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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Any positive experience of induction?

35 replies

AuntyAnnie · 17/04/2008 12:58

Hi,

I'm a first-timer and have had a complicated pregnancy. Consequently, the obs want to induce me at 38 weeks. I'm not happy about it but I accept that they think it's the best thing to do for the baby.

I'm absolutely terrified about the prospect of being induced. I hate the thought of an epidural (not being able to move terrifies me) and ventouse and foreceps. I know that you can end up with these with any birth, and that I'm probably being a wimp, but I'm really petrified about the birth now.

Has anyone had any positive birth experiences following an induction? Everything I've read about them just seems to be a nightmare.

Annie

OP posts:

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MamaG · 17/04/2008 13:01

I was induced with both my DC and it was a positive experience both times! With DD I had an epidural, jsut because it was a very long labour, but no need for foreceps /ventouse or anything. With DS I didn't have anything as it was quicker - again, no foreceps/ventouse or anything

Hope you feel a bit reassured. I'm pg with my third now and am fully expecting to be induced again - I'm fine about it! Its just the way I have my babies

MamaG · 17/04/2008 13:01

OH and epidurals are great now, not a full block so you keep some mobility

Bky · 17/04/2008 13:03

I had a veryg good induction 5 weeks ago, although it was my second baby and I was overdue so slightly different circumstances to you.

I didn't have an epidural (just gas and air) and everything went very smoothly, no assited delivery.

I had a forceps delivery with my first baby, what scares you about having to have an assisted delivery, the reality is probably not as bad as you might expect.

lulumama · 17/04/2008 13:06

if you are not happy about it, is it because you don;t think their reasoning is good ? why are you being induced?

induction especially if your body is not ready ccan be a long process, so be prepared! you might have lots of waiting before any action

epidurals can be good, but they do, especially in first time mothers, increase the risk of needing a ventouse or forceps delivery quite dramatically.

there are lots of other pain relief options to think about

NameChangerJustForToday · 17/04/2008 13:10

My two went exactly the same way as MamaG's, except I'm not pregnant again, yet

yorkshirepudding · 17/04/2008 13:10

Message withdrawn

Amapoleon · 17/04/2008 13:17

My first induction was fine, fast and furious but fine. I had an epidural and it was the best thing that I ever did. They monitored it and by the time it came to push I could feel what was going on and knew when to push etc. No need for forceps or ventouse. I was up and about having a shower not long after.

My second induction didn't go quite as well but I was in a different country with different methods and to be honest I think I was induced to early and the baby just wasn't ready to come out. Either way I have a bouncing 16 month old boy and the induction is a long and distant memory. Good luck!

lulumama · 17/04/2008 13:18

the gel is still given to ripen the cervix to dilate it enough for the waters to be broken, if there is enough dilation, no gel necessary. the drip is given if the gel and ARM do not get ctx going or they are not strong or regular enough to dilate the cervix .

yorkshirepudding · 17/04/2008 13:23

Message withdrawn

Original poster

AuntyAnnie · 17/04/2008 13:35

Lulumama, I reckon their reasoning is fair: I've got a partial placental separation and have tested positive for antibodies that could slow down baby's heart rate. I'm being seen in a specialist unit and have had really good antenatal care. I can't complain really. I've asked for three different specialist's opinions and they've all recommended the same thing. While I've accepted it I don't like it but I guess it's that I'm disappointed more than anything else. We're only planning the one and so I suppose I'm selfishly thinking this is my one and only shot at a natural birth.

OP posts:

mom2latinoboys · 17/04/2008 13:45

AuntyAnnie,

I was induced at 38 weeks with my first baby. It was wonderful. With me they gave me prostaglandin overnight while I slept. In the morning they checked me, said I was ripe enough to continue so they broke my waters, and put me on a pitocin drip (oxytocin) That was at 8 am. I didn't feel any contractions until 1 pm and they were painless. I started getting painful contractions around 5pm, was 10 cm at 6pm and ds1 was born at 8:12. I didn't have any pain relief and no other interventions were needed.

I labored and pushed while lying on my left side. I would definitely say that this was the most comfortable position since I was hooked up to monitors the whole time. Definitely recommend it.

I have to say that of my two births the induction was my favorite.

Good luck to you.

flossish · 17/04/2008 13:50

I enjoyed my induction. I was bricking it before! DD was uncomplicated despite being massive although again my induction was down to being overdue. Unfortunately no-one can predict how easy/rough a time you'll have of it. One thing everyone can garentee is the baby at the end of it is completely worth it! Oh, and all too often you only 'plan' the one, but after having one any others often seem really quite welcome! Good luck.

castille · 17/04/2008 14:02

My induction was great. It was my 3rd baby and having had 2 quick and natural births I was dreading it, but it was all over very quickly: pessary at 10.30am, DS born just before 4pm with no intervention.

I refused the epidural - they thought I was mad - but I was confident I could do without having had 2 already. I gave birth lying on my side too, which was heaps more comfortable than being flat on my back (which has to be the worst possible position for managing contractions).

Good luck, don't fear the worst, just take it as it comes.

lulumama · 17/04/2008 14:35

fair enough

i have come across situations where early induction is recommended on fairly flimsy grounds

it is not selfish to feel that you would have liked a shot at a natural birth, but there are lots of things you can do to help it go more the way you would prefer x

Peachy · 17/04/2008 14:37

I was induced at 38 weeks with ds1, as he had stopped growing and the palcenta was failing. Have gone on to have a further three children naturally, and can't say the induction was significantly different in any way bar the start, and didn't need an epidural 9petrified of the things- would rather have a general than apidural). The only reason I didnt want to be induced this time round (have a littlie) was that it meant being in hospital- otherwise wouldn't have mattered a jot.

izzywizzyletsgetbusy · 17/04/2008 14:49

I was induced at 39+5 with ds (now 4.7). It was absolutely fine. Had pessary day before, then mw broke my waters about noon next day, sent me off for some lunch, came back to be hooked up to drip about 1.45, ds born at 5.30pm. I had gas and air, more for something to concentrate on than anything else, no epidural and no forceps/ventouse...tbh I've never considered it to not be a natural birth - all right, I didn't go into labour naturally, but I got through it with a lot less intervention than many people who did.

On the other hand, everyone I know who did have an epidural has only ever had positive things to say about it...so try not to be too worried if you do need it.

Good luck x

katyjo · 17/04/2008 15:11

Auntyannie - please don't stress too much, each birth is individual and you just do what you have to at the end of the day. I was induced with my son, my hindwaters had broken, but no contractions. They broke my waters and started me on a drip, my labour was quick only 5 hours and it was my first baby. I had no complications, other than keeping a trace of the baby's heartrate. I didn't need an epidural (which I was glad about as I hated the idea of having a needle inserted into my back) so just used a tens machine and gasand air.
I am no hero, I hate pain but labour is different, if you are advised to be induced I would probably take their advice, although it is your decision and you should feel pressured.

I am expecting my second in 6 weeks and I am much less apprehensive than I was first time, I am actually looking forward to the whole experience, if I am induced or not.

Good luck, main thing is you'll have your little one soon.

mom2latinoboys · 17/04/2008 23:23

Aunty Annie, there is nothing that says you can't/won't have a natural birth. I consider myself to have had a natural birth. Not a natural labor, but a natural birth. TBH there was something nice about going to the hospital and knowing I was leaving with a baby.

Sixer · 17/04/2008 23:31

yeahhhh. induced, induced again, waited, dp sent home, diamorhine(sp) slapped into leg, fell asleep, woke up pissed, in labour slurring, dp told to come back 3 hours later, DS came Superman quick. Good luck, we are all different. Missed the gas and air.. Had it with DS 2 though

TeenyTinyTorya · 17/04/2008 23:57

Mom2latinoboys, was your induction not helped by hypnobirthing though? I have to say, I had an induction which I dreaded, and I wish I had seen this thread before I went for it, it might have made me feel a little better.

petetong · 18/04/2008 00:10

Haven't read the other threads but want to say that first birth was monstrous, second birth, an inducion because of size of baby was fab. Only 4 hours and although painful over quickly, no epidural. Lots of stitches but only because I had had first dc 18 months previously. I know that all births are different, but if I had to choose I would opt for a fast induction any day.

elkiedee · 18/04/2008 00:17

I was induced because baby was overdue and because of my age. I would have preferred not to be hooked up to monitors etc and that was the drawback, but it went ok, it worked frist time but very slowly, I did need a little help with the ventouse, and I had gas and air but didn't have other things.

Do you have a date booked in then? When? Hope it all goes well.

mom2latinoboys · 18/04/2008 00:58

Yeah I did use hypnobirthing, can't reccommend it enough. When I meant no pain relief I meant no medical pain relief. With hypnobirthing I pretty much slept through the pushing phase.

sambrads · 18/04/2008 08:53

hi ya i was induced with ds as i was 10 days over due !

got the gel on at 10 by midnight i was having contractions and by 12 lunch time i was holding my ds

i gave birth on my hands and knees on the floor and he flew out it felt so natural

try not to stress too much about the birth as the baby has to come out no matter what and things nevr go to plan so just try to relax and look forwarf to meeting your bundle of joy

elkiedee · 18/04/2008 19:49

Was that 10 am or 10 pm? It took longer for me but I was only 8 days overdue when the gel was first put on - 8 pm, contractions started at 2 am.

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