to expect anybody to care that I'm afraid?

[cantreachmytoes]

I'm 41+6 days pregnant. Induction (pictocin/sythocin or whatever it's called) date not set, but obviously looking incredibly close. This is my first child.

I am completely exhausted - the last two weeks have been more tiring both physically and mentally than two months in the rest of the pregnancy.

As I understand it, induction is a last resort, because the contractions are more painful and it leads to more interventions - i.e., doctors will allow an elective cesarian, but not an elective induction.

Almost everybody, both those who have given birth and those who haven't, seem to think that it's 'just' an induction and that my fears about it are all unfounded, if they even pause from talking 'how great it'll be to meet your little guy' and then go on about how amazing their kids are.

It's not something I've been going on about and I haven't been the pregnant woman who has spent 9 months talking incessantly about their pregnancy.

AIBU to expect very good friends to care in the slightest? I'm actually afraid and nobody seems to care (other than my poor husband, who is also starting to get a bit worried).

Two very positive inductions for me:
First at 14 days overdue (I had requested induction date be extended as midwife recommended +10 overdue) - total labour 5 hours, painful but manageable with Gas and Air.
Second at 5 days overdue (waters had broken but no other labour signs) -total labour under 2 hours - Gas and Air at very end only because midwife 'laid it on tap'.

I was induced at 38 weeks as my baby was "small for dates" and the amniotic fluid levels were decreasing - I think the placenta was not functioning correctly.I was very upset when told I had to come in next day at 10am and that they were only waiting because they could not get a bed for me that same day ! Not helped when I stepped out the lift next morning to hear some other woman shrieking !! I didn't have a drip - had the pessaries which was quite uncomfortable, sat about all day feeling bored, started having cramps about 5.30, had a bath, then used a tens machine, then gas and air then was given pethidine (I think) and had dd at 3.30am. So it was a fairly short labour and really not as bad as I had feared. It is scary - I certainly had a moment when I thought " I'm really not going to be able to do this" but I think I would have felt like that had I gone into labour naturally. I was very glad later I didn't have to have a c-section and I was home within a few days. I would suggest you get as much rest as you can - as I was told - it's called labour for a reason ! All the very best.

Good morning!

I haven't been afraid of giving birth until the word induction was mentioned and I'm also not someone who thinks that other people's birth stories will apply to them - both because I spent 2 years working with birth nightmares stories of women from developing countries (if you want a bad birth story, start with a sewn shut vagina..). It has just been that I (mis)understood that induction = labour going from 0-80% pain very quickly and that that brought on a 'cascade' of intervention. It has been tremendously helpful to read that it isn't necessarily the case and that even if that does happen, it is not necessarily too traumatic. Of course, the midwives and doctors can say, "Oh, it's not always bad", but it's not the same as hearing people who have been induced say it!

Harecare - a sweep only works if your cervix is dilated: mine hasn't been anywhere near!

Thanks everybody again, I've reread this thread already about four times! With any luck, I'll be able to come back shortly and add another 'good' induction story.

Good Luck.

Just to add, being induced was nowhere near as painful as breaking my finger tip!

I was induced, had the pessaries then the drip and honestly it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. It wasnt that painful (I managed fine with just gas and air) the main issue was being bored as the pessaries did nowt! That said when they started the drip it only took 5 hours!

cantreachmy toes My second DC was induced, due to reduced movements, on her due date. The labour and birth were actually much more pleasant than my 1st as I felt so well cared for. DSis was my birthing partner, and we spent a long time discussing what I wanted and didnt want before I went to hospital.

I was able to be active for a long time, rocking on the birthing ball and waddling around the hospital corridors. The MW I had encouraged me to do what I fel comfortable with. When I decided I wanted an epidural, I got one quickly.

DD1 was eventually delivered with forceps, but I had the music of my choice playing, and she was imediately placed on me for skin to skin contact. Her temperature was down, probably due to being distressed, but my MW informed the paed that we would be trying kangaroo care before a heat mat. Basically she was tucked up on my chest and they monitored her temp regularly.

Make sure whoever is your birth partner is happy to say that you'd rather wait for interventions, and give your body a chance to catch up. Remind yourself that it's your body and your choice but also that the aim is to have a healthy baby, with the least upset to you. Having pain relief and intervention doesn't mean you've failed...it means you've allowed yourself to be cared for and reserved some of your energy for after your DS is born.

Rather than a walk, get on all fours and scrub your kitchen/bathroom floor...in this position, DS is bumping against your cervix, reminding it that it needs to get to work!

I posted earlier but honestly it's that cascade of intervention thing that terrified me too. I was 12 days overdue when my waters went so had like you been waiting for induction date and had my heart set on a water birth after using all my well practiced yoga moves.

I know you won't be able to do this but with hindsight I would have stopped drinking raspberry leaf tea etc, accepted the induction date and taken every opportunity to rest and sleep.

Also the cascade of intervention terrors meant I was soooo determined not to have forceps etc that I pushed her out on my back (had to have foetal monitoring as heart rate kept dropping) in 8 minutes. The midwife was very impressed!

TBH, your imagination really is nowhere near what your actual birth experience is like. Labour pain & other pains are completely different in my mind but after my first child was been after induction I was talking about having another!! And did actually have two more!!

I was induced with both DDs, both labours were fast and easy, and infinitely preferable to staying pregnant another day.

DD1 - 4 hours start to finish, gas & air and pethidine. Gave birth lying down.
DD2 - 2.25 hours from start to finish, gas & air only. Gave birth kneeling. Would recommend kneeling every time.

Both were very positive and good experiences. Easier said than done, but please don't worry.

nobody told me that my September baby would be a fully pledged October baby

Hahah, I can TOTALLY empathise with that too. I was 'supposed' to have a July baby; he didn't turn up until mid-August. It feels weird doesn't it? You're so focused on that day/month and then suddenly it's been and gone!

YANBU to be afraid, but I hope we've put your mind at rest at least a little bit

It's the unknown you're scared of, I would say it was the same for every single one of us who've had a baby.

My first was forceps and I was another who was talking about my second as they were stitching me up.

I was induced with my fourth as he was late and yes, it was more painful, but I still managed with just gas and air.

Keep moving, keep focused and you'll be fine. Good luck!

Thought I should just update and add my two cents now that I've got my gorgeous son, because now I find it rather funny.

My induction was 'natural', trying lots of natural methods (including 1hr of nipple stimulation!!) in a quiet labour room in the clinic. In the end, 6 hours of natural methods made me about 1cm (perhaps 0.5, can't really remember) dilated and I ended up having a rather painful sweep. 12 hours later contractions started.

Having been so scared of pictocin etc, what later happened is the funny part. I was 8cm dilated for about 3 hours with increasingly painful contractions and nothing was moving (just using massage and baths) and had had enough, so had an epidural. Bliss! Then everything TOTALLY stopped for a while, so pictocin was used. And nothing happened! So I was given more. And nothing happened. I ended up having increasing doses four times before it got things going..and even then it was slooow.

After fretting so much beforehand, I can't help still laughing about that!

In the end, I had forceps, no tearing, no episiotomy (a very hardworking midwife though) and now wish I was younger so I could have six kids!

Thanks again to everybody who posted because it made a HUGE difference. I even copied it to an American friend a few days ago (not a mumsnetter) who was approaching her induction date and worrying about the same thing as I was, so at least two of us have been reassured! Thank you!

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your son and glad you had a positive experience :)

Congratulations! Really pleased for you. :)