Induction for being overdue is becoming a reality. I'm isappointed on so many levels. Plus questions??

[beatie]

Sorry for the long title.

I'm 10 days overdue with my second baby. I was induced at 38 weeks with my DD due to suspected IUGR and highish BP.

BP has been great this pregnancy and I had growth scans due to small uterus which showed baby to be above average size. So, the last thing I expected was to have to be induced this time round. Last time I suspected all throughout my pregnancy but this time, I've only had a few days to prepare for this prospect.

I'm so disappointed. I wanted a water birth. I wanted the baby to come on its naturally chosen birth date. I wanted the baby to be delivered naturally by my body rather than expulsed aggresively into the world like last time.

Of course I realise the health and safety of the baby and me are the most important things. With hindsight my induction wasn't too horrendous because once I was in labour, it only took 5 hours and I was only in major pain for about 3 of those. BUT, at the time it was happening, it was very scary for me and I missed out on any gentle build up of contractions.

My questions for you.

1. I'm getting a cervical sweep today. How many women does this work for?

2. How long does induction take for subsequent pregnancies? Is it quicker or will I be in the hospital for a day or two before they manage to get labour started?

3. Did anyone refuse induction and then have their baby come naturally in their own time?

They're talking about inducing me on Thursday when I'll be term plus 13 days. I am very certain of my dates because of early scans and the timing of my ++ pregnancy test and because I was monitoring ovulation.

Thyroid has been closely monitored throughout but glucose has not. Thyroid problems run in my fathers side of the family and I was unlucky enough to be the one in my generation to cop for it. Mine started to fail at the tender age of 16 which even by our families standards is early.

I posted this update on my due in Septeberr board and thought I'd copy it here so you can see my more positive update.

Thanks everyone for keeping me sane throughout today when I have been emotionally drained.

I had my sweep at 4.30pm when the other community midwife managed to get round to my house. I had not met this midwife before but she was as lovely as my midwife. She explained everything and she was so positive and upbeat - it put me into a much better frame of mind.

I got baby checked. Heartbeat great before AND after the sweep (when the baby had its head touched for the first time) It's on my right hand side as it tends to move from left to right, but it's anterior so that's fine. MY BP was fine too.

The sweep was uncomfortable but did not hurt. She swept round 3 times! I was at 1cm before hand and afterwards at 2cm. She said that was very positive. My cervix wasn't too difficult to reach and is thin and soft. The head is 3/5ths engaged. Just getting a progress report has helped me get back into positive thinking.

Anyway - she said there's a 50/50 chance of membrane sweeps working but that she was very hopeful for me. She told me it's a good idea to go for a walk an hour or two after a sweep so DH and I are just headed out now for a walk around the neighbourhood.

My mum just took DD back to her house to sleep just incase things kick off before morning. I can pick her in the morning if nothing is happening, so my mum can still go to work. It's just peace of mind having DD out of the house and also prevents my mum having to make a second trip over to our house today.

The really great news though is that I can still use the birthing pool if I am induced through the pessary gels or artificial rupture of membranes. Only the syntocinon will prevent me from using the pool. This midwife was hopeful all I would need would be ARM to set me off into labour and then I could get in the pool.

It's amazing how different this hospital's policies are to where I had DD. I'm so grateful to have moved house and be delivering in this hospital.

Septeberr = September

Message withdrawn

mummyhill have you got hashimotos? in which case I guess you know that it is genetic, but won't be apparent in any child until later.
are you worried about size of baby? Basically I think if you are being monitored and treated then there isn't anything to worry about, unless you are concerned that baby is very big, in which case I'd just keep the possibility of gest diabetes in mind, not that there is anything you can do about it now at 40+13!! Is this your first?

Beatie, glad your appt went so well. You sound ready to rock and roll... hope the sweep sets you off!

Hi Beatie,
I had to be induced with my second due to gestational diabetes. When I was induced with a gel a scored a zero. I.e cervix closed no dilation, baby all the way up....
To make a long story short, Had to have two loads of gel to get the cervix to open. At this time they wanted to do arm. I said no because baby was still not engaged and thus, chance of cord prolapse , which means emergency C section.
Opted for a sweep, now that they actually could do it.
No one believed was going to work...Babe born 3 hours later!
Good luck for you!

Primcess - This is my second. DD was monitored for 2 years till her levels started to come back as normal and she will be tested again when she reaches her teens unless anything shows up between now and then.

I get very limited information from my GP and have to nag to be told what my levels are, and we had none at all from the peadiatrician till her levels were normal.

It is very worrying though when there is so little communication and you feel as if your queries are being brushed under the carpet by your health care professionals.

sounds like you should change your gp! seriously. you should be being regularly tested (in fact you should turn up at your practice nurses and get bloods done whenever you feel you need to) and be given the ACTUAL results. You want to ensure that your levels are on the high side of the very wide "normal" spectrum to ensure that your needs are being met (and if you feel rotten but are told that your levels are "within normal" you really need to question exactly what they are).
Ditto your daughter - I would get her routinely tested every couple of years or so especially given your early history.
Can you change your GP? Many of them are pretty good at thyroid problems just because SO many people have them later in life (although I'd always go to a specialist with a child since levels are so bound up in brain development, growth etc...)

Just read that back - when I say "high side" I'm talking about T3 and T4 - actually I think TSH is the best indicator of what T levels are right for your body so I guess I should really have said that you should ensure your TSH is on the "low side" of the wide spectrum of normal. You don't want to see that at all raised because frankly if your pituitary isn't happy with the amount of thyroxine you are getting who is your GP to say that your levels are normal??!

Beatie - anything happening?

looks like the sweep might have worked

Well todays the day feeling really nervous but I know that I will be looked after and have a beautiful baby by the end of it all.

good luck

Good luck, MH. xx

The sweep worked and 12 hours later I had DD2. Didn't get the waterbirth though as the pool was being used but in the end I did not mind as it was over with so fast. Less than two hours after getting to the hospital.

Thanks for all your support and well wishes.

congratulations - glad you are both well!

how wonderful! many congratulations... name?

Alice

wow!

A carbon copy of my dd2 - sweep, 2 hour labour - even the name!

congratulations x E

David Lee Hill born 22nd September 2005 at 00:41 weighing 8lb 12oz

congratulations, both of you!