Being induced tomorrow!

[LexMi12]

I have been told to call the hospital tomorrow and go in to be induced at 38+5. It’s my first baby and with all of the worried with COVID-19 I am not allowed my partner until I am in labour. How long do you think I should expect to be in hospital for in total? What are your induction stories?

Check out this thread, with one poster giving a breakdown of what her induction was like during the lockdown;

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/3872206-Induction-tomorrow-first-time-

Oh how exciting, your baby will be here soon!!

I was induced with both of my boys at 36 weeks and 37 weeks.

First induction - pessary started working at 27 hours, felt like period pain, and was checked and I was 1cm and moved to delivery suite. I had epidural straight away and then they broke my waters shortly after. Induced 6pm Friday, baby born 3pm Sunday, after arriving in the labour suite in the middle of the night. All straightforward!

Second induction- first pessary didn't work after 30 hours, second pessary worked after ten mins- killer contractions with no gaps, so they took it out again very quickly. I had then gone from no cm to 3cm, and taken to delivery suite to have waters broken. Again,had epidural and normal birth.

Both labours I went from 4cm to 10cm dilated within two hours, so once it got going, it got going quickly! Epidural helped with the pain, only right towards the end of contractions was I feeling it.

Good luck- you'll be in safe hands and baby will be here soon

I was induced with the pessary on the Thursday and couldn't be moved to the labour ward until the Saturday due to no space. The pessary was removed after 33 hours.

I had my waters broken at 9:55am and was in labour by midday and delivered at 5:25pm. I was back at home at 11:30pm. No tears, stitches etc. I was quite lucky my contractions started without the need of the hormone drip. I used hypnobirthing so was able to only have paracetamol during labour but please don't feel like you can't ask for pain relief if you need it.

I found induction a really positive experience and loved it. I delivered at 39 weeks and she weighed 7lb 13oz. She's now 8 weeks old.

I'd recommend bringing plenty of snacks, iPad/magazines, bottle of your favourite squash.. anything to keep you positive. Good luck

I would definitely get him to wait in a car near the hospital. I was induced In November in a hospital where they only let the guys in after 11am or if you are in active labour. Went in at 3pm on Saturday. 1 pessary went in on the Saturday and one on Sunday morning. By 10am I asked for painkillers ( like paracetamol). By 10.30 I was having very regular contractions and couldn’t reach the emergency call button. I called my husband to get them to let him in. By 12 noon I was being rushed to the labour ward on a wheelchair. She was born at 2pm on the Sunday. The gas and air wasn't working upstairs and I didn’t want an epidural. By the time we got downstairs I was told it was too late for an epidural but needed something to slow things down so had diamorphine and gas and air in the labour suite. Waters broken naturally whilst still on the ward waiting to be rushed down. I was in hospital until the Saturday til the Tuesday. Induction can however sometimes just to start the labour take 3 days and then I’d assume they’d want you to stay in at least a day after the birth so you could be in hospital any time from about 2.5 days to about a week.

Exiting times!!!

I got induced at 8pm with the pessary, didn't work so had another one inserted the next day and my contractions started a few hours later, waters broke at 1am (ish) moved to delivery suit, by 5pm labor wasn't progressing so emcs for me!
Also I asked for gas and air whilst they inserted the pessary, just to make it more comfortable!
Good luck hope everything goes ok!

With my first baby, I was induced at noon and gave birth just before midnight. I remember having heavy period pains within a couple of hours. Proper Contractions didn't start until the evening I think I had dinner and threw it all up during active labour.
It took them a few hours between my request and giving me an epidural. I remember a lot of pain in the last hour or two, barely able to move.
I remember the midwife was surprised how quickly my labour progressed. So my case is probably much shorter than average.
Good luck!

How exciting!

I was induced at 36 weeks. My induction was really long - 2 lots of 24hour pessaries followed by a cook balloon for 24 hours. Process started on Monday morning and at 1am Friday was dilated enough to be taken to delivery suite and have my waters broken. They put me on the drip at 5am, dilated steadily until 12pm when I went from 4cm to 10 in 20 minutes 😬 it was weird but I had no urge to push whatsoever, the midwives told me when to do it but it was very forced iyswim. After a few hours they delivered DD by forceps, had my first bit of pain relief (spinal block) which was realllllllllly nice! DD came out on first tug and was absolutely fine. My advice would be to take pain relief as soon as you can, induction births can be very long and you will have more energy for the end bit if you rest at the beginning. Good luck

Mine was short for an induction, because they didn't need to use the pessary. I ws about 39.5 weeks. My waters were broken, they started a drip maybe half an hour (max) later, and baby was born in under 6 hours from waters going. I then stayed in hospital for two nights.

Best of luck, what an exciting time for you! I hope it all goes quickly and smoothly.

I was induced 9am Tuesday morning. After a couple of hours I was in agony and cocodamol didn't help at all. Eased by Wednesday morning. Nothing Wednesday so after discussions they scheduled a csection for Thursday when baby was born.

Whatever happens please speak out if there's something you don't understand or don't like. Not that there will be!

Best day of my life was that Thursday.
Enjoy your baby.

I was induced with dd2. I had the pessary at 9am. Contractions started at 12.30, midwife broke my waters a couple of hours later and she was born at 4.30pm. I didn't have any pain relief (there wasnt time for an epidural and I hated gas and air) and it was fine. With dd1 I went into labour naturally but they put me on a drip to try and ramp things up as I was making slow progress. I had a mobile epidural with her - basically reduced the pain but I could still feel and move my legs. Also completely fine. Good luck. Listen to your midwife - you can do this. You will feel like an Amazonian warrior afterwards. (ps - both of my labours were tricky. I had pre-eclampsia with dd1, with dd2 I had reduced movements and the cord was tangled around her neck, both of them were back to back. BUT, I absolutely fricking LOVED giving birth. I would do it again. I honestly loved it.) Wishing you a happy and healthy delivery - dont get caught up in it being 'perfect' - your baby arriving safely is all that matters.

I was induced at 36 weeks. I had to wait in the pre-labour suite for six hours because the day before I was told to go in at 9am. Once I arrived, the midwives said there was no bed and I should have called first (miscommunication).

Eventually a bed was found in the labour ward and I was moved there. I could only be induced there as baby was premature. I had the pessary put in and was checked 24 hours later. It was very warm, and uncomfortable. It's a bit like having period pains, and the bed isn't that comfy. The next day I was 1 or 2cm dilated, so the midwife broke my waters. That was not pleasant!

I was then put on a hormone IV drip (oxytocin, I think). They didn't tell me until the VERY LAST MOMENT that I couldn't eat with the IV in, nor could I drink cloudy liquids, so I downed a sandwich and a couple of snacks. I had an epidural put in as well, and thank goodness I did. The second night in hospital was so much more pleasant; I even slept! 44 hours after the pessary was put in I have birth to my beautiful baby girl.

Because such a long time had passed since my waters broke we had to stay a minimum of 36 hours for baby to have antibiotics. But due to further complications (lost body weight, feeding issues and jaundice) we stayed for five days.

If I had known we'd be there that long, I'd say:

1. bring lots of changes of clothes! It's sweaty business, and you get covered in all sorts of liquid (sweat, sick, pee, breast milk etc). Labour is not glamorous.

2. I wish I had a light bathrobe for when you want to go to the loo or shower once you're on the post natal ward. Having to wear disgusting sweety clothes is not fun

3. if your partner is planning on staying with you on the labour ward (not sure if this is allowed at the moment though :/) bring a sleeping mat for him to kip on. The chairs are so uncomfortable.

4. Try to sleep tonight.

Good luck! You'll be great :)

Eek! Good luck! 😁

Hows things?

@MrsP2015 so sorry I never replied! Our little girl was born on April 17th! My induction process only lasted 24 hours so it was super quick, especially for my first! Over the moon xx

Congrats OP! Glad it all went ok and your little one is here

Wow, so glad you had a positive experience and CONGRATULATIONS!

My induction was awful but didn't want to scare you so tried to write it tactfully

Really happy for you.