Tips on managing induction?

[JuneMammy]

Sooo... does anyone have tipes on managing an induction (any stage) IF you do end up with one?

Thanks in advance!

Try to 'ripen up' as best as you can naturally, sex, fresh pineapple, walking, clary sage oil, raspberry leaf tea in abundance from 37 weeks. If you can dilate and efface a little on your own, you may only need a sweep or water's broken to get things going rather than the prostaglandin gels and synthetic oxytocin drip. Be open to what is on offer, but do not feel obligated, you can make your own choices and will feel more empowered and less of a victim during labour if you are making decisions, rather than being dictated to.

Is there a particular reason you are thinking you may end up being induced?

I am being induced on Monday. Any advice welcome - not keen on the drip or the more drug options. Also i heard you are more likely to have a c sect, is this true?

Blimey, I tried all of the above to get going before seeing my MW. I thought I was going to turn into a pineapple. I did feel a right plonker in the local yummy curry house the night before a sweep. I could barely reach the table!!

In the end I had a sweep, prostin, ROM and then syntocinon. My only advice: get good pain relief before syntocinon. I could have kissed the anaesthetist after the epidural.

If you need an induction, don't worry.

Best wishes for the birth.

Grumbler - thanks for the tips. I have the clary sage, but was going to just inhale during conbtractions (when they ever arrive!), maybe i should just burn a bit before.

Btw - i was looking at the overdue thread and saw some of your messages. Many congratulations on your new baby! And your experiences and approach are very encouraging - i will read back over the thread later.

The reason im thinking about induction now is that im 40+8. I am being very active at the moment, doing lots of yoga, walking and most of the natural induction things. I have a sweep next Tuesday and there was discussion of unduction. Hopefully that will get things going. Im trying not to think about induction but would probably go for it if there is no developments by 40+14. In the meantime, i dont want to end up dreading it. I just thought if i knew in advance there were some things i could do to make it more manageable i could focus less on anxiety around induction, and concentrate more on relaxing over the next few days. And if an induction is neccessary, I would like to feel a bit more confident that it will be manageble (e.g. to know that i might still be able to benefit from labouring in an active position, breating, hypnobnirthng techniques, etc). Bit long winded - sorry!

Anyway, i also feel that a few positive tips on induction would be helpful for a lot of people as the word itself tends to instil (understandably) a lot anxiety that we could do without!

Bubs - good luck on Monday. There is some evidence that inductions are more likely to result in c-sections compared with labours which spontaneously start. However, the does not mean you will end up with a c-section, lots of people still don't. I must have a look around for the actual statistics on this.

Thanks for the advice lady Spratt I think im also turning into a pineapple with small red chilli ears..

I had an induction a few weeks ago. I think personally that the most important thing is your state of mind. Be positive, it can go well, go with the flow. Once you've had the gel WALK. I went up and down stairs and round the carpark. As well as pain relief/ getting things moving you'll be grateful you got out the place for a bit once you're stuck laying down (monitoring sucks). Bit of advice-keep nagging to go to the toilet and milk it, as a sneaky way of getting up of monitors to streach your back!

It really can be ok, in my case I managed a vaginal birth even though baby was stuck for hours and I developed a fever. I was advised for a c-section, but they agreed I could labour on if I felt I was coping and baby's heart rate was steady. I did get a say in what happened and the wonderful end made up for the low point of labouring on an antenatal ward. Also don't be scared of epidurals if you want one, I had these awful visions of having dead legs and being stuck in position. It wasn't like that at all. I felt all the pressure, just lost the sharp pain. Not a hint of feeling numb below the waist.

I cannot stress enough, accept the situation an make the most of it. It wasn't the home water birth I'd planned nor the natural bonding process I wanted but in its own way it was special. I met my healthy baby and we were a healthy family at the end of it. I had a host of students, a great midwife and my husband there and actually managed to have a few laughs and chat. The pain relief was effective (considering it was 33 hours thank god) so I was relaxed for a lot of it and chatting. Very managable despite all that went on. In my case he would have got stuck anyway and I would have developed a fever/ heart problem and I would have ended up on a high dependency room in labour ward anyway! Focus on the end goal and the day in the middl really won't matter. Good luck!

Oh and take crappy sugary food. In the early stages/ waiting around for things to kick off you will get hungry. For junk.

I have had two early inductions (one at 36+6 and the other at 37+4). Both were straightforward labours and positive experiences.

With dd1 I needed the works - gel, waters broken, drip. Active labour was 5 hrs and i had tens, gas and air and meptid for pain relief.

For dd2 I just had the gel and waters broken. Was in labour for 2 hours and had gas and air and tens.

I think keeping a positive attitude towards the induction really helps. Try not to focus on the natural birth you're missing out on, but on the positives of the birth you are having.

Also, try and stay as active as possible. Being monitored and attached to a drip doesn't mean you have to be flat on your back on a bed. I was in a rocking chair beside the bed, rocking on a ball or kneeling on the bed and leaning over the back of it. For dd2's birth i had a cordless monitor so i could be totally active which was great, so definitely worth asking if your hospital has one of these too.

I think induction experiences can differ as much as any other sort of labour experience.

I was induced with my first (at nearly 42 weeks) with prostin gel. It was a quick and straightforward labour at about 5 hours from the first twinge to my daughter being born. Once the contractions started they came thick and fast - the only downside was the sudden intensity of labour after not being anywhere near! But I know other people have several goes with the gel and then finally syntocin and ARM etc (I did have ARM too but just before pushing stage when I thought my pelvis would crack) and have a much longer slog, so would have a different perspective.

From my own experience, try to relax as much as you can, and remember your breathing techniques. Try different positions - as greensnail says, you don't need to be on your back the whole time. I got from 1 - 5 cm in the bath on the antenatal ward, and thereafter was on a ball in the labour suite and then finally on the bed, which just happened to be most comfortable for me.

Most women find they need good pain relief with the syntocinon drip, for some diamorphine (or similar) will suffice, for many an epidural is appropriate. This is for many reasons, lack of mobility, baby in poor position, contractions coming thicker and faster than natural and not giving the body time to 'catch up' with natural pain killers.
Try to keep mobile as far as possible, and eat and drink a light diet to keep strength up . It may be a lengthy process as there is a 6 hour gap between prostin gel administration.
I would say, from experience, an instrumental is more likely than a section, as being immoble with an epidural makes it harder to birth your baby naturally.
Good luck, I had an induction with dd1 and it all went well, if slowly! And I had a nice delivery last night of a woman who was being induced, epidural but pushed her baby out herself.

Out of interest why do you say that good pain relief is needed with the syntocinon drip. I had the drip when i gave birth 5 weeks ago and also had epidural which didn't work so i only ended up with gas and air. My waters had broken and contractions started naturally but i couldn't get past 3cm (body too tied as hadn't managed sleep for 2 nights). The pain was horiffic in my back and bum and its really put me off having any more, does the syntocinon increase the pain?

Not sure Morph2. I asked for one before the syntocinon because my friend's experience was that she felt like she was being torn in two with horrific pain in her back and bum mainly. I didn't have my friend's voice ringing in my ear until I experienced the full force of the induced contractions and I too felt like I was being torn in two.

I had no option but to go with a step-wise approach to pain relief as the anaesthetist was in theatre when the drip started. Gas and air made me vomit all over my husband and the midwife (more than once), so that was soon ruled out. Then I had pethidine which was just plain weird. I wouldn't have minded going all the way with pethidine, but I had a really long, drawn out labour, so it was excellent timing on the anaesthetist's part to come in when he did. At one point the pain returned because the midwife moved me and didn't realise that the tubing had become disconnected until the anaesthetist came back in to see how I was doing, and just as well as he saved me once again. Nearly 20 hours later I couldn't get past 8cm so off I went for a CS. As the epidural was already in place it was no problem having an EMCS. God anaesthetists are fab.

Just to add- I had 2 gels, first one I was encouraged to get up and walk around immediately, 2nd one I was told to stay prone for half an hour. IMO it was better to lie down as the first time I could feel the gel dribbling out (yuk), and it couldn't possibly have done its job. However once it's done- walk, walk, walk!

morph2 I found that the syntocin increased the pain for me, and the contractions were coming faster and faster with no break in between them at some points. I second the anesthetists are fab comment. I was strapped to the bed and couldn't move with SPD and the drip and monitors all plugged in!

If they give you Propess, make sure it's removed (it's like a little tampon) once your contractions start.
If they forget to remove it, you end up with 'hyperstimulation' of the uterus and very painful contractions.
To be avoided at all costs. Trust me.

morph i think it does? i was given epidural before they even put the syntocinon in with my ds1 cos they said it makes it worse?
so i wouldnt let it put you off more dc if you do want more. ds2 was much much easier

my tips for induction is just have an epidural if its too difficult, sorry nothing more constructive
although if you're not attached to monitors or drips trying to be active may help, like atleast staying upright and leaning on the wall or against someone
walking after gel sounds a good idea, i was never told to do that (didnt know as it was my first and clueless) so was just hanging around waiting for something to happen. walking and also trying to keep yourself busy and distracted with something else must definitely help

I was induced at 40+10, the propess was in for 24 hours and was fine, I had quite bad back ache but other than that I was fine. I then had my waters broken, also fine, a slight pop and then they gave me synto and I only managed 3 hours on synto before I requested an epidural, do not feel guilty about requesting pain relief. I also ended up having an emergency c section because my baby was getting a bit distressed but don't let this worry you either, the c section wasn't as scary as I thought it to be and recovery for me didn't take long at all. Even though it couldn't have gone more differently to my birth plan, I now have a gorgeous 11 week old little boy! Good luck, try to not worry too much.

Thanks pebblejones . Tis good to read positive stuff about inductions. I'm booked in for Friday night so nice to hear the philosophical approach.

If you need a drip then ask them to have it and the CTG on the same side so you aren't pinned to the bed.

I had an induction @ 40+11. It was fine. The gels and all the other stuff didn't work with me so I had to have oxytocin and an epidural but could still walk around, spent most of my time on the birthing ball or standing and then pushed him out myself.

There are some major pluses to consider too! I cleaned the house, got the shopping in, made all the beds up, washed my hair, painted my toenails and shaved legs etc so was all organised to come home to a clean house afterwards. No waters suddenly breaking in the middle of the night, and no drive to the hospital with contractions.

Personally the best decision I made was not to have an epi until after I started on the syntocinon. I really felt involved in the childbirth because I experienced contractions for myself.

With my first (im now 22+1 with my 2nd) i was pretty much induced, had dialated to about 3cm but over 5-10 hours just wasnt dialating fast enough so they broke my waters (which was fine btw, do not remember any pain during that part!) then waited a few hours, nothing, so they took me to the doctor led unit and put me on a drip to speed me up. they offered me an epidural to which i terrifyingly responded with no please no! much to their shock as they thought i would have jumped at having one but i hate needles and the thought of one going into my spine - ugh!
Anyway, so the drip wasnt too bad, the pain in the butt bit was having to lie down with monitoring equipment strapped to me and wires coming off me.
I dont think being induced fased me at all so you have nothing to worry about, by the time you get to that stage u will probably just want it all over anyhow and then as soon as baby arrived you forget it all and realise it was all worth it.

Good luck!!

The early phases of induction (sweeps, pessaries, gels etc.) will make no difference at all to your labour once you get started. They are all quick procedures which aim to trigger your body into natural labour. The only difference is that you may be monitored in hospital for anywhere between hours and days (depending how long you take to get going). So pack a bag with you PJs, wash things, treats, books, music etc. and prepare to settle in for a while. Try not to expect too much too soon and then you won't be dissappointed if you start slowly.

If you have intravenous syntocin, then take the epidural as soon as you can. This drugs speeds up and strengthens your contractions, so you go from 10mph to 100mph quicker than your body is ready for. You will require close monitoring and may be bed bound, which can make other interventions more likely. It's kind of a last ditch attempt to get things moving, after everything else has been tried.

Please try and relax - you'll be fine, and most phases of induction or monthing more than momentarily uncomfortable.

Good luck - it's a really exciting time.

monthing?? I meant nothing .

Not sure there is anything natural about prostaglandin gels (do you know what they are made from?) forcing your cervix to open early - absolutely think if there is a health risk to you or your baby, go for an induction (though any very serious risk is more likely to be countered by a c-section?) but please take on board in other countries you are not 'term' until 42 weeks and don't feel bad about postponing inductions, the doctors and midwives are there to assist you, not dictate to you.
I would urge all women to wait until your body is showing some signs of ripening on it's own, before intervening, I had ARM at 42 weeks only, as I was already 3-4cm dilated and effaced - I had full on contractions with in 45mins of my waters being broken and did not require synthetic oxytocin, or any pain relief, I used the bath and shower in the labour suite to naturally ease the pain until 8cm and after that it all seemed to get much easier - asides pushing out a 4.2kg baby.
Childbirth, whether natural, medicalised or c-section is painful, difficult and uncomfortable - but you do end up with a gorgeous baby whichever route you take, just make sure it's based on informed decisions, be open to change and get a good birth partner on board.

Thanks for all the tips! It made me feel more relaxed last weekend .

I did not need an induction in the end. After a jalfrezi on Saturday night i had a show on Sunday morning. Spent the day relaxing, watched a movie and went for a walk at 10pm. Then the contractions started and i headed in to the hospital at 1am (4-5cm). Got a room with a waterpool so spent most of the time labouring there. All went extremely well until the delivery stage - little progress was being made and my little ones heart rate was increasing. So after, trying to deliver her in the pool, then out of the pool using standing positions etc, we had to head to theatre. It turned out that my little one was back to back and was a bit jammed and becoming distressed so we ended up with a c-section. However, she was totally fine, lovely healthy 8lb girl, 55.5cm long - we are delighted! She arrived on 40+10.

Two other friends had spontaneous labours at 40+11 and 40+12 last week - so maybe its best to just try not to worry about a looming induction date. And if an induction of some sort is required, it can be quite manageable (based on tips above!)

Good luck to everyone! And thanks again for the tips!