Mixed messages about induction.

[Loligvv]

Last Friday I was told by the consultant I’d be going in on the morning of Saturday 8th (38+1) for the start of my balloon induction and I would be asked to come back the next day to have it removed and waters broken. (This is my 2nd baby and my last pregnancy I was induced via balloon at 38 weeks too) my DH works away for 7-10 days at a time, night shift and is self employed so we had saved money for him to take 2 weeks off for induction and baby being here. Our other son is 3 and attends nursery but only in the mornings and we had arranged childcare for the Saturday,Sunday, Monday and Tuesday but our support is limited. Now today I had my 37 week appointment with my midwife and she’s told me that yeah I will be going in on Saturday and having it removed Sunday but there is a very good chance I won’t be getting my waters broken until at LEAST Tuesday or Wednesday and I could be told to come in at 2am if that’s when they have availability. We can’t afford for my DH to be off for an extra week while I’m waiting and if I need to wait until Tuesday/Wednesday to even get my waters broken we won’t have child care. Am I being unreasonable for being upset and thinking that the consultant and midwife should be giving the same information?

Inductions depend on availability of beds and staff. In my experience, the consultants don't have a clue what's going on in the ward and it's the MW you should probably listen to.

I don’t think you’d an expect to be given an exact date for the birth of a baby, these things are almost always going to be a bit flexible. I can see why it is frustrating but it’s fairly normal for expectant parents not to be able to plan for an exact date and I don’t think there is an obligation for them to be able to give you one. Presumably it will depend on things like how quickly things are moving following the balloon plus things like staffing levels and how many other women are giving birth that week etc and so there needs to be some flexibility.

I wasn’t expecting an exact date as I am aware it takes a few days due to my last experience with induction. But I also wasn’t expecting them to start the process and then leave me possibly 3/4 cm dilated (based on last time) for days.

Their advice was a week apart. In the space of a week, staff levels can change; which means the hospital will have to adjust shifts and change plans for patients.

TELL them you have a child care problem and ask if they can help.

I’m afraid they can’t arrange things around what suits one person

I have multiple health issues which is why I’ve been induced and am being induced early and I have explained to them about my partners work and childcare and that’s why my consultant booked it for a Saturday so I even if I gave birth a few days after getting the balloon put in I’d still be able to have a birth partner but now it looks like I’ll be doing it alone.

im also not expecting them to rearrange everyone for me I’m just saying they should both be giving the same information. When I spoke to my consultant I was told I would be put higher on list of priority because of said health issues but now my midwife says that doesn’t matter as long as baby heart rate stays fine.

I can see why you’re disappointed, but obviously the hospital can’t guarantee dates to fit in with your childcare needs, If you weren’t having the induction and we’re waiting for labour to start naturally you wouldn’t know when baby might arrive and would have to have contingency plans in place for that. All you can do is accept that you can’t control when exactly baby comes, you can hope that things move along quickly following the induction but also need to be prepared for it taking longer and that if you don’t have alternative childcare to your DH or another birth partner you may have to do it alone and try and add some notes onto your birth plan regarding what you want if you don’t have DH there for it.