Induction tomorrow first time mum. Top tips?

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

Any top tips for induction tomorrow? I’m a first time mum with a very much longed for ivf baby. I’m booked for induction tomorrow. My husband won’t be with me until midwife says I’m in established labour. Any top tips please?

Take reading materials, iPad and snacks. Have you got slippers and a dressing gown so you can go exploring?

It can be extremely boring so take something to read/watch.

Don’t forget your charger!

Good luck, I’m sorry that you’ll have to be alone for the beginning.

be prepared for a long wait until baby comes. with my last baby i was induced on a tuesday morning and didn’t have her until friday night. definitely take a book or puzzle book, headphones to watch netflix or whatever. try to sleep as much as you can in the early stages. good luck to you, wishing you a quick and easy delivery and recovery.

Hi :)

I had an induction last October so it's pretty fresh in my mind though of course doesn't make me any kind of expert!

I went into slow labour within a few hours of being induced (pessary) but I was already 2-3cm dilated when they started the process so I'm sure this sped thing up. Initially, my contractions were very short and I had about 10 minutes between each one. I found walking around the room made my contractions longer and closer together so recommend staying active.
Induction can be a long process for some (although I went into labour fast, I dilated very very slowly) but I have heard stories of people being induced and having their baby in a matter of hours!

I guess if I could go back and do it again, the things I would do differently would be:

• Sleep while waiting for labour to start. By the time my daughter was born, I had been awake for over 48 hours and I can't remember much.
• When labour starts, keep mobile if you can. This sped my labour up and also helped me manage the pain. I wish I had asked about options for pain relief and at least considered them.

Congratulations and good luck! I didn't have a rush of love immediately (totally normal) but it did come.

Agree with taking reading materials, dressing gown and slippers!

Think about how your body reacted during ivf: this could help you work out how it will react to the hormones and drugs.
I have been induced twice, both times reacted relatively fast. Second time we started at 2 pm the baby was born at 8pm: but I went in absolutely prepared mentally, willing the drugs to work. It’s similar to ivf: if you feel hesitant, nervous etc your body will resist too. Prepare for contractions to come on quite fast- no build up. It’s not too late to look for soothing / meditation videos too. I used Michael Sealy: even if it doesn’t “work” it might distract you for a bit.

Also, do a search on you tube for “midwife, balloon, contractions” it’s an amazing video which explains how contractions work and seeing it made the pain easier to bear.

Think about times you have coped with pain in the past: was it to retreat into yourself or talk/ swear/sing etc

Good luck

My induction with my first took 63 odd hours!! Defo lots to do and chargers for gadgets.

I wrote a letter to the baby ... all about my journey, what I hoped and dreamed for him ect. Its in his memory box now for when he is older.

Id take a pair of joggers,comfy clothes - i was doing laps of the hospital gardens on day 2 in a breastfeetind nightie... im taking joggers next time!! Haha

Good luck xxx

It can be days so definitely take lots of things to do with you; I binged Netflix but make sure you have enough data to do this as hospital wifi can be rubbish. Bring plenty of nice food too and squash if you like it.

Don't worry about your dp not being there at first; its very sensible and we even had leaflets on each bed saying make sure partners go home and get rest as it can obviously take so long.

Bring comfy pajamas, gown slippers and bath stuff.

Don't be scared of inductions. I've had 2 and I've actually loved them, especially my last one as I spent (for different reasons so don't be put off!) Quite a few days in hospital and got to rest up and relax before have bubs.

Take ear plugs/headphones too though as there will be ladies at various stages of induction with you

Thanks all some great tips. I love the idea of letter to baby 😍

I have iPad and kindle and decent headphones. Have followed the positive birth company and have digital pack to go through again.

Comfy joggers packed as well as dressing gown and slippers. Have some snacks too.

Would it be weird to take my knitting??

Will try and sleep...can’t imagine getting much tonight!!!

Also weird question. If you wash your hair how do you dry it? I’m not taking a hair dryer?

Basically same as everyone above has suggested. But when I went in for my second induction I took my own pillow and ear plugs - both absolutely needed

My induction took days, I was very bored so take things to do
I got my DH to bring my pregnancy pillow for me too so I could get comfy.
Good luck, I was actually terrified of induction but it was fine and I felt much more in control than with my first baby when I didn’t have an induction

In contrast to everyone so far, I didn't have time to enjoy any of my activities as it went so fast, so my advice is not to presume it'll take days and days and be in denial that you are actually in labour (like I did...)

I had a pessary at 3.30pm, and husband went home at 8pm whilst I had mild period pains. By midnight I was contracting. Midwives thought I was just being a wuss and didn't examine me until 9am where I was 9cm dilated and we had a dramatic crash through the hospital to get me to labour ward. Baby out by midday.

I did the first 8 hours of contractions totally alone and honestly, there would've been absolutely no point in my husband being there, so try not to feel scared that you'll be alone. The contractions took me into my own little world and it would've distressed him to see me totally out of it.

Good luck, you got this.

I found it very painful to be induced. So much so they gave me gas and air. It does take a while for labour to start so you will get bored. I was induced on a Saturday, baby came on the Monday. Best Christmas present ever.

Flip flops for the shower!

Def take knitting. Sounds ridiculous, but if you have a spare one lying around, take a small extension lead as sometimes the beds don't reach the wall chargers and if somethings charging and you want in bed it's a pain.

If you're taking your iPad or portable device download some episodes onto the advice from Netflix and BBC I player as sometimes the network signal in hospitals is awful.

I'm not sure if your hospital is the same as some of the others I've read about, but take more than you need in case you don't have visitors between induction starting and active labour beginning.

And finally.... if you end up on the drip, take the epidural!!

Good luck op. You seem so calm and positive considering all the restrictions in place, you'll ace this!

Yes to your own pillow, but make sure it's in a pillow case that's not plain white so that no one thinks it's an NHS one and takes it away.

Your OH should also take stuff with him as active labour can still take a while. Mine appreciated the snacks I hadn't eaten and my extra pillow!

And if you wash your hair it will air dry. There is no way to dry it. Wash it before you go with minimal styling products after to try and make it last.

Feel a bit strange about taking own pillow especially in a time of high germs 😂 could I ask for another one if needed?

Didn’t think about downloading on Netflix I’ll go do that now thanks

My experience is that they are not that plentiful and not that comfortable - but it does depend on where you are. I took the one from our spare bed. I don't think it made it home but still.

How did you get on OP?

I’d heard the intravenous one gave pretty punchy contractions, so I asked for an epidural. Absolutely fab. I even managed to get some sleep before active labour started, and meant I had more energy to push, and was a lot more calm when after 75 mins of pushing they finally worked out sproggy’s head was too big and whisked me off for a c-section. Can’t recommend it enough.
Get your birthing partner to find somewhere to buy food... if they need to keep you in and it’s been a long labour you’ll really appreciate something decent to eat.

Sorry should have updated earlier. I didn’t take my own pillow 😂

Pessary in at 11am Monday morning. Period pains and small contractions at 9pm. 1am waters went in a big way. There was so much of it but baby had pooed. I was on continual monitoring so they knew he was ok. Moved to labour ward at 2am 4cm dilated and I could phone my husband to come. By this point I had only had 2 paracetamol. At 3am I asked for some more pain relief and they gave me gas and air and diamorphine which helped. At 5am I said I needed something else as contractions were so painful and thick and fast. When midwife checked me I was fully dilated and said I could push. I pushed for about 25 min and it was hard. But then my contractions started to ease off a little so they put the syotocin drip up which brought the contractions back thick and fast. Baby Alexander was born at 6.30am on Tuesday morning weighing 7lb 4oz. Unfortunately I ended up with a third degree tear so had to go the theatre to be repaired but he is worth it! 😍

Congratulations!

And thank you for the update!

Ah congratulations!!!!!
Babies are the best! Enjoy this time, it goes by so fast xxx

Aww lovely! So, like me, you didn't need all your entertainment 😃. Glad you had a safe delivery and congratulations. Enjoy the first few days!