Inductions

[Tiredpregnantmess]

So we had our 36 week growth scan today followed by our consultant appointment.

DD decided to be a nugget yet again and not play ball for the sonographer so they couldn't get exact head measurements. Due to this she's estimated to be weighing under where she should. They're predicting currently 5lb7.

As a precaution I've now got to have a Doppler and placenta scan followed by another growth scan in 7 days (37+2). If she's still small they will book in induction for first possible slot.

Consultant already confirmed it would be 3 rounds of gel and not going home in between as I need to be on the monitor. If the gels don't work it would be c section.

I've heard nightmare stories for inductions. Anyone got any labour stories of them being good and how long did you spend in hospital.

I had a full induction with our 1st, I was in hospital for 4 nights prior to birth and 2 after. 3 days from when they started me off, 7hr 38mins after they broke my waters at 4cm. Ended up with hormone drip, epidural (as high as a kite on G&A), episiotomy and vontouse as she had cord round neck and was in distress. I wouldn't volunteer for one again but it wasn't too bad really.
2 & 3 had spontaneous labours, unassisted deliveries. 4/5 were elcs as breech twins. 6 was a spontaneous labour but c-section delivery, 1st scar ruptured as she was huge.

Good luck

I've had 2 inductions - first one had gel then drip, went very quickly once it got started but unpleasant as ended up with episiotomy and forceps and quite bad blood loss. Second time was much easier - gel did nothing, drip took 2 hours to take effect but once it did she was out 2h45m after first contraction! I was terrified after the first one but it really wasn't that bad. Every experience is different!

I was induced at 35+5 due to IUGR. I went in on the Wednesday, but they wouldn’t do the pessary on the ward and I had to wait until I went onto the labour ward which didn’t happen until Thursday. I had the pessary for 24 hours which didn’t work then 3 rounds of gel (6 hours apart I think). My waters broke at 5am Saturday morning, hooked up to the drip at 11am (epidural at 1pm) and baby was born via forceps (heart rate was dipping) at 5:32pm. I was discharged the following day (baby stayed in for 1 week after as she was born weighing 1.6kg). It wasn’t too bad to be honest, just quite a long process and frustrating waiting for things to happen. My saving grace was the epidural - the drip can make contractions much more painful.

I was induced after my waters went but labour didn't start. Induction itself wasn't too bad. Gel inserted and things started really quickly. Baby born 6hrs later just before 2am. Discharged the next day quite late in the evening. Hope it all goes well for you.

Thanks very much everyone :) hopefully she's on track on the next scan and it's just because they couldn't get the head measurement.

update had the scans today and low on amniotic fluid hence the stalling of her growth. No idea how no leakage discharge or anything. Induction booked Tuesday 4th Jan with foetal monitoring every day til then.

Shits getting real now poopin myself.

I've been admitted today as low growth and restricted blood flow. I'm 35+5 and baby weighing 4lbs 12oz. On monitor and steroid injections and will be starting the induction process on Sunday! Happy to update you on my process so you might get an idea on what to expect. I'm in hospital now and won't leave until baby has been born

@ReginaaPhalange

I've been admitted today as low growth and restricted blood flow. I'm 35+5 and baby weighing 4lbs 12oz. On monitor and steroid injections and will be starting the induction process on Sunday! Happy to update you on my process so you might get an idea on what to expect. I'm in hospital now and won't leave until baby has been born

Good luck! We were estimated weight of 5lb7 on Wednesday they wanted to keep me going til I turn 37 weeks on Tuesday. Back tomorrow Sunday and Monday hooked up to the monitor so all could change before then.

Good luck :) I hope all goes well xx

I had an induction (drip) and while I can’t say I would want to go through it again (found the contractions v painful and intense but having never had a natural labour I’ve nothing to compare it to), the actual delivery went very well. Just to counterbalance any stories you may have heard about needing assisted deliveries with an induction - no intervention needed with mine at the end and she came out with an hour or so of pushing.

DD1 was induced due to early rupture of membranes. Also tiny, though a little bigger than yours OP. Gel did nothing but cause pain with no dilation, but drip got me to 10cm in 6 hours and her out in three pushes. Born at 6.02am, discharged by 6pm.

You are well within your rights to insist on an epidural before going on the drip. I did after warnings from friends, and all the staff agreed that it was a good idea.

Thanks. I've not even got a birth plan yet. Midwife was waiting on consultant and this has all happened between appointments. Hoping for gas and air and if needed epidural don't want anything else as I want to remember it all hahaha

If you end up on the drip I would definitely ask for epidural as soon as they start the drip. Contractions with the drip and really unbearable and progress rather quickly, I had to wait 3 hours for a anaesthesiologist, at that point I had been on a drip for 6 hours and it was decided I should move to C-section so they just came with me to give me the spinal instead!

I was induced with DS. Pessary was put in at midday, contractions started at 3.30pm, and he was born at 8.30pm. It was exactly the same length as my previous natural labour.

I was induced at 37+2 because dd2 size and complications with my first birth. I went in at 6pm, had the rods put in at 9pm, I couldn't sleep well, was aching had some codeine then had a good sleep. 9am the checked me and confirmed that they could brake my waters, went over to labour ward and had my waters broken. I had an epidural, so really calm labour. Which was great compared to my first labour which was not induced. Had dd2 at 6pm, so within 24 hours of being induced.

Induction Tomorrow. Eeeep. Slightly crapping myself now.

If they put you in the drip, gas and air probably won’t cut it. This pains are very different to natural labour pains ( wish someone had told me as I’d had a drug free labour first time so thought I’d walk it). Was drug free again for my induction too but regret it.
I would give this a good read tonight
www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/ten-things-i-wish-every-woman-knew-about-induction-of-labour-the-article/?fbclid=IwAR1685WlFHhKep72hxt2SfzscGcL0PsqPbAygoVYxHZSu475BEYr-rMbF44

Good luck for tomorrow.

I was induced early for a small baby too. In total between first going in and birth it was 20 hours...I can't really comment on how the birth was as I have nothing to compare it to.

But the whole experience was fine actually, getting checked and the gel inserted was uncomfortable. You'll forget any pain or discomfort the minute you hear your babies first cries...I know I did.

Just out of interest following on from my previous post...I had my final scan on the Tuesday and gave birth on the Thursday...baby was 5g heavier than the estimated weight.

The scans aren't always accurate.

I was induced for reduced movements with my first. I had one round of gel at 2am, I had a sleep and walked around the hospital for a few hours. Labour started at about 5pm (next gel would have been 24 hours later at 2am again) and baby was born at midnight. No drip, no epidural, no episiotomy- I was really scared when they recommended induction that those things were a foregone conclusion but they're absolutely not.
If you want an epidural, have one. If you don't, you might not need one.
Try to rest as much as you can before you go in and eat as well as possible, lots of carbs. Labour is so tiring (and I had a relatively short one) you need as much energy as you can get. I definitely think the tiredness makes it hurt worse (and it's something you can control now). Good luck x

@Tiredpregnantmess I’ve just come across your thread OP! Best of luck for today you’re going to get to meet your baby yay!!

I had a really positive induction 😊 opposite issue to you though, I had a whopper of a child 😬 estimated 10lb 8oz at 39 weeks. It did take a while to get things started. 1st pessary at 11am Sunday. I had 3 pessaries over the first 24 hours. Contractions (mild) started after about an hour of having the first one inserted. After the 3rd pessary they examined me again and I was only 1.5cm dilated but they said they could break my waters and things would get going so they moved me to the delivery suite & broke my waters. Contractions ramped up then but we’re still manageable. Contractions weren’t quite coming fast enough so they put me on the drip. I did have an older midwife at this point who was very pushy with pain relief - she told me I wasn’t allowed to start the drip until I accepted an epidural, which I didn’t want (this was the only negative part of the experience for me. She was very pushy and not listening to my preferences!) so my advice would be to know what you’re happy with and what you’re not and make sure your birth partner knows too! A short while later it was shift change and I got an absolute ANGEL of a midwife who was more than happy to go my preferred route of ‘no pain relief until I asked for it’. The drip definitely ramped things up a notch but I’ve never had a ‘natural’ labour so can’t say if it was more painful or not. I know lots of people say it is though. My baby was born in the early hours of Tuesday morning weighing 8lb 11oz (not 10lb odds 🙄🤣) with no intervention needed at all 😊 I only had a minor internal tear that was sorted within minutes with a few dissolving stitches. So please don’t stress over assisted deliveries or anything like that. It’s definitely possible to have an induction without them 😊
I was home with my baby by 4pm that afternoon 😊
So overall I was about 39/40 hours but the majority of that was pessaries etc. My partner wasn’t allowed in until I was having my waters broken so I had about 25 hours alone in a room which was BORING 😬 take something to occupy yourself 😊

You’ll do absolutely great!! Come back and update us when you get the chance

Update...

Eventful.

Admitted 6pm set away on monitor, trace then first gel. 6 hours later I was 1cm dilated. Two more gels and I was still 1cm. Midwifes burst waters, just. Epidural put in as contractions were just starting due to my risks .. drip on and contractions comin quick. Shame the epidural didn't work. Took that out put a new one in. Didnt work straight away probs 3 hours of gas and air first. In the meantime babys heart rate decided to go funny. Whist I was throwing up her heart rate dropped from 140+ to 42. Red button pressed, drs rush in and then an emergency c section. Good job she's absolutely perfect in every way.

Congratulations! Sorry you had such an eventful labour to get there. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Enjoy your beautiful baby.

Massive congratulations on the arrival of you baby girl!

That sounds awful. Sorry it wasn’t smoother. Congratulations on the new baby though!