Come and talk to me about your Induction

[McPhee]

I'm booked in for an induction this friday, first baby, and no idea really what to expect. In an ideal world, going in with an open mind is preferable. But in practice I'm probably going to be prone to losing it

I'm currently 37 weeks, but measuring 41 weeks with Polyhydramnios, large baby with enlarged abdomen, plus being back to back

So, what should I expect? What was your experience?

Be honest, I can take it

Oh McPhee. You and the baby will get through this. Thinking of you.

Mcphee all will be fine (hugs)

You can ask your midwife to do a sweep if you want one.

They are quiet uncomfortable though and if baby is not ready to come it wont make any difference. Although from memory, the MW should be able to advise you if it is worth her doing one or not when she examines you.

Even giving birth spontaneously has its own risks.

At least with inductions you are never left alone which gives some reassurance, especially with your first.

My most recent induction at 36.5 weeks

Arrived at hospital MW's joking about seeing me having a baby on their shift

Pessary 1 - nothing
Pessary 2 - nothing

MW's start saying no baby on their shift or even that day

Pessary 3 - few cramps
15 mins later examined, 1 cm, MW breaks waters
43 mins later holding beautiful baby girl

How you doing mcphee?

Best piece of advice I was given as a nervous about-to-be mum was
"remember that every contraction is one you will never ever have again.

I was induced due to high blood pressure.

First pessary went in at 8am but didn't have any affect .

2nd in at 3pm and contractions started immediately.

Put on tens, which helped a little.

Bounced around ante natal ward for hours until DP was sent home at 11pm.

Then the contractions really kicked in!

Was given gas and air and DP was called to come back.

Was taken up to delivery room and had lovely MW with me all the way through.
Begged for epidural but it was too late.

DD arrived 4am.

Tore a bit and had local anaesthetic for stitches which healed perfectly.

Would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Good luck, you'll be fine x

Sorry, that was longer than it needed to be!

McPhee I found induction hard because I didn't know what to expect. I'll explain what happened to me so you can ask questions when you get there.

I was admitted and inducted at 7:30am on Wednesday 40+10. I had mild but frequent contractions straight away and stayed sat in a chair when I was on a monitor. I was left alone and checked periodically/ sporadically.

I was given another pessary at 9am on Thursday and contractions became much stronger. I remained at 3-4cm and insisted that I be moved at 2pm and was finally upstairs in my own room at 5ish. From this point on, I always had at least one MW with me. I did not progress and had a EMCS at 9:36am on Friday. Went home on Monday at 10am.

Surprises:

1. My DH was not allowed to stay. He was sent home the first night at 6:30pm - 11:00am until the next day. This was first I knew he wouldn't be allowed to stay was about 30 mins before.
2. I was on a ward with other women. We had a tour of hospital and only shown private rooms. I was on a ward of 6 women, 4 of whom were being induced.
3. No pain relief was offered until the delivery suite.
4. Gas and air is fabulous.
5. I was back on a ward by 2pm on Friday. DH was sent home overnight. Breast feed babies were left with mums. If formula fed, babies went to the nursery so mum could rest. No real breast feeding support.

Even if you have a long labour, you will be able to do it. I did not have the euphoric feeling once the baby was out. I think I was too tired.

We didn't find out the sex. I don't have many fond memories of the birth but the great reveal was a massive highlight. Once the surgical team found out we didn't know they all ran to be the first to find out.

I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Labour can be long and difficult but it is all worth it. Good luck.

i had an induction which didn't work - ie nothing happened and no one has ever been able to explain why. I ended up with an emergnecy (ie unplanned) cs. Make sure your birth partner knows what you want and is not afraid to say so. ask lots of questions and know what will happen at each stage depending on what is happening at the time. I had a HUGE baby -still holds the big baby record at the ward-a big surprise as had been told by all the midwives through pregnancy i had a tiny baby and it was just water. so was v glad for cs. he would never have come out otherwise i am sure of it, or i would have been stitched a lot. Dont let a trainee stitch you - sorry, but i know a lawyer for mums and its the biggest claim -bad stitching.

good luck, when the baby is there its all perfect:)

Oh dear McPhee! You'll get there. Keep your eyes on the prize!! I know it's really tough (my induction - previous post - lasted a whole week) and it's a real emotional time but you will have a wonderful darling baby soon enough. Keep us updated... x

I wish I had had MN back then as I would have so much better prepared. The Disney version talked about at the ante natal class was a million miles from my experience.

You said be honest and I was. It is totally worth it. Tell your DH what you want and that you expect him to make a nuisance of himself.

Thanks everyone. It's been a bloody awful day, with lots of pains down below and real bad backache. I was desperate to get in the shower tonight, but just lifting my leg over the side of the bath reduced me to sobs. Today's been a real struggle emotionally, that I'm actually now really worried I'm starting to go down hill mentally.

This has felt like a life sentance, so much so that me and DP have already discussed him getting the snip. I can't go through this ever again

McPhee

Just think, you know that this time next week you'll have your lovely baby in your arms

Probably by Monday (and that's allowing for a lengthy process!) but even so you're now into a matter of days or hours rather than weeks.

I'm seeing the midwife in an hour, but this morning it seems that my pubic bone is really aching. I don't know if it's connected to SPD or just by body giving me something else to be in pain with. Either way I'll be very glad to see her today, but I just know I'm going to end up in tears..been holding them in since 5am this morning.

Come one baby...mummy really needs to meet you now

mcphee I feel so much for you as I was exactly the same - I was petrified of labour and induction to the point where all through my pg I couldn't look at the chapter on labour in my pg book without bursting into floods of tears and shaking with fear. I know this won't help but I got through induction OK. I hated it while I was in the hospital (but then I would have hated anything involving hospitals tbh) and emotionally it was really hard to cope with but I got through it and once I had that baby in my arms I forgot all the induction stress. I know that won't help you at all as it's the kind of thing people said to me when I was pg and I just rolled my eyes at them but honestly you will cope and you will get through it. It will be an anxious time for you and the loss of control to not knowing what will happen and what you can do when will be awful, but, if you have good supportive mws on duty when you're there they'll do all they can to make you feel safe and comforted. Fingers crossed for you it'll all be OK and you must keep us updated even from the hospital

xposted. Mcphee make sure your mw knows how anxious you are and you talk to her about how the hospital operates/what will happen to you. IME local mws are far more knowledgable about this type of thing than consultants at the hospital who knew bog all in my case . Get the mw to write on your notes, on the front page if need me, in big writing, how anxious you are, my mw did this with me so at least every mw at the hospital I went to was aware and could treat me with cotton wool gloves

Thank you reastie

I've just had a message from DP, and he's now on his way

This last bit of waiting is awful, isn't it?

You're in limbo, waiting for the scary bit to jump oeut on you, with who knows what surprises.

I vividly remember waddling round to the chippy the day before I was induced. I ordered a battered sausage and chips for my lunch and the staff looked at me with thinly disguised horror when I told then I was due that day. I was far too grumpy and told then to just give me the food

Don't be afraid to cry in front of midwife, she'll hopefully give you lots of reassurance.

Good luck, remember that this time next week you'll have your precious baby in your arms.

Sending [hugs] Remember your breathing techniques!

just wanted to wish you all the best for tomorrow

And mental ones -count back from 100 in threes, recite all the poetry you know, or song lyrics...

Home straight now, you can do it.

I found music very helpful in dealing with contractions. I just tried to cope for the duration of the song and it really helped. I did cry uncontrollably each time Snow Patrol "Chasing Cars" came on.

I hated being pregnant, labour was hard and I would do both again. The baby makes it all worth it.

McPhee for what it's worth, the stage your going through now is almost certainly the worst - once labour begins you'll be busy delivering that beautiful baby. When I look back on my time in hospital, the waiting around, tests, emotion and anxiety beforehand was so much more draining and took a far greater toll on me than giving birth. And being a mum - well it's been a complete breeze in comparison!

You can do it. You're stronger than you know.