Induction of labour

[Brownhare]

Hi,I am at 41+2 with my first baby and have an induction date booked for 42 weeks. Quite frankly am pretty scared as nothing i've read about induction seems to be very positive and end with a good labour. Having psyched myself up for a water birth i now find that i'm having to rethink everything which is really upsetting me as only have a few days to get prepared for a totally different kind of birth experience. Is it true that if induction fails they will give you a c section? Does the synthetic oxytocin really speed things up so quickly you'll need an epidural? Am so confused - any advice/help greatly appreciated. This may sound strange but i feel these induction decisions are putting up a barrier between me and the baby at a time when we should be getting closer and bonding. Am trying not to feel like somehow i'm already putting pressure on myself and do just want a healthy baby above all else but this is not how i envisaged going into labour. The scan has shown that all is ok - placenta working fine, good blood flow to baby and not a huge baby either. Can i wait for longer?

Hello Brownhare - I really think every experience of induction is so variable and depends on a multitude of factors. My sister was induced and had 4 hour labour, no problems, no pain relief, no stitches/tearing etc. I had 13 hours of Oxytocin and had no progress whatsoever! Cervix still closed, baby not engaged one bit - I did end up with a section as I had meconium (sp). If you want to hold on longer I think you are perfectly able to do so - others on here have done this successfully and will prob comment. I have to say, even the failed induction was so exciting and the section was absolutely fine too.

Hi brown

Firstly, yes, if you don't want to be induced you can refuse and opt for daily monitoring in hospital, though obviously this can carry risks that you need to be very aware of. As long as you are happy that everything is fine, then you do not need to be induced.

I have been induced twice. First time with the gel, 12 hour labour, 15 minutes pushing, I found it very scarey (although it wasn't half as bad as things I have heard about since) I had pethadine which I have vowed never to have again. I also did have an epidural put in, but it didn't work.

Second induction was, absolutely perfect, I still can't describe just how much I loved it! 2 hour labour, 4 minutes of pushing, no pain relief (well about 4 puffs on the G&A), was just really really good (I know I sound a bit odd right now!!)

You are right that if the induction doesn't work, it would end in a CS, and if you are induced with the drip it can make things go very quickly, and most people do scream blue murder for an epidural. However any form of induction can do the same, and if I can get through it with using no pain relief, anyone can!

If you do a search on MN you will find many story's similar to mine, induction doesn't always mean medicalised past the point of putting a bit of gel in. I wasn't strapped to a table and constantly monitored. It really isn't as bad as some would have you believe. But I will keep my fingers crossed that you get going on your own, and if not that you have as good an experience as I did

Hi brownhare

I was induced recently and had two doses of prostaglandin, which got things going in a small way, but the doctors did not want to wait, so they put me on a syntocinon drip. I wish I'd listened to my 2 dear friends whod said before - get an epidural in this case. I didn't and drip really brought on galloping contractions which were hell. Had an em caesarean in the end.

In hindsight, I'd have opted for expectant management as I think they monitored me excessively and did not give me the space and time to labour and give birth naturally.

Sorry not to proffer a more positive view and as strangetown said, experiences are variable, but I believe my baby would have come naturally sometime in week 42 if I'd let things be x

Brown,

I was induced at 38 weeks for medical reasons. My induction went like this.

8pm on Friday-gel put in for 12 hours
8am on Saturday-waters broken and syntocin drip put in.
1pm on Saturday- started to feel contractions
5pm on Saturday- 4 cm dilated
6pm on Saturday-10 cm dilated
8:12pm Saturday-Ds1 was born.

I would do it all again tomorrow if I could.

I didn't use any pain relief other than hypnobirthing techniques and it was a really wonderful experience, and as far as pain is concerned it was just as painful (if not less) as my natural labor with ds2. I was monitored throughout but I had a walking monitor so I was able to move around.

I hope this helps. Just know that there are a lot of positive inductions out there.

Congratulations and good luck!

i was induced with dd1 due to complications, i was 37+3 and it went like this-

11am- ctg monitoring for 45 mins to get go ahead from docs
12pm- prostin gel put in- had to stay put for an hour so that "gravity doesn't take its toll!" then encouraged to move, walk, dance etc!
3pm- start antibiotic drip because strep B pos
4pm- feeling pains but easily manageable
5pm- examined, no change in cervix, still "multips os" and still about 2cm thick, mw goes to consult doctor
6pm- doc arrives, examines- no change, advises a second round of monitoring and then more gel.
6.10pm- get off bed as can't stay laying down any more, contx every 2 mins lasting 50 sec
6.15- shout mw, hastily change into nighty, get rushed off to labour ward for gas and air as apparently "i wasn't coping too well"
6.20- proceed to get aquainted with the gas and air, became the best of friends
6.30- tell mw i'm feeling pressure
6.35- mw examines, finds me 7cm dilated, tells me to breathe through the pains etc, turns round to call theatre as whilst she examined me dd1's head popped back out of my pelvis- so she was arranging a cs
6.37- arrrrrggghhhhhhh, one push and her head was there, second push and dh had to catch her (literally- rugby ball stylee!!)

i have never seen a midwife go white- she honestly couldn't believe what had just happened, and as for the medical student expecting a 'normal' birth!!

so induction isn't all bad- i found it ok if slow to get started, i managed with just the trusty gas and air (i named the bottle bertie according to dh!)

Thanks so much for your messages these have really helped me get a sense of perspective of what's happening. Think i needed to take a deep breath and be strong and in control - don't let the hosp make any decisions for us unless we're absolutely sure it's the right one for the baby and us. We still have time, maybe it will all happen as we hope. I'll let you know! Feeling a lot happier x

I was induced at 41+6 and I was terrified!

Four sweeps didn't help, waters being broken didn't help, but the whole thing took five hours from the drip going in and I pushed DS out all by myself with no stitches or intervention needed.

FWIW, I would ask for my epidural before the drip. (I'm a wimp, I know ) I had a fabulous, calm, pain-free labour and was up and about as soon as the epi wore off. I am one of the only women I know who genuinely enjoyed and was totally happy about her birth and I'd do it all again.

Good luck x

Any news?