Induction tomorrow. Nice stories required!

[ActualMermaid]

Currently sitting in the bath trying to relax after spending the day feeling terrified about my induction tomorrow! I'm a first time mum, and currently 37+4. Being induced due to mild pre-eclampsia at 8:30am tomorrow morning.

Does anybody have any nice induction stories? I'm so scared it's going to take days and that I won't be able to cope with the pain. I've also been told I'm not allowed my lovely birthing pool plan since I'll have to be monitored for blood pressure - it all just feels out of my control!

I was induced with my second on my due date, due to her not putting on as much weight as they would have liked. There was a lot of hanging around for about 20 hours after the first pessary, then it suddenly kicked off and she was born an hour and 3 minutes later, on just gas and air. It was fairly intense, but it was actually fine. I even said to my dh immediately afterwards "I want to do that again"! (Not sure why!). I was up and about within the hour, and both me and baby were fine. I had to be continially monitored as well, which was annoying as I couldn't move how I wanted, but I found I just forgot about it in the end.

Good luck for tomorrow

I had to be continuously monitored - not continally!!

I had an induction for pre-eclampsia at your stage of pregnancy.

I know you want nice stories but to be honest mine was a cascade of interventions because my body just wasn’t ready. It ended up with with a forceps birth that’s left me damaged for life. I’m not saying this to scare you but I wish someone had told me to refuse induction if my Bishops Score was low. The Bishops Score is a number that reflects how ready your cervix is for labour. If it is low then induction is likely to be difficult. If I was back at the start of my journey I’d have refused induction with a low Bishops Score and asked for c section. I’d have certa Not specified no forceps and to move to c-section if forceps were needed.

I really hope it goes well for you tomorrow. Inductions can be great (my third took one hour start to finish with no pain relief because none was needed) but your body needs to be ready. Ask them to assess your readiness before proceeding.

I was induced on both of my pregnancies. The first time we were constantly monitored, gave birth on dry land after about 4 hours in established labour, at 40+13 to a gorgeous 8lb12 boy.
Second time I had a water birth which was amazing, resulting in another gorgeous boy, 9lb13 at 40+12. I had gas and air for both, both were intense, incredible and the water birth - which technically I shouldn't have been able to have due to the need for constant monitoring with inductions - was absolutely wonderful and I can't thank my midwife enough for making it possible.

Good luck, take care, let us know how it goes!

SeaSongs
Thank you for this! I've been doing lots of reading today and it seems for most people that when it gets going, it's a quick process! I'm hoping for the same, and have packed lots of snacks and reading for the waiting around. My DP and I both laughed at you asking to do it again, I think I'll be waiting a few years before I even consider all this again.

Sciatica
Ahh, forceps are my worst nightmare! My intention is to avoid at all costs, though midwife told me yesterday that epidural would be the best pain relief option for me since it lowers blood pressure, and I know lots of epidural deliveries end in forceps. So sorry to hear about your experience.

Almondio
Ahhh that's amazing that your midwife was able to make a water birth happen for you! Glad to hear your inductions were both so positive and quite quick! Midwife told me that even though I've to be continually monitored, she'll make sure I can still move around, use a birthing ball, etc, so hopefully I can still get the same, relaxed vibe!

The induction process can be long, but that is normal. Depends on what they use to start you off, just be prepared that you might be in hospital for a couple of days before even labour is near.... Remain positive and if you can go off for walks/lunch etc defo try to do that!

Was induced last week. After the pessary I started contractions and they we're horrendous but I asked for a drug and they gave me morphine so don't be afraid to ask for painkillers. After the morphine I gave birth in like 3 hours and didn't feel a thing.. thought it would be painful but was fine

I was induced with my youngest, but it was because I was overdue by 13 days. I went in at 10am, they broke my waters manually as my cervix was already partially dilated. That didn't do anything, so they put a drip in about 1pm. First contraction was 2.45pm, she was born 45min later at 3.30pm and I was sitting on my sofa at home eating a takeaway curry by 7.30pm. I would totally do it again. Hope it goes well!

I was induced with my second son eight days before his due date. I had gestational diabetes and was an older mum at 40 so there was some worry about his size and also placenta deterioration.

I had the peasant inserted at about 6pm and had to have it removed 45 minutes later as I was contracting so strongly. It was pretty intense but my first (spontaneous) labour was too. I had to have an injection at one point to slow the contractions as neither I nor baby was getting a break in between. He arrived at 2.05am. I remained pretty mobile throughout. I'd describe it as not dissimilar to my first labour. The aftermath was better as I didn't tear (had a second degree tear with first) and we were able to do delayed cord clamping and immediate skin to skin - that hadn't been possible with my first as he was in poor condition following some trauma to his cord on the way out.

Oh and I only had gas and air with both labours.

Pre eclampsia usually makes you labour really fast so you might have quite a quick labour. I was induced with both mine. First one I had severe pre eclampsia at 34+5. Pessary for a couple of hours then waters broke, drip for 8 hours and DD1 born with no other interventions. I had an epidural and that helped keep my blood pressure stable and controlled the pain. She was back to back so it was intense but fine.
I was induced for being 12 days overdue with DD2 - also had high blood pressure so had to go on the drip. Fully dilated within 40 minutes of it going in and born after about an hour's pushing. No pain relief apart from a bit of gas and air at the end. She was back to back as well so not much relief from contractions.

Honestly both were positive experiences and if I had a 3rd I wouldn't mind being induced again.

I had 3x reduced movements so after a check on Wednesday night I had another consultant appointment on Thursday and was admitted Friday and had a good listen in on the machines. Pessary one at 3pm and good sleep on Friday but with backache from hell and taken to labour unit at 5pm Saturday after dinner and gave birth on Sunday at 7.50am.

I asked them for help with forceps and episiotimy as I felt her stuck and suffered no issues after and neither did she.

I'm due my second in the next week and I am requesting an induction again due to 8x reduced movements.

I had a good experience. Was a week early (due to cholestasis) got pessary put in night before. No dilation by morning but they were picking up small contractions on the monitors so wouldn’t give any more. Midwife broke my waters at about 10 am and baby was born at 1230. Was quite intense but I could cope with it because it didn’t last very long.

Hi everybody, thought I would come back and post an update! Baby arrived Thursday morning after a 21 hour long induction! Waters were broken approximately 35 minutes from baby being born - it happened sooo quickly from that point! No forceps required, just a few puffs of gas and air at the end, though we were pretty much stuck to a bed and monitored once we were moved to the delivery suite.

Still in hospital because my blood pressure still isn't behaving, but bursting with love. Thank you all for your advice and stories!

What gorgeous news! Congrats ActualMermaid, baby is scrumptious! Hope you're doing okay, thanks for the update and bloody well done!

That's amazing news - congratulations!!! Thanks for updating, I hope you're all okay and get home soon xx

Hi. I came back to check if there was an update and what a lovely update there is!!
Your baby is beautiful!!! Congratulations and well done to you!!

Congratulations! So glad it went well for you! And baby is gorgeous! Been following this as I'm 34w and being induced next week so the positive experiences have been reassuring to read thank you!

Sorry to jump onto your thread. I'm now 32 hours into my induction. Pessary has gotten me to 3-4cm but my cervix is still at the back. I'm now 41+4 or 40+11 however you read it. They've decided no more medication for now and the doctors will be reviewing me in the morning. Feeling so disheartened.

Oh @Sugarskulllover, that's been a while. How is the pain so far? Bearable? Are you a FTM?
I think they might decide to break your waters later on this morning by which time, hopefully things can progress faster.

Just remember the pain you go through doesn't last forever. Soon you'll be holding your LO in your arms.

All the best!!! Please keep us updated. Obviously no pressure.

@Filzma thank you for replying!

The plan is they are going to attempt to break my waters today and put me on the dreaded hormone drip. They're waiting for availability to move me across to delivery suite. I've been warned it's going to be painful and that they may require a doctor to break them.

I think I'm going to have to "enjoy" the pain. I'm just so anxious about getting him out now I'll pretty much to anything!

I'll update when I know more.

you're welcome xx. I know the feeling all too well. The water breaking wasn't painful for me actually. Might be different for everyone.
What was painful was how rapidly the contractions came once I had the pitocin drip on. They were unrelenting and intense... then at some point unbearable.
I had the drip in at 7pm and baby born just before 7am. Hope it doesn't take as long for you.
If you're not in yet, make sure to take a nice good shower before. May seem pointless as you'll sweat, become bloody and sticky after water breaks. Feel good factor I guess. Xx

Hope alls going well and that you had a good breakfast.

@Filzma I managed to have a shower and did feel lots better after!
I'm still waiting to have my waters broken. The hospital doesn't have enough staff so I'm just in my room waiting. There's no entertainment at all and visiting is rubbish. We have a dog at home so my DH is having to leave and come back a lot so I'm mostly alone.

They've even told me today that they can let me go past 14 days overdue which I just think is crazy. My DH is going mad and wants to make a complaint but I see no point in it at all. I just want to have this baby now. It had seriously put me off ever having anymore.

Eek I'm excited and frustrated for you at the same time. That's true, the waiting is the longest and boring part. Try listen to an audiobook or drown yourself into labour and delivery YouTube vids. I have a feeling they're waiting for a shift change as well and you might go in any time now and drip by 7pm.

Oh sorry about the dog, wish you had someone reliable for that. If DH can take a quick nap, that will be handy. Someone needs to be properly alert especially towards the end when the pain gets bad or if God forbid something goes wrong. Lol am I even helping or projecting my experience? All will go well and bub will be here soon.🙏