How many tablets/how long does it take for induction to work? SIL 3 tables, 24+hrs still no sign of any labour?!!

[BlueMoon74]

Just a question really...cos DH is going out of his mind!

SIL went into hospital on Friday. 2 weeks overdue. (first baby). They put a pessary in her to start labour. It's now Sunday and nothing's happening?! She's now had 3 of these tablets. They've kept her in hospital too the whole time which I find a little odd. Surely if nothing's happening, they just send you home until it does?

rude question alert Is it because she's very fat that it's taking so long for them to work, and that's also why they're keeping her in? She was a size 20-22 before getting pregnant, and now obviously heavily pregnant. DH thinks it's because of that, but I really have no idea how these things work.

Any ideas? (MIL not the brightest so not really answering/asking any questions!)

sorry to tell you this, but I had the maximum amount of pessaries, then the maximum amount of hormone drip and they still could not get me in labour. I was under 11 stone at full term, in size 10 maternity clothes, so I don't think it's your SIL's size that is the issue. It took nearly 3 days and then I had an emergency CS. I have since spoken the an obstetrician who agreed with me that the reason it didn't work was that my body really was a long way off being ready, and that they should have considered the CS earlier.

They keep you in the whole time as if it does work it can happen fast and be stressful for the baby who could extra monitoring or help. Also if SIL is very overweight they will be worried about pre eclampsia.

No, it's good to hear that it's normal then! She's in hospital miles away. Our friends (nothing to do with family I mean) are all just saying, sounds like your MIL isn't telling you the full story, something else must be going on etc. Just my DH bugging me asking why it's taking so long, and nothing I could google was answering why!

I'm now just a little worried though because a CS is dangerous if you're overweight isn't it? You were obviously tiny at under 11 stone (I'm 11stone 4 and 26 wks pg at the minute!) . I wouldn't like to guess her weight accurately, but she's well over 20 stone.

Unfortunately, for safety reasons, once they start induction they can't send you home until the baby arrives. With my 3rd daughter I went in on tuesday morning, had a pessary, nothing happened. Wednesday morning, another pessary, nothing happened. On Thursday morning (by which time i was literally crying with frustration) they managed to break my waters and put up the hormone drip.

'Don't worry', they said, 'nothing'll happen for ages still, we won't even check your progress until you've been contracting for 4 hours'. So my husband went home for a shower during which time the baby became a bit distressed and they had to yank her out - he missed her by 10 minutes!

The midwife told me people just react differently to the pessary - some people start labour almost immediately and others take ages. Your poor SIL, I do sympathise, she'll be feeling shit by this stage no doubt...

As annoying as it is, it's pretty normal.

I went in on the Thursday at 6pm, had one pessery, then one shot of prostin and then finally the drip and my baby was born on Sunday afternoon. I also had a sweep whilst I was there.

Everyone reacts differently and so does every baby!

Plus there were massive gaps between each drug as the ward was so busy they couldn't spare me the time from a MW. My actual labour was very quick and easy lasted 5 hours only. It was the drip that sped it up!

Thanks everyone! Yes, we're worried about her, she had it in her head she'd have the baby by Friday night! She doesn't have a phone etc, and like I said she's miles away (300 ish!) so just communicating with MIL who's not being overly informative! Just keeps saying 'oh nothing yet, don't know we haven't asked' etc. Makes me want to get in the bloody car and rush down there myself to demand answers LOL!

But thank you all :) I shall relay to DH!

In fairness to your MIL, her comment "I don't know we haven't asked" sounds like she might well be giving her daughter some space. I remember feeling very pressured by various people hassling us (well mostly DH) with "what's happening?" type questions, as if the relevant people would not be told what they needed to know. I found it unhelpful and might have contributed to the stress and failed induction.

I'm not sure about CS being riskier for overweight women than normal range ones. I have 2 friends who are overweight who have had CS and both had normal recovery. Generally the labour team will do what is safest for mother and baby, taking all risk factors into account. If your SIL is very unfit and or/has other health issues, like high BP or diabetes, CS could actually be the safest thing.

Yes, she has high BP and diabetes - well that's good to know then. Fair point on the 'MIL might be giving space' comment.

I guess we're all just worried - seems to be going on far too long!!!

It took me 5 days from first pessary to delivery. When overweight it can take more medication to start you off, and a vaginal delivery can be more difficult as there is fat along the passages. I would not be too worried about a section though. Positioning the epidural could be more challenging but she will be well looked after.

I am very surprised they let her go two weeks over with diabetes and high BP. Usually with diabetes they deliver early as chances are the baby will be big, and as SIL is large, she is more likely to have a bigger baby anyway. They will be monitoring her closely, and will do a section if baby is distressed. I know it is easier said than done, but I think you need to just sit and wait patiently. But do reassure your DH that it is normal practice, not just because she is big. Women who are overweight when pg have enough judgement without more being added.

Perfectly normal to take that long. You and dh seem determined to blame her weight for everything, doesn't come across very nicely. I hope for her sake you don't all convey to her that you think it's all about her weight. Poor woman.

I remember feeling so overwhelmed and frustrated when people kept texting me and my OH asking what's happening etc.

I understand everyone was excited to hear the news of our arrival but it was frustrating enough being there and being induced for so long anyway.

I'm sure you'll be one of the first to know when their little bundle of joy arrives!

4 bloody days for me and they still ended up taking me into the delivery suite, breaking my waters (at 1cm dilated!) and sticking me on a drip.

I wouldn't hold your breath.

And no, once they've started you off, they don't generally let you go!

whatever ..we're not blaming her weight for everything at all!!! I just wanted to paint a full picture. Quite often in medical issues, being overweight can have a bearing, so mentioned it for that reason. Clearly going by what everyone says, it doesn't appear to be a reason. We haven't and never would mention it to her! (DH just thought maybe cos she was so big, she needed more drugs etc to make an impact - seems common sense to me!)

flossie Indeed! One of the reasons why myself and Dh have said we're not telling anyone I'm in labour except my mum and dad (cos mum coming in with me, I have some medical issues myself)..because we don't want the pressure of everyone asking! However, given that they chose to tell us and have been giving up 24 hr updates for the last bloody 3 weeks, I don't think it's fair now to not expect us to worry how she's getting on!

valium Yes, the baby is big - well if the info she was given is accurate! They said it was 8 pounds 4 weeks ago!

Honestly, I repeat, we're not judging cos she's big! Just wondered if that was what was causing the delay! Obviously not, so that's good to know. Thanks everyone :)

I am a big mamma and more drugs are needed! But it is usually at the drip stage. The pessaries come in a one size fits all. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.

Your posts have come over as a very loving and worried SIL, with no experience of induction. It is very hard waiting on news, and it is perfectly natural to be concerned about her weight and other issues which frankly are possibly weight related, although they do happen to mothers of healthy weight. There is a reason why a high BMI leads to a high risk pregnancy label.

Do let us know how things go, but don' t hold your breath!

Yes, I have zero experience of induction and literally had no clue at all what it involves!! We've been told she can have up to 5 pessaries. Then, what? Is it drip after that? Is that different kind of drugs? She wont be in any pain though will she? Is it just frustrating?

Still no news yet, though I have told DH to stop asking on the grounds that when there is news I'm sure MIL will ring him to say!! (took on board comments about stressing out SIL people asking! :) )

They would probably break her waters, which hurts, and the drip is a strong drug and hurts like f**k. She is having a baby. It will involve pain. She may already be having contractions, and will be bored and frustrated.

I think it is best to wait for news. They know you are thinking of them.

Good advice thank you everyone :)

Soo...the baby finally arrived! :) Took the drip, then she opted for an epidural cos she was in pain, then couldn't feel anything to push, baby got distressed so they whipped him out in an emergency C! FINALLY!!!!

Anyways, really hoping my baby just pops out nice and quick - poor thing having been in hosp for nearly 5 days :S but I guess the babies come when they come! All's well that ends well! Thanks everyone!

Sounds much like my first birth. Poor girl. Still both are still here, and well, and that is all that really matters. Shame they did not do a CS to start with eh? Congratulations Auntie! How heavy was he, and does he have a name yet