Petrified of induction

[SparkleUK]

Hello all,

Just being a ridiculous scared person and wondered if you had any experience or words to share?

I'm 40+1 and MW attempted a sweep yesterday but said cervix was still long/thick so couldn't and baby is 2/5 engaged (this was the same last week).

She's now booked me in for an induction next week when I'll be 41+1 and I'm absolutely petrified to the point I'm debating cancelling it but then beating myself up for feeling I'd put baby in any danger.
OH starts a new job next week, they know about the pregnancy but he's not allowed any period of time off apart from the birth because it's into a long training programme. I suppose I'm most scared about being in a hospital by myself for long periods of time, the idea of a drip or an epidural and then it going on too long and ending up in a section anyway which I'm also petrified of and managing at home afterwards. Basically I'm just a big wimp where needles or surgical procedures come into it!

Don't have anyone else who'd be able to be there as my family would cause me even more stress.

Hi, sorry, don't have much advice. I just wanted to say the NICE guidelines advises induction between 41-42 weeks. Could you put it back a few days, closer to 42 weeks. That way you are still within the guidlines but it gives you a few more days, and perhaps they could try another sweep in that time. Hope everything works out.

I was induced with my first and j was terrified. I was so worried it'd be more painful, cascade of interventions etc. Actually it was fine. Had the pessary in at 2am (was emergency due to reduced movements), had a sleep and a walk, established labour by 5pm and baby out by midnight. Depending on the other circumstances you might still be able to use the pool and things but even if you have to have continuous monitoring like I did you can still move around and give birth in a comfortable position.
I sent my husband home to sleep before the pessary went in and he didn't come back until he'd had breakfast and showered. You could easily ring your husband and get him in when things get going. The midwives take good care of you, just bring a book and iPad in case it takes a while to get going.
I didn't have an epidural - lots of people rate them but you don't have to have one just because you're being induced. Luckily we live in the UK in the 21st century so you can always change your mind if you want and you're very likely to have access to safe pain relief if you want it. There are lots of other options as well which you'll obviously be advised about. I had meptid and it worked really well for me.
Also next week is ages away so baby might quite well be here by then.
If I were you I'd do something relaxing like have a bath and eat a good dinner - at this stage in your pregnancy labour could start at any time so you want to be well fed, well hydrated and as rested as possible (obviously hard when you are nine months pregnant) so that you're in the best possible condition ready to give birth. Good luck, you'll be great xx

Mine were both induced. DC 1 at 38+2 due to low fluids. Whole birth took about 12h, so not extremely long, but i did end up with an epidural. Everything was fine though.
Second was induced at 41+3, just because she was late. Started the drip at 9am, contractions got painful at 11 and half an hour later she was in my arms. She was definitely ready to be born, just too lazy to actually come out on her own, i guess

I've had 2 successful inductions.
1st took longer(3days) but wasn't traumatic, DS just took his time. From going into the delivery room to birth it took about 6 hours. The days 'waiting' we're simply that.waiting and pessaries. I spent a lot of money in the hospital cafe and WHSmiths on magazines!
With DD the process was much quicker. I went in on the Fri and was home Saturday afternoon.
I was induced 38/39weeks for both DC as growth had tapered off and both were classed as small. Both were born healthy ( although small) and were perfect.

I've had two inductions 1st one they broke my waters baby out in 6 hours. 2nd time I had the pessery and baby was out in a hour. No intervention necessary with either of them. Hope all goes well

I have had two inductions. Both were between 37-38 weeks. Both were fine! You just deal with being uncomfortable and sometimes in pain.. because there isn't really an alternative. The drip induction was a bit more unnatural so for me I thought the pessary induction was better and easier to manage. Do you get a choice?
At no point were either of my labours that bad, nothing worth fretting about anyway and my youngest baby is now 3 weeks old.
Do everything you can to manage your anxiety. And practice breathing strategies (breathing stuff I'd learnt in yoga class was really valuable for me in labour). Don't panic.

Forgot to say I was 39+3 and 39+4

I had a horrible first labour and birth, the Labour came on naturally and it was really awful.
With my second I was induced. I was really worried about it but for me it turned out to be brilliant. The labour was shorter , it was more controlled and I was less panicked. I had a bigger baby (nearly 11lb) but overall the Labour, birth and recovery were much better than my first labour

Hi all,

Thank you all so much for the experiences and advice. Definitely has me feeling a little calmer that it won't be a total horror show like I'm imagining so appreciate that!

Choice wise I think they start off on prostin (?) she said, in pessary form where you get a few go's and they'll try and break waters along with that too and bring out the drip if things don't progress so I guess it's not there straight away, I'm just horrified at needles anywhere that isn't 'meaty' enough not to hurt 🙈

I was induced at 38+1 as I had a medical issue. My first baby and in all the NCT classes they made it sound as though induction with first baby would be a long, drawn out, painful experience. It was quite the opposite. Pessary in at 6pm, v.mild contractions started around midnight (felt just like period pains at first), then full on contractions pretty quickly after that, and DS was born at 7am the next morning. 13 hours from pessary being put in, and 7 hours from first contraction. Nobody can promise you it'll be plain sailing with an induction anymore than they can promise you it'll be plain sailing without an induction. But pls don't be scared, it's an absolute fact that the more relaxed you are, the less painful it will be.
Best of luck and congrats!

I was induced with DC1. Pessary at about 8pm, proper contractions by about 10. It was hard and I got no sleep. DH had gone home and midwives didn't believe I was really in labour. But was examined at 7.45am and was 10cm. DS was born at 9.20 so only about 13.5 hours start to finish with no interventions.

Wasn't so bad!

I've only had one baby and he was induced because he was 12 days late. So I've never had the experience of going into labor naturally, but I was really happy for the controlled experience. Strolled into the hospital at the appointed time, got hooked up, husband went home to sleep and I had the baby the next day under complete supervision with only an hour or two of hard labor before the epidural. I was way more nervous about being in pain at home and them telling me not to come in yet. I don't handle pain well.

My induction was really quick I was induced with the pessary and then they broke my waters at 9:30 pm when I was 3 cm dilated and I gave birth at 11:50 pm.

You dont have to consent to an induction. You can ask to be monitored instead or you can ask to delay the induction. 41+1 seems early for induction if the only reason is being overdue, no other health concerns.

Thank you - yes, I'm low risk and have had no causes for any concern throughout.

I was initially really reassured by all the lovely people taking the time to tell me their stories but for the past few days as its got closer and now the day before, I can't stop crying thinking about it and it's waking me up at night with horrified thoughts so I'm really debating cancelling it. I lost my plug on Monday and have had a lot more backache and general achiness/heaviness like a period.

I think it's the not being in control of something and medical intervention rather than the birth I envisaged which is silly as they rarely go to plan! I feel ridiculous 🙈

Good luck for today @SparkleUK! ❤️

Thank you so much!

I've been awake since 05.15 this morning with awful pains between every 3 to 5ish minutes that are lasting 30-40+ seconds so I'm really hoping it doesn't stop and he's decided he doesn't want to be forced out either 😂

Oooooooh yay @SparkleUK fingers crossed!!! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
How many weeks are you now? Xxx

They're starting to last a bit longer so hoping - definitely not pleasant 😂, thank you.

I'm 41+1

I was going to add my positive induction story (prostaglandin gel only, 11 hours before contractions and 5 hours 38minutes after that before birth, gas and air only) but I see it may not be necessary. Fingers crossed this is the real deal and you wont need any interventions.

Well, the feelings were labour 😂!
Got to hospital just before 2pm and there was query over whether I was 5 or 8cm dilated already.
2 hours later with them telling me I needed to breathe through as it would be too early to push but my body was just doing it anyway, a little man arrived, no pain relief and no interventions needed aside from a bit of stitching.

Thank you all so much for your stories ❤️

That's awesome. Congratulations op

Brilliant. Congratulations

Huge congratulations! 🎉