So Induction is booked for Monday - What to expect?

[chocolatebunnies]

Im booked in for induction on Monday at 40+10, this is my 2nd DC, 1st was natural birth at 40+6.

Im really anxious about the whole thing and not sure what to expect.

I've had two sweeps, 2nd one was yesterday and she said I was favourable.

If anyone has any adivce, tips etc Id really appreciate it, am crapping my pants!

Also what do I need to take with me??

Obviously my hospital bag, but should I take extra??

Leningrad Thank you for your advice.

I hadnt even thought of researching

There are no problems at all, baby is just far too comfy in there and Im ready to get it over and done with now.

What do you mean by pain relief back up plan?

My waters didnt break until birth with 1st pregnancy so not sure what to expect if they break my waters, does it hurt??

Will they allow me to go aroud and walk extra? I assumed Id be tied to the bed? I dont particularly want to be monitor continuously.

Im just hoping things kick off by themselves over the next few days.

chocolatebunnies - are you being admitted for prostin induction? Bythat I mean being given a vaginal pessary?
The pessary can stimulate contractions as it softens the cervix which ultimately can get labour going without the need for any other interventions. You do not need to be continuosly monitored and you can be mobile.

If you have your waters broken, with or without the pessary first, in my unit you would be encouraged to walk around for an hour or two to see if contractions then start on their own. This commonly happens with a second or subsuquent baby. If you started contractions on your own again you would not need continuous monitoring and you can be mobile.

I certainly would try that before opting for an epidural which will immediately mean a drip and being tied into bed initially for monitoring.
What kind of labour did you have first time round?

I would agree with LG to ask as many questions as possible beforehand. There would be nothing stopping you phoning the ward over the weekend and asking more about the usual procedure, spacing between doses of pessaries etc. Different hospitals/consultants have different protocols and how busy or not the ward is can play a part in whether they're in a hurry to get you to the delivery suite etc. If you don't call over the weekend, find out as much as you can before they actually start anything and, as LG says, ask for pros/cons/time to think before any intervention. There is no need for constant monitoring unless you're being given syncotocin, which you may well not need.
Having said all that, if things are favourable, then a dose or two of pessary will hopefully kickstart things. In regard to breaking your waters, I would advise waiting until you're in active labour/things are well on their way. They broke my waters when I was 3cm and it really started things going so that I was fully dilated 3 hours later. A random registrar had suggested breaking my waters very early in the procedure, which I declined, which was definitely the right move. I was active throughout my labour and didn't actually need any pain relief.
Anyway, hope that things do kick off over the weekend for you and, if not, good luck for Monday.

LeninGrad - were you experiencing contractions already before they broke your waters? It may have been you were labouring already and the ARM accelerating thind immediately.

Some women come for induction and are not experiencing any contractions at all.

If you have a pessary (or 2) and contractions start, there is actually no need to break waters at all if the cervix starts to open. Each area does do different things though so it is well worth asking.

In my unit, as long as prostin has been given 6 hours or more earlier and there is a 20-30min tracing of the baby's heartbeat which is reassuring, women can be mobile and use the birthing pool if they wish.

NICE guidance for women on induction

Sorry - misread your post Leningrad. An epidural is best given once you experience contractions so that you know that the epidural is in the right place to be effective. Sorry you did not get one when you asked for it.

I was induced and they broke my waters on Day 2 (Day 1's pessary hadn't worked). I agree with the bus analogy - it does bring the labour pains on quickly (within the time taken to much a slice of toast) and they were very intense.

I had my waters broken around 7 am and by lunchtime I'd got to8cm on gas and air. Then I had an epidural.

I was being monitored constantly due to BP issues however I sat on a bouncy ball leaning on the bed holding my DP's hands across it (and yanking his arms out of their sockets every time I had a contraction. I didn't have the option of thebirthing pool (but didn't want that anyway).

I think you are right about waiting LeninGrad.

Thanks for all the responses.

I had a normal delvery first time round, with pethidine to calm my nerves and gas and air, which they took away from me at pushing stage, my contractions started at 7pm and she was born at 10.55am the next day.

They plan to get me in on monday morning, then do 20-30mins monitoring the baby, then someone will examine me, if things are good then they will break my waters, if not they will give me a pessary, and take it from there, having the drip is a last resort if pessary and arm doesnt work.

Would it be better to have the pessary instead of arm if things are good? Although I dont like the idea of waiting 6 hours to see if pessary works if arm will get things going quicker.

Im not a huge fan of hospitals (due to past experiences) and I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, so Id rather get things done quick so I can get the hell out of there. Im not sure how well I can cope with spending a lot of time sat around waiting

I would suggest having a pessary first to be honest. It can push you into a more natural labour. ARM is not necessarily quicker. Pessary will not be given after ARM - it is only before.If ARM does not work then you will need the drip which will mean continuous monitoring.Better chance of a more natural labour with the pessary.

I shall keep that in mind mears thank you, can one pessary be enough to start things off?

Im a bit worried about dealing with the first stages of labour on a ward full of other women,it seems a bit odd to me,Im going to find it embarrassing IYSWIM? I know we're all in the same boat, but Id rather have my privacy.

If you go into labour you will be transferred to the labour ward. You might have a single room or curtains round your bed. On epessary can be enough, especially if you are favourable already. The pessary contains prostin and so does sperm - you could have your own induction at home IYSWIM?

If you go into labour you will be transferred to the labour ward. You might have a single room or curtains round your bed. On epessary can be enough, especially if you are favourable already. The pessary contains prostin and so does sperm - you could have your own induction at home IYSWIM?

i've been induced with all 3 of my dc - there were other woman in the ward who's first pessary worked but it took 2 or 3 pessaries with all of mine. The unit where i delivered dc2 had a policy of only giving you 3 seperate pessaries over 2 days and if you weren't dilated enough for them to break your waters then they would take you for a c-section.

Dont know whether its the same at all units but if the pessary had dilated you to 2/3 cms then they broke your waters - it wasnt even slightly painful - just as uncomfortable as all the other times they put their hand up there!!

with dc3, breaking my waters had started labour so i was able to walk around the delivery suite at the beginning but needed gas and air quite quickly!!! then it was just like any other labour - only difference being because they have artificially started your labour then they dont want to let it go on to long and were keen with me to put up a syntocin drip. I really wanted as natural birth as i could and resisted this. instead i went for a huge pee and ds2 was born 90 mins later!

ask as many questions of the staff as possible - what the plan is? what are the options if things dont progress and what will happen at the unit if they do? it feels scary because of the unknown but its no more trouble than normal labour can be! good luck - let us know how you get on!

I did not get internet access until dd was about 8 months old and was pretty clueless about inductions.

They left me all morning as I was aleady having reg contractions when I went for my induction, then had a sweep, then gel. Things got uncomfortable, hard to sleep but not too painful. I was about 3cm, so another gel next morning. Lots of walking around, little sleep. Third gel next day. V tired so finally broke my waters at 10.30pm.

I was really suprised at how intense the contractions were, almost one after another and I was very tired and not coping well. It really was not what I was expecting. I was not allowed gas and air and told I had to have an epidural before I had the drip. I was so tired I agreed (bit more clued up now!)

I found it very intense (was so thick did not realise epidural does not always work as mine didn't) and went to 10cm by 1am. Forceps and 9 pound 6 baby ouch!!

I found the birth a really difficult time but think it was down to my own naievety (sorry poor spelling) and if I ever do it again feel I could be a bit more assertive!!

Good luck!!

Two induced labours here for pgs 1 and 2. Both:
In at 9am- pessary
Monitored a bit.
No action.
2nd pessary in the evening.
Contractions over night which stopped before morning.
Waters broken and encouraged to walk about.
Some contractions but not enough action so onto a drip.
Epidural.
Read magazines, chat to MW, get examined and monitered-oh that was constant after the drip.
Birth a few hours later.

Good luck.