What can I expect from an induction?

[Mossie]

It's looking more and more like I'm going to be induced on Tuesday night. I'll be 14 days over then.

I do have the chance to change my mind right up until the day, but in case I don't change my mind, I would like some advice on what to expect.

Especially, is it possible to have an induction and still emerge with a relatively positive experience of the birth?

Should I go for the epidural straight away as I have heard it really hurts (much more than a 'normal' labour iyswim)? If I do is that going to make intervention (forceps / c section / etc.) even more likely?

Is there anything I can do to prepare myself?

TIA!!

I was induced with my DS and I feel very lucky with the experience I had. I was saying I'd do it all again within half an hour!

Had 1 pessary, waters broken (I was terrified about this but felt no worse than an internal) pain came very quickly with no let up had pethdine and aaahhhhhhh- bliss! Actually fell asleep!

I did feel a bit cheated because I wanted labour to begin at home, have the fun (!) of timing contractons, waters breaking.....

I definitely won't worry about being induced next time...

Also - with the mobile epidural you honestly can move around - albeit slowly and a bit cumbersomely! I was on all fours etc and the mw's will let you remove the monitors for some of the time if the traces are all fine etc.

To be honest i quite liked knowing that lo was doing ok during the contractions etc - in a way you have to admit that modern technology is pretty bloody amazing - and i personally still felt incredibly empowered and proud that i'd given birth to a healthy baby.

Agree with lulu about staying mobile and upright as much as possible to speed things up. With DD1 I laid on a bed the whole time but with DD2 I stood up as long as I could even though I felt very unladylike

xxx

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful, I do want to be as informed as possible.

Lulumama I wanted to ask you something about the nipple stim, it says on that web site that you can use a breast pump, and I do have one, but I am worried it will hurt, because there is nothing in my breasts to come out! (Have not leaked or anything yet!) Would I still be able to use it?

The pethadine / diamorphine, I have read that one (both? I lose track of what I'm reading atm!) can cross the placenta and make baby sleepy, is that the case or am I just over-worrying?

Like the idea of requesting intermittant rather than continuous monitoring, how likely are theyto go for that, is it my decision entirely?

X posted with a few of you!! Thanks for all the experiences, it is helpful to know!

I think they don't give you pethedine too close to the actual delivery incase your baby is a tad sleepy. I think that is why I had 2.5 doses as a full dose was going to be too much.

xxx

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful, I do want to be as informed as possible.

Lulumama I wanted to ask you something about the nipple stim, it says on that web site that you can use a breast pump, and I do have one, but I am worried it will hurt, because there is nothing in my breasts to come out! (Have not leaked or anything yet!) Would I still be able to use it?

YES YOU CAN, IT HELPS RELEASES OXYTOCIN, WHICH STIMULATES CONTRACTIONS, OR DO IT MANUALLY !

The pethadine / diamorphine, I have read that one (both? I lose track of what I'm reading atm!) can cross the placenta and make baby sleepy, is that the case or am I just over-worrying?

IF GIVEN TOO CLOSE TO DELIVERY, THEY CAN MAKE BABY SLEEPY AS IT DOES CROSS THE PLACENTA, BUT THERE IS AN ANTIDOTE, IN CASE..I WOULD THINK IF GIVEN EARLY IN LABOUR, THEN PLENTY OF TIME FOR IT TO LEAVE THE SYSTEM...

Like the idea of requesting intermittant rather than continuous monitoring, how likely are they to go for that, is it my decision entirely?

IT IS USUAL TO HAVE A 20 MIN TRACE BEFORE INDUCTION STARTS, THEN 20 MINS WHEN IT COMMENCES, AND MOST LIKELY THEY WILL WANT A CONSTANT TRACE..IT IS UP TO YOU, YOU CAN TAKE THE BELTS OFF, AND ASK FOR INTERMITTENT MONITORING..THERE IS NO EVIDENCE CONSTANT MONITORING ACTUALLY CHANGES AN OUTCOME! IF BABY IS ALL WELL, THEN NO REASON YOU SHOULD BE ON THE BED BEING MONITORED CONSTANTLY

you going to the womens" hospital?

I didnt have any control over the birth of ds1, the midwife was very short with me, but she did come and apologise to me afterwards. She said she had to be firm with me cos i was panicking so much! I had pre-eclampsia which also made it more trauamtic.

I would say dont panic, but you have to deal with it in your own way.

Thanks Lulumama!

Yes I am going to the Women's. I think my local midwife thought I was a bit up myself for not wanting to go to Whiston, but there you go, the Women's has the better reputation and it's not that much further.

Powder28 can't believe the mw was short with you if you were panicking!

I fully expect - sorry I know this is horrible but I'm not exactly his best friend today - dh will be rubbish at sticking up for me, but mil is coming too and she will fight my corner more I feel.

if you were at ormskirk, i;d come and keep you company !

sometimes a verbal slap is what you need !

my MW did it to me, and in retrospect it was the right thing, as it brought me back to earth and made me concentrate on the job in hand !!

If only I'd joined MN and "met" you before I got pg then I could have opted for Ormskirk!!!!

Although dh is stroppy enough about me wanting not to go to Whiston (he has to drive you see and it's oh so much further ) maybe Ormskirk would have been a bridge too far, lol!!

lulumama, i agree. You need someone to keep you focused. My dh went out to vomit at one point. He pretended he was getting coffee.

hey ho! ormskirk and louladoula for number 2 then ! and you will be driving by then !!

see, i have my bossy head on today!

Well I think it will be mil who will keep me focussed, yes I can imagine dh going off to be sick!!

Well if it all gets too much just lie back and think of England

Yes, of course! For number two, goodness knows when that will be, but I am determined I will be driving by then you are right!!!

Just have to get this one out first...

Right you have all given me lots of good information, I am going to go and have a bath I think, then an early night didn't sleep much last night so some catching up to do.

Maybe dh will have come out of his sulk by tomorrow as well!!!

Powder28 not sure about that we're not doing so well in the cricket atm, perhaps I'd better choose another country!!!

sleep well, and text if you need me xx

Australia then

Both my inductions were fine

Stay as calm and focused as you can, I think that makes it a bit easier.

Good luck

Hi Mossie,

I was induced 2 days before my due date and I had a nice experience. I was given a pessary at 7pm, had period pains all night, was examined the next morning and was only 1cm . I was taken down to the delivery suite and my waters were broken at midday when I was 2-3cm, that wasn't painful at all. Drip was started at 3pm and dd was born at 22.49. I had an epidural (which failed down one side and had to be re-sited-ouch!) as the pain was very bad, but all in all it was a wonderful experience and the best day of my life

Lots of luck, hope all goes well. x

Forgot to say I ended up having a ventouse delivery and episiotomy as I'd pushed for just over and hour and DD was moving down very slowly. I was also so tired from been up all night the night before with bad period type pains. When I tell people the story they seem to think I had a rough time but I think it was fab!!!

Same experience as Daisypops for the first as well (tore instead of being cut though)

I think people react differently to eachother even if you have the same birth experience. The pg and birth is such a small part in your childs life but also has a huge effect on how you initially bond with your baby.