feeling negative about induction

[KDK12]

I am heading for my 2nd induction in 2 weeks time - for my 1st pregnancy I finally gave in and was induced at 42+5, this time around I'm due a routine induction at 38 weeks due to developing gestational diabetes.

I'm just feeling so miserable about being induced again, I'm worried that it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy and I'll have a terrible birth. I'm convinced I'm going to end up with an emergency C-section, which I obviously don't want.

I think part of it is that I don't know if this will be my last baby, and I feel sad that I'll never get the homebirth/waterbirth I was planning for both of my pregnancies. I can't stand all the medical intervention - the constant monitoring, no chance of active labour, it's just everything I don't want.

I don't even know why I'm posting really - I guess I'm hoping for people's positive induction stories/tips/whatever you think might help... I really want to make the best of it and I only have 2 weeks to get into a more positive frame of mind!

Hi - no experience of induction but did not want your post to go unanswered.

Can you talk to the midwife about ways in which you can try and make it a more positive experience for you? I think I read somewhere that there are now "mobile monitors" in some hospitals which allow you to be in more upright positions. It might be worth seeing if they have any of these available.

I know how it feels not to be getting the birth you want - I am having an ELCS in 6 weeks time with DC2 after a fairly bad experience (and now gynae problems) with DC1. I guess that the only thing you can keep reminding yourself is that it is for the best for the baby and for you.

You didn't have a CS first time round and your body has done it once already so hopefully things will be a lot easier.

best of luck

hi, i have been induced all 5 times! i always go more than 2 wks overdue, i obviously have a comfy uterous!

anyway the first time was the hardest, 3 day labour, but natural delivery in the end :)

then ds2 took 7hrs, normal delivery.

ds3 3 hrs, normal delivery.

ds4 took ONE hour! had him in the birth pool :)

and dd took 3hrs, i ended up with the syntocin drip with her which i didnt for the others, but it was still a nice delivery, remained upright and mobile, on birth ball etc and had LOTS of gas and air!

seriously i was always hugely anxious each time that i would end up wiht a c section etc, but thankfully i never did.

i wanted a home birth each time as well, but obviously never got one, but i had positive births, i had minimal intervention other than having my waters broken. you dont have to have continuous monitering at al, i did with dd as i had the drip but even so i made it clear i wanted to remain upright and mobile and so the midwife just had to adjust the moniters etc as i moved, it was fine.

just make it clear that you want things as natural as possible providing baby is fine. it is worrying but there is no reason you have to end up with a very medical labour with lots of intervention :)

and yes as you have given birth once before it should be easier this time round!

I've read lots of positive induction stories on here and I hope yours turns out to be the same. Do ask about your monitoring options. In hospital I had fab midwives who were really keen on active birth. One got me some aromatherapy oils as a last ditch effort to help me avoid the syntocin (sp?) drip! (Didn't work but it was a nice thought.) AFAIK induction shouldn't rule out labouring actively. If you get the chance a hypnobirthing CD might help you to cope with the pain discomfort as well as possibly helping to get into a positive mindset.

If you do end up with an epidural/assisted delivery/EMCS, your childbirth experience will be just as valid as any other. It's common to mourn the loss of your preferred type of birth but this shouldn't take away from what you've achieved.

Best of luck!

I was induced with DD1- just the gels then after my waters broke by themselves I had a nine hour labour.

DD2 I also developed GD and they tried to induce at 39 weeks. 2 (rather lovely and peaceful with no DD1) days in hospital with absolutely no progress at all and the very nice consultant agreed to discharge me for a break.

Back in at 40 weeks, 2 gels then a 1 hour intervention free labour and DD2 arrived weighing 10.6!!

Both very positive and intervention free apart from the gels at the beginning.

Your body does know what it's doing second time round, and I know a waterbirth etc would be lovely but at the end of the day a getting your baby out safely is what really matters. Good luck.

thanks all for your replies. i've been reading the thread about positive induction stories and it's really helped.

eachpeach, i will definately discuss my options with the midwife - just being able to move around and stay mobile will make all the difference i'm sure. i'm sorry to hear about your difficult 1st birth and i hope your CS goes well.

4madboys, it's really reassuring to hear about your 5 inductions - you're obviously an old hand! although my 1st induction ended in an assisted delivery (forceps) it was fast and fairly straightforward, so i hope you're right about things being easier once your body has done it before cos forceps are a bit alarming.

flamegirl, i'll dig out my hypnobirthing CD , thanks for reminding me. your comment about a birth being 'valid' struck a chord with me - that's how i feel, that somehow a medically induced birth isn't a 'real' birth experience. that's ridiculous, i know!

debka, good to know the gels worked for you both times, i'm hoping that will be enough for me this time again. you're so right - it's the baby at the end of it that matters. one good thing about being induced at 38 weeks is that i will get to meet him/her sooner :)