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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel petrified and devastated by induction

77 replies

PinkSchmoo · 03/05/2011 20:34

New poster to Mumsnet and really would appreciate positive experiences re induction.
At 41 wks + 2 I am scheduled for an induction tomorrow and feel hugely negative about it. I know that people have real problems and that this is, in the scheme of things, utterly minor and ridiculous but I am quite simply devastated by the loss of any semblance of control that I associate with induction.
This is my second child, first was assisted delivery after spontaneous labour. I found it tough enough but coped pretty well up until decision making ability was taken out of my hands. Feel that it's gone already and I am in a bit of a state.

OP posts:
Waltons · 03/05/2011 22:40

Bless you, *PinkSchmoo". Sleep tight.

severalyearsdowntheline · 03/05/2011 22:48

My induction for DC3 was the best experience of my life,seriously. I went into hospital at 8am, induction was started at 8.30 via waters being manually broken and a hefty sweep, epidural given at the same time as induction was started and DC3 was born at 11.30am. No stitches, no pain whatsoever and baby BF immediately.

MCos · 03/05/2011 22:56

I was induced for both DDs. DD1 because my waters started leaking and I needed to give birth within 24 hours of that happening. I was about 1 week early, and once induced everything started to happen quickly.
DD2 was a personal choice, I was 1 week over at that stage. It took many hours for labour to start, but once it did DD2 arrived almost immediately!

So bring a good book, and a few snacks, etc, in case you have a long wait.

Good luck!

Finallyspring · 03/05/2011 22:59

Both of mine induced as I was 17 days 'overdue'.Fed up about it but arguing made me tearful ! Anyway. The first one was not good, but the second one absolutely fine. Not long and not painful. I reckon that's just the way it would have been, induction or not. Looking back, it was also good to be able to plan exactly when I would be there, when husband needed time off, childcare etc. Also, any complications can be dealt with straightaway as you are already being monitored ( though I had no complications ) The induction is just to start it off, the rest can be as 'natural' as any other labour. You will be fine !

Rosebud05 · 03/05/2011 22:59

As your first baby was delivered vaginally, you have a good chance of a successful, straightforward and hopefully not too long induction.

Hope that it goes well for you.

SE13Mummy · 03/05/2011 23:11

I was induced with DD1 and DD2 and was completely happy with the experience both times. DD1 was 11 days late and I was offered an induction but in no way forced to have one. I was offered a due-dates induction for DD2 because I'd had three failed pregnancies between the girls and the obstetrician was wonderfully compassionate.

With DD1 I did have the drip but also had a full-on epidural so couldn't do any wandering around. When it came to DD2 I had the gel and a pessary thing (which fell out when I sneezedBlush!) but wasn't hooked up to the drip. The epidural I had second time around allowed me to be mobile (mainly because it only half-worked but I didn't really know/care - it wasn't as painful as a rupturing ectopic pregnancy and I knew that this pain would result in my DD2). I felt very in control 2nd time around (more so than first time but DD2 didn't need resuscitating at birth which probably helps my memory!).

MiraNova · 03/05/2011 23:24

I've had a couple of inductions, first one at 42 wks, and DD born after 4 hour labour, with no other intervention necessary - so just one pessary, and then a small amount of gas and air and that was it.

With DS I was induced at 41 wks - with pessaries on 2 consecutive days, but nothing happened at all. The next step was to break my waters the following day, I declined and went home. I returned for another induction at 42 wks, had waters broken, had DS within a couple of hours, in water with just a bit of gas and air. He was pretty large at 10lb 4oz. So inductions don't always mean additional intervention, or excessive monitoring. Good luck.

EmmaBemma · 04/05/2011 06:14

I was induced with my first child, it just took one pessary to get things started and it was a quick, straightforward labour. My second child was a spontaneous vaginal delivery and honestly there was nothing to choose between the two experiences in terms of pain or even duration. I was definitely more relaxed and less afraid the second time round but I am sure that's because it was my second time.

Good luck! I hope your fears prove unfounded and it all goes well for you.

urbanewarrior · 04/05/2011 06:26

OP I have been induced twice - once because like you I was 41+ and the second time because my waters broke at 38 weeks and nothing happened after that. The first time was just pessary, and took quite a while to get going, but I was ok and had shedloads of quite a bit of gas and air before DS was born. But no other interventions. With DD I had the synoctin drip because pessary didn't make any difference. I was absolutely petrified, and when I think about it now it makes me really cross - especially with my NCT teacher who had filled me with all these horror stories. I told the lovely midwife how scared I was, and she agreed to put me on a low dose, and then increase the dose slowly over time. It was a really lovely labour, very peaceful. I just had my tens machine and then for the second stage a couple of mouthfuls of g&a before DD was born. I think sometimes they start you off on a great whack of synoctin and your body doesn't have time to adjust. Helped me - as the midwife explained it - to understand that it was how your body did labour anyway, that synoctin levels would increase gradually and she was mimicking that. Was a much quicker labour than with DS (probably 10 hours from first being put on the drip but only 4 hours of real labour).

I really hope it goes ok for you. If you do have the drip it honestly wasn't as bad for me as it is for some others, and I think it's because the midwife was so kind and did it all gently. So I'd explain how you feel. Very best of luck.

Thomas1969 · 04/05/2011 06:37

Im not entirely sure what induction involves but both your body and your baby must be your greatest concern. Its not silly at all to worry about such things.

Becaroooo · 04/05/2011 06:55

The very idea that we can be "in control" in labour is pretty ridiculous IMHO. The most frightening part of pg and childbirth is the very random/not in control nature of it, I think.

I dreaded the thought too...lots of "friends" told me horror stories re: induction.

I was induced with my ds2 and within 3 hours of my waters being broken he was delivered! Smile

Honestly, its fine.

Good luck! x

Flisspaps · 04/05/2011 08:04

Good Morning PinkSchmoo

I am hoping that DC of yours decided to put in an appearance during the night or that you are well on the way by now.

If not, I wish you all the best with your induction - remember to ask why they are doing what they are doing, and what your options are (can you wait a bit longer before they do X, do they HAVE to do Y or is it just hospital policy?). You can refuse the CFM - the more active you are, the better!

Look forward to hearing your story!

FabbyChic · 04/05/2011 08:22

Good Luck OP hope it all goes well for you today.

Waltons · 04/05/2011 22:57

Bump. How are you, PinkSchmoo?

igetmorelovefromthecat · 04/05/2011 23:32

Bear in mind that a lot of countries consider a pg to be 42 weeks so on that basis you are not even due yet!! I would hang on if you can, and spend a few days chilling out and pampering yourself if you can, and hopefully nature will take its course. Another 6 days or so isn't going to make much difference size wise to the baby.

whackamole · 04/05/2011 23:38

I was induced due to multiple birth and also (in the end) due to pre-eclampsia.

I honestly can't fault my care or the experience and I think that if I had the opportunity I would probably opt for the same with this baby! (due October).

I had a prostin (?) pessary twice and once it started off I had pain and had pain relief, very quickly. They had told me they would like me to have an epidural just in case I needed a c-section (it was my first pregancy btw) which I had and completely knocked me out.

I had the boys with no other intervention.

Original poster
PinkSchmoo · 10/05/2011 15:47

Thanks to all for your posts.

Induction ended up being very straightforward.
One gel at 12.30, waters broken at 8pm, not much happened until 10pm by which point I was only 4cm dilated and not sure I could get to 10 with the way the pain was ramping up.
Called for an epidural about 10.30pm, before it could be administered I was "involuntary pushing" and baby was born with nothing but a whiff of gas and air at 11.54pm!
Baby boy 8lb 6oz.
Few stitches and home in time for lunch.
So delighted I got the kind of birth I wanted even with the few interventions, much more what I had envisaged than my first spontaneous labour and really exorcised a few demons.
Ta again,
PS

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByALamb · 10/05/2011 15:53

Ooh - A baby - Many congratulations.

mathanxiety · 10/05/2011 15:56

Well done -- great news Smile and hope all is well.

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 10/05/2011 20:40

Lovely news.

Well done op

xx

NinkyNonker · 10/05/2011 21:00

Well done you, congratulations!

SnuffleTurtle153 · 10/05/2011 21:41

I was induced when I had my baby boy 2 months ago. I was 42+2 and pretty sure I was in slow labour when I went in.... Had one dose of the gel, contractions started about 4 hours after that and bub was born 9 hours after. It wasn't a straightforward labour but I don't think that had anything to do with it being induced... The staff were really, really lovely and in the end I actually found it reassuring that I was going to be in hospital already at the moment labour started (I'd never done it before and had been scaring myself for weeks that I wouldn't recognise that labour had begun... Ha!). Good luck!

caughtinanet · 10/05/2011 21:50

Congratulations, I'm so pleased you had a good experience of being induced. Enjoy your new DS.

ohanotherone · 10/05/2011 21:55

Brilliant, that greats, enjoy your lovely brand new baby!!!!!!!

Indaba · 10/05/2011 23:13

Congrats. I've had 3 inductions. All fab. Please keep eye on MN in future. Lots of posts like yours dreading the worst and lots of us have had an ok experience. Spread the word Smile