labour diferences between Induction and natural labour

[pigleychez]

As Title really.....

wondering if anyone could tell any differences between a natural and an induced labour.

Is it true induction is more painful ?

Having only ever been induced (4 times!) I can say the times I was induced when I most the overdue were far easier. I also believe that being induced is more painful because their is no "natural" gradual build up so it can often be 0-10 in 10 minutes IYSWIM

My induced contractions were massively painful, my natural contractions didn't hurt at all.

Natural labour starts slowley and gentley, little niggles that build up into proper contractions. A completely induced labour tends to start much less gentley.

The pain levels are just one of the reasons to avoid induction if you can!

Monkies

There was no difference between my induction, (prostaglandin, ARM, oxytocin) and my natural labor. It took about 9 hours during my induction to get into active labor (those previous 9 hours I felt no pain, no nothing) and ds1 was born 3 hours after being told I was 4 cm.

With ds2 I had about 3 hours active labor but six if you count from first feeling a contraction.

I think my labors are just fast and furious once they get going anyway, so for me there was no difference between them.

Also would being induced make any difference to me wanting/ being able to use the birthing pool during labour and birth?

When you are induced you are hooked up to monitors so you would most likely not be able to use a pool. I did request a break, so they gave me 15 minutes to get in the shower (private room), and I found that to be extremely helpful. I put the shower head on massage and fully enjoyed it.

Hello I have been induced and gone into Labour independently and know which \i would prefer, can I ask why you would need to be induced in the first place, I am working with mums and would always encourage my mums to make a well informed decision, being induced often leads to having a managed birth, with intervention of some sort, that is ok if thats the birth you want but there are other options, i hope this helps ?

Ruby...

The reason im booked for Induction is being overdue. Ill be term + 10 on Tuesday when im due to go in.

Id rather it happen naturally but also want baby out now. Babys movements now really hurt me!

Only 40+10??? That's not over due!!

Overdue is 43 weeks, there is no reason to induce just because you are 10 days past your EDD. Just remember that EDD stands for Estimated Due Date, not Exact. Due dates are not an exact science, and if your baby hasn't decided to come yet it means it's not ready to. I wouldn't even consider a sweep until I was 14 days past my EDD, and then only if baby was engaged and cervix was beginning to soften and efface.

There are risks connected to induction, it's not a simple "safe" procedure. You are more likely to need serious pain relief, which will effect your baby, you will almost certainly have to deliver on your back (probably in stirrups) which will restrict the blood supply to your baby, which in turn will send him/her into distress, so you are much more likely to have an instrumental delivery, at the least a ventouse, if not forceps, which will involve an episiotomy and all these things can stack up and snowball and result in a c-section. All these things are not fun, and if you are only being induced because you are just 10 days over due and for no other medical reason then I strongly urge you to ask to be monitored until you are 42 weeks if not 43, to check that your placenta is functioning well, and that baby is happy if a little cramped!

Ask your MW/Consultant to discuss the risks of induction with you and consider waiting another week. I know you are uncomortable now, but a week is only a few days, and you may go into labour naturally in the mean time.

Monkies

I have had both, first started off naturally, second was induced as baby had stopped moving and wasn't doing well inside.

Induction wasn't more painful although I was lucky and only needed one lot of gel to get me going, no drip or anything. Labour was quick (ish) but easily bearable on just gas and air.

I have had 2 inductions.

14 years apart, and the one before new policy of breaking waters once on labour was better labour.

Induction 14 years ago, was just prostaglandin, and then the rest was up to nature. ARM at 8cm di = natural birth

The resent one was prostaglandin and ARM, which was a big mistake! ARM at 3cm di = emcs

Indction can be good, but think they try to rush things nowadays, dont give body time to try for itself.

It all seems to be guided by policy now, not mother nature.

PS, why not try some, ahem, sex, seriously, there are prostaglandins in semen that can help to soften and ripen the cervix, and the "act" its self can physically stimulate your cervix too. I suffered from extreme joint pain with both of my pregnancies, but I gritted my teeth and got jiggy, and I'm sure we jiggled both of them out!! Pineapple, papaya and evening primrose are also said to help things get started, I'd exhaust all the "natural" options before I'd get induced.

Monkies

Its better if absorbed through the gut though! ...but my dh has ben an absolute arse today so he ent getting either!

Silent labour with dd1, didn't hurt at all.

Induced with dd2 and yes it was very painful, but i still managed with just gas and air. I was induced at 40+8 because i was in so much pain i could barely move.

Both babies were delivered within 4 hours.

Monkies-

Been desperately trying the "Natural routes" but to no avail im afaid.
Sex,currys,pineapples.

I think baby is fed up of pineapple now as everytime i eat some it results in baby going crazy in there cause mummy lots of pain!!

I completetly agree with monkies, only 2% of babies come om thier due date. To put it to perspective all hospital vary on what is exactly overdue 42wks, 41+3, 41 and so on... then if that date falls on a weekend they often leave you till the monday meaning you get another 2 days?? the point is there is no actual cut off point that is really right or wrong, term plus 10 is absolutley fine as long as baby is happy and all is functioning well. Apart from feeling really uncomfortable and impatient like most of us do at this stage, are you ok otherwise? ?

Your baby will come when it is ready to, this next bit is really important... your body must work with baby, it is baby that triggers labour and to work with it you must be relaxed, if you are not i.e stressed, upset, worride about deciding the right thing etc your adrenalin levels will be high - this is an inhibitor of oxytocin ( the hormone needed for contractions)

I can explain more if you need me to, sorry just realised I'm waffling !!!!

Most importantly you must make an informed decision that is right for you. x

"Its better if absorbed through the gut though! ..."

See, I don't buy that, I mean if that was the case they'd give you prostaglandin tablets orally instead of vaginal pessaries!

Also, I dread to think about how much you'd have to swallow to be effective, it sounds like far too much like hard work to me, especially when you're huge and fed up, much easier to just pad yourself up with pillows and lie back and think of England.......

Pigleychez, thats a bummer, but I'd keep trying all the same, you never know, something might tip the scales, little blighter's got to come out sooner or later!!

Monkies

It is so painful at the end, and it can make you feel like you really want that baby out right now... but honestly, the pain consequences of 'getting the baby out right now' are far more than this waiting time.

I've had three C/Sections - and that means a whole 6 weeks of not being able to get out of the house even.

Hand in there - I think it just might mean that your little one isn't quite cooked yet. It really is only a few more days to wait - stay here and moan and we'll help you through it... but being in control of your birth when it happens is so empowering and a heavily medicalised birth just so isn't. LOL

but many hugs to you. xx

Also yes sex is great just spat my tea out laughing at Divvy !!!!!

Also yes sex is great just spat my tea out laughing at Divvy !!!!!

I meant hang in there - that was a bit Freudian with the 'hand'... LOL.

I've been induced once, and gone into labour naturally once.

Induced was hell - was given the prostaglandin and started getting contractions about 1/2hr later which 1hr in were exrcutiatingly painful - approx 9 hours later I was deamed to be 3cm dilated and therefore "in established labour" and allowed an epidural (had already had gas and air, and 2 shots of pethidine - neither of which did any good) - fat lot of good the epidural did - god knows how many top-ups later I was told it obviously wasn't going to work - and that was that.

Ended up with a ventouse delivery, in theatre with my legs in stirrups, espisitomy and a 4th degree tear - and as the local had worn off by the time I'd had DS2 and they'd pumped so many pain relief drugs into me (all in vain) I was stitched up without pain relief

DS3 - went into natural labour, gradual build up, didn't even believe I was in labour (despite them hurting a LOT) until 3hrs before he was born when I went to the hospital and they did an internal and told me I was 3cm

Thanks for the replys ladies..

Those of you induced.... where you constantly monitored of able to get up and move around?

Anybody been induced and still allowed to use the birth pool??

I was constantly monitored (partly also due to it being and induced VBAC) - flat on my back on the bed - was sheer hell.

Had I been told I had to be induced again for DS3 I would have told them to sod off (as I did anyhow - they said I "HAD" to be monitored because of previous CS I told them where to go and they just used a hand help doppler )

You can move around but they do have to monitor you more and for longer, which normally means in a good place for them - the bed. If you are able to be firm you can have the birth the you want or better still have someone with you that is clued up and is able to make sure you are able to do it how you want to, it's about being confident and believing that you know what is best for you and your baby, hold on to that and don't let anyone take it away. There are so many books articles, classes, they are good don't get me wrong but sometimes they take away from the fact that you have all the answers inside, your maternal instinct, Take care and good luck, I'll be thinking of you xxx

First baby (21y ago)induced with pessaries as 40+13. Nightmare labour. Constant monitoring throughout.

Last baby (5y ago) induced with gel(2 lots). Straightforward labour, no different to spontaneous labours I'd had. Not much monitoring (20mins after gel put in) and able to wander about freely.