Can I insist on an induction?

[MickeyHolly]

I'm probably just being emotional due to be incredibly fed up.

I've been having strong contractions which come and go for nearly a week now, barely able to sleep, so so uncomfortable. They come on regularly for a few hours then fade off for a bit then come back and so on...

I have been into the hospital 3 times for what I felt were reduced movements but baby is fine when I get there and am hooked up to the monitor.

Have had 2 sweeps but I'm just not progressing past 2cm. Had a show and lost plug earlier in week.

Now added to that I feel really very sick and have really bad reflux for the past 24hrs where I can't even lie down without feeling like I'm going to choke on my vomit or have it come through my nose (sorry tmi).

I'm so tired but no one seems interested when I call the ward as I'm not yet in 'active labour' as contractions aren't yet 3 mins apart etc...

Do I really just sit here for god knows how long feeling like this? I feel like I should be going back in but I feel fobbed off every time I do (I appreciate if I'm not in proper labour I'm not in proper labour and they can't change that) I'm just so fed up and feel so ill and am concerned that I keep having these periods of reduced movements but no one seems concerned.

(I'm 38 +6).

Oh and I can barely wee due to the pressure down there. I have asked about this several times and am just told it's probably just babies head as it's very low and not to worry. But it's incredibly painful to go and I can only get small amounts out at once (it feels like it triggers a huge contraction trying to wee).

If you’re having recurrent reduced movements at 38 weeks, I’m surprised you haven’t been offered an induction? Or regular monitoring & a scan perhaps, I was offered induction after 1 episode at 39 weeks.

You can definitely speak to your midwife about your options but an induction may not be quick or easy. Have you taken anything for the reflux?

@OrangeSlices998

If you’re having recurrent reduced movements at 38 weeks, I’m surprised you haven’t been offered an induction? Or regular monitoring & a scan perhaps, I was offered induction after 1 episode at 39 weeks.

You can definitely speak to your midwife about your options but an induction may not be quick or easy. Have you taken anything for the reflux?

I have an appointment middle of next week to discuss induction (already had the appointment since the beginning due to a condition meaning they don't want me to go over my due date) so I feel like I'm just being left to wait for that. They just keep saying 'oh hopefully you won't need that appointment and it'll happen on its own by then'.

I have taken tablets that I was prescribed at the outset for reflux/heartburn. Omeprazole I think it's called. But it's not shifting this anymore. No heartburn but the sick is still coming up.

Its definitely worth raising with your midwife. Just be wary of being forced into labour when your body isn't really ready for it. I had 3 fabulous spontaneous labours, they induced me with my 4th because they thought she was very big and I wish I hadn't agreed to it. My body wasn't ready for it, it took absolutely ages to dilate, I was stuck on a monitor all the way through, it was just pants.
Obviously advocate for yourself and what you want for your body but just be cautious

Thanks. I've always known throughout that I may have to be induced as I can't go over my due date (or they don't want me to at least) due to the condition I have so I have a consultation to arrange that next week anyway.

I just don't want to be stuck in this sort of half labour limbo feeling like utter dirt unable to sleep for another week or so if I'm just going to be induced anyway 😭

I feel you. Every day feels like it lasts a week. Hang in there.
Unmumsnetty hug x

This was me recently, my third and very vigorous sweep was the one that got me pushed into active labour that night.
The endless contractions, vomiting and heartburn had me so exhausted and drained and stressed out. Reduced movements meant I had to be monitored everyday which was even worse.
Fingers crossed you get into active labour soon 🤞🤞

Try to think of it as your body doing what it needs to do to get baby in the best position for birth hopefully after all this you’ll have a nice easy birth because baby’s spent so long being shifted into the perfect place.

Or go ahead and insist, it’s completely up to you. Maybe push for an induction date so that at least you know for sure when it will all be done and dusted by

Induction has it's own risks and isn't a quick process in itself.

If everything else is okay I would encourage you to avoid if you can.

I am so sorry you feel so uncomfortable,it's real PITA.
Good news is that it's probably your body gearing up to proper labour.In rather slow and steady pace rather than short and very painful.
I am surprised that you were given 2 sweeps already but I think they thought that will help to trigger the labour.Clearly,your body and your baby and not exactly ready yet.
If you were monitored 3 times already and weren't admitted,I think the main reason is that baby seems happy and the uterus is not contracting(it may be just strong BH).
You have mentioned that you are 2 cm dilated already which is also good news.Hopefully it means you will have rather short and uneventful labour.
Good luck and hang in there.

Thank you. I just feel so rubbish and knowing that I may well end up induced anyway after enduring another week of this just makes me think get it over with now you know?

I'm not sure about position as they told me he is fully engaged and the midwife said his head was in fact very low down (hence the large amount of pressure I'm feeling).

You'll probably say what am I moaning for when I say this but... They did actually offer to admit me. But it was more for my benefit iyswim as I was in pain and upset, they said they didn't think anything was going to happen that night but that they would get me a bed if I didn't want to go home. I chose to go home as I could be with DH that way.

Yes I didn't actually ask for the 2 sweeps, they offered to do them when checking dilation and because I was having contractions (shown to be quite long and regular when on the monitor), was given dihydrocodeine for the pain and two sweeps whilst I was in for monitoring but nothing has progressed further since them.

I just feel stuck! Wishing I could sleep to get the days over quicker but can't, don't want to eat anything because it makes me sick. Just horrible.

OP if they admit you they can give you stronger pain relief which may allow you to sleep. I would consider this.
Induction comes with risks and shouldn’t be taken lightly-you haven’t been fobbed off you’ve been given evidence based care/advice. (Hugs) because a long latent phase is hard work, but it won’t be forever.

I would try to avoid induction. I know you said they want to induce you at some point but hopefully you can avoid that

I had contractions every 15 minutes for five weeks due to early labour. They were keen for baby to stay in.

Can you ask to be reviewed again? Have a full check, blood pressure and urine etc, and maybe a vaginal swab. Sometimes a urinary tract infection can also cause the symptoms you are describing ( and some women will have similar symptoms with a yeast infection also). Does your hospital have a day assessment unit? If so ask for an appointment and when there ask to also speak to a doctor? Midwives can usually only arrange inductions according to the hospital policy on being overdue, whereas a doctor can “recommend” one for a variety of reasons.

It’s awful isn’t it. By this point you just need baby to come out.

Obviously don’t let anyone fob you off re reduced movements - it doesn’t sound like they are though if they’ve offered to admit you. But absolutely go back if any concerns.

Get on Amazon and order some clary sage oil, pop a few drops in a bath. It can help bring on labour, at worst it’s a relaxing bath.

As pp above said, if you get admitted you may be more comfortable with pain relief to hand. But no one gets any rest on a maternity ward realistically.

That sounds miserable 😔 no advice just a hug

I requested an induction for my most recent baby. Labour was 32 minutes from them starting it to birth, 2 pushes. I would speak with your midwife as see if there's a space in your hospital for one soon. Obviously with all your symptoms, it may well be that you go naturally before you can get an appointment for one, but with your concerns and discomfort, I think it's worth asking.

For me this meant a speedy labour (at 40+11) but I had four full weeks of stop start and immense discomfort beforehand. However from the first time I thought “this might actually be it” to baby was less than 2 hours so all that work my body had done beforehand obviously meant it was ready once it got started

Sounds like a UTI which can cause contractions and difficulty passing urine. I’d get your urine tested.

If you’re already 2cm dilated, being induced will likely just consist of having your waters manually broken which should make miniscule difference to your chances of intervention, especially if you are already having irregular contractions.

If you feel unwell go back and get your urine and blood pressure checked. Trust your instincts. If you really can't cope with the pain then tell them that. I was like that and turned out to have a serious complication that required emergency treatment.
I also suggest doing some light exercise such as walk or bouncing on a birthing ball. And eat lots of dates (evidence shows works to bring on labour)