Induction!!

[VJONES1985]

I'm being induced on Tuesday (excited and scared!!). Any advice or tips?? Thanks.

[VJONES1985]

Bump :-)

[birdbrain21]

Ooh good luck! I was induced with my dd (only got one child so no other labours to compare it to) but everyone told me with the pessary it can take days be prepared for that, so I went in with books, magazines and lots of food but wasn't prepared a couple of hours after having it put in to be having strong contractions every 3-5 mins! I was induced in the evening and thinking it would take ages DH had gone home for the night so I was alone until he could get back. I guess what I'm trying to 'warn' you is that there is no normal for labour especially with being induced so try prepare yourself for anything to happen!

[VJONES1985]

Thank you, that's good news :-) Hope I have a similar experience!

[CarbeDiem]

I had an induction with my 3rd. I didn't need the pessary due to my cervix being ready and already open, so the midwife just popped my waters, so can't comment about that.
The difference I noticed to my previous spontaneous births was that once hooked up to the drip the contractions/pain came very quickly, much more so than they do when they build up by themselves - so if you want pain relief maybe ask for it to be ready for you as they start the drip.
Wishing you all the best xx

[VJONES1985]

I don't know about pain relief as this will be my first labour. I assume I will want some but that's as far as it goes, so hopefully I will have a firmer plan by that point!

[VJONES1985]

I don't know what I want or what to expect at the moment but that's great advice, thank you - I know I will definitely have some concerns to raise about the drip if they want to use that. Apparently though they are going to try me with two pessaries and if my waters cannot be broken during that time, I will have a C section (which is really not what I want).

[runningonwillpower]

What the others have said.

I was induced on a drip and it was a bit of a shock to go from 'no labour' to full on contractions with nothing in between

Don't assume that a birth plan concocted whilst not in labour will suit you come the event itself. I made that mistake. I really thought that those breathing techniques would see me through.

So, have the pain relief on stand-by. That pethadine is amazing shit.

All the best!

[CarbeDiem]

OP - the midwife will no doubt speak to you regarding what you want.
Drug wise you've got gas and air, diamorphine or pethadine injection and an epidural.
If you're going to use the G&A make sure it's present in the room and set up with what mouthpiece you want (personally I don't do masks and prefer the part that you put in your mouth and suck on) before they start the drip. I love G&A :)
I can't speak for you but for me it was enough to have that when the contractions kicked in - to take the edge off and allow me breathing space to decide if I wanted anything more. As it happened I left it too late (was my 3rd birth and happened very quickly) and couldn't have the injection I wanted.

Maybe someone else can confirm but I'm not sure when it's your first born - if they go straight in with the drip on full flow? The reason they can with 2/3/4 time births is because the cervix is often ready and can allow the waters to be manually broken thus speeding up the labour.
2 of my friends were induced with their 1st and first had the pessary but they didn't have the 0 -OWW intensity with contractions. One said the midwife kept 'turning up' the drip hourly and that it was a slow process - so made me wonder if they do it more gently/gradual for first time labours.

[weeblueberry]

My waters went on the Friday but no baby still on Sunday so they hooked me up to the drip and went mad. They increased the dosage gradually and it was all fine to start with, contractions started mildly and then.....I have no memory of when they got worse. Just that they seemed to go from 0-60 in about five minutes (it was actually about 2 hours...).

At one point I ripped the canula from my hand (yeah it's a long story about me trying to punch DP) and they had to put it back in. They were worried it would take time to ramp up the drug but DD appeared about 30 minutes later. I always thought that the drug taking a break was what finally coaxed her into the world!

[redexpat]

Midwife stuck something in my vagina at 1800 and ds was born at 0504 the next morning. They dont always take 3 days. And he was my first.

[mssleepyhead]

Oh congratulations and good luck! I've enjoyed following your pregnancy with you; do come back and tell us how it goes!

[VJONES1985]

Hmm,think I will def need to clarify what happens re hormone drip then!

Sleepyhead - thank you, I will definitely let you all know how we get on next week. Wish Tuesday would hurry up and arrive!

[CarbeDiem]

Good luck VJones
Hope all goes smoothly and quickly Xx

[VJONES1985]

Thank you. Am a bag of mixed feelings at the moment!

[birdbrain21]

How's it going? Have you been induced yet? I know today's the day but when I arrived for my induction they were so busy I didn't get the pessary till 11pm!! Hope it all goes smoothly...looking forward to updates

[CarbeDiem]

Popping back to hope all went well yesterday and you have your little one now VJONES