Induction - Can someone read this? Is this usual?

[MyOhMyOh]

I was induced when I had my daughter just over a year ago and I'm due to have dc2 in 12 weeks. As the time gets nearer I am getting quite stressed at the idea of potentially being induced again. It's only as my next birth approaches that I have started to feel so negatively about my dd's birth. I was given a pessary at 10am on a saturday morning which started incredibly painful contractions every 7 minutes or so within 30 mins. I was then left until 12 o'clock the next afternoon due to emergencies. I continued to have contractions until then and was given 2 lots of diamorphine but was in pain the entire time.

At 12 o'clock they broke my waters, then put up the drip. I found it absolutely excrutiating and undignifed and I felt utterly powerless. I was not allowed to move from the bed, and had to stay on my back. I asked for an epidural while I was still able to speak and was fobbed off repeatedly. I barely made a noise and couldnt move for the 6 hours until my dd was born.

Having read the horrendous experiences some women have had, I know mine is nothing really - dd was fine, I had a 2nd degree tear which is still uncomfortable, but we are both well. But this time round I am under a consultant rather than MLU and I am actually quite frightened of what may happen if I have to be induced again. I think I read inudction is more likely under consultant than MLU, and then other interventions are more likely. Is my experience of induction typical? Did I get off lightly in fact?

I think that 'typically' an epidural is more likely to be offered. But for what reason were you induced?

I have always wondered how women in that level of pain manage to do as they're told though. I'm pretty certain I would be off the bed regardless, quite possibly yanking the damn drip out of my arm too. I had a pretty painful first birth and had no thought to do as I was told or even care about the baby at that point, or my own life for that matter.

Your induction sounds a lot like mine, except mine ended in a emcs. My feeling is that I won't want to be induced again. I know some people have refused - and have gone in daily for checkups if necessary.
Of course, there's no reason you shouldn't have an easy one the next time round.

Thank you both for answering.

I had wanted to use a pool but wasnt allowed as had gone over due date which is why i was induced at +14. Even though all along I had said the due date they had given me was 2 weeks early.

Honestly Starlight, I couldnt move within a short time of the drip going up. It was like being hit by a train. I was expecting to be able to move around, even with the drip, but I literally couldnt move off the bed. Then I couldnt manage to speak. All that came out was mumbles. My husband and my mum both asked if I could have an epidural but were told that they were too busy with emergencies.

Queen, do you think you would be 'brave' enought to refuse another induction?

Oh definitely, especially now I've looked into it and seen how many babies are 'overdue'. I think as long as you agree to regular check ups to make sure the baby is doing okay, they can't force you.

Thanks, think I will do some reading to prepare myself for refusing if it's looking like I'm 'overdue' again.

Feel better having just typed it out actually.

If you are more confident in your dates this time that is a very good start.

I've had 4 inductions (fortunately never the drip!) and I just refused continous monitoring - spent much time sat upright on the birthing ball so at least gravity was helping. If you do need to have the drip again I would insist on have the epidural in place first!

God, 4 inductions. Yes, they wouldnt let me move at first, when I was able to, because of monitoring and also they put something in my hand that meant I kept being told not to move it - I cant remember what it was though. Part of a study or something

Think I'll be more assertive this time.

Well they want you monitored to check everything is ok, I had monitoring for 45 mins after each pessary. I put it in my birth plan that I refused continuous monitoring

Hopefully if you even need inducing this time it will work with just the pessaries. How long after the ARM did they start using the drip? It all sounds a bit rushed to me tbh but I'm not a midwife!

I had two that took days to get going and had to have an ARM and 2 that I delivered within 12 hours of the first and only pessary (those 2 were more overdue). I only managed one without an epidural which was the last and I'm sure it's because I was a lot more accepting about the situation and not concerned with having my wonderful homebirth that I'd always dreamed of!

My induction story is similar to yours, except that I was able to move about the whole time (within the limited space allowed by all the leads), the MW with me helped move the drip and reposition the monitoring things about a thousand times. I found that lying down really increased the intensity of the contractions a lot. That's also very tough that you went through the whole thing without proper pain relief, if you did have to be induced again, I would say insist on having the epidural as soon as the drip goes in or refuse the drip. I know a lot of women who are induced second/third time around do this.

My DS was born by EMCS in the end and frankly he would not have made it without the fetal monitoring, as the cord was round his neck and his heartrate kept spiking. Please please don't refuse monitoring, sorry to be so scaremongering but it doesn't bear thinking about another baby being in that situation but noone knowing. If you are told you can't move around with the monitor that is utter rubbish. You can move as far as the leads will let you.
Good luck. x

I had been in hospital for 6 weeks when they started inducing DS. It started monday morning at 6.30 and he was born wednesday night at 10.40. It wasn't painful because they insisted I had an epidural, however that just slowed everything down and I couldn't feel to push. Ended up in theatre after a failed ventuese in case the forceps didn't work. Thankfully they did, but had to have an episiostemy etc

exactly 2 years later DD was born at 37 weeks. Started contractions at 6.30 in the evening and she was born 4 hours later. No pain relief or stitches or anything.

My first induction was very similar to yours (though I opted to not have an epidural because the idea of it scares me silly).

I held out as long as I dared for the second but ended up being induced again at 42+1 and the gel worked very quickly - 4 hours start to finish. I also found that the midwives and other staff were much more respectful of what I told them because it was my second labour (they said as much). Annoying that it should be like that, but there you are.

Good luck!

It sounds like you had a hard time. It will be easier for you to be assertive this time as you've been through it before.

Good luck.

My first labour sounds like yours. Induced and in so much pain I could not move. The memory was horrible for a long time after and as I came near my due date with DD2 I really became terrified. I think I posted here about what I could do. My birth plan even refused the drip if I had to be induced.

My second labour was so so different. Natural labour at home until late, I was at the hospital upright on the ball for less than an hour and pushing for half an hour at the most. Everyone told me second labours are so much easier that first ones and it does seem to be true with everyone I know. You don't know that you will face another induction. Perhaps speak to your midwife about your options regarding induction.

DD1s birth doesn't really bother me now. Good luck

I must add if you refuse continuous monitoring they still should be regularly checking for the babies heartbeat etc, it doesn't mean no monitoring. Plus if you're moving around whilst rigged up to the trace machine it can mean that the trace stops working for a bit, just don't panick about it. They should just ask you to get into a position to get a decent trace every now and then.

Your experience is quite similar to mine, but I insisted on a portable foetal heartbeat monitor so I managed to keep moving and deliver squatting. Like stickyghost, I found the pain unbearable when lying down. I delivered naturally after 6 hours with only g&a - although I did beg for an epidural towards the end, but mw stalled me because she knew things were moving very fast (4cm to pushing in 1 hour!)

I felt quite positive about my experience - I think it was well managed, but the number of hands and implements I had poked at my cervix was incredibly hard to take - probably the worst part. The contractions were much, much more painful, and I had a bad 2nd degree tear.

Like mmmmmchocolate - I had a lovely, natural 2nd birth at 40+11 (after acupuncture to get things going - I really recommend it). I laboured at home, and dd was born 45 minutes after I got to hospital.

I have had 2 hideous induction experiences, and am now reading with interest the acupuncture threads as an option for my third....

I had a similar induction experience only my labour ended in an emcs. There is no way on any planet that I would ever let them induce me again! If I get pregnant again it will be "wait and see" or an elcs - they can feck off with their pessary and their drip!

If I had to be induced again I would have the epidural from the start - my waters had already broken so I didn't have the pessaries just straight to the drip. Ended in ventouse but at least it wasn't an awful experience until I started pushing!

My first birth was similar to yours OP.

With my second I was 9 days late when my waters broke. But no contractions. After 24 hours they wanted to induce me but I had found information saying not essential to be induced till 48 hours if offered monitoring of baby. So I asked for that - they were not happy - wanted to induce. However, I got my way and contractions started on their own within hours of monitoring starting and baby born before the 48 hour deadline. So I think in order to be assertive you do need some facts and information to back you up.

My third DC however, I did agree to being induced, as this time it was not for being 14 days late.... It was much much better experience, so being induced not always a bad thing.

HTH