Shout out for Induction help please 🙋🏼‍♀️

[Treacle81]

Hi girls, I'm 39+5 and getting induced Mon evening, to be in hospital for 8pm. I just have a few questions if someone wouldn't mind answering. 2nd time mum so it'll be the 6hr gel I get so if I don't dilate with them, I get another round and is it after this of nothing has happened they break your waters? Does it hurt? Then after that you are put on a drip? My midwife said that they are too keen to put you on a drop and I've to ask for 2 hours to see if I go into labour myself but can't remember if that was after 1st or 2nd gel or breaking waters. Anyone know? Thanks in advance x

I was induced but mine was a 24 hour pessary, however my waters had already broke.
They had to break my fore waters and it didn't hurt, it was just uncomfortable.
I was then put on a drip because my waters had been gone for 48 hours.
If they put you on a drip, get an epidural first BEFORE they start you off, as once that drip is in the contractions come thick and fast and you're gonna know about it!
Good luck! You'll be great! ❤️❤️

@lockdownpregnancy Thanks v much for replying. Noted! Congratulations 💞xx

I was induced. They couldn’t break my waters so they inserted a gel. Left for 6hrs. Then they broke my waters - didn’t hurt at all ! It does look a bit scary when the MW is coming at you with a croquet hook tho!! Left for 2hrs. Nothing happened so I was attached to the drip. I won’t lie, it’s pretty intense the drip. I was a FTM. Once I was in active labour, it was 3hrs till my son was born. Just boring waiting around till it all kicks off properly. Good luck!

Ps - I asked for an epidural but after 3 failed attempts I gave up. Just gas & air for me, which I ditched at pushing stage as it didn’t touch the sides ☺️

@Johnson10 as in the epidural failed three times? xx

I had the pessary. Labour started after about 6 hours. I insisted on gas and air for the examination. I gave birth 2 hours later and dd was born in her sac so the waters weren't broken at all. It was so quick I couldn't have the planned epidural which I wasn't happy about!

@Tiredpidgeon wow that is a quick labour, wouldn't mind if this happens lol xx

Tiredpigeon wow that is a quick labour, wouldn't mind if this happens lol xx

I was induced by pessary x3 and none really worked. 1cm eventually and then they broke waters and contractions really increased quickly. Breaking waters does not hurt at all- it actually felt a bit of a relief. I was never offered a drip and it wasn’t mentioned.

Also to mention- the whole process from first pessary to birth took almost 5 days. But that seems to be an exceptional case and other friends seemed to do really well after just one pessary.

@gradetoolisted thanks for this xx

I had my waters broken and went into labour, delivered just over 5 hours later. As I was able to start contractions myself, I didn't need the drip and was able to have a water birth.

Having your waters broken doesn't hurt, it's actually quite a satisfying feeling!

Good luck

@Treacle81 yes, 3 failed epidural attempts.

The pessaries are really just to dilate your cervix enough to be to reach your waters. They'll pop your waters when they can get to them, doesn't matter if you're contracting or not. If you're already dilated enough to have them broken without the pessary, they'll skip the pessaries all together. If you do go into labour with the pessaries, you'll be given the option to wait until your waters go on their own, or have an ARM (artificial rupture of membranes).

You should be left for two hours after your waters have been broken, no matter how many pessaries you had. I had both gels, and had the 2hr delay after ARM before the drip was put up.

My ARM did hurt. However, that was more due to the second midwife needed to push DD into my pelvis as the membranes kept bobbing away each time the first midwife tried to pop them. Gas and air was more than enough to get through it.

Good luck for Monday! Assuming you don't go into labour before then ofc!

I had 2 lots of gel. Had an extra break as the first lot was still doing "something" at 6 hours.

Worst bit was the exams as my stitches from 1st time around were a little tight so the exams were sore.

Didn't need ARM as 2nd gel did the trick and had baby feeding on me about 24h after first pessary.

The toughest bit was getting the MWs to believe "something" was happening when I wasn't due a check.

Pethidine was totally useless - just let me sleep between contractions so all of 1 minute at a time.

Gas and Air worked for me - no time to sort an epidural.

Would advise lots of mindless entertainment - books, films on phone (remember headphones, ward is noisy), music, audiobooks, something to keep your hands busy (I took a Lego kit) phone charger is vital as well, especially if you can get one that's quite long!

@latheritup oh it was a water birth I hoped for so that would be fab, thanks for this xx

@Dyra funny you should say that as came into hospital at 7pm due to trickly liquid coming away since 5am. It was my fore waters so she done a sweep, and I'm 1-2 cm dilated so just waiting to see if be kept in or can go home till Monday. Thanks for that xx

@randomsabreuse thanks for this, I'm in hospital just now as had trickling liquid all day and it was forewaters
so if kept in partner has a massive list of things I require lol xx

@Treacle81 Well that changes things a little bit! Hopefully contractions have started for you by now. 🤞🏻