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Pregnancy

Being induced- tips please

40 replies

oinkyoink · 01/08/2011 16:40

i haven't been told much so am in the dark regarding induction. What's important to know/be aware of so I can make decisions and ask the right questions?
Any info appreciated!! Thanks

OP posts:

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posterofagirl · 01/08/2011 16:46

Make them give you an epidural, induction can be very painful and quick so you don't want to wait for hours while they find someone to give you one.

I didn't have one and ended up with a ga emcs. Not fun

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 01/08/2011 16:52

There are many postive induction stories though, not everyone's experience will be the same.

Generally they say that contractions can be more intense, with less of a gradual build up, but I think it depends on how ready your body is to give birth in the first place.

The method of induction might not work first time, or it may work within an hour. Again, depends how ready you are. I had the gel and my waters went within two hours, after they told DH to go home and come back in morning. He got home and had to come straight back again DD born 11 hours later.

I think they also say that the rates of intervention can be higher so be aware of that, but again, everyone is different.

When is your induction date?

oinkyoink · 01/08/2011 16:52

Thanks for that poster. I had a sweep this morning, consultant said I was 2cm dilated so am hoping I'll go myself. If not induction on Wednesday.

OP posts:

oinkyoink · 01/08/2011 16:54

Thanks coconut, it's booked for Wednesday. Had a sweep this morn as stated above hopefully that'll help...

OP posts:

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 01/08/2011 16:57

2cm at your sweep is good going :) Have you found you've lost some mucus/blood since the sweep? Hope it gets things going for you.

I had my sweep at 5 days overdue, and unfortuantely had to be induced at +12 but I wasn't even 1/2cm dilated at the sweep so you may find it works for you before Weds and if it doesn't then hopefully your labour will progress well.

Keep us informed :)

posterofagirl · 01/08/2011 16:58

If you are already on the way def beg for an epidural. You should have a much lower risk of intervention if you are already dilating.

Good luck ( I'm sure you won't need it )

oinkyoink · 01/08/2011 17:01

Oh ok. I thought being 2cm was no big deal! I've had some brown blood since the sweep. Does that mean anything???

OP posts:

PrincessJenga · 01/08/2011 17:01

Marking place... sweeps booked for Wed and Fri. Induction on Monday if nothing happens... btw there was a good thread on 'Childbirth' recently asking for positive experiences of Induction, which made happier reading than the usual threads about it! I couldn't find it, but this search brought up some more.

MistyValley · 01/08/2011 17:05

I can only tell you what I wish I had done, but your circumstances might be different!

I wish I had put 'will happily consider an epidural' at the top of my birth plan, and asked for one early on in labour.

As it was I said I was hoping to avoid one, then wanted one halfway through. I was talked out of it by the midwife, but as it turned out it I think it would have been the best thing as I ended up with ventouse and episiotomy, and some painful stitching as the LA didn't seem to work very well.

The contractions were also painful and intense and close together from the moment the labour started. You might find that if you go into labour soon after induction, you might have some trouble convincing the midwives of this fact. My only advice would be not to suffer in silence - yell, writhe, and insist on being examined!

Hope all goes well, good luck

ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts · 01/08/2011 17:10

Oinky, they generally say to expect some blood after a sweep but you never know, you might get a proper show. 2cm isn't anything major but it is better than 0cm and means something is happening, even if you aren't physically aware of it.

The trouble is, people can only offer you their individual experiences and like I said no two labours are the same.

Don't be forced into something you aren't happy with, just the same as if it were natural. If you want an epi, then ask for one but if you don't then don't be scared into having one. Keep your options open :)

Firawla · 01/08/2011 17:15

about epidural if you do want one i would say get it in place before having the synto drip, is a good time to have it? im booked for induction this week too and i think thats what i will do, but if you don't need that and are just okay with the gel or breaking waters then hopefully might be okay?
2cm at sweep is quite good though so you never know!

dycey · 01/08/2011 17:49

Oinkyoink, we are in the same boat - also had a sweep today and booked for induction on weds am.

I have been through this once with my first pregnancy and was induced on a Friday which meant labouring over the weekend. It's good to start on a weds in my experience!

Good luck. I honestly think it does all depend on your body's readiness but if it's your first baby be prepared for it to be a LONG process... Last time the pessary was inserted at 9am Friday morning and baby only born Sunday noon.... And contractions stopped me sleeping by Friday evening. But it wasn't terrible, they were every ten minutes and managed fine with a tens machine til they broke my waters and gave me syntocinon on Saturday midnight. And it wasn't too painful as I had a great epidural during satruday night. But it was a bloody marathon!.........

dycey · 01/08/2011 17:50

O and I am not dilated at all (except for having had a baby already so cvix not fully closed) so your cervix bodes well!

ChunkyPickle · 01/08/2011 18:00

Marathon here - 2 days with the pessary, with no luck, then a day on syntocin - the contractions with the pessary were fine (just only continued as long as I kept moving)

The contractions on syntocin hit like a hammer by the time it was at full whack (they ramped it up over a few hours). Morphine didn't touch it, and the epidural was a blessed relief. It's hard to remember, but I don't think it was pain exactly, more just that they were relentless and very hard.

LadyGoneGaga · 01/08/2011 18:14

I was dreading mine but actually ended up being a great experience. Like you was 2cm dilated at sweep and 2cm when they started it. Gave me a pessary at 9am to efface me a bit more and make cervix more anterior. Took a while to kick things off, some small, niggly pains through afternoon. Had another sweep at 3pm. Examined again at 7pm and then they broke my waters. This really kicked things off and dilated from 2 to 10cm in 2 hours. Managed ok on gas and air. Labour recorded as 3h44 mins with 20 mins pushing stage. Soo much easier than with DS who was all natural but got stuck due to being asynclitic (32 hours) despite DD being a much bigger baby.

So induction can be really positive, especially as it sounds like your body is getting ready to go naturally anyway. And you don't necessarily have to have an epidural if you don't want to.

dycey · 01/08/2011 18:46

Is it only the syntocinon that is supposed to make contractions more painful? Or is the pessary / gel too?

If I only have the gel then i'd be keen not to have an epidural really for various reasons.

dycey · 01/08/2011 18:48

Tips:

Be prepared for the long haul

Be prepared to be admitted to hospital but not to labour suite (I was on antenatal ward for 24 hours and husband not allowed to stay at night boo hoo)

MistyValley · 01/08/2011 18:51

I only had the gel, then had very regular and painful contractions which started very suddenly about 4 hours later. There was no build up in intensity or times apart really.

MistyValley · 01/08/2011 18:53

I was 40 +14, and either 0cm or 1cm dilated when pessary was inserted, (sorry can't remember).

WorrisomeHeart · 01/08/2011 18:58

Agree be ready for the long haul. Also (and I'm honestly not trying to scare you here) if you are the type of person who likes to be prepared, I would recommend reading up on EMCS just to be prepared. Chances are you won't end up having one, but when I had my EMCS following my faile induction I found myself wishing I knew more about what was about to happen. Good luck - at least you know you won't be leaving the hospital without your gorgeous little baby!

posterofagirl · 01/08/2011 20:15

Sorry, reading back my posts do look a bit scary

I do know a couple of people who have had lovely inductions with just g&a.

Just know your options and keep them all open. Babies do what they want

andypandypudding · 01/08/2011 20:56

Induced 3 times.. all just waters artificially broken with no need for pessary. 1st induction - baby born 2hrs from ARM, 2nd induction - baby born 9 minutes after ARM!!!!, 3rd induction - baby born 1 hour after ARM under epidural...

All reasonable experiences.. no pain relief with 1 and 2.. epidural with 3..... bliss!!

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NinthWave · 01/08/2011 21:01

I had a great induction last October - see my birth post here.

I went into hospital with an open mind and a positive attitude and it was great :) Best wishes for your birth!

oinkyoink · 01/08/2011 22:34

Thanks everyone! Great to read. Here's hoping it goes ok.

Dicey- that's funny we have the same schedule of sweep and then induction. Let's keep in touch via this (if we've time)... Good luck!

OP posts:

dycey · 01/08/2011 22:40

Good luck to you too. Is it your first?

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