Please help - Induction tonight, feeling wobbly!

[User24689]

MNers, I'm hoping you can help me feel calmer...

I'm off to the hospital in a few hours for induction at 40+9 and feeling really quite stressed and emotional about it.

I was very anxious about giving birth up until a couple of months ago but have been doing lots of relaxation practice, read a really good hypnobirthing book and have been practicing my breathing/ visualisations and feeling properly 'bring it on!' about the whole thing as I approached my due date... then nothing happened!!

I had imagined doing the first stage of labour at home surrounded by all my things and wasn't scared of it and now I'm going in to hospital at 5pm and having the prostaglandin gel, staying overnight, having the hormone drip in the morning and then labouring tomorrow. I think its because it has all become so medical before I've even started that I'm losing sight of the comforting things I have been telling myself about how this is a natural process my body knows how to do! I have had no signs of pre labour at all, not a single BH, cervix is shut tight apparently.

I think the thought of spending the night on the labour ward on my own with my own thoughts makes it worse :(

I know this all sounds pathetic, but does anyone have any similar stories of induction that have gone well?? Do you think it is still at all possible for the hypnobirthing techniques I've been using to get me through? The midwife did warn me to think about pain relief options before time because the induced contractions will come faster and harder from the outset and it may well be more painful. The obstetrician said that they could give me something to 'temper' the contractions if I couldn't cope but I wonder if this will just cause a domino effect of drugs and intervention?

One last random question - do they use a speculum to put the prostaglandin gel onto your cervix or just a finger and how fast does this usually take effect?

Excuse the fretful rambling. On the plus side I know I am so close to seeing my baby's face and I can't wait to get this over with and finally meet her. Just got to get my game face back on before I leave for the hospital!

[applecore0317]

I don't have experience of Induction myself as I popped before this was needed. However my friend was induced in June and two and a half hours after the pessary was put in her baby had arrived.

My Mum was induced with me and opted for an epidural, I arrived just over five hours later.

Inductions are different for everyone, keep an open mind regarding pain relief. I used the techniques from my hypnobirthing book and CD during my birth and found them good for keeping me calm and focussing on my breathing. Each stage of the induction will bring you closer to having your baby in your arms.

Take a good book with you tonight or something to distract you, hope all goes wellx

[FlossyCat]

Morning, couldn't read without posting as I completely understand how you're feeling. I'm now 41 weeks and induction is looking likely next week, which is so disappointing as I'd love to experience spontaneous labour. However, I was induced at 40+12 with my DS, and am less afraid this time. I went in on the tues morning, had the pessary about 11, I had contractions on and off all day and overnight which were manageable, I had some paracetamol and found a bath really helped. The next day I was given the gel in the afternoon about 3ish, I can't really remember but don't think a speculum was used, and contractions ramped up quickly, but I managed with breathing techniques and only had gas and air when moved to delivery suite from the ward. Luckily didn't need the drip and baby was born weds evening. The pessary did make me a little nauseous but not all the time, and I felt feverish with the gel which is a possible side effect to be aware of, not pleasant but again manageable.

I had only learned hypnobirthing from a cd, but the techniques helped together with staying upright on a birthing ball as much as possible.

If you need medication don't beat yourself up about it. Try to sleep if and when you can as it may take some time.
Wishing your all the best. Not long now until you get to meet your baby. Hope you manage to experience some aspects of birth as planned, remember you can still have music and low lighting, and use upright positions in a hospital environment x

[FlossyCat]

PS. Hope I managed to get across that despite induction I still had a positive empowering birth experience. When I thought I wasn't coping and might need more pain relief, I just needed someone to examine me and tell me I was nearly there.

[acupofteafortwoormore]

You are going to be fine; you can still be in control of many aspects of your labour: music, your position, the atmosphere etc - even if you need constant monitoring of the baby, don't feel you have to be strapped to the bed, just ask them to move the monitor as you move position.

Stay super active, birth ball etc during the early stages.

Many people with induction or no induction end up with an epidural & many people end up with using gas & air that were going to have an epidural or using different painkillers.

Just be open to knowing what you want, but with an open mind to other options. I found having music as something I controlled helped & gave the room a good atmosphere.

There are horror stories of every birth type you could read & plenty of positive ones for induction -

You can very much still use your hypno-birthing techniques & the visualisations will help you.

To put this advice into context - I have had two inductions & both super positive.

DS1 induced after high blood pressure & waters went with no labour - he was back to back & first baby but it was fine. Pessary in at 9am, went for a walk, lunch & kept active - at 3pm I only had back pain, at 5pm went to delivery & was in early labour - bounced on birth ball etc but they then started the drip - still stayed active, lots of walking around room & birth ball & started gas & air about 7pm - at 10pm was not very far along & pain was just in back, had a medical hour, where baby's heart rate was dropping & back pain was too much - so opted for an epidural (midwife advised as she thought it may go C-Section route - she did not say that then). At 12 epidural in the all calm...that we even slept! At 4.30 I woke OH & said the baby is here go & get the MW - they checked & sure enough it was time to push - I put on birthing playlist - closed my eyes & used my hypno birthing vision & baby born 30 minutes later.

DS2 - induced due to my ill health BP/OC etc - Pessary in at 10am, early labour started they broke my waters at 5pm & moved to delivery - was in out of shower/bath/birth ball/walking -progressing well, used G&A and started pushing at 7.45 baby born 20 minutes later.

You are going to be fine, yes the induction is a helping hand to start you off but your labour is still your labour & you are going to be fine.

Good luck & don't worry if it is slow progress an un-induced labour can also be slow.

[zombiemeow]

I was induced with ds. They just use their fingers no speculum. I was in for 3 days but that was as i had the pessary then was over contracting then had arm then put on the drip. The drip was put in at 7pm and ds was born 5.08am the next morning.

I was told I should have the epidural as the drip causes contractions to come on quicker with no build up. I had the epidural but it didn't work. I did everything on g&a and it was fine, I regretted having the epidural as it just meant I couldn't move around.

You will be fine

Hope it all goes well

[GoooRooo]

I had an induction after my waters went and I didn't progress for 24 hours. The pessary was inserted with a finger - although it didn't work for me and then a few hours later I was put on a drip.

I also had an epidural and regretted it so won't be doing that again this time but lots of women love them.

I agree about staying mobile as much as you can - I wish I had been able to.

Good luck OP! You'll have your lovely squidgy baby at the end of it!

[User24689]

Thank you all sooo much, you have really reassured me! I read all your replies earlier and they really helped me feel calmer!

Good news - I went in and on the monitor and it turned out the period type pains I've had for the past 2 days are actually contractions and really ramped up this evening while I was on the monitor. The doctor examined me and reckons I'm 1-2cm already so don't need the gel! The examination was quite uncomfortable as cervix is still posterior and she did a stretch too but was ok. So she sent me home and I'm to go back at 7am but she warned me I might end up back in the night if things take off (in Oz, it's evening here now).

Me and DH have come home and had a take away to celebrate my uterus' great work!

[acupofteafortwoormore]

Great news, hope you are now in labour. Enjoy this amazing time

[User24689]

DD1 born 4.30pm this afternoon! had waters broken and was put on drip at 10am. All happened very fast, bit of a shock and unfortunately ended up with nasty tearing but you know what?? I don't even care! She's perfect. thanks for all your kind thoughts!

[zombiemeow]

Awwww congratulations x

[Frillsandspills]

Congratulations!!

[acupofteafortwoormore]

Congratulations, enjoy every cuddle.

[applecore0317]

Congratulations

[nolongerwaitingfornumber2]

Congratulations!

There's quite a few of us August mums who went overdue so totally understand your original feelings.

There's a thread on post natal to get us through the night feeds and general newborn worries if you want to join us.