Positive Induction Stories Please

[bigbaubleeyes]

I have just been given date today for induction on the 3rd of January - I have read bits and bobs about this but it is becomming more of a possible reality so I would like to know more.
Please post positive induction experiences or bits of constructive advice.
I am feeling low after not being able to have sweep done today and being told I am a high risk induction cos is his head isn't down in pelvis after all but slightly to the left - which is different to what three other midwives have told me over the last two months at various checks.

Positive = you get a baby!!

Anything could happen between now and the 3rd
Try scrubbing floors, pineapple, sex, reflexology, walking

Hello

I was induced both times and I had fab labours, first time was a pessary, second time i had my waters broken.

First labour was 2 and a half hours
second was 4 hours

Only had gas and air and was allowed home quickly, no stitches

Its not as bad as its made out to be - good luck!

Thats very encouraging Tamba thanks - its just seems as if so many people are quick to say how much it hurts - its my first so I won't know any different.

Was induced with my last one. Had my waters broken then after 4 hours of mild conmtractions was put on a drip which really got things going. Two and a half hour established labour, gas&air and pethidine. Lots of stitches mind you, but I have had loads of them with all mine, so I guess that's just me.

Great experience overall for me. Good luck. If you get to the 3rd Jan, that's my ds's birthday!!

Hiya, mine was an OK if not a positive to tell you. Constructively I would say IME:

1. rest during it whenever you can, ditto eat and drink, they can be very slow. Send your birth partner to rest as much as possible as well.

2. if you have the syntocin drip be ready to ask for an epidural. I found 12 hours from 0-5cm on prostin pessaries almost comfortable, but got an epi sharpish as the syntocin contractions where irregular, stronger, sharper and stabbier than the earlier ones for me.

3. if you have a syntocin drip, make sure the bngger is working! Mine was registering normally on the drip monitor but was only partially getting into my vein after 4 hours. The rest of the fluid was tissuing into my wrist. This is not a problem in itself, but what was a problem was that my contractions almost vanished and they were going to c-section me! All cos the drip was duff. I had to complain mightily to get it resited, up came the contractions again and away you go...unassisted delivery.

4. the lesson to learn from 3 is although its a different arena, the whole being induced thing, YOU still know very well what is going on. Stay on top of the medical staff, you and/or your birth partner.

Good luck, have a happy birth.

I was induced, straight to waters breaking as I was already at 3 cm (had a couple of sweeps prior to this, but was at 3cm then too). It was fine, my only advice is, if they wheel out the syntocinon, demand your epidural then. I think they went for syntocinon too quickly, but I had pre-eclampsia (I felt absolutely fine) so I think the priority item was "deliver the baby RIGHT NOW" and hence the urgency.

I am not sure that your baby's head position right now is that relevant, as you are not yet in labour. If you can, I would recommend trying to take things as naturally as possible, question whether you really are high risk once labour begins.

This is all good stuff guys - I have explained to DH i am not upset cos I want to be a martyre to natural births n all and I am quite prepared for the fact that inductions can be longer so may need epidural (which I was viewing as a last resort). I want to be positive but also prepare for this realisticaly also.

Tribot - your post reminded us that the consultant did say they will assess on the day and she did say he was more likely to go down than not - re position of his head.

I've also just said to DH that i think i had got my hopes built up too much expecting a sweep - with the possibility of things starting tonight and now I havn't got that hope (had absolutley no signs so far)

Thanks for all posts so far

hi Bigbaubleeyes

My induction did not last long at all - well, once everything got started! Had two pessaries/tablets/whatever they are (couldn't see past bump to look!) - one in the evening and one in the morning. Each successive midwife would come in, have a look and exclaim "well, you're dilated 1cm!" Yes, I have been for just over two weeks now, thanks for letting me know!!

On the second day of not so much a twinge, my waters were broken just before 6pm. DS was born 8.15pm, so don't assume it will be slow!

My best piece of advice to you is to (assuming you do end up going) go in there with an open mind to everything. As someone has already said, the biggest positive is getting the baby at the end of it by hook or by crook. Even prior to being overdue, my birthplan was "I would like to go with the flow - you know better than I do, so please advise me!" At 42 weeks, I was more than ready to see my baby by whatever means it took!

my induction was great.

Was induced at around 37 weeks with pre eclampsia.
They applied the gel stuff at around 9pm.
Fell asleep, waters broke around 2am and 7 cms dilated.

Started pushing at around 5am and ds1 was born at 5:45am.
Had gas and air and diamorphine. Was fine and straiht forward. So much so that I hoped that I would be inducded with ds2.
Good luck - my induction was really positive.

Hi bigbaubleeyes, I am due on the 4th with my 4th and mostly expecting another induction. I had a sweep after my waters broke with ds1 but can't be sure whether it worked or not (went into labour a day later). With ds2 I was induced several times over 3 days and I think I was just not ready. With dd I had a show on the morning of induction and was found to be 2-3 cm at the hosptial - annoyed afterwards that they induced me anyway and I went to 5 cm in less than an hour!

I think the key thing is whether you are (cervically) 'ready' or not. Be prepared for things not to happen quickly (if at all) and for false 'prostin' pains. If you have to have a drip, you'll probably need an epidural. Keep an open mind, as others have said, it only matters where the head is on the 3rd - none of mine were engaged before labour started.

i had an induced birth with number 1.
had pre-mature rupture of membranes, had the drip, 4.5 hours from drip in to baby out and no epidural, would recommend tens.

Thanks again - Dh has read these posts also and feels a lot better - he reckons the doc was too woolly about stuff.

How many weeks will you be then?

Hi thecattle - I will be 41+5

Message withdrawn

Bump - anymore tips out there?

BBE - I assume still no action from sweep? Did the midwife say what sort of position your cervix was in or how ready it was?

I was due on 24th Dec, and have a sweep booked for 31st Dec. Baby not engaged, no real signs at the moment (a few gentle BH), and was induced with my first so am not holding out much hope for a natural start to labour, but it would be nice...

Hi BABYG not been on - but DH and I that distressed yesterday about what the stupid 'woolly' concultant had told us the day before we went to the maternity unit to speak to a MW and get checked out - I felt completely emotionally exhuasted. Anyway they couldn't do the sweep cervix is iron-clad no signs at all am getting geared up for induction. However the MW did say yesterday his head is more central but no engaged. Felt much better cos she explained a few things in more detail and gave us some much needed reassurance and perspective. Still had a few tears to day cost another uneventful night and i just realy want my little Lewis to be here.

How are you today?

I have not had a chance to read all the replies but from scanning through them quickly I feel I need to add a couple of things (sorry if I am not all "rosey" but I feel you need to make an informed decision).

1. It is different to induce a first time mum than a "subsequent mum" - chances of success are DIFFERENT!
2. It is also different to induce someone who has already had some signs of readiness like waters breaking or if you are suffering from pre-eclampsia or HELLP for example as the body needs to expell the baby to heal... and the body is a wonderful thing and will do it quickly in those instenses.

What will happen is that you shoud be examined BEFORE the induction and you get a Bishop score (which they won't tell you as they don't expect you to know anything about). The lower the score the more difficult (usually) the induction. Usually you need a score of 6 to get a good chance.

Is this your first and how many days over will you be ? The induction may well go smoothly and quickly, usually it takes at least two doses of gel to start off a 1st time mum (so don't necessarily think the baby will be out soon.... though sometimes they are!)
My other gripe (and I will probably start a thread on this at some point) is that a difficult induction can lead to a traumatised mother..... and that I feel is the worst... yes baby may be fine but a mother with bad memories/nightmares and anxiety attacks of birth (even PTSD) is very very sad indeed!

Do NOT forget two things:

1. You don't have to agree to this.... some hospitals agree to let you go until 43 weeks (it's a protocol and policies thing not a universal rule,.... and one doc may disagree with another!) You can ask to be scanned every other day to check fluid levels. far better indication of what's going on!
2. There are women who have 44 weeks gestations... and they are nornmal women having normal sized babies.... Some of these had bad inductions at 42 weeks and for subsequent babies refused inductions and always went past 43 weeks with easy births !

I have not had a chance to read all the replies but from scanning through them quickly I feel I need to add a couple of things (sorry if I am not all "rosey" but I feel you need to make an informed decision).

1. It is different to induce a first time mum than a "subsequent mum" - chances of success are DIFFERENT!
2. It is also different to induce someone who has already had some signs of readiness like waters breaking or if you are suffering from pre-eclampsia or HELLP for example as the body needs to expell the baby to heal... and the body is a wonderful thing and will do it quickly in those instenses.

What will happen is that you shoud be examined BEFORE the induction and you get a Bishop score (which they won't tell you as they don't expect you to know anything about). The lower the score the more difficult (usually) the induction. Usually you need a score of 6 to get a good chance.

Is this your first and how many days over will you be ? The induction may well go smoothly and quickly, usually it takes at least two doses of gel to start off a 1st time mum (so don't necessarily think the baby will be out soon.... though sometimes they are!)
My other gripe (and I will probably start a thread on this at some point) is that a difficult induction can lead to a traumatised mother..... and that I feel is the worst... yes baby may be fine but a mother with bad memories/nightmares and anxiety attacks of birth (even PTSD) is very very sad indeed!

Do NOT forget two things:

1. You don't have to agree to this.... some hospitals agree to let you go until 43 weeks (it's a protocol and policies thing not a universal rule,.... and one doc may disagree with another!) You can ask to be scanned every other day to check fluid levels. far better indication of what's going on!
2. There are women who have 44 weeks gestations... and they are nornmal women having normal sized babies.... Some of these had bad inductions at 42 weeks and for subsequent babies refused inductions and always went past 43 weeks with easy births !

I was induced both times, due to high blood pressure.

First birth - pessary around 6 pm, and 'period type pains' around 1 am next day. Midwife basically told me at 4 am not to make a fuss as I wasn't even in labour, and offered paracetamol. At 6 I phoned my dh, and told him to get straight to the hospital.

Funnily enough, I'd gone from 'not in labour' to 7 cms but 6.45 am, and 9 cms by 7 am?!! Really feel that same midwife was covering her backside!

Because I was so worked up at this point, and exhausted, I never wanted to push, and ds was born just after 10 am with forceps.

NONE OF THE EXPERIENCE WAS AWFUL OR UNBEARABLY PAINFUL, IT WAS JUST THAT I WAS BEING DISMISSED BY THE PROFESSIONALS, AT A TIME WHEN I FELT TOTALLY VULNERABLE.

Second induction was totally different. Pessary at 10.10 am and dd born at 11.30 am. Bloomin' painful, but I couldn't really complain!

I've heard horror stories about inductions and forceps, but this wimp coped OK, and like most things, the anticipation's the worst part.

I was induced just aover a year ago with my first. 10 1/2 hours from pessary to birth, and only 2 1/2 hours in established labour, which I think is pretty good for a first time! Incredibly painful, had gas and air and pethidine, and lots of stitches, but as someone else said, think of the baby that you get at the end of it, and it's all worth it! Good luck.

pupucelovesruDOuLaph - thanks for posting. I think BBE is a first time mum facing induction, and I'm a second time mum (induced with my first). My bishops score was 3 !! with my first so they didn't bother giving me a sweep, but hopefully it'll be better this time (will find out tomorrow).

It's also good to hear it can be quicker second time around, it took 48 hours from first pessary to birth last time and I was exhausted!

BBE - glad to hear MW was helpful, it wasn't that bad for me the first time, just very very tiring because it took soooo long. You are so right to find out what to expect, I hadn't a clue first time round (wasn't on mumsnet at the time!) and I think that made it much worse as I felt out of control.

Very very grumpy at the moment. Don't really want to talk to anyone or do anything and taking it out on DH. Sleeping is hard and everything is uncomfy, but not much longer to go. Only around week even if induced. It's very hard, isn't it, when other people are giving birth or asking you when are you due / haven't you had it yet etc.?!

Thanks FAIRJ and EVANSM

pupucelovesruDOuLaph - I think you have missed the point of this thread - the fact that I am asking for info should surely indicate that I intend to have an induction at 40+10 if i have not gone into labour naturally and I am not questionning whether I have a choice or not. or the ethics and morals behind them.

The reason why inductions are more common place than some years ago is because when some women are left to go past EDD there was a small number of still-born babies (I forget the actual statistic). They have no way of knowing 'which' babies might not make it so rather than take the risk this is why they offer inductions. Those mums who make the decision to wait (with monitoring) i think are brave and that is there choice.

I did request positive induction stories I am aware of the possible degrees of intervention and will handle this relaistically as possible as too many people are quick to tell you negative aspects of birth inc inductions.

I DO NOT WISH to hear about 'traumatised mums' have you not read my previous posts? - I am feeling pretty low at moment (a combination of reasons). I intend to approach this birth as relaxed and as positive as possible - where else should anyone sensibly start?