due Dec 08-the one were we are so brain dead we can't think of a thread title.

[Veggiemummy]

hey there will this be the last one do you think

pixsix I was induced at 39 weeks with DS and it was fine, but I only needed the gel to start you off, after that it progressed "normally".

From friends I would say that if you need the drip for more than a very short, very low dose then yes, you probably do need an epidural.

Check with your hospital, but I think the cs stats for first time mothers with induction are about 50% emergency sections - which is significantly higher than the national average (about 15% emergency sections) but does go to show that a section is definitely not inevitable.

Out of interest - what was your 12 week scan like? I just wonder why they changed your dates so late - I thought variation in size from 20 weeks onwards was supposed to be more due to maternal factors and less to gestational age by that point.

plus of course don't worry too soon - you may be one of those people programmed to give birth at 37 weeks and therefore this is all just academic!

pixstix just on the issue of dating scans i had my edd bought forward by a week also. DS was actually a day early so i figured it would be ok, but was still a bit unsure as well whether you are considered overdue all depends on that magical date, and i was skeptical because my period and ovulation is so regular to a 28 day cycle you could set your calender to it. When i queried with one of the NHS MW she said 'oh it's probably because you a both tall' (she was quite short so that's why she thought my DH and i are tall he is 172cmand i am 168cm). I was a little unhappy that it seems that something so important shouldn't have variables. However i spoke to another midwife who said that from studies they have done dating scans are more reliable than LMP dating. It's moot point now anyway as my IMW said she just uses EDD's as a rough guide and would rather monitor veggiebaby and go with how i'm feeling. She also said as DS was pretty much on his dates she would assume this one will land either on or near either of my dates.

oh and thanks for car seat advice i checked my car, spent a few minutes feeling around for something in the back seat that would show that the isofix would fit there only to then notice a very obvious tag on the seat which says ISOFIX which the toyota people have very kindly put there to make it obvious to the average person with a fully functioning brain that an isofix base can be used.

Thanks for the induction stories everyone, it's interesting to see that there can be lots of different outcomes for inductions, the same as natural births I guess. I'm just going to have to hope I go in to labour before 14th Dec . I'm less than hopeful though as my mum had 6 dc and went 2 weeks over and had to be induced with all of them (no epidurals though which was also why i was surprised by what the GP said). My sister is due on Thursday this week but has had no signs of labour starting so is expecting to go overdue. I wonder if it runs in families??

Invisible at the 12 week scan there was no mention of changing the dates so I was also surprised that they changed the dates so late. The sonographer wrote on his report after the 28 week growth scan that the due date should be 1st December and when i saw the midwife at 30 weeks she said that scans were more accurate and that the due date should be changed from 7th December to 1st. I didn't really think about the implications at the time, I just thought the baby would come when it was ready but the GP's comments today made me realise that it might mean I am induced too early.

It's definitely too soon to start worrying now though, I will talk it over with the MW at my next appt in 2 weeks.

Thanks again everyone for sharing your experiences and wise words.

Just checking in. Interesting stuff about induction, I have been told to avoid at all costs - by the midwife - because it is much more painful!

I just had another two thoughts about induction. I wonder if it is often easier if it is not your first birth. maybe once your bpody knows what to do you are less likely to need syntocin and to react well to the gel, maybe it is also likely to be quicker.

I also wonder whether it is often easier and quicker if you are induced for being overdue, because then the chances are that your body was gearing up for it all anyway. I was induced 10 days early and I think my body was totally unprepared.

I would hate to be induced with this one. My MW said they will let me go to 14 days over which is Boxing Day. I think I will have killed someone by then. DS was 2 days late and I was getting really fed up with waiting.

interesting points arti. Most of the 2nd birth stories I've heard have always been much quicker than the first. Speaking to my SIL (3 births, last 2 very very quick) she thinks its because you're distracted so you don't notice whether labour is starting or not iyswim.

Re being induced early, I'm sure you're right that your body was unprepared and wasn't ready. I strongly believe that your body will do what comes naturally when its ready to!

arti I've been reading threads in the archives about inductions and epidurals and it does seem like the consensus is that if you only have the gel you are much less likely to need the drip and hence an epidural. What you said about being induced early and your body not being ready makes a lot of sense to me too. I will ask the midwife when I see her next.

I was induced with DD1 at 14 days over and it was not great. Basically the gel didn't do much (apart from make me niggle for 24 hours so I missed lots of sleep) and then I had synto which was agony. However, I have friends who just needed a dose of pessary and then they were off, with no pain relief apart from gas and air! I think a lot depends on how "ripe" your cervix is - mine wasn't at all, so that's probably why it was not a huge success. If you are overdue but both you and the baby are ok, just ask to be monitored for a while to see if it will go naturally.

If you are induced, you will be monitored a lot more closely and if you have synto you will be on a drip so movement will be a bit more limited, even without an epidural. I was determined to manage without an epidural but it was just too painful and by the time it was administered I would have let them do it in my eye if it meant that it would stop hurting. I don't want to put anyone off but I would definitely keep an open mind to all forms of pain relief in advance as it's really quite a unique pain.

Am shattered tonight. May have to have a wee sleep once children drop off.

i have friend who was induced for all 3 of her DC's at 14 days overdue with the syntocin, all 3 where 9lb+ (one was 10lb+) and she had them all without anything not even G&A so it is probably right that if your baby is almost ready then it's not so necessary that it will be so bad.

i kinda wondered that subsequent births are quicker and easier because of knowing more about what is going on and what to do so not so anxious and up tight.

Pixsix, this all sounds very worrying for you and you are coping with the uncertainty better than I would. I don't know the first thing about it but wanted to tell you that DP's sister has been induced with all of her three kids and she didn't have a cs for any of them. Whether it was an ordeal for her or not I don't know BUT she is talking about trying for number four, so...

Veggie, I have the Maxicosi and it looks great - so comfy. DP's car is too old for Isofix so we have no choice. However, if I do ever pass my f?!&ing driving test (sorry, but bad lesson again today) the car I will be newer and so I will be two minds about Isofix then, I imagine.

Lovely to see Turniphead and PoisonDwarf on Friday night. What is the actual date for the lunch? Is it the 17th or the 19th? Confused (it doesn't take much to confuse me at the moment). Welcome to Penny and Trace, and hello again to Lal. Sorry not to see you on Friday, Arti, and furthermore, I do hope you have an easier birth this time...last time sounds rather rough.

Have had funny period-type pain over the weekend, but no other symptoms. Phoned the obs and she said it was probably just ligament stretching or maybe the baby is starting to engage. Hmm. I've been to two parties this weekend and I had to get up at the crack of dawn today to come back from the country. I think I need to do less. But I simply don't know how.

Added my name to the Secret Stork. I can tell you now I will be buying something for a Mummy. The babies are getting all the stuff at the moment!

Pixsix, this all sounds very worrying for you and you are coping with the uncertainty better than I would. I don't know the first thing about it but wanted to tell you that DP's sister has been induced with all of her three kids and she didn't have a cs for any of them. Whether it was an ordeal for her or not I don't know BUT she is talking about trying for number four, so...

Veggie, I have the Maxicosi and it looks great - so comfy. DP's car is too old for Isofix so we have no choice. However, if I do ever pass my f?!&ing driving test (sorry, but bad lesson again today) the car I will be newer and so I will be two minds about Isofix then, I imagine.

Lovely to see Turniphead and PoisonDwarf on Friday night. What is the actual date for the lunch? Is it the 17th or the 19th? Confused (it doesn't take much to confuse me at the moment). Welcome to Penny and Trace, and hello again to Lal. Sorry not to see you on Friday, Arti, and furthermore, I do hope you have an easier birth this time...last time sounds rather rough.

Have had funny period-type pain over the weekend, but no other symptoms. Phoned the obs and she said it was probably just ligament stretching or maybe the baby is starting to engage. Hmm. I've been to two parties this weekend and I had to get up at the crack of dawn today to come back from the country. I think I need to do less. But I simply don't know how.

Added my name to the Secret Stork. I can tell you now I will be buying something for a Mummy. The babies are getting all the stuff at the moment!

LadyThompson scheduled c/s 25/11 8AM (zzz) (due 03/12) DC#1 - St Mary's, London, (GIRL!)
Verso scheduled c/s 25/11 (due 04/12) DC#2 - St Helier, London
MrsMattie due 28/11 DC#2
LadyOfTheFlowers due 30/11 DC#3
badkitty due 01/12 DC#1
twinkle183 due 01/12 DC#3
pwcbird due 01/12 DC#2
pixsix due 01/12 DC#1 - St Thomas', London
rosmerta due 02/12 DC#2 - Homebirth/West Mid, W London
RawChocolate due 02/12 DC#3
Flumpybumpy due 02/12 DC#3, (GIRL!)
theyoungvisiter due 03/12 DC#2
Modernlove due 03/12 DC#1
daisydora/cc21 due 03/12 DC#2
DonnyLass due 03/12 DC#2, (BOY!)
Doozie due 3/12 DC#1
goneundergroundtillfamilyknow due 04/12 DC#3
Hanni22anni due 04/12 DC#2
BrightShinySun due 05/12 DC#2
Nolda due 05/12 DC#2 Princess Anne, Southampton, (BOY!)
mibbes due 06/12 DC#1 - Stirling Royal
majormoo due 06/12 DC#3 - Royal Sussex, Brighton
elenamaesmummy due 07/12 DC#2
jenduck due 07/12 DC#1
Beans33 due 07/12 DC#1 - St Thomas', London
Ebs26 due 07/12 DC#1 - Darent Valley, Kent, (GIRL!)
poisondwarf due 08/12 DC#2 - Homerton, London, (GIRL!)
toratora due 08/12 DC#3
Mina30 due 08/12 DC#2
lal07 due 08/12 DC#2 - St Thomas', London (GIRL!)
jumpjockey due 08/12 DC#1 - homebirth, Cambridge
JezzaJ9 due 08/12/08 - Hope, Manchester
JamInMyWellies due 09/12 DC#2 - St Johns, Chelmsford
Natalie537 due 09/12 DC#2, (GIRL!)
ChutneyMary due 10/12 DC#3
hiccymapops due 11/12 DC#2
Webbi due 11/12 DC#1
Artichokes due 12/12 DC#2, (GIRL!), London.
Bisou due 12/12 DC#1
fishnchips due 12/12 DC#3
Jackstini due 12/12 DC#2
kayzisexpecting due 12/12 DC#2, A BOY!! Malton, North Yorks!!
Alliebongo due 12/12 DC#3 - West Suffolk
cococat due 14/12 DC#1
pootleflump due 14/12 DC#2
Katie3677 due 14/12 DC#2
monkeydops due 15/12 DC#2
Veggiemummy due 15/12 DC#2 - Homebirth, Derby, (BOY!)
bunnysgirl due 16/12 DC#2
chinchi due 17/12 DC#2 - Calderdale Royal, Halifax
Purple79 due 17/12 DC#1 - St Thomas', London, (GIRL!)
Kmp1 due 17/12 DC#1 - Queen Charlottes, London (BOY!)
IceCube due 18/12 DC#1 - Homebirth, Cheshire
snorris due 18/12 DC#5, (GIRL!)
SummerLightning due 18/12 DC#1 - Addenbrookes, Cambridge, (BOY!)
moaningminnie2020 due 20/12 DC#2
reban due 20/12 DC#4
Indith due 20/12 DC#2 Homebirth, Durham
hotmama due 21/12 DC#3
RhinestoneCowgirl/MaeWest due 21/12 DC#2 - Homebirth, Bristol
abbymeg due 21/12 DC#2 - St James, Leeds, (BOY!)
waitinggirl due 21/12 DC#1 - Whittington, London
preggiejane due 21/12 DC#1
georgiepig due 22/12 DC#2
NineUnlikelyTales due 22/12 DC#2
hattyyellow due 22/12 DC#3 (GIRL?)
Turniphead1 due 24/12 DC#3 - St John & Elizabeth's, N London
zoejeanne due 24/12 DC#1 - Scarborough
HollyMiranda due 24/12 DC#1 - Chelsea & Westminster
Missmama due 25/12 DC#3 - Birmingham Heartlands
DisenchantedPlus Bump due 25/12 DC#3
kitkat9 due 25/12 DC#3
Annagt due 25/12 DC#1
strikey due 25/12 DC#2
GettingBiggerBird due 25/12 DC's#2&3 - Homerton, London (GIRL & BOY!)
purplepansy due 25/12 DC#3
PinguRocks due 25/12 DC#1 - St Thomas', London
Lowrib due 25/12 DC#1 - Homerton, London
Jollybear due 26/12 DC#1
tm2 due 26/12 DC#1
GordontheGopher due 26/12 DC#2
Twiga/okaythen due 26/12 DC#3
LitterBug due 26/12 DC#3
Crazycatlady due 26/12 DC#1 - Homebirth/St Thomas', London
Olipop due 27/12 DC#2 - West Middlesex, London
simmo14 due 27/12 DC#2, (GIRL!)
rowergirl due 27/12 DC#2
feb due 28/12 DC#2
emmanbump due 29/12
Kimberly1979 due 29/12 - St. John's and Lizzies (BOY!)
babblington due 29/12 DC#3
EffiePerine due 30/12 DC#2 - Homerton, London (BOY!)
march29 due 31/12 DC#2
TheInvisibleHand due 31/12 DC#2 - Royal Free, London

Gosh, both LadyT and Verso having their babies next month! How exciting

(remind me of this when I am grumping around at the end of Dec and complaining about being the last)

I came across this website on another thread. I love the necklaces and bracelets. I think I might have to treat myself as they are fairly cheap.

LT i think i am going to be as happy for you when you pass your driving test as i am when you have had your ladybaby

i got one of the reminder bracelets last time and a feeding necklace. The necklace i would only wear when i was actually feeding and DS wasn't really interested in it. However suddenly now he loves it i found when i was going through baby stuff and he wants to wear it everywhere. it is quite pink and colourful and he sounds like he has a cat bell on as it has tiny bells on.

I was too disorganised to buy a reminder for which boob to feed from next, and just used to swap either my watch or one of my rings from hand to hand to remind me. In reality though, the boob which was next was a lot fuller and sometimes a bit harder when full so reminder was built in!

Lady T - I had a million refresher lessons last year as I was a crap driver and hadn't driven for years so I feel your pain. It will all come together shortly. Have you a date for your test yet?

AprilMeadow - have emailed you, thank you.

oh and i've had those period pains too, good to know veggiebaby might be starting to engage. I'm still getting these weird feeling down below, like veggiebub is tapping on my cervix, very strange. i've had it for a few weeks and very off putting when i'm trying to have a conversation with someone.

Oh, bless you Veggie. I am just a rotten learner, that's all. I get so cross with myself. Glad I am not alone with the period-type pains. I said to the obs that I thought it felt like it was in my ovaries or something. She said "I strongly doubt it, as your ovaries are at the top of your uterus and are therefore probably somewhere up near your bra by now"

Chutney, I think he thought I might do it on Friday but I think that's out now. Perhaps towards the end of next week instead? Pity the poor instructor. LadyBaby's not-so-dainty foot was jabbing me horribly today. "How am I supposed to learn with someone else's foot splintering my ribs?" (I bellowed as I nearly terminated a cyclist).

Oh, and Indith, I hope YOU are feeling a little better.

oh you know i had never thought about my ovaries being up there, imagine how boys would feel if their testicles got pushed up that far.

Lol, they would cry lots!

My DH was moaning because when I was asleep last night he was being kicked by baby as he tried to play tetris on his phone.

I mean what does he have to moan about, he gets a few kicks and I get it all day!

Just a quick post and a "hello" for the newbies on here! >waves<

I didn't have an induction with DD but my contractions stalled after my epidural (I got to 8cm on gas and air but after almost three days of first-stage labour I capitulated!) so they hooked me up to a syntocin drip. This was fine until they turned down the epidural so I could feel to push.

It was very very sore as my body just had no warning. Like artichokes I ended up with forceps, tears, lacerations and haemorrhage.

On the other hand though I met a woman at my antenatal 'refresher' last week who had a very happy induction experience. Her baby came in three hours!