41 + 2 planned induction but desperately scared

[scaredveryscared]

Advice welcome please.

2 weeks ago had signs of labour starting (bit of a show, cramping period pains and cervix twinges) since that nothing!

Midwife tried to sweep membranes but my cervix was closed at top and it was VERY uncomfortable.
Booked me in for induction 19th dec...

1. fears over fast onset of labour with induction

2. scared about pain

3. desperate for my body to do it's thing (feel confident I will cope if my body starts itself)

4. fears over problems for my baby being overdue (doing a poo inside .... etc)

5. have tried sex (daily) pineapple (ate a whole one in one go (no tongue lining left) walking every day, thinking about acupuncture

Help please.

sorry, didn't mean to be negative. of course the positive outcome is healthy mum and baby, and that's what counts. i just meant with the induction. the birth is such a small part of what is to follow!

Many congratulations!What a timely christmas present!

I've been wondering how you were getting on. I understand your feelings of guilt as i went through something similar with my second DD who had an assisted delivery as epidural was still fully in place and i couldn't push her out. Felt like i didn't deserve her somehow as i hadn't laboured properly. But those feelings were rubbish and as a result of hormones. I never deliver like the textbooks tell you i should, but i can get pregnant and carry a healthy baby to term which i feel immensely grateful for and so should you. The technology has been developed to help us and save lives.Its just a shame it didn't work quicker and more effectively for you and your DS.

Concentrate on your beautiful baby, the memories of his birth will stay with you but i promise they fade. Good luck with the BF.

P.S. if he has trouble with wind/colic/sleeping in the next couple of months it could well be down to his difficult delivery. i would highly recommend a visit to a cranial osteopath. I took my DS at 8 weeks of age and after 3 visits he was a different child. (Hopefully you wont need this advice)

Hi again,

Had a set back was in hosp again... wound open and infected

back home now after lots of IV antibiotics....and some oral ones for a week.

Still persevering with BF.... getting better but tender boobs.

Health visitor is marvellous

Husband back at work and been weepy all day. Just want to be better for husband and baby.

Thanks for your congrats.... baby is doing good and is now 9lb 12oz.... from a birth weight (2weeks ago now) of 8lb 10oz.

Love and peace to all

Clare xxx

Hi Scared. My first born was very much like your experience. I think if they told us more about c-sections before we have them they would be less traumatic.

But great that Ethan arrived (love the name btw) and you are recovering.

I did not have an infection so can't comment there. But, babies are fab no matter how they arrive.

And, OF COURSE, he wasn't coming out naturally no matter what you did. Some kids just prefer the sunroof.

thanks I am trying to be more positive about it and baby Ethan is now 9lb 12oz (one pound two oz in one week and half.... fat bugger!)

love
clare xxx

For what it's worth, I asked for a section for my second child. I didn't mind the recovery of a section nearly as much as minded the though of DD being strangled by the umbilical cord, which is what sent her into foetal distress.

Planned section was fantastic. I think it's the shock of it more than physical recovery sometimes. But, then I didn't have an infection so maybe it was easier for me.

Yes, definitely something to think about should I have any more babies.

I agree they should explain more about c-sections in antenatal classes just so we are aware.

three women I know who went for induction all ended up with emergency c-sections. Intervention often leads to more intervention.... it's true.

love to all.

Clare xxxx

Hi, Clare, I have only just "found" your thread again.

Congratulations on the arrival of Ethan! Great name BTW (no prizes for guessing what one of mine is called ).

Sorry to read you did not have the ideal delivery, but so agree with what others have said: the birth is such a tiny part of what it means to be a mum, try not to beat yourself up about it. Ethan will not care (in fact DS2 who was delivered by emCS is quite proud of it - I think the thought of lots of blood and gore appeals to him, little psycho ) and your labour sounds like quite an ordeal.

I hope your recovery is swift and that BFing is going well.

I don't think intervention had anything to do with it in my case. I think I was over due because she was wrapped up in the cord. And that is the same reason I landed in a crash section. To be honest they should have done a scan the week before to see why I was overdue. They would have seen the cord wrapped around her neck (twice) and should at that point have offered me a peaceful non-emergency section. But, they didn't. When I asked later if the cord could have been seen. They said no. They lied. And this resulted in me completely not trusting the midwives again. And so I wanted a planned section because I had far more faith in the medical approach which is of course what saved DD's life. The vaginal attempt was the problem. And the caesarean was the solution.

I believe medical intervention is a good thing. It saves babies' lives all the time.