. My boy was 11 days late and a whopping 8'9. Safe to say I was cut and forceps nearly used. I don't mean to scare you but the healthcare providers are doing what is safest for you and the baby x

[mum2be88]

I was induced last Saturday at 41 weeks exactly. My story has positives and negatives so I'll give you some info!
It was my first baby, went in and cervix was still high up but 1-2cm dilated. Had the first pessary Sat 12pm. Nothing happened at all. Spent the night on a very noisy induction ward full of labouring women!
Next pessary Sun 2pm, had some mild contractions but didn't make any progress. Another noisy night on the same ward.
Got to Monday 2pm and the hospital was very busy so didn't see a consultant until 8pm. They wanted to give me a Prostin tablet but I refused as I had well and truly had enough of the hospital at this point! I got very upset and they eventually moved me to my own room. At 11.30pm consultant examined me and was able to break my waters. I didn't make any further progress so I had an epidural at 3am and started on the oxytocin drip. I did not plan on an epidural at all! But I took the advice of the midwife as I was already exhausted and hadn't even started labour yet! I had several hours of glorious sleep and woke up already 5cm dilated! I was afraid of having the epidural put in but it didn't hurt very much at all and really really helped me relax!
I was ready to push at 10pm on the Tuesday night and my beautiful girl was born an hour later. She is 9lb 5oz and I only had a small graze. Despite the epidural I still felt the pressure and when to push and managed to get her out with no need for instrumental help.

My advice is take earplugs and an eye mask, your own pillows and plenty of reading material/iPad. I honestly expected to go in and be induced and for things to get going straight away. That didn't happen for me, however it did happen very quickly for many of the other ladies I encountered on the ward!

Definitely take each step as it comes and don't be afraid to question consultants advice or take extra time to make up your mind.

Rest as much as you can as you really do need your energy for when the baby is here!

Even though I had a long wait in hospital, she is worth every second. You'll be enjoying newborn cuddles soon!

Sorry, just realised I've written an essay!

[ScarlettFreestone]

I was induced with my twins. And yes, I ended up with a c section.

However my friend was induced and progressed to a perfectly normal delivery.

Another friend who went into labour normally ended up with a section.

Yes you are right, induction leads to higher chance of c section. But it doesn't akways lead to c section.

Speak to your midwife about your fears about a section.

I really wanted to avoid one, but in the end after labouring for a long time, I just wasn't progressing and one of my babies was becoming distressed so there was little choice.

I'm so grateful that the doctors, anaesthetist, midwives and nursing staff had the skill to deliver my babies safely and look after me.

My section wasn't frightening, I wasn't scared at any point, I was kept informed the whole time and my DH was with me the whole time.

Yes recovery is longer and can be harder but it was doable - even with two babies.

Best wishes for your delivery and good luck.

It sounds trite but meeting your baby really does make it all worth while.

[Sunisshining12]

Thanks everyone I'm feeling more positive now :-)

[ScarlettFreestone]

It's natural to be nervous, but do speak to your care team about it - they'll put your mind at rest/discuss options.

And hey, you get to meet your baby soon!

[Bluebellevergreen]

I have been booked for an induction tomorrow too OP, and still thinking about what to do...
Good luck

[AppleMagic]

I've had two inductions with much lower Bishops score than yours to start with. In both cases the gel got me to 1cm dilated. Then they broke my waters and I had the drip. From that point my labours were under 8hrs and my babies were born with hardly any pushing required. I had an epidural with my first and would recommend.

[Slothlikesundays]

I was really worried I'd end up with a c section. I'd prepared myself and sent dp home. Pessary went in at 17.30. Contractions started at 23.30 and my baby arrived at 03.30. No (other) interventions needed. They said my cervix was nowhere near ready to go and it would take days. It might not be as bad as you think!

[savagehk]

You aren't overdue until past 42 weeks. You are within your rights to refuse. You can refuse past 42 weeks as well, and opt for expectant management, where they will check your placenta is OK (using a scan) and you will go in every day (or every other day) to check baby's heartbeat.

[SmellySphinx]

I was induced two days ago at 40+ 10. Honestly C section is an absolute last resort if things don't go to plan in terms of induction cases. I had two lots of gel, waters broken a million tablets and injections and all manner of stuff, epidural, drips here there and everywhere haha Managed to push baby out on my own, the midwives walked to the other side of the room when her head popped half way out! Don't worry too much about it x

[SmellySphinx]

Oh I went in after 2 sweeps, first 1-2cm, 2nd 1-2cm...3rd sweep at the hospital...2cm then another!!!! Took a while to get to 4cm blimey, felt like a lucky dip bucket haha

[indigo13]

Just refuse! There's no need to get induced. You still need to attend the appointment so they can monitor heartbeat and scan fluid levels but thats all. When I arrived they asked me here my hospital bag was, I said I dont want to be induced thanks, and they were perfectly happy. Your baby isnt ready, enjoy a few more days with a lovely bump

[GemSingleton]

I was very lucky. You may even be too that I got put in my own room both while be induced and on the main maternity ward. I was quite poorly after so they had to keep an eye on me. The ward did sound noisy though with new babies crying.

[savagehk]

I find this website useful for information: evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/

[DappledThings]

I think I was in very similar position to you, was booked for induction at 41+3 and felt deflated too, knew it was silly but felt like I'd failed a bit to do what I was meant to naturally start. Spoke to a friend night before who had had exactly the same feelings so you're not alone.

I've written my experience in a bit of detail on other posts if you search me but in brief it was pessary at 19.45, cramps by 21.00, really intense contractions by 23.00, 0cm at 02.00 and I went into panic mode that nothing was happening. Pethidine at 05.30, 10 cm at 08.00 and DS born at 09.20!

I was worried about ending up in a CS or other intervention too, it doesn't always happen.

Good luck

[Sparrowlegs248]

Cs isn't the worst. I had ds1 by elcs and it was fine. I recovered well, and was very close to opting for a c section sith my second. It was booked bit I changed my mind last minute.

3 failed sweeps, had waters broken at 40+9. Ds born 19 hrs after waters broken. Worked my way through all the drugs, finishing on epidural. Ds born vaginally with assistance from forceps and episiotomy as he was 10lb 13.5 back to back and I have a medical condition that meant we got to a stage where he needed to come out.