Induction in 2 days... ANY TIPS??

[noraluv]

Hi,

I have two days until my induction and feeling immense pressure in the pelvic region. I've had clear yellowish watery discharge for a few days now and babies head is fully engaged from the last monitoring they did a few days ago (of course that could change)

I just wanted some tips and advice on the following;

How to prepare/soften cervix prior induction?

What can I do to speed up pessary/gel reaction?

How to minimise tearing?

What pain methods other than epidural do women find has helped when on the drip?

Lastly, how many days did it take in your experience from start to finish? Finish being discharged from hospital care?

Thank you!! 🙏🙏

I’ve not had a baby yet (6 weeks to go and counting!) but my sister has had three and she was induced the first time. The next two she did all the things below and it worked.
Walk a lot. Hot bath and hot sex! Walk some more.
Things to ripen cervix: split open evening primrose oil capsules near cervix, drink 3 cups of green raspberry leaf tea a day in last week, eat 6 dates a day. Walk more. Bounce on birthing ball. Go up and down stairs (carefully, sideways)

Good luck OP!

Hopefully someone will come along soon with better advice than I can give!

@noraluv I have seen mentioned a few times on here re tearing to ask the midwife to hold a compres/ flannel firmly on that area as much as they can when head is coming out

Remember that the gel/pessary is used to soften the cervix ect so they can break your waters and not the purpose to actually bring on labour. It does happen but so many people think they're not working and then say they then managed to have their waters broken and insisted the pessary ect didn't work when it did its purpose.

Perineal massage is the best to minimise tearing although that's usually started way back but no harm in starting now

Walking, hot baths, sex, exercise ball are all ways to get your cervix ready.

I'm due to be induced tomorrow.

I have been induced and what surprised me is how quickly and hard the contractions start, but your body takes a long time to actually dilate. So don’t be surprised / disheartened to think you’re in active labour but you’re only 2cm, for example.

Take all the painkillers appropriate for that stage. Stay upright and keep mobile if you can. Take loads of snacks and little luxuries. Water massively helped me - I think I stood under a shower for hours on and off.

Good luck! It’s all worth it when the baby arrives!

Good luck OP. If you go on the drip for any length of time you’ll probably need an epidural. Most women do, no shame in it!!

Find out your Bishop's score before they start - below 5 and there's a very reduced chance of success. Have a plan for what you want if that's the case. Also, take any pain relief offered and request some if you need it! Internal examinations are not usually necessary and you don't have to agree to them.

My induction failed on day 6, it was another two days before I was discharged after a (lovely) EMCS. Bishop's score was 0 but I didn't find out until some time afterwards, hence mentioning it - things could have happened very differently if only I'd been given all the facts from the outset.

Good luck!

Its not a quick process so don't expect it to be keeping active during induction is very important

Pain relief take it

Once you've had the pessary/gel get up and about and walk, I did laps around the hospital and was also told up and down stairs is good too. I had the pessary at 8am and was in full blown labour by 5pm.

If they’re giving you a drip ask for an epidural at the same time. The drip causes intense contractions but your body doesn’t get the endorphins from natural labour so it’s often more painful.

Thank you ladies, it's been helpful just reading everyone's tips and experiences xx

Currently in the labour ward being monitored... baby is in a good position and have had a briefing with the doctors and consultant.

Just waiting to have the first pessary and hopefully my husband and I can go for a nice walk outside 🙏

I've been told walking and being stood up is the most effective way to get the pessary going!

Definitely recommend being as active as you can once the first pessary is in place. I did laps of the hospital for a couple of hours and then stayed as upright and as mobile as possible once back on the ward. I had my iPod with my favourite playlist on to keep me calm. Nothing much happened for the first 6 hours, but then baby arrived 4 hours after that with a bit of gas and air. Good luck and just focus about the prize of your beautiful baby at the end!

@DuggeeHugs oh no!! Really sorry to hear that it's taken 6 days. Were you prepared for the EMCS? I can imagine after so many days it must have been exhausting 😩 I didn't know about the bishops score until you mentioned it and I deffo will be asking the midwife what mine is 😭 let's hope it's a good score!

Am I wrong in assuming with a score of 0 that your cervix was not dilating at all?

@noraluv by day 6 I was desperate for a CS. I had a series of 'discussions' with the head of midwifery and the consultant on night 5 after an incident the previous day and refused any more induction interventions. I had an EMCS later that day and it was brilliant - such a relief and certainly not the horror story I'd been led to believe!

0 was not dilated at all. Hopefully your score will be much better. I only mentioned it because I wasn't told beforehand - it was totally glossed over that 1 in 10 inductions fail - and I just wish I'd known so I could've made better decisions.

I hope all goes smoothly for you and you're soon holding your newborn

If you have to go on the hormone drip, get an epidural inserted and ready to administer beforehand. It’s a lot easier to do effectively before the very intense, in my experience very painful, contractions from the drip start. I’ve had two inductions and learnt this from bitter experience (in my first birth the epidural was totally ineffective). Good luck!

I took 2 days to dilate. I'd say the more relaxed you are the better.
Tips on not tearing would be only push when you feel the urge.

Was induced Wednesday, gave birth Saturday PM and home by Sunday AM.

Quick update: Had a sweep and my bishop score was 7 and 3cm dilated which is a very good sign. Had the pessary inserted at 12:30pm and I'm feeling a bit crampy front and back.

Checked the bed pad and it was bloody stained with a big patch of fluid (guessing they broke my waters)

I've been walking out and around the hospital grounds but as it's quite cold thought I'd go ahead and take a walk along the corridors. It's helping a lot and the pressure feels good!

Do you ladies think anything might happen tonight?

Sound positive, keep doing those laps to make sure things don't slow down. Also, if you can find a quiet stairwell to go up and down that should move things along too.
Good luck, can't wait to hear how things go.

That’s a fantastic sign, it looks like your body was already going in to labour so just needed a little nudge.

If I was a betting woman I’d say baby will be here early tomorrow morning!

Any news @noraluv?

@noraluv

Quick update: Had a sweep and my bishop score was 7 and 3cm dilated which is a very good sign. Had the pessary inserted at 12:30pm and I'm feeling a bit crampy front and back.

Checked the bed pad and it was bloody stained with a big patch of fluid (guessing they broke my waters)

I've been walking out and around the hospital grounds but as it's quite cold thought I'd go ahead and take a walk along the corridors. It's helping a lot and the pressure feels good!

Do you ladies think anything might happen tonight?

That's good! I bet you had your little bundle of joy now .