Will I need to go through with Induction?

[Judgybitch]

Hi please help. Waters broke at 11pm yesterday 37+4. Went in to confirm all good but they have booked me in for an induction tomorrow at 6am in case I fail to progress.

Currently at home in early labour. Having relatively mild contractions 16-20 minutes apart varying strength and have been at this point for hours . I am concerned that if I fail to progress any further they will proceed with the induction. Can anyone advise if my labour is advanced enough that they will cancel or delay Induction? Obviously I still have time for it to advance but the stress isn't helping.

No risk factors other then waters breaking. No miconium etc.

Thanks xxx

I can't offer much in the way of reassurance about how far you are, but remember you can always deny induction. Worrying about it is only going to delay your labour, forget all about it because it's your decision, nobody can force you to go down that route if you aren't comfortable with it. Settle down, relax and do whatever makes you happiest/gets the oxytocin flowing.

Good luck, how exciting!!

I imagine they will want to examine you to see how far you are dilated. Remember to think brain, ask the medical team for Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Instincts and what could happen if you do Nothing.

You might have your baby in your arms soon. Get bouncing on your birthing ball.

No, you absolutely do not need to go ahead with an induction. Your body is doing what it's meant to be doing and is in labour so why mess with it? They like to induce as your risk of infection increases from 5 in 1000 to 10 in 1000, but this is still only a 1% chance of infection. I think you have to weigh up what feels right for you and not stress yourself out.

The point is. I'm happy to go with medical recommendations, I suppose i want them to say there is no need to induce if im having contractions x minutes apart.

My son is two now and the same happened with him but I think that labour progressed more consistently and by the time I was scheduled to go in I was having contractions very consistently 12 minutes apart whereas at the moment they are all over the place. Everything from 4-30minutes.

I also want to go to sleep but I don't know if that will slow down contractions.

If you need sleep then get it if you. You need all your energy to get your baby out.

I’m not sure how far apart they will want contractions to be but my doctor was happy to leave it 48 hours max before Induction after waters broke. This was at my request but they advised 24. I was sure I’d be in established labour by then (as I had been 1st time after PROM) but I wasn’t, and then the ward was too busy so I couldn’t be induced until 72 hours after waters broke. I did end up with an infection and sepsis and massively regretted not going with the 24 hour recommendation. I put mine and babies life at risk because of my fear of induction. Mine is a scare story but honestly if they advise induction I would 100% take doctors advice and have it. And get an epidural if you go on the drip. Good luck.

My waters broke and labour didn't progress quickly enough. I ended up in HDU with sepsis and little one was in scbu for a week with a horrendous infection (also tested for sepsis and meningitis). I wouldn't risk leaving it too long.

Thanks peapod. Really great to get that perspective. I had a doula for my first birth and she was rather....crunchy. very resistant to any interventions, vitamin k. Internal exam etc and in retrospect I wish she had been less endlessly optimistic and more accepting of the medical advice as at one point she was talking about 'my right to say No to treatment' while my son was in the nicu being treated for life threatening levels of bilirubin (jaundice) at that point I stopped answering her texts.

I know i can say no, but would that be medically reasonable and the best option. I guess I have just answered my own question. I will speak to the staff and be honest about where my labour is and ask what they recommend.

You just need to follow the lead of the professionals. I would feel uneasy leaving broken waters too long. Best of luck OP!

My waters went, no contractions for 24 hours, so I went for induction. I had a pessary put in at about 1pm. 4.30pm I went into labour and gave birth at 7.53pm. that was all I needed so you may not end up needing a drip, epidural, etc.