Induction horror

[sweetchilli77]

Im being induced on the 18th due to GD and being on insulin. I will be 38+3 at that point.

The running theme seems to be they are horrid, days of labour of then which ends in an emcs.

Im not precious and expect it to be hard work but is being induced really so bad? Will i be hospital for days?

[KatnissMellark]

I was induced and it was great. Took 24 hours and a lot of walking for pessary to work, then I had a 3hr50min active labour. Went home same day.

Have only read horror stories myself, those that I know who have had induction have had positive experiences.

Good luck!

[PotteringAlong]

I've been induced twice; one needed ventouse, one nothing. Both much less than 24 hours.

All grand!

[KatnissMellark]

Oh, and I was 38+3 too- when they started they told me to expect the long haul as cervix not favorable! I would definitely recommend walking and sitting on birthing ball, I'm positive that's what helped me.

[Gaaaah]

Well mine was completely the opposite but that might have been because I was already overdue and my body was probably ready to go.

My whole labour was 3 hours. It did come as a shock and honestly I'd prefer not to be induced again but embrace it and be open to pain relief. It will be ok.

[SnugglySnerd]

I won't lie, mine was awful and ended in emcs BUT I didn't do any research before hand and didn't know what to expect. If I knew then what I know now I'd ask for an epidural before putting the drip in, that would have made it a lot better and less scary than having an epidural whilst having big contractions.
I have two friends whose labour got going after the pessary with no drip etc and had straightforward deliveries so it's not awful for everyone.

[allegretto]

Mine was not good - no pain relief, no gas and air, broken coccyx and the midwife from hell . Mostly not the inductiins fault though - but do sort out pain relief in advance .

[DuggeeHugs]

Like any birth the induction could go either way, so prepare yourself beforehand as best you can. Pack for the potential of a longer stay (I was in 8 days), so plenty of snacks and entertainment in case you have to wait for things to kick off. Also pack big knickers and a nightdress in case of a CS.

Mine ended with a brilliant EMCS and I focus on that bit - I've requested an ELCS this time because the actual birth was great. Whatever happens remember you can say 'no' to stuff.

[kshaw]

I was induced st 34+5 due to waters breaking and being strep b positive didn't want to risk infection.
I was 12hours start to end. Was told I would probably want an epidural as when induced you don't get chance to get used to the contractions like in natural birth, they are full on virtually instantly. I did have an epidural (seriously, take the drugs!) - it was fine! It hurts and I have no other comparison but I'd be induced if had another - good luck!

[BearHunting]

2 inductions here.

First one, the pessary didn't work so onto the drip. Contractions were painful, but manageable with gas and air for the most part. Took about 12 hours from when the drip went in, and was a normal vaginal delivery.

Second one, again needed the drip. But this one ended with an EMCS - baby's heartbeat started dropping within an hour or two when I was still far off being fully dilated.
Turned out his heartbeat was dropping because the cord had got wrapped tightly around his neck, so the need for an EMCS was unrelated to the induction.

[HeyManIJustWantSomeMuesli]

I was induced and it took less than 12 hours and didn't have anything like forceps or an episiotomy. It's the only time I've given birth so I've nothing to compare it too but it certainly didn't go on for days and I coped.

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

My induction was absolutely fine as far as inductions and childbirth goes. Took 24 hours before anything at all happened. But when it did I was all done in 4 hours. No drip, gas and air. It might not be awful! Good luck.

[PerpetualStudent]

Mine was long, but not traumatic. Induced at 37 weeks for pre-eclampsia, 2 failed pessaries (DS blatantly wasn't going to come out early if he could avoid it!) And then hormone drip with epidural from the outset (which felt odd at the time, but I was glad of come the contractions!) DS finally arrived 15 hours later with a bit of help from vontuse, but bare in mind most of that I was just sitting there with the drip and the epidural sort of cancelling each other out - I even ate lunch and watched a film!

[Chinnygirl]

My mum was induced when I needed to be born. They put the drip in at 8 a.m. I was born at 13:15. On the second push. No pain relief not even gas & air. I was an 8,5 pound baby.She felt that she had a really easy delivery. My brothers birth was the long and painful one and that started naturally.

[sweetchilli77]

Thanks ladies, i suppose most only document the scary times. Heres to a positive labour :)

[Summerisdone]

I was induced and had been warned by people that it will mean days of waiting and a more difficult birth etc. but I'd had DS within less than 24 hours and I don't think the birth was any worse than what I think most births are like. I only had gas and air to get me through also, so it's not as though I had any strong pain relief that made everything seem easier.

I do genuinely believe the whole thing was helped along massively by me being 'forced' to walk multiple circles around the hospital in the evening because my best mate had seen a Costa machine but couldn't for the life of her remember where it was, and she felt uncomfortable walking around the hospital on her own at 9pm

[Mermaidinthesea123]

I was induced and couldn't cope with the pain so I requested an epidural as I am a bit pathetic with things like that . This was 34 years ago mind!
My advice is to be fully prepared in advance and discuss options with your midwife.
Have a plan B (epidural) in place in case you find you can't cope. If you go in afraid your body will shut down and you won't be able to cope, if you know you can have decent pain relief you will be much more relaxed and may well be able to cope with it on your own.

[RMC123]

I have been induced 4 times for various different reasons. One 40 Wks + 14 days, two at term and one 40 Wks + 7 days. Each time I only needed one pessary. All labours between 4 and 12 hours. First one was a forceps delivery but that was due to his position, nothing to do with induced. Last one was a water birth despite being induced. Nothing but positive. Good luck x

[littleshoutymouse]

Mine was unfortunately the scenario you describe, and I wouldn't do it again. I would much rather opt for a c-section.

That said, I have at least 3 friends who had short, quick labours after induction, so it is possible!

[sweetchilli77]

Well shit just got real...
Went in today for reduced movements, infact i couldn't feel baby.
Everything OK fortunately however because this was my 2nd episode of coming in for this plus my GD, they are inducing me TOMORROW!!!!

Attempted sweep whilst i was there but doc couldn't doing as cervix still closed?
Anyway its on for tomoz
Will report back and answer my own question hahaha

[Helbelle75]

Good luck! Interesting and reassuring reading this as i'm booked in for induction tomorrow.

[TheLegendOfBeans]

Hello love

If your cervix is closed and "unfavourable" then it ought to change after pessary #1.

if it doesn't - which was the case for me and I had three in total - your cervix may not open. If that's the case then they won't be able to break your water and you'll end up with an "em"cs.

That was my experience.

Bad things: constantly getting fingers shoved up my fanny. Pessaries are drying and will make the area tender. Tell your midwives to BE GENTLE.
Also; even if the first one doesn't work don't be afraid to say "finding this unpleasant what are my options". They may just say CS there and then.

Good things: I was visited by friends over the three days (!) it took me to be induced. Tell everyone to bring magazines, chocolate bars and get onto the hospitals wifi. Bring a TENS machine.

All in all I'd never go through that again for that length of time but all in all it wasn't the worst experience. Just boring and vaginally painful, like you'd whipped out a dry tampon and reinserted it several times.

[FloatedWide]

Been induced three times, two weeks over, at 39 weeks and the last one at term. All fine! Good luck

[MsComplicated]

I was induced with DC2.

The contractions felt a bit more intense than my previous natural birth but I think its just where the build up is in hospital where you are concentrating on it as opposed to being at home more distracted!

I gave birth 12 hours after the first pessary and was all quite straight forward no need for the drip, the broke my waters and that made everything happen very fast and baby was born soon after!

I actually quite liked knowing when DC wod be arriving and to be able to plan childcare for DC1 and have some time in hospital 'relaxing' before things started was quite nice, take something to watch films on and lots of snacks/magazines we were waiting around a good few hours before they even started the process!

[summerfling]

In Saturday, had baby on Monday.

I needed forceps but only because he had cord around his theist

[summerfling]

Throat not theist