CantSleepWontsleep is being induced tomorrow. She's disappointed that she won't get a live birth thread. Come and console her here.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

And whilst you're here, feel free to answer any of the following...

What does one wear for induction - nightie ready for it all kicking off, or normal clothes for wandering around hospital in?

Anything else I should add to my hospital bag that I'm more likely to want with an induction?

If the prostoglandin stuff doesn't work, can I decide at that point to leave it, as I don't want my waters broken or the drip?

Would they be able to tell from a scan whether my placenta was still functioning just fine, whereby a few more days wouldn't hurt?

I'll be 40+5, and the induction is because I have gestational diabetes. It's standard practice to induce between 38 and 40 weeks for this, but I've been 'allowed' to go over because my control of it has been good.

best of luck

mobile, active and upright is the mantra !

take drinks and snacks and a book

just in case

you do not have to have things rushed along if you and baby are tolerating everything just fine....

CSWS (tis MM have name changed). Wishing you lots of luck tomorrow. If there is anything practical I can do for you or dd please let me know.

I was induced with ds1, as I've probably mentioned before now. I changed into a nightie. MWs have to do a lot of rummaging around so it makes things easier.

Mine worked really quickly, but if it doesn't it could take hours or days (with a few applications of gel needed), so I'd be inclined to take a few magazines or a good book (nothing too intellectual because maternity wards are so bloomin' noisy). A friend of mine had to wait 4 days before things kicked off, and was climbing the walls.

I'd send dh home until things get going unless he's going to be really supportive (or let him to bring a good book too).

Your's may be more useful than mine in that respect, but mine would be pacing around and bothering mws with pointless questions about how and why things aren't happening immediately.

They use synthetic prostaglandins (rather than pig semen) to induce labour in pigs, though, so odd to use pig semen in people.

Also I thought (but could be entirely wrong, so bow to BS's greater experience of pig semen ) that prostaglandin E2, the type of prostaglandin normally used in the UK, contains dinoprostone, which is a female hormone (so not commonly found in semen, unless from very confused pigs...)

with me, apart from DD3 (who they started off early morning), my gel was always put in at 9pm, and then DH was kicked out at 10pm even tho I knew labour was starting!

he then went home and got a teeny amount of sleep before being called back in early hours of morning, as all bar were born early hours of the morning!!!(even DD3, but he was not kicked out with her as we were in delivery room by then anyway).

he was pretty useless tho with DD3. reading the sunday papers and making random name suggestions as I suddenly decided that all names chosen were wrong. he in fact did choose DD3's name from the sunday papers, so not entirely useless

Right, old nightie, maternity leggings and supersudoku book all being added to bag. Have a reading book in there too, and can always take 'Adventures in Tandem Nursing' for a bit of last minute revision!

Appt is 2pm, so imagine it will all kick off in the middle of the night . Let's hope I can wake dh by phone if I've sent him home by then! Have a friend with a newborn in the same hospital (not SCBU, as they were sent home first), so will prob try and see them whilst I'm waiting too.

Seem to have spent this morning making lists of instructions for in-laws, who will stay here with dd whilst I'm away (she's at school Mon pm and Tues all day, hence me picking Monday for the induction). It all feels a bit too organised!

So, big decision - dressing gown or no dressing gown ?

take a lightweight cotton one if you have one, the wards will be hot !

Oh good luck CSWS

Hi CSWS

I have had 2 inductions, at 39+6 and at 35+3.

DD1 39+6 - Bishops Score 3 (tight as a nun's, the midwife cheerfully informed me, as she was also being extremely generous in her score!) Prostin at 4.45 pm. No labour (that they would believe anyway). Waters broke 3.15 am, pain for the first time at 08.15, DD born 09.20 am. Midwives unsure of how long labour was, so wrote down 4 hours for labour.

DD2 35+3 - Bishops Score 5. Prostin 10.30, waters broken for me at about 6pm, contractions began. DD born 01.00. Labour 7 hours.

Ah good point lulu - I recall the stifling heat from last time now. No dressing gown.

Good luck

I would like a dressing gown, good to cover up with, especially if your nightwear is a bit stained or something.

CSWS -I thought you might be interested to know that DS1 was 12 days late. I was due to be induced that day and early in the morning I went into labour. It almost seemed like he knew what was going to happen and decided to come out! The morning I was due to go in for induction we had to phone the ward and tell them I was heading for the delivery suite. I woke at 6am in pain and by 11am Cameron was born!

Good luck CSWS! You never know, it may all kick off tonight.

I read in new scientist that viagra works as an inducer and is much nicer than the normal induction as it sets off proper labour iyswim.

Not that I think you have viagra laying around the house...

Here's hoping mazza.

That sounds nice and positive lou. Can't be doing with hanging around!

flame. Didn't have you down as a New Scientist reader.

Why not??

Have you [ahem] tried nature's prostaglandin?

Give it one last "shot" tonight - you may wake up in labour (I did, twice).

Good luck!

thinking of you

I was induced had two pessary things one at 1.30pm and then one at 6pm. I had problems with my bp so was on the bed with the monitor on me for about 24 hours I was in a t-shirt on a bed until the epidural went in. The second pessary got things started, I had 8 contractions in 10 minutes so they gave me pethadine in the hope to slow things, then gave me an epidural again to slow things and broke my waters at 3am DS arrived about 12 hours later. My DH and I did crosswords together to pass the time. Take an MP3 thing with you to help you relax. Good luck with everything.

I would take a dressing gown for afterwards (or 2, knowing me). I bled a lot afterwards and got bloody patches on the nighties I'd brought. Dressing gown was good for covering that up when I had to walk through the ward to the bathroom, kitchen etc.

How long did you stay in afterwards MM (or ODWAM, which is not nearly as easy to remember!)? I am aiming for as near as poss to 6 hours, so hoping there won't be time for me to bleed everywhere!

oooooh, how EXCITING! you're going to meet your Brand New Human Baby tomorrow!
i recommend them, they're ace. dd's feeding away as i type, lovely jubbly.

i had an induction with dd1, csws, loved it. nothing to compare it to (apart from recent cs which i did Not Like) but it seemed to me very civilised, a bit nippy, and it was all over with but a wee graze after 7 hours. would do it all again in a heartbeat.