Long one - sorry!
Had the delivery from hell with my DD in 2008, was induced early because of Gest. diabetes.
Was in hospital for 6 days; mostly due to induction being very slow as there was chronic short staffing at the unit and I was regularly shelved when a natural delivery came in further along in labour than I was! Needless to say after being asked to 'sleep off' contractions, having my waters broken when I was hardly dilated (v.v. painful), being left on monitors for nearly 3 hours instead of the advised 20 mins and not being given a diabetic menu option (long story - because door was shut I was left lovely snacks like marmalade on toast outside the door when I was just strapped to the bloody monitor and not in labour so unable to get off the damned bed) my body just gave up and I ended up having an assisted delivery and being quite ill as a result.
Yes we complained, we were made promises about the unit which we naively believed.
So now 29 weeks along with no.2. Again have GD!
Had growth scan earlier this week which showed baby has slightly below average measurements apart from femur (not surprising I'm 6ft & my DH 6ft4). They are happy with my blood sugar control through medication but are insisting that I am induced at 38 weeks.
After an impromptu stay in the unit 4 weeks ago (random heavy bleed) I realised nothing had changed as I heard 3 women in the same triage unit as me being told their inductions would not be able to progress as they were short staffed. Plus no diabetic diet offered once again!
Got very angry with consultants who were insisting on induction as with a beautiful 2 yr old DD at home I do not want to be in the same position as last time! They pulled the 'best for baby' phrase out the bag but I don't see how considering I am keeping my blood well under control and baby is under average weight but very long! I pointed this out and the explanation was the older the foetus the more any slight changes in my blood can affect it and the word protocol was banged around a bit too! I did get an acknowledgement that they knew there were still problems on the department but that doesn't help!
Changing hospitals isn't really an option for us as the next nearest one with facilities that we could possibly need is too far away.
So I am really frightened now; the pain and the length of time to be induced, then the length of the labour when I guess my body and baby weren't ready is just an horrendous thought.
Are early inductions quicker the second time around? Any positive early induction experiences to help me get through the next few weeks?
Thanks ladies xxx