induction

[clairemf]

is being induced really horrible?

well, there's a question - i guarantee you will get 100 different answers!!!!

having had a failed induction, i would say yes...but someone else will come along and say they were induced, the baby popped out after a couple of hours and all was great!!!

are you being offered an induction or are you preparing yourself just in case?

Well....I was induced - pretty bloody painful contractions, given an epidural because I was "coming on too quick" (that's how I got in that condition!). Then, after epidural, slept through most of the rest of labout & DS popped out 4 hours later.

The induction process itself wasn't too bad for me, once I started it was very intense but there is no saying it would have been any different if I'd have gone naturally.

If I was facing another induction, I would want to know exactly why, and what the risks were if I decided against being induced, last time they just said so we will book you in on the 17th, and I said thanks very much, I would like to think I would be a bit more pro-active if it happened again.

lulumama- offered an induction

"DS popped out 4 hours later."

see Claire - lots of different experiences.....!!

having had one failed induction , complete with epidural and emergency c/s, and one vbac with gas& air and pethidine....i;d go for spontaneous labour everytime...but no-one can tell you what will be best for you!!!

is this your first ?

why are you being offered an induction?

lulumama been offered an induction

lulumama- baby is big on chart and i have thyroid problems.

depends on the cervix ie: how "ripe" it is,
how many weeks will you be, is this your first child?

Piffle - will be on due date. 2nd baby.

Piffle - will be on due date. 2nd baby.

Piffle - will be on due date. 2nd baby.

ok - so at 40 weeks they are inducing you due to medical issues and baby's size - how big was first baby and what was labour like for you?

I loved it! It was great for my first baby because I was really scared about going into labor and not knowing what to do. I was also put on bedrest for two weeks so I was ready to get the baby out so I could get up and move again.
If you do go for it. You need to eat like you are eating for a million because you are not allowed to eat once the process starts.

The process is like this

1. The will give a prostaglandin insert (cervidil,usually overnight because you can't walk around) to ripen your cervix if you need it. It needs 12 hours.

1. In the morning you can eat when they take the prostaglandin out. Then they will give you a pitocin drip and break your water.

I liked being told "this is your water breaking, . . .now you're in active labor etc" I was really scared about giving birth so it was nice to be guided through the process. I ended up with a great birth without an epidural.

It isn't anything to be afraid of. The process can take days or hours it depends on how your body and the baby respond.

I'm worried about being induced too, at 37 weeks I'm due to be induced (if I get that far) as my waters broke at 22 weeks (27 weeks now) and the infection risk is higher than the risk of baby being born premature.

claire - if cervix is favourable, you might not need pessary, might break your waters and wait for contractions or give you syntocinon to stimulate your uterus...it is more painful IMO as no buildup to the pain...it is very intense quickly...but if it is your second...you will probably cope really well as have done it before and have a quicker labour too as your body has done it once......

it doesn;t have to be awful- get as much info as you can and you will be all the more prepared...

Induced at 39 wks with both mine (due to slightly raised BP each time - "essential hypertension" throughout each pregnancy rather than pre-eclampsia).

Did not have any further intervention with either - had gel pessary overnight each time, 1st labour with DS born 8.40pm, 2nd labour DD born 1.30pm. 2nd labour was shorter but this is usual for 2nd pregnancies. Didn't feel the need for pain relief with either labour, apart from a few slugs of gas and air. Would say this was similar to the experience if labour had started naturally (was also glad with DD as she was 8lb 12 so if had waited to 40 wks would have been bigger and I tore as it was!).

SIL was induced on her 2nd due to being over 42 wks and she had a drip which she claimed made the pain very intense and the labour v short.

So my experience of induction was fine, but I would see how you go with the gel/pessaries first and avoid the drip as this is what seems to make the contractions/pain more intense.

Hope this helps.

You can't think its going to be horrible, before you start, you'll make yourself all tense and anxious and make the situation worse for yourself. You can't do anything about it so try and relax, go with the flow and deal with it moment by moment. Mine was intense but quick. Gas and air was lovely and at the end i was ecstatic.

I was induced with my 2nd as my waters had broken and nothing was happening. Could either go home and wait a few days or be induced. Was given pessary then told to keep moving after 1/2 hour. Almost instant contractions mostly caused by the pessary. Within 2 hours v. painful but already 5cm dilated so pethedine and gas and air. 1 and 3/4 hours later asked for an epidural but no time as DD2 arrived 7 mins later. So only 4 hours start to finish compared to 25 hours natural labour with DD1.

Would be induced again.

HTH

xxx

Weren't you on a drip? I was plugged in and had to lay down for the duration.

Jodie - WELL DONE for making it so far. I had this, it was nerve-wracking. Every day you can hold on is a bonus for your little one.

Are you on bed-rest / in hospital full time now? Will send positive thoughts your way.

I had the pessary and my waters were broken and nothing really happened, but as soon as they put me on the drip labour kicked in and I was 3 and a half hours from that point. The contractions were very strong and close together and I wasn't able to get off the bed but I was given pethidine at the same time as the drip was started and that really helped.

Induction was good for me, I knew exactly what was happening and I had access to pain relieve earlier than I would have otherwise. I used a tens machine from the start and started on gas and air once the contractions started regularly and became more intense. Ds 'popped out' after 4 hours (from start to finish), this was my first labour experience so can't say whether it was better or worse than normal, but I don't have any worries about going through it again!! XX

No, not on a drip. Had to keep moving about-was desperate to lay down but was given the ball to bounce on.