Induction! How did you cope?

[Sarahlou92]

I'm 37+2 week with my first baby and getting induced tommorow as my babies small, I had a sweep last Wednesday and they said I was 1-2 cm dilated, had period like pains throughout the day pretty much everyday since I had the sweep last week and there is so much pressure at the bottom of my stomach as I was told the babies head was really low down, I'm excited that they are setting me off early as I can't wait to meet my little man but dreading the stay in hospital, just wondering what other people induction stories are and how you coped?

Hi

Good luck! I wasn't induced but was in hospital for a couple of days & had a 31 hour labour! I was just so excited to meet my lb so that kept me going...oh & my iPhone lol it's good u are allowed your phone now! My partner was fab too! We had plenty to talk about ;)
Ps: try & walk about as much as poss! It gets baby moving & keeps you busy!

I was induced in pretty similar circumstances last time. It was fine actually. I think the part I liked least was having to stay in for a week afterwards because DS had jaundice - but that was mostly because I hate hospitals (I'm scared of the staff !) The induction bit itself was quite straightforward - I'd done some hypnobirthing which helped, mostly by reminding me to keep breathing properly ! which I tended to forget the first time round. sorry, this is probably no help but good luck

I was induced on Thursday at 38 plus 3, the ward was really busy and after being asked to get there for 330pm I didn't actually get a bed until 8pm and they then put the pesary in at 3am. I just tried to keep active but needed another one after 24 hours, I was really disappointed as felt like I'd been contracting all day.

Anyway gave birth Saturday lunchtime to a beautiful baby girl Sophie! The actual labour went really well and only lasted about an hour!

My advice is be prepared to wait take something to read and have plenty of snacks.

Good luck!

I was induced at 40+2 after waters broke but 24 hrs later contractions only 6 mins apart. Be prepared for not being a priority at the hospital - we arrived at 4pm after calling first to check they were expecting me but I wasn't examined or given antibiotics until midnight, and then only after husband went prowling the halls for someone in charge. At my hospital you don't get your own midwife (or sometimes a single room) until you're in active labour.

I brought lots of books etc but in the end dh and I just talked most of the time so only got through 20 mins of a TV show on I player and 4 pages of a book!

If you do end up needing syntocinon then my advice would be go for the epidural before the drip if possible - things can move very quickly afterwards (they gave it to me at 3cm dilated and even on the lowest dose baby popped out only 3 hrs later). I had gone in to hospital hoping for the home from home centre but the midwife warned me that syntocinon contractions are more painful and almost all women she knew went for the epidural. Baby didn't like the drugs and his heart rate slowed down so I also ended up with a clip on his head and ventouse delivery - pretty much every intervention I wanted to avoid! They made me keep cannula and catheter in for a long time afterwards, i remember just wanting all tubes out of me and feeling much more human when they finally were. But baby is perfect and that's what's important. Good luck!

If you've had sweeps n been fine you will be fine!
The insertion of the Pessary was the worst part It was only a bit of thread, but I found it hard. Also found examinations fine.

I had the drip with epidural, 8 hour labour (sleeping,thank you epi) n pushed for one hour.

Epidural was brill. As I could still feel the tensing of the contractions but no pain. Wore off very quickly after and could feel my legs.

Wishing you all the best OP! I have no advice but also in the same boat, small baby and induction planned for 39 wks (I'm now 36+3). I'm nervous but excited too, hoping I can use some birth skills I have learned from a book, even though it'll be induced labour.

Best of luck

Mine was tough. Was induced at 37+6 (had PE) and had DD at 38+5. I stayed on the ante-natal ward the whole time and practically a week of no sleep was a killer. It was hard to stay strong and keep my 'eyes on the prize' as others were coming in, labouring, having their babies and going home and NOTHING was happening to me.

Had the pessary for 24 hours. Then 24 hours of rest. Then the maximum 3 lots of the gel and more sweeps over the following 24 hours. Then another rest day. The following day the broke my waters and put me on syntocin. Did 26 hours of that and still nothing. I got to 4cm before the decided to do a CS.

Not the birth plan I had in mind and it was mentally and physically exhausting. But DD's birth was the way it was. I can't change it and in a weird way, I wouldn't change it now. I can say that now she's nearly 2!!

The hardest thing was the frustration and the constant expecting that 'today is the day'. The syntocin was a killer though. I only managed a few hours before I begged for an epidural! Again, not the natural birth I had planned!!

Good luck with it OP. You may sail through and it be reasonably quick like some others ho have posted. But if its not as quick and smooth like mine, just remember, your little one will be coming to meet you and you will have that much longed for first cuddle. It WILL happen!!!

I was on the induction ward for a day and a half having contractions but it took me ages to get to 3cm and get moved to the labour ward. I ended up having an epidural shortly after my drip was put up, definitely the right decision for me as it allowed me to get some rest after contractions all day after a sleepless night the night before. They let the epi wear off as I got to fully dilated so I could feel to push. I also ended up with interventions- forceps in theatre, but I promise you it wasn't so bad and a couple of hours later I was showered and pottering about and I went home the following day.
Good luck for today, it will be fine and before you know it you'll be cuddling your little baby

How you doing sarahlou???