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

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Being induced tomorrow and absolutely terrified!

15 replies

HelenHen · 15/07/2012 17:24

Labour has always been my worst nightmare... in fact I didn't really want kids for that reason but then thought it was time to grow up. Throughout the pregnancy I've been getting better at coping with going into labour naturally. It never occurred to me that I might go over (11 days over today) and they'd have to induce me.

I like the fact that I can have the house scrubbed today and everything ready for bringing the baby home... but I'm really not good with medical stuff as I've never been sick or in hospital before... I'm actually worried that at some point I might shut down and refuse to go any further. I don't like the fact that I now pretty much know when it's gonna happen and it's gonne be controlled. I'm also probably gonna lose out on my water birth that I wanted so much... but that's the least of my worries probably.

I've been breaking down all weekend and poor DH doesn't know what to do with me. The in laws wanted to come around tonight to say hi but I've told him to say no. I think I'm pretty much gonna be hysterical for the rest of the night now!!!!!!!!! Anybody else feeling like this? Has anyone got any words of encouragement or advice that might make me feel a bit better?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

QueenOfIndecision · 15/07/2012 17:29

hi, just wanted to say, try and calm down if you can.
i've been induced twice and was really gutted both times, as i wanted a bit more control fo things. but in the end i think my anxieties about being induced were worse than the reality.
i'm sure you can have quite an active non-medicalised birth if the induction goes well, and in the grand scheme of things, it's just a few hours - soon you will have your baby and all that crap will be forgotten....
don't know if that makes you feel any better, but hope it goes ok.

tazmo · 15/07/2012 17:31

The midwives are very good at putting you at ease. Make it easy on yourself and have pain relief. I had to be induced due to developing pre-eclampsia in labour but requested an epidural. Was able to sleep through the contractions. Just think you are about to meet ds or dd. it only lasts for 48 hours at most. Try to enjoy it!

YouveCatToBeKittenMe · 15/07/2012 17:31

I wasn't sure whether to post or not. I was induced with my first and although it wasn't pleasant neither were the births of my other DC's who weren't induced.

Induction just speeds everything up, you don't get so much of a build up of a contraction. it's just there and then gone.
I had pethidine too which made it a rather out of body experience, I have some strange woozy memory of DH asking if he could eat my dinner when it arrived. I didn't use pethidine again, not because it was a bad feeling I just didn't need it.

Try not to panic. Just think of the lovely snuggly baby you will have at the end of it all. I was 15,13 and 14 days overdue with my first 3.
Good Luck and relaxing thoughts for tomorrow!

Declutterbug · 15/07/2012 17:42

Normal pregnancy is defined as 37-42 weeks, so you're not overdue for another 3 days. You are within your rights to decline induction now, or even at 42 weeks plus. If you do, they should offer you close monitoring. You could also request a c-section instead if you preferred, although (despite guidelines saying maternal request is valid) they may not react so well to this...

There are some risks of going past 42 weeks, including increased risk of stillbirth, although the absolute risk remains low. would it be worth reading up on the pros and cons for yourself and then deciding what you want to do?

NICE guidelines on induction of labour

Cochrane review

NICE c-section guidelines

There remains a good chance you'll go into labour before 42 weeks

MULLYPEEP · 15/07/2012 17:46

Aw don't be. They take really good care of you. Tell them you are scared up front. I've been induced twice, first time epidural and the second time totally quick and easy. It's fine- keep thinking of the baby you will get at the end.

Original poster

HelenHen · 15/07/2012 17:53

Thanks all . I know I need to man up and just go with it cos it's gonna happen anyway. At first I was gonna refuse induction, having read up on the pro's and cons but I really don't wanna put my baby at any risk at all. My sister's been really good to talk to... she's 4 kids (2 normal labour, 1 induction and 1 csection) and she said the csection was the worst but the rest were all a piece of cake. I know she's lying but I really appreciate it and it calms me a bit lol. I'm pretty sure it will be obvious I'm scared when I go in and they're gonna hate to see me coming but I really can't help it. I just can't wait to meet our baby... I keep looking at the moses basket thinking 'you should be in THERE' ... but I just have to get through the next bit somehow. Thank you all though... if you can do it, we all can, right?

OP posts:

Elsqueak · 15/07/2012 18:01

I was induced with my dd as she was late and although initially I was apprehensive, it was fine. The beauty of already being in hospital is that they can give you pain relief straight away, you can ask questions, you don't have to worry about getting to hospital at the right time (had 2 friends told not to come in and ended up having home births). I'm not saying childbirth is a breeze but I was so glad to have health professionals there right from the start to talk to. Also, there might well be other ladies there going through the same thing as you. There were 3 of us when I went in and it was good to chat to them about it. I am expecting dc2 right now and wouldn't mind getting induced again as my experience was very positive. You really will be in good hands.

thereistheball · 15/07/2012 18:10

I have one small piece of advice - do not do as I did and have a huge meal before going in. Try and eat little and often, and make sure it's easily digestible. good luck!

Original poster

HelenHen · 15/07/2012 18:16

Thanks Elsqueak. That's good to hear! I'm hoping to avoid an epidural as I'm pretty terrified of them too I really am gonna have to grow up.

Oh dear thereistheball... I read so much advice to eat plenty before going in and was gonna follow that. Any foods you would recommend?

I've just cleaned the house for the third time this week hoping to tire myself out so I can just have an early night and hopefully get some sleep.

OP posts:

Declutterbug · 15/07/2012 19:28

Good luck and let us know how you get on

Also, bear in mind even once baby's here it's totally normal to find yourself holding the baby and looking at an empty moses basket for the first few weeks, as loads and loads of babies wake instantly on being put down

mylittlemonkey · 15/07/2012 19:57

I was induced at 11 days overdue with my DS and I actually begged to be induced as I did not want baby to get any bigger ESP with a natural birth. I was, like you, absolutely terrified of giving birth and ha dnot even read a signle thing aout it as i just could not bear to face the reality of having to give birth. However, it was actually really ok. I had the pessary and just sat around reading and chatting to DH for a good few hours before I felt it taking effect. Bring in plenty of things to keep you occupied. I then started having mild cramping which then led to contractions 3 every 10 mins. I can't lie they did hurt but my tens machine really helped. I did not even have any other pain relief and I am a total baby! The only problem was I was not dilating so they gave me the drip which does speed things up so I insisted on having an epidural beforehand which they agreed to and it was magic. Felt no pain after that.

Hope everything goes well and just think how soon you will have your lovely baby in your arms!

Somersaults · 15/07/2012 20:00

My induction was fine and I got to go in the pool and got through it all including ventouse delivery as DD was back to back (completely unrelated to the induction) on just gas and air. You will be well looked after. Please try not to panic.

StrawberrytallCAKE · 15/07/2012 20:10

Helen I felt exactly the way you do when I was induced at 40+14, I was petrified of labour. I had the pessaries put in at 10pm at night, went into established labour at around 3am and dd was born at 7am. It was absolutely wonderful and not how people had described it to me at all, have faith in your body (and enjoy the gas and air).

I told the midwives how scared I was and they really took care of me, please tell them how you feel so they know how to help you. If I had wanted to I would still have been able to have a water birth so don't rule it out. Good luck with your induction and please come back and tell me how it went x

Original poster

HelenHen · 15/07/2012 21:56

Oh thanks all . I've calmed down a little bit tonight and am getting excited but I'm sure I'll have some bad moments before I go in. Good to hear the pool might still be an option though... I will try and avoid the drip if I can but if I must I must

Lol declutterbug... at least I can hand baby to hubby and say 'ok it's yours for the next 9 months', right?

Thanks though, you're all really helping... and I'll be sure to report back afterwards

OP posts:

MillyStar · 15/07/2012 22:13

Jus another thing don't expect to be in labour tomorrow as it can take a while, I had my little one 11 weeks ago and went in to be induced on a Monday but I didn't have her till the Friday, I had the pessary and lots of gels till Thursday when they put me on the drip

It's the best feeling in the world and worth every second, you honestly do forget straight away, just keep thinking that you're doing it for the baby ;)

Flip