Induction and terrified

[jollyjester]

I'm currently 41 weeks with DC1 and due to be induced anytime starting tomorrow until saturday (just whenever the hospital is quietest they will ring) Im really scared about this as I wanted as natural birth as I could and now I know its not going to happen.

The hospital I'm giving birth at has a lovely Midwifery Led Unit which I now know I won't be able to go to and the whole thing just feels like its completely out of my hands. I had a sweep at 40 + 2 but that didn't do anything and people have insisted on telling me all sort of horror stories about induction (why do they feel the need?) and I now feel completely out of control of the whole situation.

Any reassuring words of advise would be much appreciated at this stage.xx

[droitwichmummy]

It will be fine jester - not all inductions are bad and you will have your baby to look forward to at the end .
I was induced with DS (now 7) and while it wasn't a picnic he came out fine with a bit of help. I won't give you details as your induction will be different to mine but I was able to move around (even able to get off the bed in the middle of the night and jump over DH who was asleep on the floor to get to the sink to throw up!).
I was advised by the trainee midwife to ask for an epidural as soon as they put the drip in which was good advice and I am glad I took it, but it will depend on the type of induction you need.

Good luck!

[SofiaAmes]

Make sure you insist on an epidural before they begin the induction.

[2blessed2bstressed]

Do all inductions now involve an iv? I was induced with ds2 and was given vaginal pessary, then labour started and was "normal" - although I did go from 0 - 60 in a very short space of time!

[ChildofIsis]

I agree on the epidural, induction contractions can be more painfull.
I second that your induction may well be different to others you've heard about.
Each birth is unique.
Try to relax and focus on the baby you'll have in your arms very soon.

Good luck, I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

[4madboys]

been induced all 5 times, am allergic to the prostin gel so had to have my waters broken but it was fine, have gas and air during internals, having your waters broken if you need it, just to help you relax.

i wouldnt say you will need the epidural, with dd, baby no 5, the water breaking wasnt enough (like with my others) and i ended up on syntocin drip but still managed fine just with gas and air.

just because you are being induced doesnt mean you wont have a nice natural birth, with or without pain relief, see how you go. i even had ds4 in a birth pool, all 10lb 13oz of him! and it was fine :)

[northernruth]

I would disagree about the epidural, sorry

I was induced with DD, due to obstetric cholestasis, at 38+5, so fairly early and that affected the progress (pessaries didn't really work). I know LOTS of women who have been induced past date and have had a smooth labour. A good number of them didn't have an epi at all (which is obviously preferable) - one had just gas and air and the others pethidine/ diamorphine.

I had an epidural at about 4cm and was glad to have it, but was managing fine on gas and air and my tens before that.

The reason I say to hold out for the epi is that once you have it you will struggle to move around (I couldn't move my legs) so you increase the risk of an instrumental delivery. I had a forceps delivery but it was fine tbh.

Also bear in mind that you don't have to agree to induction - you can wait till 42 weeks if you want. No one can induce you without your consent - it would be assault

[4madboys]

and good luck, soon you will be holding your baby, but be prepared it may take a while, sometimes a few days depending on your cerivx and how many doses of the gel you need (may not need any if you can just get waters broken)

take lots to read and some good snacks for energy, do eat and keep your strength up and sleep if you get the chance xx

[northernruth]

Try going for a long walk with one foot in the gutter and one on the kerb.

Failing that give DH a bj, the prostaglandins in sperm are meant to help get things going (and are more effective if ingested......)

[SoBroken]

I was induced and had the easiest birth imaginable. They put the gel in, contractions started while I was eating my lunch a few mins later, every 3 mins right from the start. When they checked me, I had gone from nothing to 8cm in 30 mins and was ready to go! They ran me down to the delivery suite and DS was born straight away. He was 9lbs so didn't exactly drop out either lol.

I was terrified like you, terrified of the birth in general and had heard loads of induction horror stories, but I was pleasantly surprised by how little it hurt, so you could well end up like me!

Take heart! xxx

[northernruth]

I had lots and lots of advice from others who had been induced as I was scared witless too - I was hoping for a home birth! - but didn't hear one horror story. You will be fine if it comes to it. Hopefully you will go into labour tonight tho so you don't have to worry!

[shmoz]

northernruth mw told me about the bj thing when I was in hospital being induced...DP looked at me all hopeful...2nd word was 'off'.

Agree with being prepared for it to take a few days (mine did)...take some snacks/drinks, earplugs, extra pillows (woeful allocation at the hospital I gave birth at), enough underwear etc to see you through for a few days and a fan (it's bloody hot on the ante-natal ward esp at night). Hopefully if you over-prepare you won't need any of it and things will progress quickly!

Good luck x

[northernruth]

I wish I'd known about the bj thing at the time, would have saved all that ungainly shagging at full term.........

[jollyjester]

Thanks everyone for your replies, I'm still holding out that something will happen tonight so might have to treat hubby as per some suggestions!

If not its just gonna be a deep breath and focus on the bump finally being on outside!xx

[harassedandherbug]

I was induced with ds2 and had the pessary and then iv, but only because my waters went and nothing happened.

I have an overwhelming fear of epidurals so it was plastered all over my notes that I didn't want one. I'll agree that the contractions were intense, but I was happy with g & a and a shot of pethidine.

Plenty of time for bump to come yet! Dd was 10 days late and came the day I made the appointment for an induction .

[wheelshavefallenoffthebus]

I had an induction with my ds1. Everything went smoothly just needed forceps at the end which apparently was because my son was in a slightly awkward position so needed a bit of help. I was really worried about it but it went better than I expected. I had an epidural eventually as I had a drip to increase contractions. Some people don't need a drip as they get started with the gel.
Hope all goes well

[MrsRhettButler]

I had an induction, the pessaries didn't work so I needed the drip, I wouldn't say to get an epidural straight away as you never know how you'll cope, you may be fine.
I had one at about 5 cms as I felt I couldn't take any more but I agree with whoever said to use the time you can to move about and try to speed things up, I didn't need any intervention btw I see dd's birth as a success and am happy with it.
I'm due next weekend with my second and the way I see it is whatever it takes to get the baby out is going to be ok! what will be will be.
Good luck I'm sure you'll be fine :)

[JenniferYellowHatsRedLingerie]

Hey jester thanks for starting this thread :) I've just been booked in for induction on Monday and I'm absolutely terrified as well. Really hope it all goes well for you.
Lovely to hear good stories from everyone else as well, thanks v much :)

[cookie9]

Ask if your hospital does mobile epidurals so you can still move around if you feel like it.

[anniroc]

JollyJester, Jennifer, I was induced at 37wks due to high BP, I'm pg with DC2, and I can honestly say, I'd quite like to be induced again, as the thought of going into spontaneous labour away from hospital terrifies me!

Honestly, don't be scared, sometimes its takes a while to get going, but sometimes it's over very fast - 3hrs 18mins in my case! It's hard and fast, but I think that's better that all this stopping and starting that some people get. Epidurals are a very good idea - I had one once the pain got too much (I would see how you get on first) and it made things a lot easier.

Good luck x

[wigglesrock]

Just to say, I had induction with dd2 and it was fine. I was given a gel pack early in the morning, walked around the ward/corridor for a while, listened to i-pod, read magazines (things you will not get to do when the baby's here ), was given another gel pack, again mobile the whole time. Spent 20 mins on monitor, had about 5 baths!

Went into "proper" labour at 4.15pm, had baby at 6.30pm, again had her kneeling at side of bed - no interventions, apart from g&a. Out of all three of my births, it was by far the "easiest" and possibly the one I felt most in control of.

Before I was induced all I heard was horror stories, thanks Mum but honestly it was grand. Good luck.

[LoveBeingAtHomeOnMyOwn]

I know someone who went to induced for both her pgs and when she got there shed already started labour!

[MrsBradleyCooper]

My friend was induced and didn't even need to ask for pain relief until she was fully dilated

Baby then shot out like a bullet from a gun

[MrsBradleyCooper]

oh, and it was her first

[Lilithmoon]

I was induced at 39ish weeks with my PFB. It did take a long time to get going (sweep on Friday had no effect, first pessery Wed. am... baby early hours Friday). The hold up was breaking my waters which took five attempts, but in themselves were managable!! I had an oxytocin drip. Baby was faced the wrong way which slowed things too. I had a ventouse in the end. I had TENS and gas and air (nothing for the last two hours though) and in the main the pain was manageable, obviously the actual 'baby coming out' bit was ARGH! I had an episiotomy and also tore but healed very quickly with the aid of lots of pelvic floors. I never felt the need for stronger pain relief. PFB is my only baby so basis for comparison is not available but all in all it was not too bad. I felt very well supported by the mdwives and I think that is what made the experience manageble. It did take me a while to come to tems with all the interventions, but that was do to with why I was being induced (I really didn't agree with the reasoning), rather then the process itself.
HTH :)

[GsyGacheFiend]

My induction was fine too, I was induced 3 days before my due date due to reduced fetal movement and lack of fluid around the baby.I was given the pessary at 2pm, told to go for a walk around so did some laps of the hospital and met DS1 in the cafeteria for tea. 2nd pessary given at 7pm, DH send home at 11.30pm as they expected to have to give me a 3rd dose in the morning. DH phoned at 2am as I was 3cms, taken to labour room, Dh turned up at 2.30am, DD born at 2.52am. No interventions, just used TENS machine (I hate G&A). Much easier and quicker than DS who ended up with epidural, forceps and ventouse delivery.