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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Overdue again! Urgent advice needed re pain relief etc if I'm induced.

53 replies

hotmama · 06/02/2006 10:02

Hi, I was due on the 29th Jan so am now 8 days overdue with dd2. I am booked in to be induced on Thursday.

Dd1 was 9 days overdue but was born without being induced.

I really don't want to be induced as I understand they are really painful etc but if I am I want to be prepared as best as I can be.

With dd1, I intended to have as little pain relief as was needed but eventually worked my way through the menu.

I originally didn't want an epidural as I understood there was more chance of having an assisted delivery - but I did and ended up having a forceps delivery and losing 4 pints of blood - and took quite a while to recover.

Dd1 was 8.10 and the view is that dd2 is probably going to be bigger.

I would really like some advice on how to play it if I do have to be induced.

I will be started off with prostaglandin pessaries and will progress to the drip if it is needed (advice from the hosp). I understand that having contractions induced by the drip are bl*@ dy painful and have been advised to book an epidural the same time as the drip goes in.

My dilemma is obviously, I don't want to suffer unnecessarily but I really want to try to have an unassisted delivery - not sure if this would be possible anyway if dd2 is 'big'.

If the induction doesn't work then I will have to have a c-section and is my worse nightmare as dd1 is only 16 months - how will I cope?

Are inductions really awful, or is it possible to get through them without going through the whole drug menu.

Any advice will be gratefully received. TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Lio · 06/02/2006 15:27

Hi hotmama, as someone else has said, you don't have to be induced if you don't want to ? do you feel strong enough to say no thank you unless, for example, there is evidence that you or baby not doing so well.

Also, being induced doesn't have to be awful ? mine wasn't good but mainly because it was a Friday then lots of staff went home for the weekend! So aim for earlier in the week if you do decide to go for it. Also friend who was induced managed on gas and air and it happened relatively quickly, different strokes etc.

Looking forward to hearing it all went well.

Rach69 · 06/02/2006 15:52

I've been induced 3 times (out of 4 pregnancies) and it's been totally different each time.

DS2 took a couple of days to induce but labour fairly normal - only gas n air.

DD - I went to 5cm within an hr of the first pessary.

DS3 - 7 failed inductions with pessaries, had my waters broken and a syntocin drip then (which took 8hrs to kick in!) + epidural (labour only 3 1/2 hrs in the end) but had problems with his head position (again...) so ended up with a failed ventouse and c-section.

The important thing is get your 'bishop's score for induction' from the dr/mw who examines you (they have to put it in your notes) - google it to find out more.

Original poster

hotmama · 06/02/2006 16:10

Thanks re the advice re Clary Sage - I have got some but forgot

So I am now sniffing to my heart's content - will let you know if it works.

Thanks for the posts they are really helping.

Any more?

OP posts:

Original poster

hotmama · 06/02/2006 17:06

bump

OP posts:

Pudmog · 06/02/2006 17:14

Induced with all 3 of my children. First - needed the works. DD2 and Ds1 just pessaries and gas and air only.Once waters went both very quick labours. DD2- 2 cm to delivered in 12 minutes!!!!!Ds1 3hrs after waters went. Big babies too- 9lbs 2oz and 10lbs 2oz (and he got a bit stuck). I am 5ft nothing! It can be done. You may find as it is baby no 2 you won't need more than a couple of pessaries- I hope so. Good luck!

bambi06 · 06/02/2006 17:38

i was overdue with my first ds 19 days and refused to be induced and just got monitored regularly they also said he would be bigger than he was so doesnt always work, my second..dd was 10 days overdue and this time i used homeopathy to kickstart it and it worked..a very fast and easy labour and only just made it to hospital..i wished i`d stayed at home and had her! you can get a birthing kit from your homeopath or borrow them from them plus reflexology is supposed to work wonders ..mush better IMHO than being induced!!

Original poster

hotmama · 06/02/2006 19:33

bump for the evening crew

OP posts:

Original poster

hotmama · 07/02/2006 08:56

Tried the clary sage and the natural prostaglandin route - but still here.

Think I am going to have to try lugging some furniture etc. Got 2 days to start things off naturally.

Thanks for all your posts so far - they have really helped giving me a balanced view.

OP posts:

Blondeinlondon · 07/02/2006 09:43

Have you tried reflexology?

Rhian101 · 07/02/2006 13:14

Are you drinking raspberry leaf tea too?
Seems very early to be induced, I thought they waited 2 weeks. Don't let them fit you into their schedule, do what you need to do. Oh, and drive over lots of speedbumps!

blueshoes · 07/02/2006 13:51

Had an failed induction at 40 weeks, e-cs for fetal distress because baby could not take the intense contractions due to the drip.

Hotmama, my strategy now would be to get as ripe as possible (with daily scans/CTGs) and natural methods. If still no joy, at least chances of pessaries working would be greatly increased. If pessaries don't work and they foist the drip, then ask for an epidural (mobile, if possible to reduce the risk of assisted delivery). Check in advance that your hospital offers mobile.

If possible, don't let them break your waters. I had no choice with mine. Problem with breaking waters is that they then want baby out within a certain timeframe because of risk of infection. That means the crazy drip and possibly cs. You don't want any time limits on you. Hope it goes well for you.

Original poster

hotmama · 08/02/2006 11:40

Still here - so resigning myself to being induced.

I think I may take your advice though, if my Bishop score is low I may refuse induction and ask to be monitored etc - as I don't want an induction to be be unsuccessful and end up having a c-section.

Is this wise?

OP posts:

4blue1pink · 08/02/2006 11:44

Hot...what is this bishops score thing......? where can i find it.

i now WANT to be induced and have an epidural put in alongside induction - this is my latest fear induced ploy!

4blue1pink · 08/02/2006 11:49

yeuch just looked it up - i do not want anyone fiddling with my cervix......god i just want the baby in my arms and a woosy headache where the three day long general anaethetic has been to rid me of this torture..........

Original poster

hotmama · 08/02/2006 12:29

bump for advice re delaying induction.

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Taffindra · 08/02/2006 12:34

I actually thought induction was Okay (my only experience of childbirth). At least you know what is coming, and you can control the pain. Although, do have epidural if you're having the drip to bring on contractions. I did 2 hours without epidural, and it was probably worst 2 hours of my life - very bad. Contractions all off the monitor, and continuous with no gaps at all. Nasty. I think the drip makes them very much stronger than they would be naturally.

Am very worried about this no epidural if you've got a bad back - I have terrible back problems, and have been told not to get pregnant while they continue. I'm not sure I could do birth again without the epidural - do you think they can refuse to do it?

Eulalia · 08/02/2006 12:42

Sorry nothing's happened yet. Why not delay the induction a few days? I was booked in for 10 days but found out it was just for administrative convenience so I changed it to 14 days which was the Monday. Would MOnday be too far off for you? It didn't make any difference to me as I still got induced but as I said earlier it was easy and I think it was because my cervix was so ripe by then.

Keep us posted

mummy23 · 08/02/2006 14:01

Was wondering how you was doing today!

Hopefully something will start very soon, (i remember i was booked in to be induced with ds1 but contraction started but because my waters had broke i had to be put on drip to hurry things up, and i ended up having ds1 on the day of induction being booked!)
Hopefully you will be able to do it all naturally without any help to encourage little one out!
Cant wait for the birth anouncement now, i know the last few weeks get uncomfy, but being overdue is even worst!
Best of Luck, keep us informed of any twinges or anything!

Take Care of yourself!

mummy23

emmawill · 09/02/2006 04:51

I have had 4 very serious back injury and have 4 discs that have fused together, I had an epuridal with mine, as long as they know excatley what is wrong with your back it shouldn't be a problem having a bad back they won't give it to you if there's any doult. My back hurt for a few days afterwards but that was it.

Best of luck for Monday.

Eulalia · 09/02/2006 14:01

Good luck for today hotmama and hope baby comes soon

singersgirl · 09/02/2006 14:07

Sorry, haven't read whole thread. I was induced for medical reasons at 40 weeks with DS2, who was so not ready to be born. Pessaries didn't work, so after 2 nights in they broke my waters (needed gas &air and stirrups, as still only 0.5 cm dilated) and put me on a drip. It was very painful and after 4 hours I had an epidural (still only 2cm). However, as soon as I relaxed when the epidural took effect, I wanted to push, and I went from 2 cm to birth in less than 2 hours and had only a tiny tear.

First labour was long, natural, gas & air only, no tearing, but so exhausting. Second labour was over by 9.00pm and we all went to sleep!

Piffle · 09/02/2006 14:08

oooh yes its today isn;t it.
Fingers crossed for the best ever induction experience hotmama xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Original poster

hotmama · 09/02/2006 14:23

I am due to ring the hosp between 2.30 and 3.00 - however, things are happening naturally - must have been the fear of the I word.

As has been the case for weeks, had strong BHs during the night - but did feel more like contractions but irregular. Lost my mucus plug at about 2.30 a.m.

Had a bath this morning, and thought waters went but as I was in the bath I wasn't sure but my bump went a very weird shape. I have had a pad in since but don't think I have had any dribbling IYKWIM. My bump is significantly lower though.

Got out the bath and had a big bloody show and have been very browny dischargy since - I'm taking this as a good sign that things are on the way.

Feel crampy and backachey but no contractions as such.

Hoping the hosp are going to say stay at home for a bit - or I go in and be 6cm dilated!

Will let you know how things progress - thanks for the labour vibes.

OP posts:

Original poster

hotmama · 09/02/2006 14:38

Going in for assessment on the labour suite - though they think I will be able to come home and let nature take it's course.

Will report back.

OP posts:

Piffle · 09/02/2006 17:59

hotmama great news if it all goes naturally for you
dd was also born naturally on the day they wanted to induce me

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