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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

induction

21 replies

Ceelo · 15/08/2008 16:48

anyone got any stories to make me feel better about being induced next wednesday. did you go into labour before and avoid it all? did you get induced and it was a bed of roses? i am 40+6 and my doc says i have to be induced on 40+11 due to hospital policy bla bla...

help i am scared !!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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crokky · 15/08/2008 16:51

I was induced with both mine. The first time, I had an epidural and the birth was fine and I was calm (episiotomy and forceps). The second time, I didn't get an epidural because they were so short staffed that I was lucky to get half an hour of a midwife's time. It was not nice, I'd definately recommend the epidural for inductions.

BooBooChicken · 15/08/2008 16:51

don't be scared, i was induced with both my two at 40+9 and had normal birth, no drugs except gas and air.

first birth was put on drip and constant monitoring and second birth i was just given pessaries and left to get on with it naturally which i did.

had both babies within 36 hrs of being induced each time.

don't worry, you'll be fine. and feel free to ask any questions at all
xx

Nbg · 15/08/2008 16:52

Well all 3 of mine have been late but I've never been induced.
DD was 4 days over, ds1 was 10 days and ds2 8 days.

Our hospital take you in on day 11 for induction and with my third, I asked them to leave it till day 14 as I wanted a HB.

You can refuse to go in that early for induction if you want, although some hospitals require you to go in for daily scans to make sure the baby and placenta are ok.

Have you had a sweep yet or been offered?
First baby?

NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain · 15/08/2008 16:53

I have been induced twice, first time wasn't exactly great but 'medically' it went well, second time, still not sure if I was technically induced or not (had the gel, nothing seemed to happened, 12 hours later my waters broke) that labour was much much better than the first one.

It isn't always as bad as you hear. Induced labours do tend to be more intense because the natural endorphins that build up with a natural labour don't have chance to kick in, but you can counter that with managed pain relief.

There is every chance you will go into labour before 40+11 - good luck

feelingbadtoday · 15/08/2008 16:55

I was induced with DS - I lasted about 7 hrs on gas and air and then went for epidural - with hindsight I would have gone for the epidural earlier. Saying that I didn't have forceps or anything like that and DS came out naturally with only small tear. Would have preferred to do it naturally but it wasn't that bad (honest) - good luck.

Original poster

Ceelo · 15/08/2008 16:56

yes, it is my first baby, i have not been offered a sweep. is it because i am not dilated or effaced yet?

i have a scan next monday & and fetal non stress test today.

OP posts:

ajm200 · 15/08/2008 17:00

Induction is nothing to be scared of. Some of the mums who were in the antenatal ward with me went into labour very quickly and were whisked off to L&D.

My induction took a bit longer, they had problems getting labour started. It wasn't scary or painful, they just used some gel every 8 hours. It took a few days and I was very bored not in any pain. Eventually, they gave up on the gel and broke my waters. Officially my labour was 13 hours from when they broke my waters but I spent several hours of that time, wandering about the hospital, having a cuppa in the cafe and getting fresh air in the carpark whilst trying to get labour started.

I went back to L&D at intervals to check in and eventually they put me on a drip that got things moving. My actual labour was only about 5 hours.

It may have taken 5 days in total but I was being induced very early due to problems and LO wanted to stay put for a bit

Original poster

Ceelo · 15/08/2008 17:03

ajm- did you get to go home after the gel of did you have to stay in the hospital?

OP posts:

Nbg · 15/08/2008 17:10

They havent offered you a sweep. How odd?

Well if you want one, just ask your MW.
They will tell you once they've done it if your favourable or not.
Having said that, my MW said I wasnt favourable when I had ds2.
She was back at my house that teatime delivering him

ajm200 · 15/08/2008 17:12

No, I had to stay in the ward and be continuously monitored as I had dangerously high BP.

I was only allowed to wander about the building after the gel had definately worn off and they had decided to go for plan B and break my waters. Couldn't go home though as I had to check in at intervals to have my BP checked and check for progress.

You are in a different situation so you may be allowed more freedom.

In American, they can do a non-chemical induction using a foley catheter that is inserted into the cervix and inflated so that it forces the cervix to dilate. Maybe you should check if that option is available where you are.

Tapster · 15/08/2008 18:59

If the gels/pesseries don't work and they want to put you on a drip then get an epidural I attempted without and I have a very high pain threshold and screamed for an epidural - think the drip was mismanaged but I found out later that only 1% of women manage to give birth with the oxytocin drip without an epidural.

Good luck and I hope baby decided to arrive before you are induced.

takingitasitcomes · 15/08/2008 19:17

You don't have to let the hospital bully you into an induction before you are ready - unless they can prove to you that in your particular case it is medically necessary. I went into natural labour at 40+14 and everything was absolutely fine. (I managed to get my midwife/the hospital to agree to wait until 40+ 17 before induction, as everything looked fine on a scan). Follow your instincts with this one... especially if, like me, you think there might be a day or two out in your conception dates.

Good luck... you'll be on such a high after the birth that you won't care how it happened!

Weegiemum · 15/08/2008 21:09

I was induced bang on 37 weeks as I was ill - pregnancy was fine but the treatment I needed was not! (3rd baby).

I had the pessary at 6am and fell asleep again for 2 hours - I think that was one of the best things I did tbh as it gave it a good long time to work. Then I walked around a lot. A LOT! Round and round the ward and down to the entrance and back and all over the place.

At 1pm I was 2cm and was SO disappointed. At 5pm I was yelling for painkillers and they discovered I was 10cm! Went through to delivery, dd 2 born only half an hour later. Best bit was the waters breaking all over the la-de-da doctor (dh referred to her as Dr Jolly Hockey-Sticks) which gave us a good laugh!

It was all in all very like my 2nd labour, which had been natural. I had gas&air and needed some stitches as she came out fast at the end, but overall the induction was quite positive.

It took a while to get going - they said that was because my cervix wasn't ripe at all due to the early date. The pains were quite sharp, again something you often see with induction. But it was nothing compared to my labour with my dd1 (first one) which was awful.

Hope it all goes well for you, whatever happens.

frootloop · 16/08/2008 10:33

i was induced as i was 2 weeks overdue, it was fine.

from what i remember the midwife rummaged about a bit and i had a bit of tape hanging out(no idea what that was) then i was told to bugger off out for a walk as it could take hours or days to work.

walked to tescos and got my contractions in aisle 7 so had to hobble back to hosptial asap.

if it hadnt been for the fact that ds was back-to-back and got stuck it would have been over my midnight (was induced at 3pm)

sleeplessinseatle · 16/08/2008 15:34

Ceelo - ask about the sweep, I wasnt offered it, I had to ask for one. And nice guidelines say having a sweep reduces the chance you'll need formal induction (with drugs)

saramoon · 19/08/2008 14:00

I was induced with both my girls, the 1st was 14 days over and the 2nd 11 days.
Both births were with gas and air only and both babies were born within 12 hours. Had to have stitches with 1st, 2nd was much easier and over in 6 hours. I don't know any different then from having a 'normal' birth as in waters breaking and stuff but the only annoying thing is the pessary thing and then having to wait for something to happen and you are just waiting and waiting. Good luck xx

HelenBabyHToBe · 21/08/2008 11:07

saramoon - i pray that my induction will all be as easy and plain sailing as yours
hx

ilovemydog · 21/08/2008 11:12

both were induced.

DS was induced at 38 weeks. Was on drip and delivered 8 hours later.

You'll be fine...

HelenBabyHToBe · 21/08/2008 11:21

thanks - just getting infuriated that baby has decided to stay put at 7 days over - -main reason is because people are getting v annoying and texting and emphaphising is it there yet?? they r only being kind but if one more person texts me i will scream !

onlygirlinthehouse · 21/08/2008 11:36

Dont want to sound too new age and all that but have you considered homeopathy??

I was induced with ds1 and ds2, neither were particularly pleasant though the outcome was fine and that is the main thing

with ds3 I wanted to start on my own, but got to 40+11 and they wanted to induce me, had been having sex and eating curries like mad by the way but nothing was shifting it!!

Went to homeopath who gave me something which started contractions the night before induction was due, I was booked in for induction at 11am on Sunday morning, but gave birth under my own steam at 1.30pm on same day. Was much better experience than the induced labours but that might be cos he was the 3rd one!! Mind you he also weighed 10lb 14oz

Good luck whatever happens

elkiedee · 21/08/2008 11:39

Any news of Ceelo? She was due to go and be induced yesterday.

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