Induction questions - birth plan & attire & DH

[Rollermum]

I have an induction booked for Thursday, hoping I won't need it but also trying to plan ahead, so...

Should I re-write my birth plan/ elements of it for various scenarios? E.g. I understand may need be able to have water birth, more likely to need epidural etc.

For the first stage I will have a pessary and be sent home. If that doesn't work I will need to go back for gel and that involves staying in for monitoring. Would it be normal to be in pyjamas / nightie or what for this?

Also, just though of another one - would DH need to go home if on gel / drip but not yet in established labour?

My experience was that you are induced on a ward so dh had to leave...he could only stay once labour was established and I was moved to the labour suite.that said he could stay in the ward until ten pm.
I wore normal pj until my waters l went then I was put in a gown.

DH stayed with me throughout. He was often bored rigid, tired, hungry and stroppy (it took 24h).

I wore just clothes for most of it, until I went through to delivery. Then a black nightie and no bottoms iyswim!

I had continuous monitoring so birth pool and most mobility was out of the question. Ask what alternatives there are to this as labouring on your back is agony, is slower, and is more likely to end in intervention.

Thanks Pinkr and Horry - v useful.

Hoping DH can stay with me but good to be warned he may not. Also will try to be as able as possible!

I was induced with twins. Had pessary at 11am, but 12.30 I sent him home as no sign of anything happenning and he was milling around looking bored, reading the paper, and asking me if anything was happenning (annoying). After he left I had an enjoyable time ploughing through my magazines in peace, walk to the hospital canteen and he reappeared at 2ish more cheerful as was I. Babies came at 8pm that evening. Had epidural, was brilliant, felt NO pain.

I shouldn't get too hung up with birth plan, in my experience they simply lead to disappointment as labour rarely goes to plan. Good luck my dear!

Hey roller.
I had both pessary then gel. DH got sent home overnight when pessary failed, I was in as waters had gone.
Wore jimjams on the ward, no one cares a bit.
As for å birth plan! It was 'give birth' as ds was 36+3 and I hadn't even packed. With this one is 'give birth but no pethidine thanks'
By all means do a rewrite but as another poster said, be prepared to chuck it in the bin.

I had to stay in hospital throught so DH was only allowed to be there during visiting hours. However, although I wasn't supposed to leave the hospital after the pessary I was allowed to wander the grounds. So I wore normal clothes and me and DH spent everyday walking round the huge hospital and the park next to it. I probably could have walked into town but I didn't think of it at the time! It was a dull few days with nothing happening, I have to admit!

I also had an epidural as apparently there was no other option to lying on my back and not being allowed to move around because of the monitoring. I do understand from other people that this is quite dependant on the midwife and hospital policy.

I would add that DH started his paternity leave on the day I went in to be induced as I mistakenly thought it would be quick. It actually took a week so DH then only had a week left once the baby arrived which was not ideal. If the same thing happens again then DH will stayin work until the labour actually starts and I'll just have to do the boring week on my own.

Hope that helps. It is not ideal but it'll be over soon.

Meant throughout not thought in the first sentence!

You may want to read up a little bit about forceps and ventouse as sometimes induction is more likely to lead to these interventions. You may have a strong feeling about one or other.

Otherwise comfy clothes or pj's. The hospital where i am does inductions on the labour ward so DH was able to stay with me - maybe check with your hospital. Make sure he has a toothbrush though as it can be a long process, i was induced due to waters going and it still took 2 pessaries & about 16 hours before labour even started.

Agree with toowit about sending dh back to work. I had to stay in hospital whilst pessary worked and it was really boring - paternity leave much more useful once baby is here.
Also, I was ready (dilated enough to break waters and start drip) after the first pessary, but there were no beds available in delivery suite for 3 days. So even if you respond well to the pessary/gel the process could still take some time. I wasn't in labour so no pain but the wait was stressful and boring. Once I went down to delivery suite dd was born in 8hrs though so my actual labour was quick.