Induction because low amniotic fluid

[HappyBump]

Hi
I am scheduled to have an induction on Monday night since by doc is worried that my fluid levels are low. I will be 40+1. The baby is measuring around 7lbs and seems healthy and she thinks it is better to get the baby out sooner rather than waiting since all seems to be well.

My doc says she will insert a tablet to get it all started on Monday night and then see how I progress. If I don't start labour by myself then she will put another tablet/or break my waters.

Has anyone been through this?

My concerns are that I may end up with a c-section because I read somewhere that inductions often end up with c-sections ...

I had a induction at 36 wks due to a similar problem. I was given a drip to induce as opposed to a tablet which I think works faster but not sure. Anyway all went well and delivered naturally with no problems what so ever. Hope all goes well.

Tanktop, thanks for the reassurance.
One other question.
Does the labour happen quicker because of induction ... therefore more painful. I guess since this is my first I won't have anything to compare it to, but I just wondered ...

This happened to me at 39 weeks.

I had a tablet which made no real difference. They tried another six hours later, no effect.
Six hours after that they broke my waters and the baby flew out. So although it was a long wait labour was fast and pretty good.

I had a drip to induce in my first and third labours and I di find that it restricted my movemnent. They should be able to turnthe drip down or in the case of my third off if labour becomes fast or too painful.

Take stuff in to keep you occupied, we found that we had quite a lot of waiting around.

Hope it all goes well

Happybump, so far this is my only experience of childbirth so have nothing to compare it to. Overall I found given birth easier that I expected (easy to say that now). The actually delivery was very quick. I was put on the drip around 11ish and for the first 3/4 hours the pain wasn't too bad at all. Now, the last hour before I was allowed to push the contractions were painful and back to back. I was eventually taken into the delivery room at 5pm and dd was born at 5.20pm. Hope it's the same for you.

Probably should add dd was small at only 5lbs so this possible made the actually delivery quicker. Not sure though.

I was induced 3 week ago due to premature rupture of waters (at 36 weeks), so like you was worried due to horror stories surrounding induced births. I made sure I was prepared for the worst but actually had a very positive experience.

What happens is:

• if you are not at all dilated, they will try and start you off with gels inserted into vagina. This gets the cervix 'ripe' and it starts to open up - once it is, they then get things moving with a Syntocin/Oxytocin drip (which is the hormone you naturally produce when you go into labour, and it's this that starts the contractions).
• I was 3cm dilated by the time I went in, so the skipped the gels and put me straight on the drip. They give up to three doses of the gels, each 6 hours apart, hence it can take a while before you actually go into labour.
• They can also do a 'sweep' to kick-start things and break your waters - though they might not in your case if the fluid levels are low.
• They start off giving you small doses of the drip and gradually increase it until you are having 4 contractions every ten minutes - you're then in established labour.
• There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to move around, get out of bed etc. despite the drip and the monitor that;s strapped to your belly. I found lying or sitting too painful and wanted to be on the floor (on a mat), on all fours, kneeling against the bed or standing. Insist if they tell you to stay in bed (unless that;s where you want to be!), as moving around really helps manage the pain.
• I personally didn't find the pain too bad, TBH, but did have a few moments of 'maybe I could have a c-section or an epidural or, in fact, any hard drugs!!', and went for G&A and pethidine in the end
• I was done in 10.5 hours, and about 6 hours were 'hard', with contractions coming thick and fast. Time did pass quickly, though!
• I had no other intervention and only one very small graze, so all my fears of intervention, c-section etc. didn't come true.
• I asked in my birth plan for mw to give me lots of positive encouragement and to tell me how well I was doing - sad, but it really helped me get through it!
• The mw asked if she could turn up the drip just I was pushing - it's quite common for contractions to slow down at this point so turning the drip up to kick-start things was an inspired decision and meant the pushing stage didn't go on forever.
• I don't think thy turn the drip down/off if it's your first labour - I vaguely remember reading that somewhere (don't know why though) and they def won't take you off the drip if it's your first (again, don't know why)

Read up, prepare for all eventualities, face up to your fears, get your partner on side, talk to the hospital/mw if you can, sort out your birthplan and take one contraction at a time - each contraction brings you closer to your baby.

Good luck!

wow! such great/informative responses and so quick!
Thank you so much.

wow! such great/informative responses and so quick!
Thank you so much.

I was induced with both my babies- with the first I had a vaginal birth, with the second I ended up having the C-section as his heartbeat went down. Tbh I didn't find it was such a big deal having the section; both babies were just as good, and in the end the baby is a lot more exciting than the birth. The vaginal birth was more painful than the caesarian, but not unbearably so.

i was induced with the tablet, had one in the evening which didn't do much, was still only 1cm so had another in the morning and walked around for a couple of hours and went in to labour, progressed on my own, waters broke by themselves and didn't need the drip, got through on gas and air although i did request pethedine at one point it was a bit late to have it and decided not to bother and once i oculd push i felt the pain was more manageable as you're able to do something about it rather than just contracting. Sure you'll be fine, just remember the main thing is to relax, breathe and keep moving!

Hello
Just to let you know that the induction was successful .

I was given the tablet at 11pm on Monday night, by 1.30am I started having contractions, I felt the contractions were very strong (having had no experience of contractions before) so I a pethedine injection because I was told the labour was likely to last for about 12 hours ... ... then very quickly I had lots more contractions and went from 1cm dilated to 8cm in about an hour, one on top of the other (continuous really!). Labour was a bit of a blur because of the pethedine which is a bit of a shame and I think it was hard for DH to see me a "bit out of it".
Anyway, George arrived at 3.16am a little bit drowsy but healthy.

So, my fears of a c-section didn't happen, hurrah!! and apparently I react well to the induction tablet...

Thanks all for your posts

forgot to say he weighs 6lb2oz and lucky we got him out because there were no waters to break ...

congratulations happybump!!! glad you've got your precious little one and everything went ok, any ideas on names yet?

Congratulations. Sounds like it went really well

yes, we've named him George Findlay.

Georgeous George ... sorry I am a bit smitten!

lovely name

Congratulations. So glad to hear all went well. Enjoy wee George. x