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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for positive induction stories?

26 replies

itsnotterrysitsmine · 04/09/2017 17:09

For background, & so not to drip feed, am expecting DC3 & have been booked for induction this Friday for medical reasons. I was induced with DC1 as was overdue & the experience was horrendous, long, exhausting, left me needing over 6 months of physio for my pelvis & a very bruised, jaundiced baby who I physically struggled to care for because of my lack of mobility & physical capability after. By comparison DC2 was a spontaneous labour that I had no pain relief for & if given the choice I would choose that every single time.

I have made my feelings on induction clear, my fears & concerns, along with the fact that we have a very minimal support network around us to help with other DC during or after the birth (not their problem I know, but does affect how I feel about it all). I know the Doctors have jobs to do, & are giving their advice based on medical opinion but I can't help but feel like I'm being bullied in to this - we ended up with the junior doctor getting a more senior doctor in (junior doctor was out her depth with questions I was asking) who proceeded to give her opinion (felt a bit bollocked to be honest).

Someone please tell me this is going to be ok?

OP posts:
ToriaPumpkin · 04/09/2017 17:20

I had two early inductions for size reasons. One at 38+1 and one at 39+3. Both were 12 hours from pessary to baby and I had no intervention other than pain relief (and since I had 12 and 16 minute second stages and my babies were 9lbs and 9lbs 8oz and the big one was back to back I feel a bit of entonox and morphine were perfectly reasonable.

ToriaPumpkin · 04/09/2017 17:24

Presed send too early

I too had heard loads of negative stories, been given warnings etc, and was ready for them to last days etc, but it really wasn't that bad. So don't be too frightened, I know you've had a bad experience, but sometimes these things are just fine.

Kitsandkids · 04/09/2017 17:30

I was induced to 'speed things up' as I was already 3cm dilated. Within an hour contractions were every couple of minutes and the baby was born 8 hours later. I had gas and air but nothing else and everything went pretty smoothly I think (though felt very painful at the time!). Good luck!

TwatteryFlowers · 04/09/2017 17:31

My 2nd induction took about 3 hours from start to finish. All they did was break my waters with that hook thing and my contractions started straight away. My dc (my 2nd child) was born about 2.5 hours later with no problems at all.

Good luck and don't feel afraid to get your husband or birth partner to be your advocate if you don't feel strong enough to make the hcps listen to you.

switswoo81 · 04/09/2017 17:34

I was induced as 7 days over and baby had reduced movement. Pessary at 3pm, read my kindle for few hours first pain at 2 am, uncomfortable till 8 am got epidural slept for 3 hours. Pushed out baby pain free at 2pm. Am 7 weeks pregnant and would prefer to be induced was so calm and stress free ( for me!)

kshaw · 04/09/2017 18:12

My waters broke at 35+4 and due to being strep b positive and expecting a big baby we decided to be induced. I was 12 hours start to end. I did have an epidural as wasn't getting a break between contractions after 7 hours then it was a breeze! I had a 6lb11 baby with no forceps and no stitches...positive experience for me xx good luck

TallulahBetty · 04/09/2017 18:14

Induced at 39+2 for reduced movement (turned out to be IUGR). Pessary at 3pm, contracting by 6pm, had her by midnight. Nothing apart from 10 mins of gas and air. Happily do it again!

LadyLaSnack · 04/09/2017 18:21

OP, have you considered asking for a section given how rough you were for an extended period of time last time you were induced?

Recovery from the surgery is of course not easy either, but might be better if induction was so hard on you the last time?

(Speaking as someone who was induced for 50 hours until they eventually gave up and sent me to theatre).

beelover · 04/09/2017 18:22

I was induced for DC3 as I was overdue. Pessary at 8am, holding my 9lb baby in my arms 3 hours later. Just had a bit of gas and air, this was thirty years ago and the easiest of all my three birthing experiences.

PiggyPlumPie · 04/09/2017 18:24

Induced with DD1 at 41 ++ weeks. Had the pessary at 11 pm. She was born at 5:42 am. It was fine.

skippy67 · 04/09/2017 18:44

Induced with my 2nd DC at 42 weeks. My waters were broken manually and exactly 2 hours later dd was born. Gas and air only for pain relief.

twoforluck · 04/09/2017 18:50

I was really worried like you when i was told i would be induced for DS2 but he was born 1hr after induction started! I actually only had 3 contractions 😂 it was intense but bearable! Obvs no time for pain relief!

EverythingNow · 04/09/2017 18:52

Induced with dd1 at 42wks - which was a horrible experience (pessary and drip)

Dd2 spontaneously at 9 days over

Dd3 induced at 42wks by breaking my waters. She was born in 2.5hrs from them being broken, gas and air and nearly 10lb.

I was really really worried about being induced again after experience with dd1 but with dd3 it was actually quicker and easier than dd2. I did have a birth plan that if the ARM didn't work I wanted an epidural immediately and potentially a csection over the drip again.

Good luck to you.

Storminateapot · 04/09/2017 18:55

I was induced with my first at 37 weeks. First pessary didn't work, second one I went from 0 - 60 in about half an hour and by the time I got them to agree to examine me instead of dismissing 'prostin pain' I was 3cm. Had her in just under 3 hours from that point with just gas & air. Intense but speedy!

ZippyCameBack · 04/09/2017 18:59

My second baby was very jaundiced and it was a horrible birth. The third I'll gloss over completely because it's not a story you need to hear, but the 4th and 5th were both inductions. Both very smooth births and the 5th was less than 2 hours from my waters being broken to the baby being born.
Neither had jaundice, neither time were there any stitches for me afterwards. The first of my inductions was a controlled ARM (with the midwife pushing down hard on my bump and the doctor guiding the baby's head into place) and that did lack a certain charm, but it was fine really.
I hope it all goes as smoothly for you!

Raver84 · 04/09/2017 19:00

Three spontaneous labours.all fine but painful.

4th was induction. Once labour got going about 6;hours after pessary it was very quick and I think more intense pain as I didn't have any break between contractions once I got going. I went from 3 cm to holding my baby within two hours.

So good that it was over quick but bad as I felt it was more agresseive / intense pain.

Joinourclub · 04/09/2017 19:02

After my first induction I REALLY don't want a second. But actually my second was much less painful and recovery was much swifter

grannytomine · 04/09/2017 19:08

I was induced twice, one was the easiest birth of my 4 and one was the fastest and he was 10lbs. With both I just had waters broken.

mrsreddington · 04/09/2017 19:16

Dc1 arrive after a spontaneous labour on their due date. I was induced with dc2 as they were 2 weeks overdue and I was developing high blood pressure. I had only heard scare stories about all inductions ending in c sections and with lots of medical interventions. Once contractions started, they were more intense than with dc1 but it was a quick labour and my waters broke naturally. In many ways my delivery of dc2 was much better.

Pigface1 · 04/09/2017 19:39

OP, could you ask for a section? Obviously you might not want to - it's not like they're the 'easy way out' after all - but if you aren't going to be allowed to go into labour naturally and you don't want an induction (understandably given your history) then it could be an option. It's unlikely to leave you needing 6 months of pelvis physio!

Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 04/09/2017 19:46

I was induced with both my babies (first due to pre eclampsia, second due to being overdue) 1st was born 3hours after pessary 2nd was born an hour after pessary both had textbook births, no drugs and speedy recovery.

CardsforKittens · 04/09/2017 20:06

I had three inductions (different reasons each time) and everything went very smoothly. Each time was less than four hours in established labour, and the contractions were fairly intense, but bearable with a bit of entonox. There were no problems during or after - I was fine and so were the babies. Hope you have a good experience with yours.

AFlibbertigibbet · 04/09/2017 20:11

I was induced with both of my babies. DS1 at 42 weeks, 2 gels, waters broken and drip. Delivered 4hrs from waters being broken, pain relief was gas and air. We were home the following day.

DS2 was meant to be a planned section due to not being able to make his mind up over his position in the womb but I was desperate to avoid a section and had a truely brilliant Midwife who kept reminding me that it was my body and my birth and that while the doctors could recommend a section it didn't become a medical necessity until my waters broke. So the date of the planned section came and went. The following morning DS2 was discovered to be head down and the on-call consultant agreed to induce labour. The circumstances (he never stayed head down for very long) meant this had to be done by breaking my waters and straight onto the drip so that contractions would hold him in place. From start to finish the induction was 15 hours, and for 8 of those I was having fairly intense contractions. It wasn't fun (the diamorphine was good stuff), but I walked back to the ward after delivery, left hospital 36 hours later and went straight out shopping and visiting friends.

Can you ask to meet with a senior Midwife/the consultant to discuss your concerns? Ask what the options are if you decline induction. Perhaps agree a plan about what interventions are acceptable and at what point you would want to abandon induction in favour of a section? Also have they assessed whether you are favourable for induction? They should be able to give you the likelyhood of induction being successful, the best scenario is that they can go straight to breaking your waters, and that from there your body does the rest.

Good luck!

Original poster
itsnotterrysitsmine · 04/09/2017 20:11

Thank you so much for sharing your positive experiences of induction, I'm feeling a bit calmer about it now than I was earlier. I'll be a dat or so shy of 38 weeks at the point of induction this time.
DH & I did discuss a section, but were concerned about recovery. With DC1 I'd had a bad pelvis for most of the pregnancy which wasn't helped by a long commute to work & him being fully engaged for a month before he was born. We had to have ventouse (spelling?) as after pushing for 2 hrs I was exhausted & he wasn't budging. Turns out he had the cord round his neck so was bungee jumping, he was literally dragged out of me.
Doctors have said that as I've had 2 previous VB this induction should be easier.

OP posts:
wheresmyphone · 04/09/2017 20:15

Had 3 inductions and all were fine. I was told my mw and consultant that once you have had one baby subsequent inductions are easier/smoother as your body kind of knows what to do. Not sure if it's an urban myth but my experience seems to support. Main thing is be honest, explain your feelings. Good luck!!!!

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