Induction booked for next tuesday - any advice? clueless.

[ElleyBear13]

hello,

I'm currently 40w+3days, I've had irritable uterus since 34 weeks (resulting in irregular contractions constantly) and I'm 2cm dilated, cervix is thin and baby is engaged. I've had two sweeps now, one at 39 weeks and one at 40 weeks but nothing has come of them.

My midwife has booked me in for an induction next tuesday apparently I phone up at 4 and ask if they are free to induce me if not I phone again the next day(?) I've not really been given any advice on the induction or what ward I go onto or whether I go home afterwards. With inductions am I high or low dependency? (currently low) Will my husband be able to stay (I hate hospitals and know if I'm left on my own I'll panic).

I'm getting a bit flappy about going into hospital and husband being sent home. I feel like I've been given no information whatsoever (I didn't even know I was dilated until i checked my notes at home!!)

I really want to go into labour naturally (obv. babys health comes before my wishes.) and I've tried every trick in the book - i take two hour long walks a day, i have a birthing ball which i roll my hips on, taking raspberry leaf tea and hot curry!

Any advice?

If you're 2 cm dilated that sounds really positive. I've had two inductions, they can take a long time so be prepared for lots of waiting around. Whether husband can stay will depend on the hospital, but with the induction I had recently my husband was allowed to stay until I had baby and was on postnatal ward where they had visiting hours 9am-9pm. He did have to sleep on the hospital floor for 3 nights before I finally had baby, but hopefully will be much quicker for you!
If you're dilated enough they may just be able to break your waters to get contractions going. if they can't break your waters they will give you a pessary or gel to soften/dilate your cervix - this is all I needed to nudge me into labour with my first induction. The induction with my second took pessary, two lots of gel, waters artificially broken and oxytocin drip.
Try to stay upright as much as possible, move about, use birth ball.

If you're feeling anxious ring your midwife to ask more about the procedure. Good luck!

I've had 4 inductions. DH was initially with me but when things didn't kick off relatively quickly he was sent home overnight.

You are WAY ahead of my cervix in readiness and I only had pessaries and ARM never the drip.

All my deliveries were unassisted and 2 of them (when I was 42 weeks) were relatively quick as from first pessary to delivery in 11 hours.

TENS machine was wonderful for helping with the early induction pains as they're very stabby and painful but not like contractions.

Thank you ladies! I'm hoping with the walking, birthing ball etc it will help progress things further and I'll have a baby before the induction.

Flossycat- i never thought to ring up and ask the midwife to ask about the procedure I think I'll do that on Monday prior to put my mind at ease.

RandomMess- Brilliant thank you, I'll pop the tens machine ontop of my hospital bag and keep that in mind...

I'll keep you both updated I'm hoping things might kick off over sunday as I'm cooking sunday dinner for the inlaws (12 people in total) and its sods law that I'll go into labour during this! (well thats the theory!) x

If they don't have them in the labour wards take your birthing ball with you.

I found with tens machine, gas & air and plonked on a birthing ball I could handle the pain fine.

I'm booked in for induction Sunday. Midwife today said I wasn't favourable for sweep (baby still 'free'). Good luck OP, it will be happening any day now! :)