Induction - very nervous

[Lizbiz89]

So my additional scans have said the babies growth is slowing down so they want me in for an induction. Due to go in at the end of the week. I was semi induced with my 1st baby and it was awful. Back to back contractions which then resulted in epidural and forcep/episiotomy delivery. Terrible recovery. Second baby was natural water birth and 2nd tear but good recovery.

Would be good to hear from others what to expect. I'm wondering whether to get an epidural as soon as the contractions kick off as I really don't like hospital settings and I feel pain relief will ease my anxiety. Does anyone know how they will begin the induction process as well? Anyway would be really helpful to hear from people who have been through it.

Hi @Lizbiz89
I had a balloon induction, i didn't need gas and air, dialated quite well, my contractions pain was manageable, i was given paracetamol every few hours which helped.
My baby still didn't arrive so i had my waters broken, was on Oxytocin and Epidural, 18 hrs later still no baby, i had to have a c section. Pain wise overall was ok x

@Summer2424 thanks for your reply. Was this your first baby? This will be my 3rd and my 2nd birth with my son was very fast so I'm assuming it might be the same with this one? I remember the pain was unbearable with the drip when I had my 1st so I'm not sure whether just to go straight for an epidural this time around. Feeling overwhelmed by it all tbh.

My advice to you would be not to let them near you with the drip until the epidural is in. I was so naive about inductions. I had my first naturally and really fast ( 20 mins after arriving at hospital) with no gas and air or anything. Was painful but manageable. My second they induced me because she was smaller than they wanted and I was having episodes of reduced movement. I presumed I’d only need a bit of encouragement to get me into labour but they fast tracked me through the whole process. They said I didn’t need a pessary as I was already slightly dilated when I went in ( no contractions though) so they just broke my waters, gave me two hours and when nothing happened stuck the drip up. Then all hell broke loose. I dilated almost immediately to ten cm on it. Like being electrocuted over and over. Excruciating isn’t strong enough of a word. I begged them for pain relief but they wouldn’t give anything because I was so far along. Those drips are shockingly bad, I was told ( afterwards by the consultant ) not recommended usually for women with a history of fast labours as you can get overstimulated like me. As I say, personally unless they’re prepared to put an epidural in prior to the drip I’d be refusing and wanting a c section

Hi @Lizbiz89
This was with my first baby hun, i'm due to have my second baby and will definitely go straight for the epidural. I totally understand about feeling overwhelmed. As soon as you get to the hospital let them know you want the epidural x

@toomanyleggings yes that was my first experience with the drip as well. I also have very fast active labours. It was a pain I've never felt before in my life. Excruciating. If they come near me with the drip I'm demanding an epidural straight away.

Thanks @Summer2424 . Yeah it's just been a really hard pregnancy tbh. Basically suffered with on/off ms the whole way through and now to finish it off I've got sciatica. Now this with the induction. Part of me can't wait for this to be over which I don't want to admit because pregnancy is such a gift. Anyway I'm waffling now 🤣

100% epidural straight away.

I waited to ask for one once the drip on was and I had to wait 4 hours due to emergencies. Hell on earth 😅

Hi @Lizbiz89
Totally hear you hun! I just want to get to the bit where i'm holding my baby! 😁 x

Agree with the comments re epidural. I was put on a drip and the pain was truly horrific. Also too late for epidural as dilated really quick. Just excruciating and so very wish I had an epidural done before the drip went up.

Yeah I will definitely get the epidural if they put me on the drip. In fact I will tell them that as soon as I get there so it's ready if needed 🤣. Just hoping they can start the process pretty soon after I get there so I'm not waiting around for ages. I know inductions can be very unpredictable.

I had my daughter on Sat. I ended up on the drip with my first. It was intense but quick. I didn’t ideally want to end up on it again but as soon as there was mention of it (meconium in waters) I said I ain’t having that put in until I’ve had an epidural and luckily my hospital where fine with that!
a little tip I got off loose women as well. Look at using a hair comb for coping with contractions. I used it instead of gas and air (wich I think is rubbish after a few puffs) until the last hour of my labour. For me the drip hasn’t caused any issues and has resulted in a quicker labour wich is what I wanted.
anyway a few days after and I’m sat here cuddling my nocturnal baby girl. Good luck!

I had an induction with my first. Like yours, it was very painful, hyperstimulated so no breaks between contractions. I had an epidural and wouldn't hesitate to have another if I had to be induced again.

Good luck. I hope all goes well for you.

I have had two inductions - first baby there were mistakes made, so yes I also ended up on drip then epidural and contractions were off the scale (they accidentally had the drip running at double-rate so it was pretty full on, then they moved me and the epidural slipped so I got a lot of sensation and pain back just in time to push which was both good and bad really as everything went very fast at that point. I tore and I was extremely unwell afterward which ruined first few weeks with baby).

Second induction was fab by comparison - I was induced simply because of my age and I used hypnobirthing techniques to control the pain. No drip and I didn’t ask for epidural until way too late so I did the birth on gas & air, extremely fast delivery. It was painful yes.

I definitely support getting that epidural early if you want it.

I was induced last week.
5th baby. Never had an epidural before.
I was 1-2cm so had waters broken around 10am. 2pm still no labour.
3pm drip started.
Back to back contractions, excruciating pain.
Checked me at 6pm... Still 2cm...

Was in agony, finally decided to get the epidural as I knew I couldn't cope with the pain.

4th baby... I had the drip and only gas and air and was too late by time I asked for epidural.

Got epidural this time. It was amazing. I was able to relax and watch TV for a bit and save some energy.

7pm I was in established labour 4cm finally.
Needed gas and air as I felt the pressure of baby moving down nearer to delivery but the contraction stomach pain stopped after the epi.
Had 1 top up of epi.

They checked me about 9:40 and I was 10cm. Baby born 3 pushes and less than 10 mins later.

Recommend the epidural, I've always had reservations and "managed" then asked for one with each other 4 births when it was "too late".

But it was for me a much better birth experience x

@BaybeeTammy thank you for your reply. Did you tear at all this time around? Going to ring them tomorrow to discuss as I'm not totally happy with the reason they've given for induction. However if they need me in I will definitely go for an epidural. My natural birth last time was lovely compared to my first birth with my daughter. Natural labour seems to be a much more gentle experience than induction. Congratulations on your new baby!

I was induced with 2&3. Epidurals for both. Miserable experience but all my births were a bit miserable! Third wasn’t quicker either but the midwives were so kind and it was doable. Worth it in the end obviously.
you’re doing the right thing, just focus on it all being over

You always hear that inductions are worse than spontaneous labours but for me they were both bloody awful.

With my first I had 2 pessaries, ARM, drip and epidural. The first pessary was a Monday afternoon and baby was delivered, assisted delivery (forceps) on the weds morning. Epidural from the Tuesday afternoon.

My spontaneous labour was more painful but there was no time for an epidural. Baby was back to back for some of it, it was no less painful by the time he had turned though.
Contractions started at 20:30 and delivered 23:20 (another assisted delivery, vonteuse this time). Contractions were so painful I really struggled to get out of the bath, dry, dressed and into the car to get to the hospital. Even if I'd got there sooner though there's no way I could have stayed still long enough to get the epidural.

So my experience was my spontaneous labour was actually worse. Shorter but a hell of a lot more painful.

Sorry for the horror story before your upcoming labour, just wanted to throw some balance on the inductions are worse.
Although I hyperstimulated both labours so mine may not be typical. I hear some people have lovely birth experiences. I'm not trying again for another though 😅.

I think I remember reading (during hazy newborn exhausted feeds last night) that you've already experienced both and had a better spontaneous labour experience than induction so hopefully you have another positive experience whatever way you start. Good luck.