Induction with pre-eclampsia - your stories?

[PerpetualStudent]

So I'm 36+2 with my first baby, and my bank holiday present was being admitted to hospital and getting diagnosed with pre-eclampsia

Things are pretty stable, but Drs are saying they'd like to induce me by 37 weeks even so. I know I don't have to be induced, but honestly knowing that pre-eclampsia can get quickly and dramatically worse I'm not against it.

However, I am struggling to get my head round changing my minimum-intervention birth hopes. I want to use this time (sitting in hospital doing rack all!!) to get myself prepared so I can still feel active and involved in my DS's birth, and not get scared and overwhelmed even if it is all a bit more standardised and monitored.

So any stories people have (maybe as long as not too awful!) about getting induced due to pre-eclampsia would be very welcome. The key thing I haven't got my head round yet is whether they'll start with a sweep/pessary, or go straight for the big guns with the hormone drip - I will ask my Drs (they have a nasty habit of checking on me very early in the morning when I haven't gathered my faculties!) but would love to hear your experiences.

Thanks everyone - and wish me luck!

Good luck!

I had DS at 35 weeks due to pre-eclampsia and was induced. The night I was admitted for monitoring I felt a few mild contractions so buzzed the nurse. Doctor came and said they would likely stop but and wanted me to last a bit longer but by morning by blood tests had come back and they decided to induce. I put this part in as I don't know if the fact something happened meant he was coming anyway so it was quick.

They went straight to the drip. After some faffing about I think the drip started at 10ish and DS was born at 345 so pretty quick. It actually didn't feel as long as that.

I was lying down most of the time in order to keep the monitor in place and didn't find it uncomfortable. DS needed a lot of monitoring as they weren't happy with his movement (turned out placenta was worst condition the midwife had seen and he was under 4lb).

I had my waters broken for me which was painless but a weird sensation when lying down!

Just had gas and air towards the end, no forceps or anything used thankfully.

Sorry if that's just a ramble of thoughts! Hope it goes well!

I've not had pre-eclampsia but I have been induced twice.

First time at 40+5. Pessary in evening, waters broken the following morning, drip started at 9ish, baby arrived just after 3. Continual monitoring so on my back but laboured with just has and air.

Second time at 39 weeks. Waters broken at 8, drip at 10.30, baby arrived at half 3. Again, continual monitoring and laboured on gas and air.

Both were good births, not stressful (well bit of drama as first baby arrived) and I reckon 'positive inductions'.

Good luck!

I wasn't diagnosed with pre-eclampsia until I was at full term as I had no high blood pressure & no protein in my urine.My fundal height was low & I initially complained of terrible itchy legs,my MW sent me to hospital to have a growth scan & they admitted & induced me straight away.
I had two pessarys over 6 hours & had a ventouse deliver,as my daughters heart rate was dropping.I did have pethidine,so most of it was a blur.But ended up on the high dependency unit for 24 hours after as I was quite poorly.

I had pre eclampsia at the very end of my pregnancy with DS. I was 41 weeks and suddenly developed high BP and protein in the urine. DS also had reduced movements. I was admitted immediately and they inserted a pessary at 11:30pm and DS was born by 8:30am the next morning with just gas and air. I experienced contractions within an hour of the pessary inserted but although they were painful I didn't realise they were contractions (1st baby) but by 5:30am I was in so much pain that DH insisted they examine me (midwives were very busy and wanted to give me pethadine- which was the only thing I didn't want in my birth plan as I sedate very easily as they too didn't realise I was in established labour). Thank goodness DH insisted on the examination as I was found to be 7cm dilated and quickly whipped to delivery suite. Inductions don't always equal more intervention.
I had a 2nd induction with DD and although that took two pessaries and midwives breaking my waters she was delivered again with just gas and air and actually within the hour once they broke my waters and got the contractions started. Good luck

Also expecting DS2 in 8 weeks and am so geared up for another induction that I predict I will panic if things get started naturally- funny what our experience and expectations do to our emotions!

I found out I had pre-eclampsia and hellp at 38+6, after low blood pressure through pregnancy. I was induced the same day. I had two pessaries, my waters went, then put on the drip, but never actually got into proper labour. About 12 hours in the baby was a bit distressed so I ended up with EMCS, which was so much better (both op and recovery) than I'd expected. I think the earlier they induce the slower it is to work. I'd give some thought to what you'd want just in case you do have a section (I would have liked to ask for the baby to be lifted up immediately) as I think it's good to think through what you'd want in difficult situations and put that in your birth plan, not just your ideal birth.

That said, I hope you get the birth you want! I have to say despite hoping for a water birth I felt fine about the way things went, I think because I felt well informed and given as much choice as possible.

Thanks for sharing your stories everyone - has made the prospect of induction seem much less scary & given me lots of food for thought with my new birth 'plan' (using the term loosely, as I know you can't really plan these things)

Was sent home yesterday as BP had stablised (with the help of lots of meds!) but back in today to beck checked & (I think!) book induction date with consultant.

I was diagnosed with Pre-eclampsia with dd. it was 35+5. They induced me at 37 weeks. Only took 1 gel and 17 hours from gel to delivery.

It wasn't how I had planned my birth being stuck on the monitor constantly being checked for BP. But I also knew that they were trying to respect my adamant no to a C-section.

My kidneys had started to show signs of closing down. So delivery had to be done. They let dh stay with me and dd didn't need to be in neonatal but they had a bed on standby.

The team I had were great and it was much easier than I thought it would be.

I have never had pre eclampsia but have been induced twice (almost three, was taken in to induce but a sweep worked instead, they call that spontaneous labour, I call it a kick up the bum!). They are fine, they say interventions are more likely but when I looked up the stats it's not a huge difference. I know hospitals are different but with mine they wouldn't use drip immediately, it starts with pessary which should dilate you enough to break waters and only then if you don't progress do they give the drip. I had drip first time when during labour they wanted to increase my contractions, no huge issue. The other time I had the gel (alternative to pessary) and from then on it all went naturally.

I would really recommend spending the days leading up to the induction walking, bouncing on the birth ball and getting into positions to help baby be in the best position such as on all fours over the birth ball (spinning babies website tells you what positions are best) I did this the third time and baby was nicely lined up and very low down which I think helped with the induction. Don't listen to all the negativity of inductions, I have heard of more good ones than bad ones. Good luck

Thanks Hillijx the process you describe is how my consultant has said it will go - passary first then breaking waters when dilated enough and only using the drip if there isn't progress from there. I suppose I'm worried that once I'm 'in the system' they'll be a temptation to fast track that process - I'm doing what I can to encourage bump to get himself in a good position so hoping to ideally avoid the drip. Not going in with any fixed plans though!

I'm booked for Wednesday - it's all feeling very real now!

I got really worked up about having an induction yet I think that the nerves make it worse. Having had a natural, and a labour with the drip I can honestly say I didn't notice a difference with the pain but where they say a lot about how you're in more pain with the drip I focused on that and it stressed me, but I really didn't notice a difference between them. My best labour was my third and that was induced! just keep calm and remember that you are going to meet your baby really soon! good luck, hope it goes smoothly, now go do some bouncing amd get that baby ready!!