Traumatised - Anyone had 5 failed inductions?

[piglet06]

Recently had my first child by c section after 4 failed prostin inductions, 1 failed induction with syntocin drip, had my waters broken with no success and ended up with an emergency c section under general anesthetic. Absolutely the worst experience of my life. Was in hospital 5 days before the baby was even born. I just wondered if anyone else had been through a similiar experience and whether this is normal practice? Thanks!

oh poor you piglet

I had similar in fact they tried prostin every day for a week then syntocin then c section.

Nightmare

Did they do proper prostin thing ie 6 hours then another dose? For me they didn't, they said they didn't want to over stimulate me as they were so busy on labour ward I did point out that if it worked then I would be on labour ward anyway but they just went all glazed when I said that

full story on this thread if you want to read it!

Oh my god, my experience seems nothing compared to what you went through you poor thing.
They done the proper prostin on the first day (2 doses) then it was the weekend so they basically just shoved me in the corner and gave it to me when they felt like it. It has definatly changed my opinion of having anymore children though x

Another one here!
I really sympathise piglet.

They tried 7 times with me and I refused the 8th. Went into labour 3 days later and had my waters broken to help speed things up. All ok until 2nd stage then after 2 hours of pushing DS pulled his head right back into a brow presentation and got stuck against my pubic bone. 3 ventouse attempts but no joy so like you, an emergency CS. The spinal didn't take so I had a general too.

Why did they induce? In my case I had been mis-diagnosed with gestational diabetes ( which is a saga I won't bore you with).

I hope you and your little one are fine now

Dear ediemay,
I was induced because I was 14 days overdue.
We are both fine but I am having awful nightmares every night about the experience. I just hope things get better soon!
Thanks for writing x

Piglet, poor you....that does sound awful, not least because you had your section under GA. Thats something I know I'd find hard.

I had three lots of prostin, over two days, which I was allergic to and felt like my insides were on fire each time - but had no effect whatsoever. They couldn't break my waters, as my cervix was too high, and I ended up with an 'emergency' section which was actually fine and not an emergency at all. Thing is, I was able to deal with it all much better because there was a clear reason for inducing (rising BP) and a clear reason for it failing and me needing a section (excess fluid, dd's head disengaged and she turned oblique position). Otherwise, I'd ahve found it much harder to accept...

All I can say is, keep talking about it - sounds like a nightmare. Hopefully time will help too: I found the birth felt important and 'big' until dd was a year old, and then it suddenly faded into the background.

Hi again piglet, I was a bit haunted by it all for a while afterwards too, but that eventually faded away. I think it's really good advice from EB to keep talking about it. Do you have a good Health Visitor? Mine gave me lots of support. There is a wonderful midwife on Mumsnet, mears, who has been incredibly supportive on threads like this one in the past. Take care of yourself and cuddle that little one! Sending you best thoughts x

Piglet, you poor thing! You have been through a horrible experience and it will take time to come to terms with it.

I had a similar experience, but nothing like as bad as yours as my c section wasn't under GA, just epidural so at least I was awake during it. Also the induction "worked" in the sense that I did go into labour, but I'm not sure if this makes it better or worse. I was in incredible pain for 23 hours of 2 minutes apart contractions, no pain relief at all for the first 16 hours, so was exhausted by the time of the c section. Still, at least I have experienced labour and know what it feels like.

Also, I agree with Eliboo that knowing there was a definite reason for the induction/c section helps you come to terms with it. It sounds as though you don't know the reason why your induction turned into a c section. In my case the reason was undiagnosed fibroids blocking the baby's exit.

I have still had flashbacks every day for the last 18 months, reliving every moment. I haven't had counselling as I honestly don't think it would make any difference. However, the trauma does diminish with time, and the fact I'm now pregnant with my second has really helped me move on mentally.

Piglet, please don't let it put you off having a second baby! It sounds like your first birth was very recent, but maybe with time the emotional wounds will become less raw. You can have a very different birth second time around. I am hoping, in my case, this will help me deal mentally with the trauma of my first birth.

piglet06

This website may help if you need to talk to anyone.

My experience was similar, too. Started prostin on Saturday, dd1 was born on Tuesday (vaginally thankfully) after god-knows-how-many lots of prostin (I think it was given every 12 hours?). They couldn't break my waters for some reason.

I ended up with a serious pph afterwards because my uterus was too worn out from all the prostin.

All in all it was a really grim experience for no good reason (I was induced for symphysis pubis disfunction and being 4 days overdue) and I went for a natural home birth second and third time round - there was no way I was going to go into hospital again unless it was an emergency.

I didn't know they induced for PSD...

it was pretty grim and I could barely walk, but another week wouldn't have made any difference...
The induction was certainly far worse than the SPD.

It really does make me - stories such as piglet's are so common - I know several people in RL who had a traumatic induction experience for no good reason other than being slightly overdue - there really should be more of a health warning attached. No doctor ever told me it would be drawn-out, extra-painful and could well lead to a CS.

Yes. and you went through that too.

Sorry your birth was so bad.

I had 3 lots of the gel, the syntocin drip and waters broken - all to no avail. They stopped trying after 50 hours though, and did the c section, which was done awake.

My induction was awful and very painful. I was physically sick with the pain and the epidural didn't work for a small circular spot on my lower back, which didn't help. Yet I only got to 2cm dilated. Very recently, 4 years later, I have actually found out I have a medical reason why I didn't/can't dilate - such a shame they didn't knwo then as the whole thing was all pointless and could never have worked.

My c section, awake, was a very positive experience fortunately. I had the c section on the Friday night and was home by Monday lunch time.

sorry to hear about your experience--
I have been induced FOUR times the first three were not too bad (unless you count a retained placenta the 2nd time)
but the fourth time after three pessaries three membrane sweeps and the drip I was no nearer giving birth -they upped the drip with the doctors consent
-the baby got in distress and they were prepping me for an emergency CS when they decided to test the baby's blood (from its head internally) again I was 9 cm dilated and the midwife actually said I bet you push this baby out b4 I can put my gloves on and I did!!
My epidural wore off I fed my dd4 and then went for a shower an dh said I did not look like i had undergone a million hours of labour.
Then I had to stay in hospital for a week cos my dd3 had tested posive for strep but thats another story.
Just wanted to let you know that not all inductions are traumatic or bad experiences and hope your next birth goes a bit smoother!!

what a nightmare..have been lucky with my inductions as our hospital only does 2 doses of prostin before you start on the drip and waters being broken etc.

went in on a monday to be induced and baby born thursday am
had 5 prostins
had waters broken at about .5 cm dialated (really!)
lots of drips and monitoring

baby just wasn't ready to come out - she was 4 weeks early but I had placental abbruption

don't think it's normal but isn't unheard of
how old is your baby now?
mine is 5 weeks old and sleeping beside me

hulababy, do you mind me asking what stopped you dilating? Its just that your experience sounds so similar to mine - I won't be induced this time (they won't, for VBAC, at my hospital) but just in case I go into labour naturally, any and all info could be helpful!

I'm so glad your birth was happy in the end - just like mine.

eliboo- sorry to butt in....in my first induced labour,.....i 'failed' to prrogress past 2-3 cms....something to do with the epidural and not moving for 8 hours methings!!!!! anyhow....went for a vbac this time...and got to the hosptial with contractions every 3 mins after contracting for 12 hours...to be told i;d not dilated

and that i was one of those women who just 'dont'' dilate!
and that i';d be having a caesarean....

Babylulu was born vaginally a few hours later! She was OP ,and by staying upright and active,,she turned and as soon as she turned....i deliverd 3 hours later!!

it is possible to be physically unable to dilate., like Hulababy...

but often you just need a chance....!

Thanks for that, lulumama! I did move the whole time, and had no epidural, three prostins, and (I was stubborn, the OB would have given up sooner) two days of waiting for action but...tiny contractions, and dd disengaged and turned transverse as soon as they started.

Still, it all started with induction - and this time, if dd is head down by 39 weeks I get to go to 41 weeks without interference (if my bp behaves). So its good to hear positive stories of non-dilation followed by dilation - thanks, and I'm glad you got the experience you wanted second time around!

Eliboo- if your cervix was high..sounds like you were not favourable for induction....and therefore it probably was doomed to fail...did they do a BIshops score first..?

why were you induced?

I'm so nosy!!!

Yes, my cervix was very high, closed, and facing backwards (doesn't sound too interested, does it!).

I was induced becaues of high bp. Not pre-eclampsia, but my OB was twitchy: he wanted to etiher put me on meds or induce me. Actually, he really wanted to go straight to a section - and I refused: we virtually rowed about it on several occasions! I never trusted him, and I sometimes wonder if I should have gone on meds instead...although that would have made induction impossible altogether.

Good news this time is a different OB, and I trust her 100%. She's got no hidden agenda - and is supportive. The last one was comfortable with a knife in his hand, and very uncomfortable delivering babies, so even when he may have been right I couldn't quite trust him.

Forgot - doubt they did the B score. It was more a case of 'induction or section but that baby is coming out'. I was just over 39 weeks, and in my early forties - and I think he panicked.

eeeeek...not favouarble at all...

they would usually want a cervix to be anterior. soft and 1 - 2cm i believe and certainly within reach!

your body wasn;t ready to labour!

this time, you are supported, your feelings are being respected and listened to ...you have trust...you know your body can do this....so go for it! sounds like you know this is going to be a much better experience all round....! fab!

I know! TBH, I never expected much first time beyond making sure my long-tried-for baby was safe, and that I did all I could to feel good about myself and my birth in spite of the OB. I did, and was not left feeling bad about it all - but it was 'in spite of' and not thanks to.

This time feels totally different, and thats what matters most - and part of that is down to me being less anxious, but a lot is down to my OB being less anxious! Thanks for the support Lulumama, you're lovely.

am gabbling away and forgot how much I'm hijacking this thread, sorry OP!

Lulumama, you made me laugh mentioning 'reachable' - I remember one particuarly small MW being virtually up to her shoulder, me in agony, her really pissed off with my cervix being soooo far away (don't blame it, poor thing!). Nooo, not favourable in the slightest