Being induced and terrified

[TheseAreMyGoodPants]

Has anyone else been induced due to reduced fetal movements and having a previously small baby?

I'm 37+5 with #2. I'm already in slow labour but have had repeated instances of reduced movement since 28 weeks (five in total including two in the past week). I've also had a previous SGA baby and at my last growth scan baby's growth had also started to slow. He's always been quite happy on the monitors but due to the above factors consultant thinks the best thing is to induce me.

I am terrified 😭 You always hear horror stories of people being induced!

I had two inductions and whilst they weren't horrific they just didn't really go anywhere. With you being in labour already I don't think that's likely to be a problem, the drip can make things very painful though so if they want to put you on it consider getting the epidural sited first

Hi @TheseAreMyGoodPants
I was induced on Saturday with DD2 due to pre-eclampsia at 37 weeks exactly! It went brilliantly. I also had preeclampsia with my first and her growth dropped by over 50 centiles.
My induction on Saturday was great, I had an examination and they could break my waters - Id been having cramps for a few days. I then had drip and epidural once I could feel contractions (very mild contractions that I could breathe through).
it took 4/5 hours to get to 4 contractions in 10 minutes then baby was born 2 hours later in 3 pushes. Very positive experience.
All the best for your induction! 😊

I was induced with both DC, my first due to reduced movements.

I haven’t gone into labour naturally so I don’t have anything to compare being induced with.

It was ‘fine’ - in as much as labour hurts like crap, and so fine isn’t really fine!

The big bonus with being induced is that you’re there, being monitored and with the specialists fully on hand to keep an eye on you and suppprt you.

You will be fine

Is it too late to ask for a section? I, like so many others, was induced and it was ineffective so I had a section anyway. Was exhausted by then and going for a section earlier would have been much better.

I was induced at 38 weeks and was also terrified beforehand.

It was totally fine. I had the gel at 6:30pm and contractions started pretty much immediately. I was moved to the delivery ward at 1:30am and my waters were broken at 3:30am. It was only after my waters were broken that the contractions became actually painful rather than just uncomfortable. DD was born at 5:30am.
It was quicker and less painful overall than my first, non-induced, labour.

Obviously everyone's experience is different, but mine wasn't bad at all.

*37 weeks

@TheseAreMyGoodPants Sorry you’re going through this OP! I don’t have any experience of small babies/reduced movement but I was induced with DS1 due to him measuring so big. I was terrified as I’d read all the horror stories about induction.
Obviously with it being my 1st baby I have nothing to compare it to in terms of pain levels etc but it was honestly fine ❤️ It took a pretty long time to get things started (I was told that very normal for 1st time inductions and that it’s usually much faster if you have been through labour before as your body knows why to do!) and it was during the lockdowns so I wasn’t allowed anyone with me so that’s why really sticks in my mind as the “worst part” tbh!
I actually liked the fact that baby was being constantly monitored.

The only real advice I would give is to make sure you’re happy with the midwife that is with you during your induction. The one I had at the beginning was an older lady and was very forceful in her opinions - it was as if now that it was an induction that all my birth preferences no longer mattered and she was in charge. I kept having to ask her to tell me what she was doing etc because she wasn’t even talking to me and was just doing whatever she liked. Didn’t ask permission for examinations etc. I then had specifically told her that I wanted to see how things went and then I would ask for pain relief as and when I wanted/needed it. She actually refused to start me on the drip telling me that I “wasn’t allowed” until I had an epidural because I “wouldn’t cope and would make my baby distressed”. At this point I asked for a new midwife because I just didn’t feel comfortable with her. I felt anxious and out of control and just scared tbh.
An absolute angel of a midwife came and took over and I instantly felt more in control and listened to. Despite it being an induction and some things obviously being very outwith my control she was still very keen on me having my preferences heard and stuck to as much as possible. She clearly explained every stage or process and gave me the risks and benefits, allowing me to make my own decisions. I instantly felt relaxed (or as relaxed as I could be in active labour 😅). My DS ended up being born using gas & air, I needed no iterventions and had a very minor internal tear thy required a couple of dissolving stitches.

Had I gone through the whole induction with the first midwife I really don’t think I’d have had the positive experience that I did have so please remember that despite it being an induction, you’re still in control ❤️