Overdue! Booked for induction, how does it work if I am already 3 cm dilated?

[Princesitalinda]

Hiya - its me again, very anxious as days go by and nothing happens, I was so positive baby would show up soon!

I am officially a week overdue now, I have an induction booked next monday and kind of accepted that's how is going to be . My question is:

a) any idea of how do they do the induction with someone who is already 3 cm dilated? (that's me!) So far I understand, they use the gel only when you are less than 2 cm.... or am I wrong?

b) do they have to break the waters or can they induce without breaking the waters?

c) I am Strep B +, does that imply a different kind of procedure?

d) pain relief: when do I request it? after/before breaking waters? after/before drip?

Hopefully there is someone out there who can answer these questions and give me some reassurance...

thanks

Have you treid a membrane sweep? That may get you going prior to be induced?

Why are they inducing you ? Is there a medical reason or is it jsut becaus eo fyour dates. If so it may be worth discussing holding off for a few more days. Both of mine cooked for 42 weeks... Was induced with DD though because of dates.

Hi, I was induced at 12 days over. If you are 3 or more cm then they will probably just break your waters.

I had pain relief after (morphine) but wished I'd had it before because everything kicked in so quickly after that- she was born less than an hour after- that the drugs didn't really have time to work.

It just depends though- sometimes it can take a while...

wishing you all the best for when the time comes x

I was 3 cm when I was induced (after a couple of sweeps) - I skipped all that pessary biz and went straight to having my waters broken, but I had pre-eclampsia so they were quite keen to get things going I think. Having my waters broken was fine, not at all painful. (Slightly freaked by the doctor saying "oh, baby has lots of hair, I can feel it" - whaaattt??!!)

Pain relief - my only advice is don't let them start syntocinon unless you've had an epidural first. It hurts like buggery.

Good luck!

Yes, I had two sweeps already. One at term, and the other one 40weeks + 3 days. Can I request an other one?

Feel a bit let down because midwife said once I saw consultant for appointment at hospital, I am no longer under midwife care. And the consultant at the hospital said to come only on induction date (6th NOvember). What about the time in between? Who should I contact if needing reassurance, monitoring etc? Feel a bit lost in that regard.

My personal choise would be to have a natural delivery, natural start of labour, but its not happening... But I would not want to wait more than 42 weeks (thats when they'll induce me) because of the wellfare of baby...

If they break my waters, will they keep me in hospital or will they send me home?

Hi, I was in the same position as you with my second pg. I was 3-4 cms when I went in to be induced and after a VE they decided they would use the pessary/gel as my cervix was still a bit long and posterior. From what the mw said, it's the state of your cervix that's more important than the dilatation. If it's not soft enough or in the best position then they will try the pessary first as that acts directly on the cervix itself.

I think if your cervix is favourable and they can get to your waters they will break them and try and start it that way, rather than using the gel.

I had a dose of gel at about 10.30 am, had my first contraction at 5:30 pm, my waters broken at about 7:15 (at 7cms as I was having urges to push) and delivered dd at 8pm. I didn't have time for anything other than gas and air but I got the impression I only had to shout and an epidural would have been mine!! I don't think they're as stingy with pain relief during an induction, especially if you need a drip to get things going.

Group B strep I have no experience of, but I suspect they will hook you up to an antibiotic drip as soon as the induction starts so they get the right doses into you. I'm sure someone on here will have been through it, though!

HTH

If they break your waters I htink they will keep you in.

Good luck

thanks for sharing!! at least I know what to expect....

keep the good advice coming

you can ask for another sweep.....and it might be your waters get broken during the sweep...

if that happens...you will be encouraged to stay in ..esp with the strep b as you will need iv antibiotics

unlikely to need a pessary..but wait and see what they tell you the cervix is like

ARM can lead to full blown strong contractions very qucikly,,,,so be prepared!

think positive...imagine the cervix thinning & dilating...if you are 3 cm..already a third of the way there......

stayas upright & active as you can, whatever happens...and good luck