Monitoring during induction

[NancyDrewHasaClue]

If you are being induced does the baby have to be constantly monitored?

I would like to try and stay active but obviously much more difficult when hooked up to the monitor.

I am not medically qualified, but both my DDs were born at 42 weeks after being induced and although after the first stage I was very active, once we moved onto second stage (drip in hand etc)I was stuck on the bed - much to my disappointment.

It is recommended as when you are induced with the synto drip, there is a possibility of over stimulating the uterus which can potentially lead to distress. you can ask for intermittent monitoring if you prefer.. but look into the pros and cons

you can still be upright with CFM, although it does limit your mobility... if you have a drip you will be limited anyway, so it can make it quite tricky

you can sit on a birth ball rather than lie on the bed, or stand with the bed raised up and lean on it, so you are upright and can move your hips etc

a good tip if you do have CFM is to use the loo regulalry, so you can be unhooked from the monitor, walk around and sitting on teh loo cna be helpful

The drip and the monitoring thingy have to be plugged into the wall as nobody seems to have invented batteries for them yet, so you're basically limited by the power cords. Try bringing along an extension cable?

When I was induced (ended in EMCS but not the fault of the induction, baby was never coming out) I could wander around one side of the bed, bounce on the ball and I was told when it was time to push, not that we got that far, I could lean in whatever position I wanted. Going to the loo got me unhooked too.

Thanks everyone - obviously lack of mobility is a downside . I will speak to consultant about intermittent monitoring.

That being said she has indicated that the labour may well get underway with only the prostin gel so no drip. In which case presumably I would be more mobile?

(I have actually had two inductions - although under totally different circs - and cannot remember any of the details at all !)

I was given an induction info sheet by the MW this afternoon as I'm booked in for next Tuesday if things haven't happened by then (will be 40+12). Apparently with just the gel, once the initial monitoring has been done you are free to wander at will but if you are on the drip you'll be pretty much stuck. MW seemed to think I may get away with just the gel (if we get that far) as everything felt pretty 'favourable'. Fingers crossed today's sweep does the trick!

induction doesn't always mean having the drip though - I was induced at 40+1, and had 2 pessaries, they monitored me for 20mins after each and for the rest of the time I was left to get on with it - DD was born 12hours after the first pessary.

if you get to the drip stage, they will want to continously monitor you. just a word of warning, I had to have CFM recently and depite being assured I'd be able to remain upright/on ball etc etc, in the event, i was kept lying on my back on the bed. so if being upright is really important to you, be prepared that you/your birth partner might have to be insistent about it at the time. good luck

I was induced with the drip and had CFM and was mobile. You need to insist - they keep you in bed cos it's easier for them but not neccessarily for you. My drip and monitor had long leads so while I couldn't exactly run about I didn't stay in bed at all, was on all fours on the floor mostly and delivered standing up, leaning over the bed.

It helped me manage the pain & am sure led to short, successful induction with no other intervention. I couldn't have coped if confined to the bed but never once did they insist that I should be (except for checking how dilated I was - which was just twice during the whole thing).

Check your hospital's policy about moving about & not being in bed, and then fight to be out of bed/get it in your notes/get the head midwife on board before you are induced. This means you'll avoid having to fight for it while in labour.

If you need egs of where this is possible, both Trafford General & Wythenshawe hospitals in Msnchester allow a woman on a drip with CFM to move about and not be confined to bed. So if they can do it, so can your hospital! Good luck x

I was induced with dd2 at 40+8, I only had 2 gel packs and was monitored for about 30 mins in total. I had a very active labour and had dd2 kneeling at side of bed. But like I said I just had gel. Good luck

My "allowed to wander round within reach of the power socket" experience was at Kings College in London, for the record. They were really good about it and very understanding of my desire for the natural birth I wasn't able to have.

When I was in labour the monitor pads were rubbish qnd fell off if I didn't stay still and hold them. The best I could do was sit up in a chair rather than lie on the bed. In hindsight I could have kicked up a fuss, but baby did get into distress. I would avoid the drip if at all possible.

| was induced with pessaries, by my 4th birth I'd learnt my lesson! I was only monitored for the 45minutes directly after the pessary was inserted, after that I refused it .

I was induced with a synto drip and the baby was continually monitored. (Had meconium in my waters). However, I was told that I could get off the bed if I wanted and move around within reason.

I know that being mobile and not on your back is helpful in labour but I can honestly say that I was happiest laid on my back on the bed.

Even when it came to pushing I tried being on all fours but didn't like it and reverted to lying down.

My labour was not overly long and I managed to push DD out without any problems at all and without intervention. Just for info, I didn't have an epidural.

Prior to labour I thought that I would prefer to be mobile/in different positions etc. (and maybe I will for DC2). However, the opposite turned out to be true.

So, please keep an open mind. Lying down isn't all that bad.

Thanks everyone.

TBH the previous during my previous inductions I wouldn't have got up and walked if you'd paid me so perhaps it wont be an issue. I was more than happy lying down

My second labour was very active though and I felt it helped enormously (and was so much less painful) so I desperately want to replicate that if I can.

Guess we'll just have to see.