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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

inductions

63 replies

s4m4nth4 · 28/07/2014 16:10

Hi I'm being induced at 39 weeks this friday after a really tough pregnancy (due to panic attacks and anxiety) it's my second child my first was an emergency c section at 35 weeks. I've developed a HUGE fear of childbirth and I'm absolutely terrified but still feel being induced is better than a c section due to recovery time. Has anyone else been through this? I'd like to know bad and good experiences. Also is there anything different I should take in my hospital bag?

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CultureSucksDownWords · 28/07/2014 16:18

Inductions can take a long time to get going. I was extremely bored waiting for things to really get going, so I would suggest taking plenty of things to read/do in case you're the same.

Other than that, it's really just the same as someone arriving in early labour and being admitted, so just take whatever you were going to take anyway. Hope it all goes to plan for you!

MagpieMama · 28/07/2014 16:34

As culture said it can take awhile!
I was induced at 38 weeks and had a long but lovely labour and birth. Other than the induction methods (the tampon thing, the gel, having my waters broken and finally the drip) I didn't need any intervention.
I also suffer from anxiety and the midwives were aware of that and were really reassuring, talked me through everything and generally took really good care of me.
Good luck! Hope it all goes well

reikizen · 28/07/2014 16:39

I would get myself a natal hypnotherapy cd quick! Good evidence base for hypnosis in childbirth, I have personal experience of how good it is and professional experience as a midwife of mums using it to good effect.

Original poster

s4m4nth4 · 28/07/2014 19:46

I've already been having hypnotherapy as part of my treatment for panic attacks. Just not sure how useful it's going to be of I'm screaming my head off (I'm a complete wimp you see)
I'm absolutely terrified :(

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CultureSucksDownWords · 28/07/2014 19:59

Ah, it's perfectly reasonable to be terrified - it's a completely new experience and none of us know how we'll get on with it.

If it helps at all, I found that everything built up slowly so that I could get used to it gradually. Contractions to begin with (for me) were not painful just noticeable iyswim. As my contractions progressed I could cope with moving through the levels of contractions at each step. I also focused on the fact that each contraction had a purpose and an outcome that I was looking forward to.

Original poster

s4m4nth4 · 29/07/2014 20:29

Should I be taking food in with me if we're gunna be there all day? Or will I not be eating?

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CultureSucksDownWords · 29/07/2014 20:35

Oh, you will need to eat! The hospital will feed you meals, and you can send someone to get you snacks, but I would definitely take a supply of your favourite high energy snacks.

Original poster

s4m4nth4 · 29/07/2014 21:37

Will I have to pay for hospital meals etc. I'm wondering whether to take a load of money with me or take like sandwiches and stuff?

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Vicky5910 · 29/07/2014 21:40

My induction took 36 hours from first pessary to final push :)
It's very controlled and monitored which might help with your anxiety, monitors on baby, c

Vicky5910 · 29/07/2014 21:41

Sorry!
Consultants check in too.
It's harder to push baby out usually as you're being closely watched and on your back, unless you can convince them to let you stay upright :)

Vicky5910 · 29/07/2014 21:42

Meals are free but they taste free too..! Lots of snacks. Someone's husband brought them in a mcdonalds while on the ward being induced with me!!

CultureSucksDownWords · 29/07/2014 21:46

Assuming you're NHS then you don't have to pay for meals as a patient! I found the choices a bit limited though (am vegetarian) so I often got my DP to get me salads etc from the canteen. The NHS food tends to be a bit plain and stodgy I found.

Btw not every induction will take ages. Lots of people get a quick reaction from the pessary and don't need the hormone drip.

thestamp · 29/07/2014 21:50

i was induced at 35w (due to broken waters). drip put in at noon, baby born at 9pm same day. no stitches, went shopping next day.

ask for an epidural as soon as you can. (mine didn't work, but apparently they are wonderful.) see if they don't have one of those portable foetal monitors so you can move around a little. some are even waterproof, i went in the shower with mine.

honestly, i know you are scared, but you WILL be fine. worst case scenario, you'll have a rough recovery, and it'll probably be less rough than recovery from a section in any case. and then you'll be fine.

thestamp · 29/07/2014 21:50

i didn't have the pessary stage, drip right away (in the states)

Original poster

s4m4nth4 · 29/07/2014 21:57

I'm absolutely terrified. I don't handle pain very well and I just know it's going to be awful :(

OP posts:

CultureSucksDownWords · 29/07/2014 21:58

I didn't have an epidural until I was advised to have one by the midwives (at a later stage for medical reasons), and I was absolutely fine without it, just using a TENS machine and no gas/air. An epidural is not something you need to have with an induction.

RandomMess · 29/07/2014 21:59

I've had 4 inductions at various stages of due date and very overdue.

Took a long time and the pain starts quickly - not horrible but constant. I had epidurals with the first 3 and delivered without assistance.

My advice would be don't be afraid to have an epidural and use gravity to help - no laying on your back especially when pushing! Also use a tens machine to help from the beginning.

My personal experience was when I managed to accept that I would be overdue, I would have a huge baby, etc, etc, I managed to relax and my last birth was a completely amazing experience and the pain was so much more bearable.

RandomMess · 29/07/2014 22:01

I actually said "was that it, I would do that again tomorrow"

CultureSucksDownWords · 29/07/2014 22:02

Oh, you have my sympathies I remember the consultant appointment when I agreed to having an induction that afternoon. I'd previously been determined to wait it out. It is a very nerve wracking time.

If you're worried about pain then you might want to ask for the epidural as early as possible, as it (usually) takes all the pain away.

thestamp · 29/07/2014 22:04

there are pain relief options though. have they taken you through your options at all?

try to remember that any pain you do have is temporary. even if the pain is terrible, it will be over, and not in very long.

MorphineDreams · 29/07/2014 22:07

If you're very scared of the pain an epidural might be best for you?

There's a higher risk of having a c-section with being induced and epidural but many people have a vaginal birth with them.

I think you could do with having a talk to a midwife and discussing your options, that way you'll feel more prepared and more in control.

Try not to worry and best of luck to you x

CultureSucksDownWords · 29/07/2014 22:10

There was a specialist midwife counsellor at the hospital where I had my DS. I had a couple of appointments with her to talk through my particular issues and for her to talk through what they could do. I found it really helpful. Could you ask your midwife if there is such a thing available and if you could have a referral?

Original poster

s4m4nth4 · 29/07/2014 22:53

I'm due to see my midwife tomorrow. Will be my final check up as I'm being induced this Friday. I'm just absolutely terrified of the whole experience but I really don't want a c section as I want to feel some sort of normality again asap after having such a horrendous pregnancy. The pains really scaring me. The whole thing is to be honest. After hearing all the horror stories of childbirth and seeing things on tv the thought of trying to push a human out of 'there' really freaks me out and scares me!

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Original poster

s4m4nth4 · 29/07/2014 22:54

Ill ask tomorrow see if there's anything they can do CultureSucksDownWords

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FoxSticks · 29/07/2014 22:59

Not all inductions are bad, I sobbed when I found out I would have to have one as I had been scared off by all the negative induction talk. I had the pessary at 9.00am and my daughter was born that evening at 9.15pm, I didn't have to have any further interventions. I hope it goes ok with the midwife and they can reassure you.

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