Induction

[EgonSpengler]

Hi there,

I'm 40+2 today (with first baby) and am booked in to Homerton Hospital in London. Went in today for a check up and they have booked me in for an induction on the morning of 20th Sept (next Mon) - they don't let any of their pregnant mums go over 12 days apparently (and would rather have me in earlier in case the induction drugs take longer to work - I'll be an in-patient as I also have Group Strep B). I am absolutely petrified of having to go in to be induced - the leaflet that they give you explaining what might happen has multiplied this. So, my questions are:

How many of you lovely ladies were booked in for inductions and then had your baby before the scheduled induction date?

Has anyone had experience of being induced at Homerton and what was it like?

I'm really hoping she gets a wriggle on this week.

Ex

I was really wierdly frightened of induction. The thought of labour didn't scare me but I got the shakes at the mention of induction! I wonder if there's a psychological reason for this? However, I was induced and it was actually fine. At least it means labour is prrobably quite quick as they can control your contractions with a drip, and you'll probably be offered an epidural before-hand if you fancy an almost pain-free birth (I had this). For me, being awake, not particularly worn out and in a clear mind when I was handed my baby for the first time meant i could really enjoy it. It is horrible when your birth-hopes don't materialise but at the end of the day... Baby!

Not been to Homerton but was induced at 40+15. Was booked in for 40+14 but no beds available on the labour ward. Don't be scared :)

Can I just reiterate that nowhere can insist anyone is induced, and no hospital has the right to not 'let' anyone go over by however many days. If someone chooses not to be induced on day 12 there is absolutely naff all anyone can do to make her. Moan over

Does the group B strep mean there is an extra risk for your baby if it stays put, or is the risk during birth? If that's the case then you could hang on longer if the baby hasn't been born :)

Hope all goes well.

Jinglesticks - thanks for that! That's quite heartening to hear. I just have it in my mind that once things get 'medical' (as it were), it'll be painful and uncontrollable - which is slightly re-iterated by the leaflet they gave me e.g. I'll need more pain relief, there's a higher chance of having to have a caesarean, the contractions will be so strong that they'll have to start using other drugs to counteract the induction drug. Yes, baby at the end is the only thing that counts, so I shall focus on that!

Flisspaps - 40+15? That's interesting... They made it quite clear that I can't go over 12 days due to hospital policy (health-wise, apart from the Group Strep B, I'm fine). Ah, thank you! Am really trying not to be. It's good to know that they can't force me to be induced on a certain date.

For Group Strep B the risk is during birth - if antibiotics aren't administered to me by I/V for 4 hours prior to the baby making her way down the birth canal, there's a risk she could get meningitis and other various respiratory problems.

Thank you so much ladies! I really appreciate everything . Am now off for my nth mug of raspberry leaf tea and a brisk waddle around the block. I have a feeling it could be sex and curry night in our house tonight!

Hope things get started for you soon EgonSpengler! I was 8, 10 and 12 days overdue with my three (my dates were obviously more accurate than the scan dates, I concluded my babies were big/long at 12 weeks and that is the reason they have moved my date forward exactly one week each pregnancy, as they date based on crown to rump length and head circumference at 12 weeks, which is why they don't like dating babies outside that narrow window of 11 to 12 weeks). I politely declined induction, although here they "allow" you to go to 14 days if you refuse at 10 or 12. Having said that, to reiterate what Flisspaps said, they can never make you be induced, you can instead opt to be monitored daily to check baby's wellbeing (check blood flow in the cord via ultrasound to ensure it isn't declining, etc). A friend recently went 16(!) days overdue and had a healthy 7lb something baby with no signs of being overdue and the placenta was perfectly healthy (I'm convinced her dates were wrong), so keep in mind they don't know everything and scan dates can be tremendously unreliable for some people. Hope you aren't feeling too fed up (I know how it feels, everyone asks you daily what...no baby?? As if it is your fault!).

Egon Hospital policy may be 12 days, but it doesn't have to be the mother's policy, nor is it law. They can't drag you out of the house kicking and screaming on day 12 with the Synto at the ready

The MWs did their best to get me on a birth ball (didn't last long as the crappy monitor leads kept falling off me) and gas and air was fine for about 4 hours, but I had an epidural for the last 12 as I was going nowhere fast and they rightly predicted I'd be another 12hrs or so. The contractions were bloody painful with the synto on full, but had it only been another couple of hours to go I wouldn't have had the epidural - they were manageable with gas and air. However as I ended up with forceps, 3rd degree tear and manual removal of placenta, it was a bloody good job that I did have it. I fully believe that the interventions I had were down to the induction (baby in an odd position which wasn't picked up before) but then she may well have been in an odd position had I gone into labour naturally.

I do hope the sex and curry will be separate, I find it gets a bit messy otherwise

I know you're not looking at homebirth, but the homebirth reference site has some good info on GBS here. It's extremely rare for babies to get seriously ill from it.

Flisspaps thats really interesting. I had a very similar experience of induced labour (had morphine rather than epidural though) and eventually had CS as wasn't progressing at all. Contractions were awful cos DS was apparently pressing down on my bladder rather than the cervix. Was so relieved when they eventually said CS! A hoping for an ELCS this time round!

I was induced and actually wanted to be induced because private obs had noted that dd was hardly moving and concerned that it was taking too long. Hospital wanted to induce me after weekend and private obs very strongly advised for induction as soon as possible, e.g. on the Friday I went to see him which did not suit UCL hospital at the time as they preferred that I would come in on Monday. Waters were ruptured on Friday evening and induction started during the night and she was born late Saturday afternoon by ventouse. I agree that induction is more likely to result in further intervention but I also think that sometimes it is safer for the baby to intervene rather than wait and see. True - you don't have to abide by hospital policy but surely hospitals have developed their policies for a good reason and not simply to be awkward with prospective mothers. I think that we are lucky that thanks to medical intervention if necessary we have low infant mortality. So, having once been a fervent active birther etc etc, and ended up with a totally different birth, I now think that by far the most important thing is a healthy mother and baby and how the baby enters the world is not that important after all. Sorry for all the rambling and good luck.

This is a useful resource regarding induction. You can ask for 'expectant management' where they monitor various things to keep you both safe.

here

OK, a few things - as has already been stated, hospitals can't (in the absence of a court order) force you to undergo treatment. Obviously you should listen carefully to their easons for recommending something, but ultimately the decision is in your hands. Don't be afraid to ask for alternative options or further explanation if you feel at all unsure about anything. I think the biggest factor in having a good birth is that you feel confident with the decisions that are made, even if you don't get your "dream birth".

Secondly, you can make it clear that you won't consent to being induced before an epidural has been sited. I insisted on having an epidural before I would allow them to augment labour - guess what? An anaesthetist was in the room within 15 minutes.

Good luck!