Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

Original poster

How long does induction take?

24 replies

missslc · 16/12/2009 01:40

Just wondering- I am due to go in for induction thursday at noon. I am guessing it could well be 24 hours before i even get to the second stage of labour- is that about right?

No sweep, no gel- straight onto the petosin drip here which i understand brings strong contractions on pretty quickly.

Just trying to think what the time frame will be so i can take things to amuse myself-snacks etc for the long haul it could be.

OP posts:

WhatSheSaid · 16/12/2009 03:25

It's a bit of a "how long is a piece of string" question really, varies hugely. But if you're going straight onto a drip (is petosin the same as syntocin? If so, it's pretty strong stuff) I imagine you will be in full-blown labour pretty quickly. Maybe take a couple of magazines in case but it sounds like it could all happen quickly.

I was induced with prostin gel, given it at 8am - nothing happened, given again at 1pm - mild contractions off and on. Then given something to stop the contractions at 6pm so I could sleep and start again in the morning...went into proper labour 20 mins later . So 11 hours from first gel to labour for me but with gel not a drip.

Good luck. Why straight to the drip and no sweep or gel. Are you very overdue?

Original poster

missslc · 16/12/2009 04:18

Thanks whatshesaid- no just overseas and thats what they do here apparently- they won't let you go beyond a week as they reckon all sorts of risks increase-think i may opt ofr an epidural as threads on here lead me to believe it is more painful- think petosin is another name for the one you had.

OP posts:

WhatSheSaid · 16/12/2009 05:03

I was going to say, please don't rule out an epidural, being induced can be quite full-on. Yu'll be fine though, I was terrified before my induction and it was fine, I'd do it again tomorrow (actually I will be doing it again in 7 months ). The moment when the epidural kicked in was bliss!

muppetgirl · 16/12/2009 06:21

can vary I think. I had drip put in @ 9am ish and was full on from about an hour later little man was born @2am the following morning. Friend just had her second and had drip put in at 1pm ish and she had her little man at 5.30pm.

I had an epidural, she didn't.

Hope all goes well -do you have a tens machine?

muppetgirl · 16/12/2009 06:22

wss -yep the epidural moment was like that for me too!

serenity · 16/12/2009 07:43

Does depend. With DS2 I had a sweep at 9am, which set off contractions, then the drip at around 12 (so 3 hours later) and then had DS2 at 4.10pm. It was pretty intense, but I didn't need an epidural (but it would have taken a hell of a lot for me to have one - I'm a migraine sufferer with back problems and low blood pressure, I tick most of the 'do not use' boxes! {grin])

twinklegreen · 16/12/2009 07:48

with my dc2 I had the gel inserted at 1.30pm was in labour a couple of hours later and had him at 6.30pm. Even though it was pretty quick it was still pretty boring at the beginning as they do quite a bit of monitoring and stuff first (I arrived at the hospital at 10am) DH found it particularly boring. So make sure you take pleanty to read/puzzels/snacks etc.

(P.S. I had the drip in my first labour (natural onset) and didn't find it too bad, just used the Tens, as I have for all my 3 labours)

twinklegreen · 16/12/2009 07:49

forgot to say 'GOOD LUCK' let us know how it goes.

MrFibble · 16/12/2009 07:53

Good luck. For me I went on the drip at 06.00 and DD was born at 14.30 the same day so it was pretty quick. It was full on from 10.00. I'd recommend an early epidural if you can get one.

HeffaMerryChristmas · 16/12/2009 07:54

I was given the first pessary at midnight and then woken up at 6am for another. Labour started at about 10am. Second stage started at 9am the next morning and DD was born at 9.10am.

I did need an epidural, I was resisting it until a lovely doctor came in to tell me that given the pain and the fact that I was dilating really slowly, I was mad not to have one. I was very very glad I did, especially as it let me get a bit of sleep.

Good luck

cheerfulvicky · 16/12/2009 09:24

With me I was given a pessary at about 7pm, supposed to be in 24hrs. didn't sleep all night, was eventually taken up to delivery about 10pm the next day because there were busy before that. Had canula put in hand ready for drip.. I mentioned I was shattered and as they were busy, they offered me a private room for the night where dp could stay too, and said they would try in the morning instead. I agreed! Finally at lunch time the next day, I was able to go up to delivery suite because a room was available. Drip put in around 1-2pm, didn't work at first because it wasn't dripping properly. Once it started at around 2pm, I noticed weak contractions right away. They kept turning up the drip, contractions got stronger, suddenly around 5 or 6pm it became unbearable and I asked for an epidural. Was glad I had because DS was not born until 5am the next morning.

Good luck with your induction, I hope things go well for you!

fishie · 16/12/2009 09:45

missslc yes get epidural, drip is pretty full on. make sure you've had a good sleep first, find out what time they'll actually start the drip.

will you be able to have dh/birthing partner with you throughout? they'll need some food and drink even if you don't.

also ask about what triggers for turning it up - ie xcms dilated = more drip etc. and how long you've got before they go to cs if it doesn't work (not very likely but good to know if you are being monitored timewise).

ErikaMaye · 16/12/2009 10:19

I had a drip as I had mecronium in my waters. Opted out for the epidural - then when I changed my mind a few hours later they didn't have time to hook it up before my little man arrived.

Definately rest up first, its very intense. Was put on the drip at about six (I think, was rather scared so not paying that much attention) and delivered at 0220am. It was almost instantly that I was having to breathe through the contractions. Its bareable though

Best of luck!!

somethinganything · 16/12/2009 10:45

Had two gels on day 1 at about lunchtime, contractions were there but manageable but 24 hours later I was still barely 1cm dilated so was given another gel, contractions gradually got a lot stronger but still only 1cm.

In the early hours of day 3 had waters broken, contractions got much stronger again but still only 1cm.

I've no idea what time they put me on a drip, was completely out of it by then but I did opt for epidural as was completely knackered by then. So as others have said definitely don't rule it out, it was magic. Unfortunately DD had started to get distressed so I barely got to 3cm before they did an EMCS.

But that's one extreme and actually my impression is that things happen much faster with a drip. And everyone's experience is different as you'll have seen - my cousin had one gel and gave birth within 10 hours I think. My SIL had a gel and the whole thing took 2.5 hours!!!

Original poster

missslc · 16/12/2009 15:28

Thanks everyone- i actually had rumblings all evening yesterday and was hoping they may develop overnight so there is that small chance i could go naturally today- if they develop tonight i will ask the doc tomorrow if we can leave it till friday- i will still only be 6 days over on friday.

No tens machines here and the impression i have been given is that after the enema it isonto the drip- there is no gas or air used either but they are very pro epidural- 70% of births have them at the hospital i will give birth in. I am not anti epidural if i need one- i really do think that some people have a much more painful experience and it is mad to deny yourself pain relief unless there is any risk to baby or to you.

I know they slow the labour down but quite happy to go slow and not be in agony.
I think i will just take the epidural if they put me straight onto a drip- especially as that is what they seem to preference. In fact at a baby class someone asked whether the head midwife recommended trying to manage without an epidural and she laughed and responded" If you are a sadomasochist and you actually want to have lots of pain then don't have it." Quite different from the UK!!

OP posts:

l39 · 16/12/2009 15:36

Hope all goes well missslc!

I was hooked up to a drip at 10.45 am (waters had gone but not had any contractions) and gave birth to my third daughter an hour and a quarter later. I didn't have an epidural and it was the easiest of my four labours.

Original poster

missslc · 16/12/2009 16:40

l39- ohhh i like the sound of that- maybe if i start visualising i can have such a quickie!!

OP posts:

IDOBisamummy · 16/12/2009 17:15

Hi Misslc, hope your rumblings turn into something today!

Just a quick thought about the epidural. I was induced with the drip after the pessary and gel failed to give me as much as a twinge. They started the drip at 10pm (they were worried DD was getting stressed so wouldn't wait until morning). I was offered the epidural before they started the drip but I wanted to wait and see. It was pretty intense very quickly but bearable - I had backache which was worse than the contractions in fact as it was constant. I felt I needed the epidural around 7am BUT the anaesthetist was in surgery and I had to wait for quite a while so my top tip is if you don't have the epidural right at the start don't wait until you feel you need it NOW to ask for it. It was bliss when it arrived though - it took almost all the pain from my back and stomach but I could still just feel the contractions and I could move around. Unfortunately my labour didn't progress (I only got to 5cm dilated) and I had to have a cesarean but that is very unusual and was actually fine and I recovered quickly so don't worry about it.

Good luck and fingers crossed for a quick labour.

Original poster

missslc · 16/12/2009 21:26

thanks- a good tip there- i know there is more chance of a c section with induction- all that matters for me is the baby being healthy and me being alive at the end of it all!!No attachment to howthat happens really.

OP posts:

Original poster

missslc · 18/12/2009 04:22

okay- so really relieved- waiting till monday to see if anything will happen naturally after all vital signs looked fine today at docs- i ran out of that ward in delight.....i felt like i am on stolen time from the inevitable marathon that awaits...thanks for all advice all.

OP posts:

CantSleepWontSleep · 18/12/2009 06:06

well my induction took 4 days, but from starting the drip to birth was only 3hrs 10mins, with my labour officially listed as 1hr 10mins. I didn't have an epidural.

Mishy1234 · 18/12/2009 20:22

I had the gel which didn't do much and ended up having the drip at 6pm. Didn't do much for about an hour, so they turned it up to the top dose which was pretty full on.

I made sure I was in line to get an epidural, although I was in labour for about 4hrs before I got it. I was extremely glad when I did and it enabled me to get some sleep.

DS was born at 12:30 the following day.

Original poster

missslc · 29/12/2009 22:44

Okay so induction not needed- went into labour 8 days late but after 28 hours and several of those pushing doc decided on a c section as his head would not get past my pointy spine and narrow birth canal( I thought they were stretchy until this experience)

ANyway i have a gorgeous over 10 IBS baby boy. The epidurAL AFTER 15 HOURS WAS HEAVEN ANDONLY WISH ihad submitted many hours earlier- all ofit to no avail as it was a c section anyway but i did not care how he was born as long as he was unharmed and healthy.

Thanks for all your input everyone.

OP posts:

saladfingers · 02/01/2010 13:35

congratulations! my 4th was 10lb, he's 4 months old now and so strong!

Flip