Induction tomorrow, looking for re-assurance and postive stories

[LisMcA]

I'll be 40+12 with my first tomorrow and have been booked for an inpatient induction. I had a sweep last Thursday where my Bishops score was 3. I'm confident it will be higher tomorrow due to a bit of a show over the weekend and plenty of cramps over the last couple of days.

I am however, terrified of being induced. I've had really bad SPD since 20w, was signed off work from 30w. I'm on dihydrocodiene to manage the pain. I had hoped for an active water birth, but that's not going to happen now.

My only personal experience is a friend who had a terrible labour ending in forceps delivery and major complications for her. I know everyone is different, but I was hoping some of you will share your experiences with me.

TIA

I was induced twice and it turned out fine. I was on the syntocinon drip but had no other interventions and no complications and two large healthy babies.

I had an induction with dd2, it was the best of all my 3 births. I had 2 pessaries, no drips, no further interventions. I was able to keep mobile, toddling about the ward, had a few baths. Labour started at 4pm, dd2 born at 6.30pm, just some g&a, no assistance needed, she just shot out Before I had her, all I had heard was horror induction stories, including one from my Mum!! But honestly it was the most manageable pain wise of all of mine and I was up and about right after. Good luck

Heya LisMcA! I had an induction with my first last july. I was absolutely terrified as i had nooo idea what to expect nor did i want to start labour in hospital (was going for the 'stay at home for as long as poss' approach). I also had bad SPD and could barely get out of bed towards the last 4 weeks nevermind walk! So i do feel for you, i really do! However, the end is nigh! lol!

Remember, all births are different. Being induced generally makes the whole process a whole bit quicker than a natural labour. I had two pessaries in the end and the labour was 6 hours (would have been quicker but my cervix became inflamed so had to hold back pushing for three hours!!) the longest part is the waiting. you wait and wait and wait. whats worse is your stuck in a ward. so take stuff with you (mags, mp3 player etc) to keep you entertained. Also if you do go into labour out of visiting hours, your partner won't be there until you are in 'established labour' which upset me a bit as i went through the contractions completely on my own. buuut looking back i survived :) .

My most vivid memory is the midwife calling my partner as im waddling and panting between contractions to the labour room and him asking me if i needed anything from ASDA on the way?!? lol!! still makes me chuckle. I wish you all the best though, remember each contraction is a moment closer to you holding your baby :) xxx

If you had a show/ cramps then sounds like you are already on your way. I was induced at 42 weeks and the only intervention I had to have was a pessary to get the ball rolling. I went into labour 12 hours later and my waters broke of their own accord.8.5 hours after waters breaking I gave birth to my DD with just gas and air.

I was also terrified about being induced but the good thing about it is you are in the right place if anything goes wrong. I do not believe that its any worse than normal labour, people can have bad experiences whether they are induced or not.

Take plenty to entertain yourself, there can be a lot of waiting around.

And good luck

I was booked for an induction at 40+9 (big baby, they were reluctant to wait any longer, I'd had several sessions of false labour over a couple of weeks and was getting fed up) but as I was getting stuff ready to take to the hospital, my waters broke, contractions got going, and by the time I got to hospital I was 3/4cm dilated and didn't need any further help along the way.

If you're that overdue, but there have been various things going on, you never know....

I was induced with ds1 at 42 +5.
I had a pessary at 9pm after being monitored for an hour, was monitored for 1/2 hour after that.
Started getting pains about 11pm, had cocodamol and used my TENS for abit then got in ahot bath about 2am.

Thought I was having prostin pains as I'd been warned about but was examined about 3.45am and was 9cms dilated. DS was born at 4.55am.
Fingers crossed it all goes well for you.
xx

Take it easy, I was to be induced at roughly 8am. Babygirl born at 6.10am.
Somebody thought - OUT

Thanks ladies! I know it's not going to be the horror I'm picturing in my head. I blame Ina May Gaskin :o

I was induced at 36 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. No time for pessaries straight to the syntocinin drip. Lovely normal delivery 3 hours later - can't say contractions were any more intense than 1st labour (not induced) and managed fine with gas and air x

Ok, havn't got time to read the entire thread (7 month old DD is stirring for her dream feed!) but just wanted to say that I was also induced at 40+12. i too was terrified and tried everything to avoid an indiction.

In fact, being induced was BRILLIANT and I would happily do it again. was give the newest version of the pessary (like a tampon you have to have inside you for 24 hours). After 24 hours with it (it was the drug that softens the cervix only - not the one that makes you contract), I started contracting and DD appeared 8 hours later.

Labour was great - I felt v in control and DD was monitored throughout, which I actually found really relaxing. The contractins began mildly, so I would say I had about 4 hours of hardcore labour (officially though, active labour for 8 hours). I had gas and air only - didn't get bad enough for anything further, although i would have been open to it.

I ended up pushing for 2 hours, which was hard, and needed an episiotomy at the end. But again, that was fine! Didn't feel it as I had local anasthetic and it was TOTALLY healed within 6 weeks (tmi, but it helps... was hacving sex after my 6 week check).