Induction - posting for traffic - any midwives or others can advise?

[wombatron]

Apologies for this being in the wrong place, but I do need some speedy answers.

Long story short my home birth plan has gone to pot (as they sometimes do) and I'm facing induction. I'm either due to go in this evening or tomorrow at 38+6 today or 39weeks if tomorrow. Attempted a sweep successfully yesterday and midwife said I was 3cm dialted and if she'd wanted to she could have broken my waters.

Sadly the sweep doesn't seem to have taken much affect within the first 12 hours as id hoped but I've been active non-stop since I got home yesterday at 4.30pm (with exception of nights sleep) and then this morning since 7 (just had a 2hour nap to conserve some energy).

The plan was to be propes first for 24hrs, then the prostin ... then we start looking at the drip if I am ok to continue.

Though the midwife that did the sweep did say that I may not need all the steps if I'm dialated and soft.
If I'm still 3cm (or more) on administration can they not just break my waters? Will they need to administer the prostin or the gels if I'm already favourable and dialated 3cm or more?

Sorry if that's not coherent, the hospital feels like it rushes you through a bit and does what's easier for them and I do wonder if it's always what's best for me. Thank you!

I went in to be induced at 39 weeks exactly. Was 2cm when I arrived. They burst my waters and sent me for a walk round the hospital to try and get going. Nothing happened so they hooked me up to the drip. It's the only baby I have had so can't compare it to anything else, but I coped fine on gas and air and it wasn't horrendous. They turned the drip down as my body took over the contractions. I was 2 hours from contractions starting to meeting baby, she's 3 in a couple of weeks and honestly wouldn't say no to being induced again if the need arose.

I had the drip after breaking the waters didn't help.

Honestly it's much easier once it's actually happening. The anticipation is worse.

Once I got into the headspace of the painful contractions being a necessary irritation (and I was majorly fucking irritated let me tell you) that will eventually end it was fine. I found only the peak of the contraction unimaginable. The rest was just irritation.

I counted in my head through it. Gas and air helped with bringing on the peaceful hippyish thoughts and the laughs between contractions were great.

I'd totally do it again.

Inductions can go really well or they can be awful. Mine lasted 30 hours and ended up with a c-section. But you just have to go with whatever happens. I hope it goes well for you. The drip definitely makes it far more painful, beware you may need an epidural and you won’t be able to get in the water, you’ll be labouring in a bed most of the time.

I was induced (gel only) with my third, 40+10 and nothing at all happening, after two spontaneous labours and births at 38+0 and 40+8. I could have gone another couple of days but was getting fed up. Virtually nothing happened for a few hours, then I went from 2 cm to birth (with waters still intact) in 20 minutes. That was obv very intense (and it hurt) but the actual birth was literally a couple of pushes and I walked home with dd in the sling four hours later. It may not be so quick for you given it's your first, but induction really isn't always a drawn out process.

Good luck!

(I was actually pushing thinking I might manage to break the waters and speed things up. Next thing I knew, a very shocked doctor (who was only in the room because I'd needed helping onto the bed) was saying 'she's here!' and struggling to get her gloves on)

Ive had two inductions and they were much better than the non-induction I had when my placenta failed as I was too overdue.

There was very little difference between having my waters broken and the pessary, I had then both at about 1pm, went and walked around for a bit. When the contractions started about 3/4ish I put on my tens machine and kept waking around. Epidural around 6pm and then both DC2 and DC3 where born around 8pm.

I was very calm about asking for the epidural when I needed it and I was 8cm dilated with both.

Both inductions were no more painful than the early stage with DC1 (although the placental abruption was awful).

how did you find the drip? They did just say (I've come in for monitoring as induction is not happening today due to the wards being busy) but as I may be dilated (obviously pending all the checks) I could potentially be put on the drip straight away. The drip was actually my line in the sand and I didn't want to go there.... I'd discussed ELCS with my Midwife a few days ago if pessary and gels didn't work

I too wanted a waterbirth, so being hooked up to a drip on a bed wasn't my first choice but honestly, it was fine. Uncomfortable and intense but I managed on G&A.
I laboured really well and went from 4cm to pushing really quickly but everyone is different and birth doesn't always go to plan.
When my DD came out, she had a VERY short cord. I forget exactly but I think there was too much resistance in the blood flowing through the cord which caused her to stop growing.

Thank you all so much. I am leaning towards avoiding the drip altogether and opting for a section. I'd agreed to try induction 4 days ago and sadly my head is a bit all over the place with all the waiting. Who knows, maybe bouncing and walking and doing all I've been doing is enough to perhaps only need the drip for a short while and I'm further along than 2 days ago, but if I'm still 3cm with a high BISHOPS then I will opt for the surgical route.

Ironically I'm now hoping for a low bishops score and gels. What will will be will be. Thanks all for sharing your stories, I'm starting to understand how some can find them traumatic to talk about

I had the drip too. It hurt massively but because they thought my waters had broken and hadn't so the contractions came too intensely and too quickly but despite that it was manageable (for me) on gas and air.

That said, I ended up with a c section anyway as I never dilated at all

@wombatron hope it all goes well Op and you get sorted soon! Must be horrible waiting around! Don't let them push you into anything if you want a CS over the drip stand firm xx

I was induced with both of mine. The first baby I was contracting within an hour of the pessary. 7 hours later she was born.
My second was a much longer labour - but a huge 10lb baby so no point telling you that story!
I think that you’re already 3cm is a really good sign so it might be like, for me, the pessary will just start your contractions and you’ll be well away from there!
Good luck op.

@WineIsMyMainVice that is my fear 🤣😄

Watching with interest. I am 29 weeks and have been in twice with reduced fetal movement, also have GD. They said they may have to put a plan in place for 36 weeks

I was induced with my first due to PROM. I was fully effaced on examination (24 hours after waters broke) so they put my straight on the drip. This was my "worst nightmare" scenario, as the NCT lady had put the fear of God into my about it.
But you know what? It was fine. I used my TENS machine for pain relief and laboured on my birthing ball. I did ask for an epidural at one point but I was 9cm and so started pushing (at which point it doesn't hurt half as much). My labour was over in 4.5hrs. Not necessarily the birth experience I'd planned but my fear of the drip was not well founded!

Good luck OP!

Two inductions here. One at 38 weeks and one at 41, both for growth/blood pressure. Contractions started immediately with both after waters breaking but first time they did waters and IV pitocin at the same time. I did not need it as I had one long contraction and DD was born 80 mins after membranes were broken. I declined pit with the second and midwife was understanding of my body. With monitoring the second labour was 4 hours but much easier as I could have active monitoring on a wireless belt. Both births were fine. Good luck!

Well I've had my exam! I am 3cm still with bulging waters. They won't do the pessary or gel as it's not needed, but they will take me up to the labour ward when there is a bed available and break my waters and start the drip after a couple of hours if that doesn't start labour naturally. My midwife has put to rest any fears I've had and there is a plan in place.... part of my issue is the way we are told what will happen... because that's how they practice here. But my group practice midwife is different and has been helpful :)

Why are you being induced? Remember that no one can break your waters or do anything else without your specific consent. If it’s just that you are beyond your date and are being monitored, some would say there is no need for induction. I have not been induced but have had one home birth (planned) following a first labour which ended up assisted. I have heard that induction makes for a much tougher labour. Speak to your midwife and weigh up
All options