I'm going into hospital to be induced today - how can I make the best of it?

[electra]

It's not what I want at all But I suppose I am going to have to find ways to make it ok rather than deciding it's going to be awful because then it probably will be!

I'm 39+2. The baby is rather quiet. Growth looks ok on the scan but there isn't a lot of fluid around it. The doctor said that she would really recommend induction because she had seen cases where a woman had a still birth and had had various niggly factors in her notes, similar to mine.

It's probably the last thing I originally wanted, but I also don't want a c-section and I don't think it would be reasonable for me to continue the pregnancy at any cost when the baby generally isn't moving well now.

Do any of you have tips on how I can cope? I'm not feeling very strong mentally. It will be easier if I can have the lights off and I want to avoid assisted delivery / episiotomy. I am worried that if I need the hormone drip I will have to have an epidural - which last time was a rather costly intervention for me. But a midwife I spoke to today said that epidurals today are better than they were 7 years ago.

Any advice would be appreciated...

No real advice but just wanred to say good luck. I posted on your previous thread re iugr.

From someone who wanted 2 natural water births without pain relief and ended up with 1 failed induction/emergency csec and 1 semi elective (I had no choice really), at the end of the day you have to keep sight of the end result. My second c-sec was 4 weeks ago and whilst I still have pangs of disappontment, dd2 currently in my lap makes me reaslise it doesn't matter.

I would say if there's anything you ewant done/ don't want make it clear from the beginning.

Look forward to hearing all about it. Hope its quick for you.

you can still sit on a birth ball, and walk a bit, or raise the bed up and lean on it , to rock your hips. induction does not mean being confiend to a bed. if you are induced with the pessary first, you do not have to stay in bed after the first 30 minutes or so, so stay up and moving around , pacing hte corridors as long as possible! at 39+ 2 , your cervix might be quite ripe and ready for induction

Good luck Electra. As this baby is not your first, it may be that the induction will be very quick and you may not even need the drip after the gels. Try and keep mobile as much as possible - as Lulu said you can sit on birth ball and move around abit. Let your midwife know your concerns - that you want the room quiet and dark and want to avoid assisted delivery/episiotomy so you want to stay upright and mobile as much as possible. As you're being induced they will want to do continuous foetal monitoring - but that shouldnt stop you being able to mobilise. Try and eat before you're induced or in early labour and drink fluids through out. Good luck.

Good luck with induction. I was induced six years ago. Spent the whole day sitting/moving on a ball and leaning over the bed. Once labour is established don't lie down or keep still. Just keep moving, even if it's a tiny amount and it will help things along.

I managed without an epidural - just gas and air towards the end. But I think if I did it again I think I would have an epidural once labour is properly established, maybe when you're 5cm dilated.

A friend of mine was induced a few weeks before me and she told me that the hospital staff had been saying to her, Come on get this baby out. She was induced at roughly 9am and had the baby at 5pm. I did it in about the same time. My dd was born at 4.31pm.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

If it helps sometimes an induction with a second birth can go more quickly: think 24 hours not 72. I did it in 3 with just the first pessary. I think if it's quicker it's easier to deal with. I second what everyone has said about keeping moving - I leant and rocked on a birthing ball, it really helped. However if you end up on the drip don't worry about asking for an epidural - the most important thing in childbirth is that you as the mother are as happy and relaxed (!) as possible.

Good luck and just think, you'll be meeting your baby soon.

Electra The research shows that outcomes are more favourable for those who go into induction positively, without fear, confident about making their needs and preferences clear and feeling in control. No guarantees of course, but you get the picture.

I was induced for dd so know how you feel. But when you are holding your baby in your arms and you're both well and safe, nothing else matters! Good luck & be happy

Electra I was induced with my second child my dd. I had the pesirie [sp] inserted at 8 in the morning and gave birth at 5:15 it was alot easier than my first birth. I just had gas no epidural and was able to walk around. Take a few good magazines and dont worry about it. Good luck xx

Good luck, and get yourself a massive Lindt bunny to devour afterwards

Probaly a bit late (if it is good luck).

I was induced with the drip with dd2 and managed with gas & Air. Yes it was very intense (They broke my waters at 2pm nothing happened. started the drip at 4pm and i had her at 8.05pm).

With ds i had the gel (only 1 lot) again it was painful but got to 8cm before needing gas & air. (had gel at 10am had ds at 3.25pm). They were disscussing about an epidural/emergency section when i pushed him out. But this was more to do with the fact his cord was around his neck twice and his head was at a funny angle.

Thanks for your replies. I think I am doing the right thing. I can't risk leaving the baby there if it isn't happy I guess.

good luck electra. Focus on the beautiful baby you will soon meet, to get you through x

Let us know! good luck