Inductions

[Faerie87]

Hello

Currently on my first pregnancy I am booked in for an induction on Monday as my blood pressure has not been behaving itself also baby is small and I have low Papp a.

Just been speaking to my sister who said induction births are more painful and I will need to discuss pain relief before the big day! I have not got a clue what to do? I’m a bit scared. Sounds a bit silly. I thought I would have a couple of more weeks!

Has anyone had experience of of this who could offer advice?

Ugh I know the feeling! I gave birth less than two weeks ago, early and with very short notice for the induction. Scary! But don’t worry, everything will be okay. Also mine was also for static growth and it turns out he was absolutely fine and a decent size, probably would have been about 9 and a half lbs had he been born later... so don’t worry, they’re not always right. In fact they’re notoriously wrong! Unfortunately there’s little we can do other than go ahead, just in case.

I have had 2 inductions (out of 3 - one was spontaneous). Honestly, don’t worry! My inductions were far better experiences and far less hectic than my spontaneous labour and the first one was far more painful and long.

They’ll likely give you a pessary to attempt to kick start things, if this is successful then they will take it out and let your body do the rest. If it doesn’t work they will try the gel, if that doesn’t work then the hormone drip.
Regardless of what happens, pain relief will be available so don’t be scared of using it! (I didn’t use it on any of my labours but I was more tempted to on my spontaneous one). But there’s no point in being scared as it’s an induction, it’s only ‘more painful’ because of the hormones forcing your body to do its thing but chances are your body will do it itself after a kickstart anyway. It really isn’t as bad as you’re probably thinking

I wish people wouldn't scare pregnant women.
I never got beyond the pessary but only had 2 paracetamol 2 codeine and a hot bath.
Good luck.

It varies, but from my personal experience if they put you on the drip you should be open to the idea of an epidural, up to that point I was fine.

I've only ever had 3 inductions so nothing to compare it too, but I found the pain to be different to normal pain. Hard to describe but it was like pain with a purpose so easier to cope with. It starts off slowly in any case so plenty of time to discuss pain relief when you go in. I had different pain relief each time.

I had DS by induction because I was overdue. Only needed the pessary, Labour was 12 hours start to finish, gas and air, no epidural, no interventions. 2nd degree tear, stitches for that which healed up really well. He was 9lb 5oz and within a week I was right as rain.

You will be fine, OP. People told me induced births were more painful, but like me you've got nothing to compare it to so you'll just crack on and deal with it. Pain relief is available and you don't need to suffer if you think you need it. Please don't worry, good luck

Peoples pain tolerance varies so you'll have to just seen how you go. I was adamant I wouldn't anything but gas and air. I had two inductions and two lovely epidurals

This really annoys me. I've had 5 births, the last 2 were induced (1 with just synto 1 with a pessery, ARM & synto). They were no more painful than the other 3. The pain was more ordered in how it built but not more painful. The pain relief I had was exactly the same as for dc 1 & 2 (3 was a quick labour so didn't have any), just pethidine to allow me to rest before we got to transition & pushing. Tbh if I hadn't been so exhausted from long latent phases prior to the inductions I probably wouldn't have had any. Do what you want to do at the time, in the moment. Of course you should inform yourself of the choices before you go in but you don't have to make any firm decisions beforehand. I hope it goes smoothly for you

I agree, just be flexible and don't worry, just play it by ear. You might only need the pessary anyway. I've had 2 inductions on the drip (both back to back too) - the first was with an epidural as it was long, I was unwell and tired. The second time I had some gas and air, said to the midwife after an hour "I might need to think about some pain relief" - only to be told there wasn't time and my daughter was on her way out!

I was induced. It took 2 hrs until I was pushing and I had no pain relief. id definitely do it again.

I had my daughter by drip induction. They recommended an epidural and I'm glad I followed their advice.

Induction due to preeclampsia. Pessary at 5am saturday morning and told to expect to stay until at least Monday but DD was here by 4.30pm with codeine only. I was open to any pain relief and felt I got by with just that because she came so quickly!

I meant to add- first time round I had pre eclampsia, second time high blood pressure. Apparently high blood pressure makes you labour quite fast so you may go quick enough that you don't need anything!

I had an induced labour with twins. No pain relief - it was fast! What I would say is, keep active. Ask abouf mobile monitoring and if they don't have, really push to be up as much as poss. Remember, gravity is your friend!

Mine went - pessary in. 5-6 hours dozing. Up. Nothing happening, boo. Think I'll go for a walk. Ended up marching up and down stairs for 25 min. Still nothing, boo. Back to find MWs beginning 8am shift change. We'll just leave you as you are clearly not in Kaboul yet. Okay, pop to loo. Oh, hello DT1!

• labour ffs