Induction questions

[Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles]

Hello!

I'm due to be induced on Tuesday. Never been induced before so just wondered if someone could answer a couple of questions-didn't think to ask the midwife at the time!

1. Are partners usually allowed in from the beginning?

1. Will they initially do a sweep and break membranes straight away if they can? Or do they always start with the gel regardless?

1. Can you agree to the gel/ membrane rupture but then decline the drip? I've heard horrible things about that so I'm not sure i would want it. Would it be possible to request a section at this stage, or is it a "once you've started you can't stop" situation?

Thanks!

Hey @Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles I'm gonna follow this thread as interested too!

When I had mine they wouldn't let my partner in until they moved me to the delivery suite but I think different trusts have different rules. I didn't have a sweep just went straight to the pessary.
I was told I could refuse the drip if I wanted to but, to be honest I didn't want to be stuck in hospital waiting to see if labour started on its own and my waters had already gone after the pessary so I had it.

It will vary. My trust (Oxfordshire) was doing the following in June when I hade my last baby (4th induction) and if I were you I'd call your MW or the induction ward and ask the procedure because it is probably different. I've had 4 inductions and I've found them absolutely shocking at explaining the process.

Oxfordshire was doing the following

Day 1. Come in with partner to be assessed. If cervix less than 3cm dilated insert balloon catheter and in the majority of cases then send the woman home until the following day.
If more than 3cm there was no point in the catheter so would have a sweep and be sent home.

Day 2. If you hadn't gone into labour overnight, woman would be dropped off and partner not allowed in until there was a space on delivery suite. So my husband dropped me at 730/8 and came back at 2pm when I was transferred to delivery for my waters to be broken.

With DC3 and DC4 the procedure was slightly different in that I just came in and they broke my waters, no preassessment the day before.

With DC1 20yrs ago my ex was also not allowed to stay with me on the induction ward until I was transferred to delivery suite either so I don't know how much is covid.

Drip. I dont know. I had a drip induction with my 1st and so when they broke my waters with #4 and nothing happened they wanted to put me on a drip. I said I would only have it if I had an epidural in and working before they started the drip. This was fine, I did have a 6hr wait for an epidural but as I wasn't in labour it was fine.

Good luck for Tuesday!

Ah @Bananapancakes6 I guess the sweep didn't quite do the trick then! Have you got an induction date?

Thanks @Sailor2009 and @burningbenchs, so far I haven't really been told anything so that's very helpful still a couple of days for him to appear of his own accord so hopefully he will! But not showing any signs of budging

@Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles all quiet here 🥴 I don't have an induction date as yet, will find out on Wednesday.

Really interesting hearing about the process, thank you @Sailor2009 and @BurningBenches

When I had to he induced with my first baby I went in expecting to be admitted but all they did was the pre induction checks and put me on monitoring for an hour (no one told me they wouldn't be doing the actual induction that day!) They examined me and my waters were bulging so said to come back when called, when there was a space on delivery suite. I got a call at 12pm the next day, went in and they popped my waters at 1pm, baby in my arms 4h later.

@Bananapancakes6 my 3rd and 5th were similar

Waters broken and baby born 2hrs later.

Dc4 was induced for size at 40wks which was early for me so whilst I was dilated enough to have my waters broken, nothing happened and I needed the drip.

I would say that 3, 4 and 5 were all very straightforward births despite being induced.