Induction once, induction twice?

[roary]

I've been hanging around on various overdue/induction threads to see if anyone else has been asking these questions recently and it seems not...

I am currently 39 weeks with DC2. DD1 born at 42+3 after 3 day marathon induction. I have been told so many differing things about the likelihood of being so late again, but we were very certain of my dates (I really WAS that late) and when various docs/MWs have seen my file they remark on how late I actually was, which they seem to think means that it's more likely I'll be late again. Your experiences?

So I am mentally preparing myself in the hope that in a Murphy's Law kind of way that if I plan carefully for an induction my child will show up on time, or at least not hideously late.

I have a lot of questions. I've heard that with a second induction they don't bother with pessaries/gels - is this true?

I was also hoping that if I had a pessary and it didn't work that I could discharge myself and go home to sleep, coming back the next day. (My hospital seems to begin inductions in the afternoon and keep you overnight). My understanding is that if the gel hasn't done anything in 6 hours it's not going to, and so if they won't offer me another gel I'd really like to go home. HOme is less than 10 mins from hospital. Any clinical reason for keeping me there? Starting out life with DD without having slept in 3 days made things much harder.

Hi - DC1 (DS) was an induction at 42 weeks, DC2 (DD) was spontaneous at 42 weeks - am hoping DC3 (currently 31 weeks) behaves like big sister as was much better - fingers crossed for you

I can give you long stories.

I have had 4 dc all induced as went overdue.

dc1 yes marathon 3 day event 3 pessaries, ARM but no drip, delivered without assistance.

dc2 lied about my dates so I was induced at 40+16 - much quicker, 1 pessary at lunchtime born about 10pm

dc3 - complete depressed wreck and severe spd so they induced me at 40 weeks (actually I wanted her born in August not September due to having only a 14 month gap!) another marathon 3 day event, 3 pessaries but fortunately the ARM worked.

dc4 - 42 weeks first pessary 12pm, no progress at all despite lots of pain, 2nd pessary 6pm. Things happened after a while. Borm 11pm after a 1 minute official labour - went 8cm, contraction, crowned, contraction, delivered

I had induction with ds1 with ds2 I had reflexology and 3 sweeps then went into labour myself was so much easier than the induction .

I had an induction with DC1 at 40+10 and I'm afraid I had one with DC2 at 40+14.
They were basically the same procedure (although I had them in different countries) although at my hospital first time Mum's were in at 10pm I think and second time in the morning.
I'm one of the people that induction works for, so with first child it took 2 lots of gel and then waters broke and born 4 hours later. With second it was 1 lot of gel and then 2 hours after contractions started she entered the world.

So, basically same procedure both times.

I wonder how long I would have gone if I had been left. Apparently my Grandmother went 4 weeks over with her first. Imagine being 10 months pregnant!

Hope that answers some questions.
Don't know about keeping you in I'm afraid. They need to monitor you don't they?

I can't answer your question about going home if the first prostin doesn't work, but I can comment on 2nd induction, albeit in a rather specific context which may not be helpful to you.

I was induced for raised BP both times, 2nd induction was emergency as BP had just sky rocketed, so not planned like my first. With the second they wanted to give me a prostin whilst they waited for PET bloods and I said no, I wanted to wait until the bloods came back. They accepted this, then an hour or so later the Dr said no, we need to get you going NOW your BP is still climbing. She ARMed me VERY painfully (even with G and A) and with great difficulty according to mw. In retrospect I wish I had asked them to give me a prostin before going on to struggle with an ARM. I think they thought because I had had 2 babies before I would labour very quickly, when in actual fact it was my longest labour. Sorry, that's not what you want to hear is it?

Like I say, my situation does sound very different to yours, so don't read that much into it. But if it happens to me again I would not be so open to the idea of an ARM if cervix as unfavourable as mine was.

Good luck!

At our hospital first baby inductions are done in the afternoon but subsequent they try and do them at 9am and on the labour ward.

Unfortunately with 2 of them they were so busy I was hanging around from 8.30am until lunchtime waiting for the first pessary. Def won't let you go home though as with subsequent babies you usually go into established labour more quickly.

Not much more likely I don't think, my midwife said it was more to do with position of the baby as to whether things kicked off naturally (although obv you can tend to carry one way or another). Also don't think induction process is any different.

I was induced at 42wks, but dd2 started naturally at 40+3. I did have acupuncture from a specialist acupuncturist from 36 weeks though, to get things moving, which I think helped,

Thanks everyone for replies so far!

I should have mentioned that I had several sessions of acupuncture before DD1 and while it obviously didn't work I will book some sessions again. Can't hurt, after all.

I have a feeling, again judging by reactions of various medical professionals to my 42+3 first pregnancy that if you are very, very late the first time it may be that you are a very, very late person. I guess we'll just wait and see but it's interesting to hear that you all were induced twice or more. I wonder if anyone knows of any actual evidence about this?

In terms of going home, my understanding is that you need to be monitored for 6 hours after the gel, but after that, if it's not going to work it won't have worked. I'll ask the MW at my next appt about the possibility of going home. She's really in my corner and is great, and was concerned enough about my not having a repeat 3 day marathon she referred me to the consultants. Who were not particularly encouraging about the going overdue not repeating but were more encouraging that labour would establish better in the event I have to be induced.

See, if I plan this very carefully I'll have the baby tomorrow!

my mum and I both have long cycles and both went overdue and had to have inducement I think there is a connection. My placentas certainly weren't looking on their last legs!

Forgot to say that I had acupuncture for dc3 & 4 and it didn't seem to make a difference. Both times I was told how ripe everything was to go and in fairness my actual labours were very very fast (too fast tbh) it was just getting into labour that was the issue IYSWIM.

DS1 - induced at 42 +5. 1 pessary at 9pm, ds born at 4.30am

DS2 arrived on his due date. I'd had no braxton hicks, show or any sign that it was about to happen until my waters went. He was born 12 hours later.

Good luck.

Thanks again all. Perusing the NICE guidelines suggest there is no reason the gel cannot be done as an outpatient procedure, so if it comes to that I will argue for going home if timing not good. Also, recommends induction first thing in the am so I am going to argue for that, too!