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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

After three doses of prostin I am only 1cm dilated...

35 replies

MissingMyHeels · 14/03/2008 20:44

and I have self discharged from hospital as I am having no contractions and haven't had any. Most that has happened is I feel a bit crampy and I only had 2.5 hours sleep on the ante-natal ward so hoping to get my head down for a bit.

I have just had a warm bath and looking forward to a decent nights sleep and then I am supposed to be going back in tomorrow to start the process again. That's another three doses of prostin... Has anyone had this?

I really can't see it working as my Bishops Score was only 3 at 6am this morning and I haven't been told it since. I hadn't heard of having SIX doses of prostin and wondered if anyone is aware of the value of this?

Also completely mentally worn down and not sure I want to go through all of this again for it only to fail. If I decided I wanted a caesarean, how would I go about getting one? Given the high risk of having one as a first timer being induced I am tempted to skip out the middle bits, well, would at least like to be on an even footing when I speak to the consultant in the morning.

ANY help or advice appreciated!!

OP posts:
fingerwoman · 14/03/2008 20:46

what's the history? why are you being induced?

Upsidedowncake · 14/03/2008 20:48

Oh Missing my heels, [hugs] I completely feel for you. I had an induction that went on for three days but DS did eventually come out the regular way.

I hope you get a good night's sleep tonight. THey broke my waters when I was 1cm dilated after three doses of prostin. Eventually, several hours of syntocinon worked - after I had an epidural and was able to fall asleep.

xxxx

Original poster
MissingMyHeels · 14/03/2008 20:51

I am overdue, 10 days. No real history, women in my family often follow this pattern of a 4/5 day induction followed by emergency cs but have been trying not to resign myself to the same fate.

I am just so tired - in every respect, I just want this all to be over. I am worried sick that something is going to go wrong, a good friend recently lost a baby 41 weeks and I have been a paranoid wreck ever since. Saw two women come in for induction who are as we speak now in the delivery suite - just keep crying as it doesn't seem fair

I'm well aware I may not be being completely rational.

OP posts:
maxbear · 14/03/2008 20:51

Why not ask for 48 hours 'off' then try again. They could scan you to check that little one is ok and if necessary they could monitor you tomorrow, a couple more days might be just what you need. Fwiw lots of women who have had prostin have spontanous rupture of membranes, so relax this evening, have a glass of wine and hopefully things might start off for you. (oh and er...sleep on a towel )

fingerwoman · 14/03/2008 20:53

I would ditto maxbear,.
I strongly believe that babies will come when they are ready. and given that you have a family history of overdue babies, and unsuccessful inductions then all the more reason to believe that maybe you "cook" yours a lkittle bit longer than the average person.

would def ask for a break, and just go with monitoring to make sure baby is ok.
good luck with it all though

Ceolas · 14/03/2008 20:54

If there's no other history, the 4/5 day induction pattern might indicate you grow your babies for a long time

I'd definitely ask for monitoring for a couple of days and see how things go. Sounds like baby's not ready yet!

hoxtonchick · 14/03/2008 20:55

prostin did very little for me (2 babies, 2 inductions) - things only really got going once i had my waters broken. is there any chance they would be able to do this?

northender · 14/03/2008 20:55

I was in a similar situation to you and went down the cs route when they threatened a fifth dose of prostin. I really feel for you, if you decide you want a cs then have someone else with you to speak up for you. I had a midwife that shift who spoke to the doctor and really backed me up.

From what I remember (it was 6 years ago) the Bishops score is really relevant, mine hadn't changed from 1 after all that prostin so it wasn't likely to with anymore.

Take care tonight.

Lizzer · 14/03/2008 20:57

Get some sleep and reeeeeeelax, when I was induced for being overdue they offered me sleeping tablets (obv safe ones) I've been induced twice now, the first time I was given the gel 3 times then put on the oxytocin drip (as my waters had gone) would they consider that as an option? It was a really quick labour once i got going with the drip but was waiting 3 days with only mild twinges... I know how you feel, bless

Not being horrible to those who've had c/s but do you really want the 6 weeks of not driving, healing etc if you can avoid it? Plus the immense satisfaction in delivering your own baby.

I hope it gets going for you soon, no matter how it happens you'll be snuggled up with your lo soon..

MrsMattie · 14/03/2008 20:57

MissingMyHeels - had very similar experience. Going home was the best thing you could do - it's going to give you the best chance of labour starting spontaneously, trust me. My advice would be to go for the next doses of prostin as you have planned and then reassess the situation. Don't rush into any decisions regarding c-section, as tempting as it may be now (feeling worn down, anxious, wanting to get things moving...I've been there!). If the next doses don't work you have two choices - go home and continue your pregnancy under 'expectant management' (regular checks on you and the baby to make sure everything is OK - you can go up to about 43 weeks if you choose to, although you might have to battle a bit as consultants often don't like this...), or go for an elective c-section. I 'gave in' too quickly because I was tired of being strapped to a monitor in a dingy, noisy antenbatal ward... and had a c-section after the fourth dose of prostin failed. Wish I had insisted on going home and waiting it out just a little longer to see if my body would start things naturally. Remember - due dates aren't always accurate. It could be that you aren't overdue at all. Whatever happens, DO NOT let the hospital pressurise you into anything. Unless there is a medical emergency regarding the health of you or your baby, you can take some time to reach any decisions you might need to make.

Aitch · 14/03/2008 20:58

if you can sleep, sleep, you poor thing. i think max's plan sounds good, so long as you're confident that everything's okay. your friend's situation must be scaring the shit out of you, i can see why getting it over with once and for all is appealing. you must do whatever you need to, but for now try to get your head down.

MrsMattie · 14/03/2008 20:58

p.s. re: the previous poster - if you are less than 2-3 cm dilated and your waters are still intact, they won't put you on a drip.

BroccoliSpears · 14/03/2008 21:00

I was never offered a 3rd dose of prostything. After two they went straight on to an injection (or drip I think?) to force me to have contractions. Then they manually broke my waters. Then they finally hauled her out with forceps. The whole thing was 32 hours start to finish.

Hope you get some rest and really wishing you a good labour.

BroccoliSpears · 14/03/2008 21:01

Oh, sorry, slow posting.

Original poster
MissingMyHeels · 14/03/2008 21:01

They won't break my waters yet as it's not policy to do so until a Bishops Score of 5 is reached. As I have started the induction process I can't really just walk away from it, they let me out on the provision I come back tomorrow afternoon and to be honest, they've scared the bejesus out of me that I am risking my/the baby's health by coming home.

Hyperstimulated uterus can cause foetal distress and this can happen as a consequence of prostin, I've been told about 7 bazillion times this evening!

Guess I will just try and relax and sleep and hope that things are looking better tomorrow. Will try and persuade my partner to back me on the cs point, I am sure I will get to the point where enough is enough! I have a slight problem with doctors at the moment as I seem to cry lots every time they are near me!

OP posts:
fingerwoman · 14/03/2008 21:04

Hyperstimulated uterus can cause foetal distress and this can happen as a consequence of prostin, I've been told about 7 bazillion times this evening!

and yet they want to keep giving more and more and let you wait it out? hmm health professionals have a lot to answer for in my book.

you do not have to continue with induction just because you have started it. the decisions are YOURS to make. not theirs.
you have to be informed, and make the right decision for you. not the decision you think they want you to make.

Original poster
MissingMyHeels · 14/03/2008 21:10

I stupidly hadn't even thought about it like that fingerwoman! A very good point.

Oh and the little monkey has turned back to back after being LOA for my entire pregnancy.

Thanks for all for sharing your experiences, good to know I am not totally abnormal in the feelings of complete despair

OP posts:
maxbear · 14/03/2008 21:15

You do not have to continue with induction, if prostin was going to cause hyperstimulation it would have probably already done so. If you feel hyperstimulated you are going to go back aren't you. If they had broken your waters then yes at that point it would be advisable not to just leave it. I used to work in a unit where the consultant was always saying if the induction is not working you should constantly reassess if you need to be doing it and she said to always think very carefully before doing an ARM due to the fact that once that is done you really have comitted yourself. I can't believe they gave you a hard time about going home, I have come accross several women who have wanted to stay in in your situation and who have been advised to go home for 24 or 48 hours.

fingerwoman · 14/03/2008 21:16

haha LO is already up to mischief then, bless.

I do hope it all goes well for you, but really would urge you to think ALL of your options through carefully,.
it can be risky going "overdue", but if you naturally carry babies for longer then you aren't technically overdue.
there are a lot of risks associated with induced labours and c-sections as well, so bear that in mind too.

anyway, you should probably get some sleep (if you can) to prepare you for whatever you decide to do tomorrow

MrsMattie · 14/03/2008 21:19

You can do whatever you want to do t this stage, MMH. If the induction fails, then nothing has changed with you and your body and baby, therefore you certainly do NOT have to feel pressurised to stay in hospital and have any more intervention unless you feel you want to. This is a common misconception with first time mums, especially - that having some intervention means you have to go the whole hog.

maxbear · 14/03/2008 21:21

Agree with fingerwoman, GO AWAY. Obviously meant in the nicest possible way. Have a crawl round on your hands and knees, glass of wine, some chocolate, bit of sleep. (don't bother with the sex, obviously prostaglandins aren't doing what they should at the moment anyway ) Try to relax as much as possible. I bet you that your waters will go at about 2am

Wilkie · 14/03/2008 21:25

Sorry - just interested to read this thread.

Can you demand a c/s in this situation or not?

Smurfs · 14/03/2008 21:25

No experience of this - 2 electives, but just wanted to say I hope you get some rest and your little one decides that tomorrow is the day for an appearance. Best wishes

Ceolas · 14/03/2008 21:27

Back to back's not the end of the world. I had 3 babies like this. Very do-able

MrsMattie · 14/03/2008 21:31

Yes, you can usually opt for elective at this stage@Wilkie.