Freaking out about induction tomorrow - tell me it's not so bad...!

[BettyButterknife]

I will be 40+14 tomorrow and have been observed a couple of times (trace, scan etc) over the past week, and had 2 sweeps.

I'm booked in for an induction tomorrow but I'm starting to get cold feet about it. I know I don't have to go through with it but at the same time I'm so tired of being pregnant - this bump is so big and heavy.

I suppose I'm worried about how quick and intense it might be, at the same time as worrying it might not work and I could go on for days but in the hospital rather than at home with my DS (who I am also worried about - I know he will be absolutely fine at his GPs but I feel sad for him!).

I've already been told an epidural is less likely to be effective as I have a curvature of the spine, and I know that often women who have the induction drip are more likely to request an epidural because of decreased mobility options during labour. I managed the pain really well using TENS and G&A with my first labour, and I'd so hoped to do the same this time.

And I just don't think I'll be able to sleep a wink all night tonight thinking about it!

Am I being ridiculous? Tell me it's not that bad, please! I just want to fast forward to the weekend and to be holding my baby in my arms with all this behind me

Jenny: It certainly shouldn't be painful when they insert the gel, definitely no worse than a smear test performed by a non-areshole medic. I had two lots, and I remember the second MW was the one from antenatal class, saying , oh this won't hurt and I guarantee my doses! After being told that I had a 'thick cervix'...
Congratulations OP. hope you are cuddling your little love and recovering fine.

Just read this thread, Congratulations OP very pleased for you hope you are all well.

I was induced with gel and it didnt hurt at all. I was told i'd probably need two lots but they did the first at 9pm and by 1am my waters broke and had my baby girl at 12.40pm. but dont be scared, you forget it all once LO arrives

Just found this thread - congrats OP.

To Jenny95 and anyone else finding this thread I just wanted to add that my experience of induction was fine too and it was bottom of my list of desired labour experiences (even below cs). I had spontaneous waters breaking so was induced after 24 hours - gel did not work so had the drip. Was able to move around the bed, stand up, bounce on the birthing ball (next to the bed) despite being on the drip. Canula did not bother me, labour lasted about 5.5 hours after having drip hooked up, pushing for about 1 hr of that, minor internal abrasions only - no tears, gas and air & aromatherapy only, no issues whatsoever with bf (so far!). As SGB says pessary was on a par with having a smear test - no worse.

DS was born 8 days ago - I'll be doing it all again in a year or two

But i thought the sweep was very painful so aren't i going to think the same when they insert the gel? how far up do they have to insert it?

anyone???

If you want a puff of gas and air when they are doing internals you can ask for that. I was given it after the birth, it's really strange when you're not in labour though.
The best advise I was given was not to let them break your waters, apparently it doesn't make much difference to how things progress and you loose all the cushioning between the boney baby and you, so the contractions are more intense.

Jenny I had swee (guess what letter isn't working on my keyboard!!) It was much more ainful than gel insertion. Gel insertion was about the same as an awkward tamon insertion. I have osted on my induction exerience earlier on in this ost (again so sorry for faulty keyboard) Good luck

wigglesrock how do they insert the gel?

Jenny in the hosp where I was induced it was a pessary they inserted but same idea. The gel or pessary is inserted high up into your vagina. The midwife did this with her fingers. TBH, I thought it was going to be sore, but I didn't really find it that uncomfortable at all. I tried to stay really relaxed and think that helped.

They ush it u. Seriously not as bad as you think, its quick, feels a bit weird but to be honest found induction with dd2 much easier than very long back to back labour with dd1. Kee moving, on your feet, I didn't have an eidural, gave birth kneeling labour started at 4.00, baby born at 6.45.

wigglesrock so funny that your "P" isnt working!

I agree though...jenny I can honestly say that my induction was really positive experience.

What about it is worrying you so much? I felt the same TBH.

what's the difference between a pessary & prostaglandin gel??
i find it really hard to relax though when i had the sweep i proper tensed up and it hurt like mad

Prostaglandin is a hormone-like substance, which helps stimulate uterine contractions.

Your midwife or doctor will insert a tablet, pessary or gel containing prostaglandin into your vagina to ripen your cervix. You may need a second dose of the tablet or gel after six hours, if labour hasn't started. I needed a second dose. Some women only need one, some need 3.

Jenny I am having to log off now, but just want to wish you all the best for tomorrow (it is tomorrow you are getting induced?). You should go and have a nice relaxing bath, or whatever you normally find relaxing. The night before I had a bath, shaved my legs and started a good book so that I had somthing to read during induction. Your baby will be closely monitored after the prosteglandin is inserted so you are likely to be on a bed for a couple of hours. I read, listened to my Ipod and played cards with my DH during this time.

Very soon you will have a gorgeous baby .

Jenny good luck again, will think of you tomorrow, let us know how you get on. Am going to go now and try and dislodge bloody raisin, bit of cereal, biscuit, that is ruining my beautifully constructed osts (there we go again) bloody toddlers, who'd have them!!!

harverina (this is my first) i'm just really worried in general. i don't want anythin to go wrong and i know i wont be able to relax during internal examinations & when they insert the gel, i'll just end up tensing up so it will probably hurt like crazy and i cant seem to handle much pain for example the sweep, that pain felt too much for me
any helpful advice to help me relax during these processes? anything a should think about or do to distract myself?

thankyou both will let you know how it all goes!

Jenny95 try any breathing exercises you've learnt they'll really help. also one of the previous posts are right, you can ask for G&A. but i found them reluctant to use it and they only agreed after much insistence, and only for one of the many internal exams.

oh, visualisation can help- imagine you're not in the room but instead you're in a really peaceful place, think about what it looks like, smells like, what you're doing, what you can see, just take yourself off to that place...

also remember that the whole process will last not more than 2 minutes so as soon as it's started just start thinking in your mind it will soon be over.