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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Going in at 12 for induction and trying not to panic!

32 replies

nannynome · 26/12/2013 07:34

I want to meet our son but I am panicking about this now. I went from wanting a water birth to GD, PGP and having an induction. Epidural is panicking me too, too much watching hospital programs i think. I know once I am there and labour has started I won't have time to worry but at the min my brain is freaking out. Sorry for the rambling mostly pointless message, I figure at least you ladies might understand as DH keeps reassuring me but it only stops me worrying for a little before I start up all over again. :(

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charitymum · 26/12/2013 07:36

Hi. It is scary but it is manageable.

Why the changes in birth plan?

Original poster

nannynome · 26/12/2013 07:45

Gestational diabetes means everything has to be monitored and therefore induced. No water birth possible at that point due to the monitoring and drip for sugar levels. Been told by most people that if being induced, make sure you have an epidural cos the pain levels aren't as manageable. Have accepted the changes to everything, just makes me worry. I tend to over analyse everything so my brain is just going round in circles.

OP posts:

charitymum · 26/12/2013 07:51

I'd agree with epidural advice!! I have been induced twice - once with and once without. With meant I was chatting and sleeping most of time!!!

Have you any relaxation exercises to stop mind spinning? Or failing that some films or music you can take with to distract?

Good luck and look forward to hearing about new baby

charitymum · 26/12/2013 07:51

I'd agree with epidural advice!! I have been induced twice - once with and once without. With meant I was chatting and sleeping most of time!!!

Have you any relaxation exercises to stop mind spinning? Or failing that some films or music you can take with to distract?

Good luck and look forward to hearing about new baby

Flossiechops · 26/12/2013 07:57

This was me 9 yrs ago tomorrow!!! Induced at 9am and ds made his grand entrance at 9.03pm. Only gas and air needed. It was a wonderful positive experience (unlike dd 15 months prior!). I knew I was going to be induced on the 23rd so spent 4 days shitting myself but there was no need. My beautiful boy will be 9 tomorrow - good luck op you'll be fine

Flossiechops · 26/12/2013 07:59

Ps completely disagree about the pain aspect. My pain only became unmanageable once I started pushing - I was fine on gas and air up until then. Just go with your body and best of luck I understand your apprehension!

Original poster

nannynome · 26/12/2013 08:02

Thanks for the reassurance, baby hasn't dropped yet and had a stretch and sweep attempt on Christmas Eve where i wasn't ready. Am hoping this all doesn't mean everything is going to take forever. Have loaded up tablet with TV to watch. DH isn't allowed to stay with me overnight on induction ward, only in labour room, that is also freaking me out. Only spent 2 evenings apart in 3 years (yes I am a sad baggage!)

Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly, just need my brain to slow down. Might have a bath to see if I can relax a bit.

OP posts:

17leftfeet · 26/12/2013 08:03

In terms of pain relief just don't be a martyr

If you can be quite mobile during the induction then you may find you manage on gas and air
Inductions can take a long time and I found the more tired I got the less able I was to cope with the pain so opted for the epidural and actually managed to get some sleep

MrGeresHamster · 26/12/2013 08:03

Nanny, is this your first?

One thing I realised after having DS1 is that we are all told sold this story about having the perfect birth. It made me make the wrong choices during labour as I hung on to the idea of an earth mother type non intrusive birth experience. In reality the most important thing is that you are both safe and well. Sometimes drugs will help with that. An epidural stopped me panicking. It allowed me to enjoy the experience and have a natural birth.

Wishing you all the best, now make sure you come back and tell us all about your gorgeous new son.

cuggles · 26/12/2013 08:09

One waterbirth here and one induction (i was really worried induction would be dreadful) ....both births similar pain and both just gas and air! Good luck and how exciting!

Mumraathenoisylion · 26/12/2013 08:13

I've been induced twice without epidural so you don't necessarily need one.

The only thing I needed help with was having the pessaries inserted and my waters broken (only the second time). I asked for gas and air just to take my mind off what they were doing down there really, I found earphones and my iPod really useful for this also.

Each step is a hurdle to get over to meeting your baby and you may have to go over one or all of them. I found my first birth very quick which was only using the pessaries once, dc1 was born 4 hours later and I felt more calm in this birth too.

Easy for me to say but keep as calm as you can and let your body react how it will. I felt the same as you before both inductions (the last one quite recently) it's not fun.

Badvocatyuletide · 26/12/2013 08:18

I was also induced (waters broken) and didn't need an epidural...pain is such a subjective thing and every single person is different.
That being said, if you want an epi, make sure you state that from the word go.

Turnipsandsproutswithtinselon · 26/12/2013 08:22

Induced with both of mine, one 6 weeks prem due to complications, and one two weeks overdue (emcs due to being well and truly stuck)
Agree with keeping an open mind reference pain relief - for me too it was a long process and it was the exhaustion that made it difficult to cope with.
Take lots of food and drinks - for you and birth partner. I can remember dp, DM and midwife having a lovely picnic at one point!
If I was doing it again I would have an up front conversation with midwife about pain relief before I was induced, and also about what happens if an emcs has to be done. I would have found it less scary if I had known a) it was a possibility and b),what the process is. but I am a control freak
Good luck and keep us updated!

Jaynebxl · 26/12/2013 08:22

My experience of induction was pretty negative... v painful and slow. It went on from friday night to Saturday night when eventually someone said wouldn't you rather have a section? I said yes and that was that. Afterwards a midwife told me she had been amazed I hadn't asked for a section sooner. Problem is I had no idea I could ask for one at this point! So I'm not saying this to discourage you but to make sure you know if it goes on and on and is really painful you can ask for a section.

Second time around our dd was a week late but as soon as anyone mentioned induction I said no and went for an elective section which was much more pleasant.

Turnipsandsproutswithtinselon · 26/12/2013 08:24

From my experience it is the syntocinin (have I got that right?) That makes the contractions more, ummm, intense.

Twinklestarstwinklestars · 26/12/2013 08:28

I've been induced 3 times with no epidural and it was fine, no pain relief the first 2 times and has and air for the 3rd but I have fast labours (3 hours, 20 mins and 25 mins) might be different if you're there hours! Good luck

Original poster

nannynome · 26/12/2013 09:42

Fingers crossed for a fast labour then! Thank you for all the support and info. He is my first, hence the panic of the unknown. It is good to know pessaries can work and then the drip isn't needed and that people can be induced without epidural a.

We have got snacks packed as someone told me food was important, are stopping cos I forgot a straw and someone else said it is useful for drinking to have a straw? Car seat is going in before we leave, bags are in boot, expressed milk will go in freezer bag so we have enough incase he needs it for sugar levels. Wracking brain for things I have forgotten, I think it is stopping me thinking about everything else! I am better when organising things, it calms me down.

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Original poster

nannynome · 26/12/2013 10:38

Change of plan, they called, are quiet and so I am on my way in!

OP posts:

17leftfeet · 26/12/2013 22:08

Any news?
I was expecting a live birth thread

Original poster

nannynome · 27/12/2013 09:25

Ended up in at 10.30. Pessary at 2pm, hyper reacted to pessary which was fine at the beginning but by midnight when it was removed it had me in such a gas and air induced haze that I have no idea what happened for about 3-4 hours apart from me begging for more pain relief! Waters went at 2am and so moved over to the labour ward, discovered after all that pain I was only 1 cm dialated. I finally got an epidural and so life is much better now! Have been put on a drip to stabalise my contractions and am now 5cm dialated with regular contractions and a poor exhausted DH who is trying to sleep on a beanbag on the floor. Should see baby by the end if the day!! My worries about epidurals were utterly over ridden by my overwhelming need for pain relief! Staff have been lovely and I am lucky the anesthetist is awesome so I have an epi which means I can move legs , function but am not in any pain.

OP posts:

Bakerof3pudsxx · 27/12/2013 09:30

Good luck op!

imme · 27/12/2013 09:40

Good luck from me too! I was induced with my first as well. Still remember my DH on the beanbag too
Soon you'll have your baby!

Flossiechops · 27/12/2013 14:42

GOODLUCK OP!! Your boy may have the same birthday as mine then!!

MrGeresHamster · 27/12/2013 15:36

Yay! Good luck OP, thinking of you. x.

Original poster

nannynome · 27/12/2013 18:35

Robin Finlay arrived at 12.48pm weighing 6lb 11 1/2 oz. baby fed, all healthy, all happy! Went very easily once epidural was in but gave us a huge scare at the end with his cord wrapped round his neck and foot and needing rescue breaths but all is now well. Less than 24 hours start to finish and only 3 stitches :D

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