Induction....what advice would you give?

[Irishgene]

Hi, I'm going in to be induced tomorrow. To anyone who has had an induction before what would be any pearls of wisdom you would give please? Anything from snacks to what to expect! Thanks x

What method of induction are you having? Snacks and entertainment definitely, and chargers and a comfy pillow and clothes. Expect it to be hotter than the sun in there!

Take ear plugs in case it takes a while for labour to get going. I was in hospital for 2 nights with pessary before actually being put on a drip and getting going, and it was so loud. By the time my baby was born all I wanted to do was sleep!

When I was induced, the midwife didn’t explain what would happen at all! I truly hadn’t got a clue whether I would go into labour or what- she just said, come back in 24 hours. So when I went into quite strong labour in the night at home I just thought it mustn’t be the real thing. Then went into the hospital the next day and was in very established labour already. My point is- I think the timescales can vary wildly!

Know your limits and talk through a plan with your doctor before they start.

Some inductions go quickly, some slowly and some fail altogether. Ask the doctor for your Bishop score - if it's below 5, your induction is far less likely to be successful. If that's the case you may want to discuss your options further before consenting to the induction.

Think about when you want to call it a day if things aren't progressing. I didn't know that was possible and had an EMCS on day 6.

You can refuse consent for things like internal examinations - I wish I'd known this at the time.

It's better to take a bag of bits for a longer stay - music, pjs, clothes for a couple of days, phone charger, etc., - and find you have a short stay, than get stuck for days without.

Good luck

Ask what your options are with what they use to induce you. I was given a type of pessary and it worked ridiculously quickly. I went into full labour very suddenly, and found it difficult to cope with. I found out later that a lower dose could have been used.

If you do struggle to cope, and need an epidural, don't feel as though you have failed. Induced labour is often a lot more intense than natural labour.

All the best.