Awful induction or was it just me??

[Mum2Be93]

I've recently had a baby, I was 42 weeks so I had an induction which wasn't what I had hoped for...
I know "birth plans" aren't really plans and more guidelines but I was set on going to a birth centre as hospitals scare me and literally everything I'd wanted/not wanted in my birth plan went wrong.
So having excepted by 42 weeks the birth centre was out I rang the hospital to arrange the induction which my midwife said would be in the morning, a propess pessary or Dilapan (which is more natural) to get me to 2cm so they could break my waters and let things happen naturally. So not what I'd planned but still sounded okay...
What actually happened.. Rang the hospital, was told I couldn't come in the morning as they were too busy so to come in at 6pm to get started then I could go home while we waited for things to start.
Got to the hospital and was taken to my room?! I'm like why do I need a room I'm going home?? Oh sweetheart the midwife goes your in here now until you deliver.
Thank God I'd brought my hospital bag although didn't have everything as thought I was going home.. But nevermind I smiled and excepted it, then having read up and decided I wanted to try dilapan as there's no hormones so it's more natural I was then told they didn't have it so it was propess sigh that was 7pm, by 1am contractions had started, by 3am they were lasting a minute every 3-5minutes. When I told the midwife she said it couldn't be as I wasn't huffing and puffing enough!! By 5/6 I was in agony and begging for painkillers all I got was paracetamol and told I couldn't have anything stronger. I was in such pain I was vomiting, couldn't eat, forgot to drink, and pleading for help, eventually the annoyed midwife said I could have some dihydracodiene as it was too early for paracetamol.
I kept telling them I was having strong contractions and was told the pessary was staying in for 24hrs and I'd not be checked before that!! By 3pm I was scared and panicking as I'd started bleeding, called for someone, the midwife came and was annoyed but said she'd check me, yanked out the pessary said there was nothing shoved it back in and left...
I'm in agony, scared, I feel totally helpless and ready to give up because I don't know how much longer I can last as I can't even make it to the toilet without doubling over on the floor. Around 5, I feel this huge push like something is coming out, terrified I struggle to the toilet the pessary had been forced out with a load of blood.. I yell to my partner who calls for help, the angry midwife eventually turns up, then annoyed more because I can't move quickly from the toilet to the bed because my contractions are almost constant at this point, when she eventually takes a look, barks at me when this happened?!! As I'm 6cm dilated and she stormed out saying she'll have to tell delivery.... 15/20mins later there is no sign of anyone I'm panicking as I feel like I need to push my partner runs into the hall to get help and luckily finds someone from delivery who comes in looks at me and says we'll rush you up straight away. Later found out the midwife had been handing over and going home instead of getting delivery for me so lucky my partner found someone.
Finally get some pain relief in delivery suite! By the time I got there I was dehydrated and needed a drip and catheter, was still bleeding, delivered naturally but started heavily bleeding and had around 10 people rushing around and over an hour of stitching..
Was this normal, was I just really nieve???
Has this happened to anyone else, I feel like maybe I was just totally unprepared and maybe that's how it was meant to go???

So sorry that you've had such an awful experience.

I would get in touch with the Birth Trauma Association and talk through your experience and I know it's early days but if you're ever thinking of having another there are things that can help you feel more in charge like a Doula.

Congratulations on your new LO too

I was induced for my second delivery and i did find it incredibly painful compared to my first naturally occurring labour. I also suddenly got to 7cm dilated and couldn't sit down I was in so much pain, midwife who was nearby hadn't believed me several times about the intensity of the contractions - I had to ring the bell and ask for someone else. There was almost no break between contractions which I found very hard to deal with as my first labour was long and slow but the pain was not so intense.

Everyone has different pain thresholds and deals with pain in different ways. I'm sorry you had such a horrible experience. You can talk it through with your community midwives and if you feel there was neglect you can make a complaint to your hospital trust. It will be taken seriously.

I found that with the contractions they were almost nonstop, then also not being believed about the pain and with it being my first it was really scary as I had no idea what to expect and they didn't offer any support or explain what was going to happen

Definitely not normally. It honestly sounds like your hospital and care was shit. I would be speaking to PALs and putting in a complaint.

I was induced with dd via pessary which I had an allergic reaction to (but that wasn't the hosptials fault) they couldn't have been nicer and more caring.

Sorry you had such a crappy experience @Mum2Be93

I've had 4 inductions, you were treated awfully.

After the 1st one I was very insistent when I wanted an epidural! The 4th one I was far more relaxed and it was fine with the tens machine plus gas & air.

Yes the continuous close together contractions are hard to cope with

@PritiPatelsMaker
Thank you!
And thanks for the link I will try them, to be honest although I know it's early days but I had really wanted a second baby but after my experience I now don't feel like I could do it again... I feel cheated as it should have been a really happy time and it was just scary and traumatic. I'm just thankful my baby was healthy at least

Not normal at all. Appalling treatment. Please complain to the relevant parties. Some women are not fit to be midwives. Hope you're recovering ok x

Congrats on your baby

And I'm so sorry for experience. That isn't normal and it sounds horrific 😭
When your up to it you need to raise a complaint with PALs.

I would also speak about this with your HV as it could have lasting affects on you so to make sure you have the after care you need.

That sounds terrifying. I was also induced and had similar contractions, only my midwife said they weren't proper contractions but an irritable uterus, and that it would be another 5-6 hours before they'd check again. Two hours later I had my baby. I found it so hard not knowing what to believe, what was going on or how long it would last. I'm due my second in October and have to say the mental health team this time have been great, and an enhanced birth plan is making me feel slightly more confident. Sorry you had to go through that.

@RandomMess silly question, but at what point were you aloud pain relief? I thought when you were having strong painful contractions you would get something, like gas and air then go from there.
But I was told I could only have paracetamol then eventually some codeine and nothing else until I was in the delivery suite, is this normal??

That sounds awful I'm sorry you had a rough time. I was never induced with my first but I experienced not being believed! I was quite young and felt like they just wasn't listening to me, kept refusing me an epidural after begging for one, I was so tired and just wanted to sleep. In the end I was given an epidural but only because my cervix had swollen and the senior midwife said "oh well she'll have to have one now won't she" absolute cow she was

Also as soon as I was 4cm they allowed me gas and air, I'm not sure why you was being denied pain relief ? It sounds almost barbaric

Hmmm I think I was allowed paracetamol on the antenatal ward.

Obviously tens machine I provided so was on asap.

Had to be in established labour to go up to delivery and I was insisting on epidural before that tbh.

With my last 2 I was induced on the delivery ward so got gas and air as soon as I needed. Got the epidural after they broke my waters, obviously with the last one I never wanted/needed an epidural.

They sound awful, especially that midwife!

I got induced at 38 weeks due to GD. First round of pessary's didn't work so I got sent off the indecision ward by the most vile midwife. The way she spoke to me was disgusting and I said to her face don't you dare come near me again as I'm not accepting any help or assistance from someone so unprofessional as you. I also stated this to the other lovey midwives who made sure she wants in my care plan what so ever. She was so fucking rude she made me cry. I got sent to a ward with people literally trying to keep their babies inside of them and some of the women were really poorly.

Second lot of pessaries worked as I had to wait 24hrs but had regular monitoring to check on DS. This was every few hours even being woke up to check on a Doppler etc. Did you not have this?

You should raise this with PALS. Your care doesn't sound right and you were mistreated and neglected. We were not allowed home once induction started because of the checks etc.

No that is not normal. I had gas and air for every pessary insertion because I found it too painful. Once they realised I was in labour and popped my waters I had gas and air right up until I gave birth.

Induction not indecision

oh OP im Sorry this happened to you. I had a similar experience with my first. Non- stop contractions, and no one believed me about the pain. I second going to speak to someone about your experience. My local authority prioritise new mums for CBT/ counselling, you can self refer or go through your GP.

if it helps, I’ve had 4 children and each one has been completely different. So try not to worry about next time. Each one is different. But more over don’t listen to anyone (um…like I did) who say’s ‘yeah but you’ve got your baby now’ - as that just completely ignores and delegitimises what you’ve been through. The two things stand separate: you have a wonderful baby and you had a difficult time ( and then had to crack on with looking after a new born) You’re a fucking hero matey. Xx

Ooh thats worth knowing if I do it again will get a tens machine, did you find it helped?
I kept asking and being told I couldn't have anything else.
Something I also don't understand, I was 2cm when they put the pessary in, but my midwife said they only put the pessary in to get you to 2cm to break your waters and then see if you progress naturally was this your experience or something you had been told?

My midwife was very similar - left me alone, told me off for not coping well with pain (induced on drip without any pain relief or g & a so yes, it did hurt actually!). I think it was her attitude rather than the poor induction itself that made a difference. I hope you can get some answers. 💐

Sorry you had this experience, you’ve done nothing wrong, you were let down.

A big problem in the way midwives operate is they won’t give you pain relief until they consider you to be in ‘active labour’ - so if they don’t believe your having regular contractions/are 4cm dilated they withhold pain relief. It’s a shit system that means loads of women get barbaric care.

I had a different sort of birth to you but had similar probs with no pain relief because I wasn’t noisy during contractions I just went quiet and into myself so nobody believed me. When I was getting my cervix dilation assessed it kept jumping up and down, it’s ridiculous that access to pain relief is granted based on that. I was so traumatised afterwards I got to a point where I just wanted to die and no one would help me.

Hope you make a swift recovery and complain if you feel able to. I couldn’t face it. I did go to a birth debrief which I know lots of Mums have found helpful but I just felt it was a bit of an arse covering exercise.

Make sure you get a review of this-all hospitals will have a 'birth reflections' session available which I found so helpful.

I spent 1.5 hours going over my 128 pages of notes from my first baby. It was really enlightening and I could ask questions on why certain decisions were made. It meant I was so much better informed the second time around. And it was also super cathartic!! The hospital took direction action against one midwife as the notes were not consistent with what happened (epidural failed at 1am and I was BEGGING to see someone. Midwife kept saying she'd called someone but clearly didn't believe me-notes say I didn't comment on issues with epidural until 6 hours later)

I've been induced twice. First was not quite as bad as yours but not great. Second was amazing as I was much more in control and demanded certain things

In my experience once the pessary has you at 2am then they can break your waters. It's common to have an epidural before this point. Then on the drip etc. I think it's an upheld fact that contractions from the drip are more intense and painful than 'naturally occurring' contractions

I'm really sorry you went through this OP

I thought the tens machine was rubbish until the batteries ran out 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I had 2 indictions that took 3 pessaries to get me dilated enough to break my waters, 2 much shorter ones where my waters broke on their own.

My last labour was officially 1 min, 6 hours of pains not doing anything, 5 hours of being glued to gas & air then I went 8cm, crowned, delivered in 3 contractions. That's me though my body struggles to get into established labour. The 2 that took ages I was only 41/40 weeks, the faster ones 42+3/42 weeks.

The bare bones of your experience is actually quite normal, the fact that the pessary was effective and that you didn't need pictocin is definitely a good thing. Being 6cm doesn't necessarily mean you're ready to give birth even if you want to push, a lot of women have epidurals at that point, sometimes labour slows, sometimes you can go from 6cm to 10cm in 5 minutes. I'm guessing this may be a first birth? She might have thought you had ages to go - guidelines are half a cm dilated every hour for baby number 1. HOWEVER the fact that she didn't reassure you and didn't explain this to you/your partner is unprofessional. I would make a complaint about her behaviour/attitude.

Generally though inductions ARE painful, uncomfortable and unpredictable and most often they are unavoidable. If your body doesn't naturally go into labour there's nothing else you can do, going over your due date and letting your body/baby decide when sounds lovely and romantic but in reality the placenta and umbilical cord become less effective and baby is still growing which makes it harder for a woman to give birth vaginally. This is why a lot of women opt for c sections to avoid the process, pain and the uncertainty of it all. I'm too much of a chicken to go for a section but I will always take an epidural.

I've had two births so far (third next month) my first was easy, my second was NOT, second was 10lbs 6oz delivered vaginally, I was induced and it was a back to back labour. I remember thinking "nope, I will never do this again" and yet here we are 4 years later and 6 weeks away from the big day. The happiest moment of birth is knowing it's over, you and your baby got through it, and you did. No one can tell you what birth is like, and you would never have believed it anyway but you did it, and you have a beautiful baby to show for it. You should be proud of yourself. A second birth in the future may well be a lot easier than this one, you live and learn, your experience will shape what you want if there is a next time.

Take care of yourself by the way, you've been through a lot.

I was induced at 36+3 as I had pre eclampsia, was given the gel & left overnight, started contracting during the night. My mum & husband returned the next morning & was asking for pain relief but was refused so put on tens machine & walked around. A bed was found on labour ward at 7.00pm & examined, I was 2 cm, my waters were broken & a sweep done, it was agony despite gas & air, within 20 minutes I was in agony, couldn't speak, gas & air was making me feel sick, begged for an epidural but was told it would be at least 2 hours, I couldn't sit, lay or stand up, spent time on my hands & knees, Was screaming in pain, got told to be quiet & stop showing off by midwife, begged for pethidine or diamorphine but was refused. Eventually got epidural by 11.00pm, pain stopped as soon as drugs went in, hormone drip started. Hormone drip turned up every 2 hours, then doubled on advice of doctor. 7.00am examined 4 cm, 9.30am my mum returned. 11.00am examined 6 cm drip turned up & given fluids as dehydrated. 2.00pm examined 8cm told would likely to be able to start pushing in 2-3 hours. Examined 5.00pm had gone back to 6cm told need emcs, prepped & changed, taken to theatre at 6.00pm with my mum as not enough room for dh wheelchair, ds delivered 6.22pm, had massive pph, stitched up & taken to HDU by 7.30pm. That night developed HELLP syndrome, told there was a risk I could die as liver & kidneys failing, given 4 unit blood transfusion, spent 2 days drifting in & out of consciousness. Then dumped in a room on ante natal & never saw a midwife except to give me drugs, discharged myself 48 hours later as I could be looked after better at home.

@Whengoodtimesatthefairgobad
Yeah that is exactly what I was told and my partner even spoke up and asked for pain relief as he was timing my contractions and his app said call a midwife /get to the hospital as your in active labour. He told the midwife and showed her and she said "oh that's rubbish, ignore that and don't bother timing them until she's really huffing and puffing!"