so looks like I'll be getting induced. any tips?

[mayaknew]

I'm 40+11 with dc3.

I've to go in on Monday night to get the gel (whatever that means?) Then waters broke on Tuesday morning.

That's about all I know about induction. Any useful info or tips would be very much appreciated.

[chandelierswinging]

Depending on their approach, it can be a long drawn out process, so take snacks/things to keep you occupied!

The gel is probably a prostaglandin substance (I had a pessary) which softens the cervix. Some people have no problems with it whatsoever (and I really hope you're one of those!), but it gave me the most horrendous pains ("prostin pains") which no-one warned me about, and made me think I must be 10cm dilated!

Things sped up for me once I had ARM, but I did need a drip to keep the contractions going.

Best advice thought: go with the flow and keep active! Good luck OP!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

In my experience it didn't work first time, but I was early. As you are overdue already it might work better. Take earplugs for the ward because once you've had the pessary you can't leave- there will be other women in labour in the ward next to you. It can be quite scary hearing someone's labour when your own is imminent. The midwives will encourage you to move about etc to get things moving but it can be a long process. Whereas if you go into labour at home, you spend the first hours at home, obviously when you're induced you are in hospital from the outset. Take books and snacks and a separate hospital and labour bag. Good luck!

[Eliza22]

Congratulations on the impending birth!

Here's a tip.... I was induced with my first child. I would say make sure the staff listen to you. I was given the intravenous drugs at 0800 and was told for the next 6 hours that "you'll be a long time yet....get up, walk about.....have a shower....." I was utterly convinced I was further along than they said I was but they insisted I needed to "get off the bed and walk around". I collapsed in the shower. There was no time for pain relief...it was like a runaway train. My husband arrived an hour before DS did!

Don't mean to scare you just, it's YOUR body and you KNOW how you feel.

[abbsismyhero]

take a book you will not be prioritised over people coming in already in labour i was left after one pessary because they didn't have the midwives or the room i was told i would be given an (unnecessary) section shortly because they had plenty of surgeons and room on post op! my doctor rang me (i had urine test results come back positive for a uti) she was horrified by this and told me to say no unless i actually wanted a section! i voted with my feet and went to another maternity unit where they broke my waters put me on the drip and i had a healthy baby boy

be prepared to stick up for yourself

good book plenty of cash mobile phone charger more clean clothing than you think ear plugs and everything you need for the baby

[Pidapie]

No advice other than --- epidural!

[Babelange]

Having your waters broken (happened to me twice for both DCs) hurts. If you are in a room with Entonox handy (gas) help yourself and make sure you take a good few puffs before the midwife does the deed. The contractions will come rapidly thereafter so don't be disappointed if you have an epidural. Good luck!

[FoxesSitOnBoxes]

I was totally unfavourable when I was induced but I'm pretty sure that walking +++ got things started for me after the first pessary. I walked up and down the corridor for hours and things happened fairly quickly.
I did need the drip later on and would recommend an epidural if they suggest it.
My contractions were 2 mins apart from the start so I didn't get much time in between them but gas and air was wonderful. Make sure you take big slow breaths of it- not shallow quick ones.
Take plenty of things to read/watch and earplugs as the wards are busy and noisy.
Good luck

[Heirhelp]

Just a side comment. You can decide to be induced but you don't have to be induced. the nice guidelines say you can choose daily monitoring instead.

[mayaknew]

Thanks that's all helpful.

How long will they let DH stay for once I'm in ? Our local hospital is midwife led only.so we have to go to a hospital an hour away for the induction.

[lynholmerpark]

As previous pp says, induction is a choice not a requirement, so ensure you are happy with the process and understand before consenting.

It is a package of care which will start with the prostaglandin pessary/gel (you could have more than one of these several hours apart) - they will suggest continuous monitoring your baby's heart rate before and after insertion to ensure all is good, breaking of your waters (called ARM) and if necessary, you go on a hormone drip called a syntocinon infusion. This mimics oxytocin which is what causes your uterus to contract. The infusion means you will have a cannula into your vein to deliver the drug.

An induced labour is more painful than a spontaneous one so I'd keep flexible about your pain relief options and initial progress will depend hugely on how favourable your cervix is (as I see you are having DC3 your cervix should be starting from a fairly good place!).

Have previous labours have been spontaneous? Hopefully you'll do it yourself before Monday if that's the case. Maybe look into natural induction methods between now and then. (Oral sex/sperm has been known to be effective in starting things off!). Good luck!!

[lynholmerpark]

DH only likely to be able to stay once you move to labour ward, unless hospital allows partners to stay on the antenatal ward which is where you'd likely be for the first two parts of induction (pessary and/or ARM) (I'd give them a call to check this out).

[rosieliveson1]

I'd call the ward and ask things about your DH staying, whether you'll be confined to the ward and also what pain relief they have on the ward. You can be more prepared this way.
I was induced second time around and the pains definitely came quicker and got stronger far faster than the first time. I had an epidural which was heavenly after hours of pain!
If you are allowed off the ward, once your pessary has 'settled', walk walk and walk some more.
Good luck. Enjoy your new little baby

[Lj8893]

A lot has been covered but I just wanted to add that they can only break your waters on Tuesday morning if the prostin has worked sufficiently enough for your cervix to be dilated enough to manage to break your waters. If not then they will want to do another round of prostin.

When you have the prostin in keep mobile, it will help things move in the right direction.

Good luck.

[mayaknew]

Thanks again great info.

Yes both my previous labours were spontaneous with no problems. I suppose naively I just assumed it would be the same this time. I'm really not prepared for this

[Lj8893]

Fingers crossed you go into spontaneous labour over the weekend, have you had any sweeps? I really go on about being mobile but it really can help labour on its way, so lots of mobility over the weekend might do the trick!

[starry0ne]

I was induced at 39 weeks..Pessary inserted..Waters broke after 2 hours... 2 hours 20 minutes ...intense contractions right from the beginning but manageable with gas and air....Good luck

[superram]

If you have to have the drip, have an epidural first. Don't do what I did and see how things go-even the midwife said have the drugs!

[SilverHoney]

I was induced at 40+12, had been warned about a long process, taking days etc. In reality I was induced Fri morning, DD born Sat morning. Labour was fine, got to use the pool. Didn't find it unbearably painful, but no other labors to compare it to. I has gas&air and one lot of pethadrin (sp?).

Not sure why they are planning to break your waters? If labor is progressing personally I would tell them to sod off. Mine went naturally in the pool and no one seemed to care much either way?

Don't pressume it will take ages, especially since this isn't your first baby.

They did want to monitor me more often as I'd been induced, but luckily my hospital had fab wireless monitors so I could still be up off the bed. Worth an ask?

[NinjaPanda34]

My biggest tip would be to ask for numbing gel before they put the cannula in your hand. That was so sore!

[Lj8893]

silver you had pethidine and used the pool?! Thats very unusual and some might say potentially dangerous. Opioids and water immersion don't mix very well!

[mayaknew]

If I am induced I'm not even allowed in the pool at all. At the CMU if I was in the pool G&A only for pain relief.

[HeyMicky]

Definitely take ear plugs for the ward - I couldn't sleep for the racket other women were making (mostly the one on bed rest skypeing her mates).

Pray that your consultant has long fingers and narrow hands - breaking my waters was incredibly painful because his knuckles were crushed against my pelvic bone. One of the worst bits, actually.

Move about as much as possible, even with continuous monitoring. And have a think about birthing positions that will allow for the drip stand and cannula.

I didn't have an epidural but did have pethedine. The birth was so quick that by the time they have me the drugs I was pushing, which meant I got all the lovely highs without it crossing the placenta so DD2 was unaffected. I recommend this approach highly

[Casmama]

I would say don't expect the worse.
I was induced with DC1 a couple of days before my due date because he was small for dates and one prostin gel,was all it took.
I came off the heart monitor at about 7pm, started getting pains about 9pm, and at about 7am they had to quickly take me down to the labour ward because I was fully dilated.
Hope you go naturally over the weekend but if not it might be much more straightforward than you imagine.

[SilverHoney]

Lj8893 I had to wait 2 hours (I think?) between drugs and the pool to make sure I wasn't too stoned. I later wanted more drugs but was told I would have to get out of the water. Thought she was v unreasonable and stayed put in a huff. Later when pushing regretted this decision!!

[unimaginativename13]

Take a book and nice good. Might be a while.

I had 5 pessaries over 2.5 days and a 4 day induction but being overdue seems to make it quicker.

Once you have the pessary (inserted into cervix) they monitor you for 30mins and allow it to settle and check baby isn't distressed.

Then leave you 5/6 hours, come back and examine you then repeat. You can only have two in 24 hours so if unsuccessful you will be tested over night.

They will only break your waters (usually with a knitting needle) if you are dilated (mine was closed - not recommended). Then leave you 5 hours to wait for labour to kick in.

If it hasn't then they put you on the drip to ramp it up a notch.

You will be on the bed monitored, if baby is ok the keep going until 10cm.

The drip is notoriously painful so this is where people get pain relief. It's best to site the epidural usual before the drip so you aren't contacting while doing the needle.

Personally I wouldn't do it again, but I've heard second pregnancies and overdue are much quicker than early first births.

High risk of intervention and c section. I was refused a c section which I'm glad of.