Induction - any tips?

[Kazmog]

I am being induced on Tuesday at 38 weeks - I have read all of the NHS notes but wondered if anyone had any tips or advice to make it more comfortable etc.

Thanks x

Be prepared for a loooooong stay at hospital! Could be several days, since they're trying to get you going so early. Take lots of magazines, etc, and try and get different people to come and visit you!

Lie down for at least half an hour after they put the gel in, then walk about as much as possible.

I've had 2 inductions and both times once they got labour started (no ARM or drip) it continued naturally and didn't need any pain relief other than G&A or other interventions, so I can't comment on anything more than that. Sure someone else will be along with more experience.

Good luck!

If they offer the drip, be prepared to ask for the epidural if you need it. There's no medal at the end.

You can refuse the continuous monitoring and have hand-held monitoring at set intervals instead, allowing you to be mobile and this should help things move along, rather than being stuck on a bed (wish I'd listened to myself on this one!)

Don't just go along with whatever they say they want/need to do. Ask why or what something is for - just because something makes their lives easier, doesn't make it the best option for you or baby every time.

Take something to do. You might not necessarily want people in visiting you when you've got mws coming by and doing VEs every few hours, or if you start contracting.

Take a pillow - the hospital ones are plastic covered and bloody horrible when you're hot and sweaty!

Agree with Debka , keep moving, was induced with dd2, gel got me started, had no other interventions apart from g&a. Take lots of baths, I walked up and down the corridor listening to ipod for about 2 hours!! Labour started at 4pm, dd2 was born at 6.40pm, delivered baby kneeling at side of bed, no need for being stuck on a bed. Good luck, have to say my induction was a really positive experience. Good luck.

induced here as well and no where near as bad as many had described, actualy felt in control.

We had the pessaries to get going one day, in ward overnight, labour ward next day, baby out naturally that night. Be prepared for pessaries to take time to work - as others have said - forget magazines / books etc and walk about as much as possible for as long as possible (in our case hospital carpark and local park!). Incidentally the last thing I wanted was people visiting, all I wanted was my DH!

Know your pain relieving options. Know you can request epidural (best thing I did!) etc as midwives may know suggest.............

Thank you so much for all of your advice, I really appreciate it. They originally wanted to induce me at 34-35 weeks so I feel happier that they have agreed to 38 weeks. My consultant said that they would do a sweep first then the pessary for up to 18 hours. I have had an induction previously but at 26 weeks so I am imagining this will be very different.

Thank you all again

x

Be prepared for it to all end in an emcs.

No advise as not been through it but great to read others positive experiences as you usually only hear negative things.

Good luck

my induction was ok but tiring. Once contractions kicked in after 2nd pessary, I was told they were probably more painful as my body hadn't had chance to start off slowly and naturally - but they were ok. I found that a 2 hour shower really helped!