induced tomorrow, any tips?

[RayeB]

I will be 11 days over tomorrow. Had unsuccessful sweep so being induced tomorrow. I'm really excited but nervous too. Any tips? My first baby was on time so this is all new, thanks

If your midwife has managed to do/attempt a sweep and it's your second baby, there's a good chance they can induce you by breaking your waters. Hopefully then things will happen on their own and a little more naturally. My second induction was done like that, with no other means of induction needed, and was a normal, natural, pain relief-free birth.

Good luck!

Hi was induced for exactly the same reason and at first was convinced it was some kind of conspiracy to intervene (6 out of 7 in my group were induced)- and was sure I was heading for some horrid, drawn out labour full that would result in either a c-section or instrumental delivery,.....DS was born after 5 hours with a bit of meptid and no repairs needed afterwards.....lucky escape maybe but all inductions aren't awful.
When I look back I like the fact that I knew what was going to happen and could prepare more for it - the house was tidy, we'd been out for breakfast, I'd done my hair, painted my toes, there was no rush to get there and most importantly got to talk to medical staff before I was in any type of pain so we talked though our aims (pain control etc).

My tips

• head out for dinner or breakfast one last time and fill up on carbs.
• re-consider your birthplan, you do still have some control.

• Inductions can be more painful so pain relief is OK, you don't get a medal for bravery!- research the options and ask early as it can take time.
• if you have a drip then ask for it in the hand you don't write with.

Had induction with 1st and home birth with 2nd. With induction I went in and they broke my waters straight away (no pessary needed). Contractions didn't start within the hour so they put the syntocinin drip in. I personally found the contractions from this incredibly painful, if I was induced again I would have an epidural before they go near me with a drip! The contractions, for me, (everyone is different I'm sure) started at the height that mine get to, with my second there were only a few near the end that were anything like how they started with the induction and that was when I was in the transition stage at home and nearly ready to push.
I've got friends who've had the drip and managed on pethidine or gas and air though so everyone is different - jus be open to the idea of an epidural! Both me and Dh managed to get some sleep after it was in which helped!

Good luck!
I was induced with DD2, went into labour pretty much imediately and DD born two hours later! Was less exhausting that DD1 (12 hrs) but more painfull, I think because it didn't build up as gradually. I definatley felt better afterwards than with DD1.
Lots of people are anti induction but for me at 40 +14 and with a toddler at home it was definatley the best thing!

Oh and I had to be quite assertive about not lying down whilst being monitored!

I was induced with DS1 (11 days overdue) after two unsuccessful sweeps. For me, it was all very quick! I had one pessary and they came to check up on my before my 2nd pessary (in Australia so don't know if the process is different here) and I told them I was in labour, they checked and I was 4 - 5cms dilated. It was a very speedy labour & delivery for first born - under 4 hours.

The contractions were painful but that was because they were coming soo fast, which resulted in a quick labour so can't really complain.

Definitely take some good magazines, my DH also downloaded lots of my fav TV progs on to the laptop which was fab whilst things took time to kick in.

I was induced at 37 weeks with pre eclampsia.

Pessaries did sweet FA for me, I went in at 9am on the Wednesday morning, the thursday morning they decided they needed to break my waters to get things moving.

Finally space on delivery for my waters to be broken at midnight and put on the drip at the same time. DS was born at 5.03am so not to long.

I had decided (after talking to the anaesthetist) I didn't want an epidural at all, and coped fine with just the G and A. DS was back to back and decided to play silly beggers coming out and the midwives said later that if I had had epidural I would have more than likely needed a c section so I am pleased I made the decision I did!

Good luck!

Have an epidural if they use syntocin. I didn't with DS because the anesthesiologist wasn't available. Ask early demand and make sure everyone knows you're next in line for the anesthesiologist if there's going to be a wait.

It's worth finding out if you can, what the attitude to epidurals is in the hospital you'll be in.

Contractions are 'sharper' with synthetic oxytocin. They tend to peak faster too.

If you respond to a cervical softening pessary you may be able to manage without an epidural but if they are talking about syntocin make sure they are also talking about effective pain relief for you, and that means an epidural.

And yes -- drip in hand you don't write with, or better still in your arm above your wrist. Your hand can be sore when the canula is removed. I bumped my hand on the cot when DD1 came home and it stung for ages.

Induction isn't failure and it doesn't necessarily result in that cascade of intervention you hear about.

Good luck.

I would second the comments about having the option of an epidural in place if you are going to be lying down.

It's interesting to see the above comments as I was wired up to the monitor and flat on my back from the word go and was made to feel a bit of a wimp for wanting an epidural straight away. I had no idea you could ask to be allowed to stay upright.

I am not sure I would have gone for that option however as I found the monitoring very good and reassuring and I was comfortable once I had the epidural and it went quite quickly. In the end the monitoring showed some distress and I had an emergency C section.

Good luck

I was induced with both of mine!
First took hours but second labour was speedy once contractions started( I had a pessary1)! Whole labour from start to finish was 2 hrs 20 mins! Very quick and full on! Good Luck and let us know how you get on xxx

Seconding mathanxiety - syntocin drip = definite epidural. I said 'no' to this as it was first baby and I knew nothing at the time. Just thought all that fluffy advice from NCT would see me through. Ha!

Ended up in agony ( 'we turned the drip up a bit too much and it takes a while to come down')and pethidine was worse than useless.

Second time - 33 weeks , pre-eclampsia, emergency section, epidural. Comparative bliss!

I agree with getting the epidural in first . I was induced with my first and was giventeh gel plus all the stories about it probably wouldn't work and I could go home over night if I wanted ( this was 10am). I ended up being hyper stimulated almost immediately , throwing up all over the place and was rushed up to the labour suite. It then took 2 1/2 hours to get an epidural and I was not coping well on Gas and air.

I was also induced for my second and on the day the consultant refused to induce me ( well they say they advised against it but were fulll of dire warnings) and I had a cs. Which was a shame as I'd had an ECV four weeks before to avoid a cs

So you need to be prepared for anything.though I guess that's true of any labour TBH

Good luck

To counter a lot of views I had the drip and didn't need an epidural so I personally wouldnt assume until you know how you deal with the pain

I had a really amazing experience of induction with DD (DC2). She was 12 days overdue and I knew there was no way she was planning to come any time soon - didn't feel close to labour! First lot of gel didn't work at all. Second lot next morning got things going within about 30 mins. I had about 5 hours of contractions getting closer together with just TENS and mobilising for relief. It started to get a bit too much to handle and when they examined me and I was 3cm - it took an hour to arrange to transfer me to labour for G&A by which time I was 5cm and then an hour later I said I was ready to push. 20 mins of pushing and she was out. I was stood up for most of my labour, then on my knees supported on a birthing ball for the last 90 mins and delivered her that way with only TENS and G&A for pain relief. Wasn't examined after 5cm as midwife could tell how I was doing from my reactions and she just listened in every 15 mins I think to check the baby was okay - no monitoring lying down after the initial 30 mins when they gave me the pessary. In fact midwife never made me move for monitoring at all - she lay down on the floor to get the monitor in the right place underneath my bump! It was essentially a completely natural labour just kickstarted by the gel and was a fabulous experience.

I know I may be unusual, but don't fear induction - it can be a brilliant experience!

I've been induced with all 3 dcs, 1 with pessary and 2 on the drip. Yes, the drip is painful and very intense, but i'm very glad i didn't have an epidural.

Don't believe them if they say you have to be on the bed with the drip, just tell them you want to be mobile and they'll work with you. Sometimes you have to be very insistant!

Things can take forever to get going so make sure you're prepared. They may also not let you eat once you're in delivery just in case you need a cs. I got round this by taking glucose tablets as they give you an energy boost but leave your stomach quickly. :o

Good luck!

1st and 4th babies were inductions.

1st induced @ 36 weeks due to bleeding. Had drip from off. Was painful and extremely grateful MW suggested having epidural. Dd1 arrived after 15 hrs.

4th I was induced at 37 weeks. 2 lots of gel not much happening. MW broke waters and DD2 arrived 50 minutes later.

On that basis my tip would be don't worry and take loads of stuff to read/listen too whilst nothing is happening.

Good luck

My top tip - have an epidural. Induction will make it harder and faster.

Also I've been told to try to get one in the monring not the evening so your partner can stay with you rather than be sent home.

Hi

Wow I am blown away by so many responses, including such great advice. MN is super for help when you need it and I really appreciate everyone who has taken the time to respond to me. Thank you!

I have just had a call from the hospital to say they have put back my induction to Wed when I'll be 12 days over rather than tomorrow. They wanted to give me time to go into labour naturally and they have space now on Wed (which originally they didn't - hence the 11 day induction). I'm really disappointed because I'd geared myself up for it, but I realise another day isn't much and it means that something might happen naturally (pigs might fly.....well that's how I feel at the moment!).

I will definitely ask for an epidural. It was in my original birth plan as I had a traumatic and difficult 1st birth and I have no pain threshold whatsoever. But reading your replies has made me realise to be strong in asking for it when I need it (if I need it) and if they are going to put me on a drip or break my waters, to ask for it first. So thank you so much for this.

I've also been and put some good novels in my bag, told my DH to charge up his Iphone so he can play games, listen to music etc. I'll pick up some magazines tomorrow as well.

I'm feeling much much more mentally prepared for it now. Thank you all so much.

I'll post back again after the induction when I can to let you know how it goes.

Oh and they have said Wed morning for the induction so DH should be able to stay with me until the end hopefully, unless it takes more than 1 day, in which case he's got to go home and be "by the phone".

Thanks again.

Raye

I was induced with oxytocin. No signs of labour and was two weeks overdue. I was terrified but actually it was fine. Breaking waters was hard (they said) because no signs of going into labour (ie cervix not opening) and they offered me an epidural for that but I refused and it was fine.

The drug thing was fine but tbh ds was showing signs of distress and my body didn't respond to the drugs that well ie they gave me contractions but my body then didn't take over and go with the flow. They couldn't up the dose much because then ds in distress.

But was fine - 9 hours later with very little progress on the dilating front so I asked for an epidural and one hour later it was an emergency c section.

My only disappointment was that because ds's output had to be monitored constantly it meant my birth couldn't be as active as I'd have liked it to be.

Best of luck and I bet you can't wait to meet your new baby.

Though it's hard to get all geared up and then be told to hurry up and wait, it's far better to be in the hosp on a day when they don't anticipate a huge crowd.

I'd second that. You'll get more dedicated care if they are less busy. Frustrating though when you're all ready to go!

It sounds like you know what you want and are well prepared. Best of luck, not long now.

I was induced just three weeks ago, at 41+6. It was totally not how I planned - MLU, waterbirth, hypnotherapy, etc. Instead I had induction, CFM, Meptid, epidural, failed Ventouse and then forceps!

So, my advice would be to keep an open mind. I did, and I think that's why I don't feel bad that things didn't go to plan. I probably should have asked for the epidural slightly earlier, as it was marvellous - in ten minutes I literally went from crawling up the bed with no pants on, crying and mooing, to curled up in a ball begging for the epidural, almost unable to speak from pain, to sitting up having a chat with the midwives and then having a lovely nap! Epidurals are my new favourite thing .

Some women (like me) have stronger, more painful labours due to induction. Some don't and never have the need for heavy duty pain relief, so don't be scared!

If you do have a rough time though, don't do what I did and let them send you home from the hospital without prescription painkillers - once that epidural wore off, the stitches were killer!

And try to rest as much as you can - the tiredness after the baby comes, plus any lingering pain from stitches/bruising can make it all a bit overwhelming, but more so if you haven't slept.

Best of luck and congratulations that at last you get to meet your little one!

I know you've been given loads of advice so far but here are some extra tips from me (I was induced at 40 + 14):

• if they tell you to arrive at X time, arrive a bit early as, when they induced me, they induced us in order of arrival (so as we were the last out of 6 to arrive, we were the last to be induced). It doesn't really matter but it is annoying when you just want to check on it with and everyone else seems to be being prioritised (particularly annoying if your surname is at the beginning of the alphabet so you're used to being first!);

• as they may well be "checking in" several people at once, double check the wrist band and notes you're given. On the day I went in, 3 of us had the same forename and a fourth had a common shortening of it so there was quite a bit of confusion;

• who goes into labour first is not a competition! All 6 of us were on the same ward. One was having full on contractions within an hour of the first pessary (which was about the same time as I was having my pessary) and was wheeled down to the labour ward pretty shortly after, another 3 were having contractions within 3 or 4 hours leaving only two of us needing the second pessary but the other girl was actually 4cm dilated but hadn't noticed the contractions! I did feel like a bit of a failure for having had no reaction to the first pessary at all - but it did mean I got a ward to myself for most of the night;

• if you're given a "timetable" (eg 1st pessary at X time; 2nd pessary at Y time; waters broken at Z time), ignore it. That "timetable" is completely dependant on what is happening on the labour ward. Obviously they're not going to try and get someone into labour if the labour ward is already full. I think I was somewhat of a record as I was in the pre-labour ward for about 27 hours waiting for something to happen before they finally wheeled me down and broke my waters and put me on oxycotin;

• the above means you can have a VERY long wait. Take PJs, clean undies, a towel, toiletries etc as well as a lot of books, magazines and anything else which will help you keep amused. Take some layers a the ward I was on varied between being boiling and pretty cool. If you eat more when bored, take a lot of food and make sure you've got a variety. However much you may like chocolate, when you've eaten it all day, you will want some fruit.

• I second the advice about making them know you want an epidural and making sure the anaethetist knows that and that there are enough midwives available for you to have 1 to 1 care (which you have to have if you've had an epidural). I was lucky as both were available for me but if I was to be induced again, I'd want to know that as, if they weren't available, I'd be happy to wait another couple of hours.

• once I'd had the drip (waters being broken didn't do anything for me), I was fully dilated within 7 hours, most of which time had been spent sleeping or reading Grazia (epidurals are fab!). DD ended up being hoiked out with forceps and so I had a episiostomy and stitches. Although the initial bit when I was hanging around the hospital was very dull and DD was born 40 odd hours after I'd gone into hospital, the actual labour was fine and I felt that I'd been kept informed and was well managed throughout.

Good luck! And you never know, with the extra 24 hours, your DC might decide to make his/her appearance without the induction.

If they give you a syntocin drip have an epidural (before they put you on the drip, I really struggled to keep still) With DS1 I was induced at T+14 I thought I'd be ok without an epi but after half an hour on the drip I was in serious pain and hardly having a break between contractions, labour went on for another 8 hours, I definitely wouldn't have coped without an epidural. DS2 was born natural without any intervention or pain relief (not even G and A) I definitely realised the difference the drip made!

just read post before mine which reminded me once I'd had my epidural I slept until it was pretty much time to push, DH was stuck with reading my mags, I'd never thought to bring anything for DH... moral of the story take something to occupy your OH just in case!!