Induction tomorrow at St Thomas's due to Obstetric Cholestasis

[southfacingpuddles]

Hello,
I'm being induced tomorrow because I've been diagnosed (on Monday) with obstetric cholestasis, and my bile salts level was 47.

I had my first baby in the blissful home from home unit (at St Thomas's in London) and although labour went at the speed of light (good in some ways) it was really lovely and calm and I felt it was a lovely positive time. This time, I have been told I can't be in the home from home as I need closer monitoring.

To complicate things, I had to have a termination last year and I was induced then. I'm desperate for the labour to feel more like my first labour than my termination, which was hours of abject misery culminating in even more misery as you can imagine, but the induction aspect worries me as it will be like my termination.

Any tips on a) how I can make it feel more relaxed, despite being hooked up to the monitor machine, and b) how I can make it feel different, despite it essentially being horribly similar to last time.

Does anyone know if the hospital birth centre rooms are similar to the home from home? do they have balls, etc?

And, how much can I move around when attached to the monitor thing?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

B

I dont know if this would help but how about an ipod to listen to some relaxing music that might help you feel calmer. Why dont you phone the unit and ask some questions so that you know a bit more of what to expect in terms of how much you are able to move around etc. What things helped you keep calm with your first birth ? Try and concentrate on the positive experience that you had and not the negative one. I dont know but i would think the induction would be different as you are near to term and your body will be gearing up for birth. We are here for you and please come back to let us know when you have got your newborn in your arms .

Both my DS's were induced, DS2 for cholestastis. Labour went quite quickly second time round, I was up and walking around until full labour kicked in and then it all went quickly from there. I wasn't continuously monitored and with it being millennium eve the midwives were hardly around, just me and OH, quite relaxed this time really. Try not to worry and ask to not be continuously monitored if at all possible. If you were diagnosed Monday, why are they waiting until tomorrow to induce though? Normally time is of the essence or so the doctors told me, I still had three weeks to go and would rather have been anywhere else but hospital on NYE.
Good luck, sure you and DC will be fine.

Best of luck. I was there 3 years ago now but i dont think things have changed dramatically - the hospital birth centre rooms look almost the same as the home from home rooms - you still have your own ensuite and birth ball etc (if there's not one in the room just ask).

I was induced (although in a different hospital) and it was a very positive experience, although I was quite gutted when I realised I wouldn't be able to have a spontaneous birth. My first midwife looked at me sternly and said 'this may be an induction, but there's no reason why you can't still be active'. I had taken an ipod with speakers to play calming music, but never had time to put it on. I laboured for about 5 hours and before that I used a birthing ball and had a bath for pain relief, throughout I was thoroughly supported in my choice of positions and I can't imagine how it would be that different to a non-induced birth.