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Pregnancy

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

so looks like I'll be getting induced. any tips?

53 replies

mayaknew · 13/02/2016 16:09

I'm 40+11 with dc3.

I've to go in on Monday night to get the gel (whatever that means?) Then waters broke on Tuesday morning.

That's about all I know about induction. Any useful info or tips would be very much appreciated. Cake

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 13/02/2016 19:45

So you didn't have the synto drip then silver? You were one of the rare lucky ones where prostin gel is enough to get you in labour!

Lj8893 · 13/02/2016 19:48

You don't have to be on the bed to be monitored, obviously the drop and monitor will restrict your mobility but there are plenty of options other than being on your back in bed. Worst position you can give birth in.

Tatie3 · 13/02/2016 19:49

I've been induced in both my pregnancies using a prostin pessary and both worked first time. I would advise you to try and sleep as much as you can in hospital (I know, easier said than done) once you've had the gel or pessary inserted in case it doesn't work first time and you don't get a chance to rest later. I did find that the prostin pains were quite intense but certainly bearable, the midwives were happy to help with pain relief from quite an early stage so I had pethadine and managed a few hours sleep before labour started properly.

Good luck, it could be that you go into labour naturally by Monday.

MidnightVelvetthe5th · 13/02/2016 19:50

Not sure if it's your sort of thing op but I was told I'd have to be induced so I had antenatal acupuncture. The acupuncturist came to my house, it took an hour and wasn't really painful, then ds2 was born the following day in 4 hours from start to finish :)

Whatever you choose I wish you all the best x

mayaknew · 13/02/2016 19:51

There's is absolutely no way in hell I will.be giving birth on my back. Tbh I couldn't think of anything worse . I'm fairly easy going and usually do.as I'm told off HCPS but that is definitely not negotiable.

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 13/02/2016 19:54

Good for you Maya! Be prepared to be pushy about that, as a lot of midwives equate monitoring and drips to being on the bed. It will take some imagination and creativity but there are positions which are possible when your all hooked up.

mayaknew · 13/02/2016 20:00

I really am serious about it, it's the only thing I've written in my birth plan GrinGrin

Well that and the fact I want in the pool earlier this time but I think my pool plans are shot to shit anyway now hahaGrin

OP posts:
unimaginativename13 · 13/02/2016 20:03

We had issues with heart rate so I had to have monitor round me and drip in arm.

Tried the clip too but it wasn't as good.

I wasn't allowed to move off the bed, my legs ached. Then I had an epidural anyway so that really limited me.

Hopefully you will progress just with the pessary then.

unimaginativename13 · 13/02/2016 20:04

Why don't you decline the induction?

mayaknew · 13/02/2016 20:09

Tbh I didn't really think about declining. At 14 days over I suppose I just assumed that induction is the best thing. Told you I usually do as I'm told GrinBlush

OP posts:
Lj8893 · 13/02/2016 20:10

Even with the monitor round you and drip in arm it shouldn't limit you to being on your back on the bed. The epidural will do that though so that's understandable.

unimaginativename13 · 13/02/2016 20:14

I was limited to the bed, as i said the strap kept slipping so I wasn't safe as heart rate was dropping

I never thought to decline, when someone says get the baby out you tend to agree!

JessieMcJessie · 14/02/2016 12:45

Break the waters with a knitting needle? WTF?! Surely it's a surgical instrument that just looks like a knitting needle?

Lj8893 · 14/02/2016 12:52

It's not a knitting needle!! It's called an amniotic hook which kind of looks like a knitting needle I suppose.

unimaginativename13 · 14/02/2016 15:00

Yeah ...... But could be a knitting needle you would never know

SunnyDays1987 · 14/02/2016 15:05

I was induced at 36 weeks and I had a natural labour from two pessaries 24 hours apart. My labour came insanely quickly once it started though. 32 minutes from start to end. Other than a retained placenta but that's another story. I'd second the earplugs, walk as much as you can and trust your body. They didn't believe how fast I was dilating and they thought I was being dramatic because I was tired! I'm lucky there was space on the labour ward or I'd have given birth on the induction ward. Good luck!

mayaknew · 14/02/2016 15:11

Just thought I would let you all know I will no longer be getting induced....

Baby girl was born this morning (at the CMU) weighing a whopping 9lbs 15oz

OP posts:
5madthings · 14/02/2016 15:23

I have been induced for all five for goung to 42+ wks.

As it's your third it may not take long but third babies can be tricky and mine fitted tgat rule. But I just had my waters broken as was dilated enough and didn't need the drip except with number one and number five (she was back to back).

You can still use the pool if labour starts with just the gel /pessary or with your waters being broken I did and no 4 was born in birth pool. With two and three I laboured in water but wanted to get out before delivery,just had urge to walk about.

Even if you need continuous monitoring it does not mean flat on back on bed, I was knelt up leant over end of bed or sat in birth ball etc, yes it made it trickier with wires and keeping track of heartrate but it can be done. Tbh if babies heart rate isn't good flat on your back is worst position for baby.

Even with the syntocinon drip I still had active labour's on birth ball, kneeling etc.

Yes to having gas and air for examinations or waters being broken, they will only perform an arm on delivery floor so you should have gas and air if you want. It xan be uncomfortable sp use it if needed. They use an amnio hook, it looks more like a crochet hook than a knitting needle and it's normally disposable plastic so it's sterile. Sometimes waters can be tough to break, my waters have been as I have tough membranes apparently but sometimes it's easy and it's not always painful, it's like a good sweep but ask for gas and air if you want.

They will want to moniter you after arm or the pessary to make sure baby is happy, normally for 29-30 mins, again you don't have to be flat on your back.

Once pessary is in and monitoring done or arm is done get up and get mobile if you can to help encourage labour. I walked up and down the flights of stairs at my hospital! Or bounce on birth ball etc whatever you can/want to do.

If you don't want to be induced you can ask for expectant management for a few days, so monitoring and scan to check baby is Ok and give it a few more days.

After your waters have been broken diff hospitals have different policies on how long they will leave you for labour to establish before they want you on the drip. If you are fine and baby is fine ie no temp etc you can bargain with them over this for extra time, I did with ds3 and then contractions got going on their own and he arrived within three hours.

Remember that should be getting informed consent, it doesn't sound like they have spoken to you about pros and cons etc of induction and gone through your options. don't be afraid to ask for more information and to stand up for yourself esp re staying mobile etc.

Good luck op, despite being induced all my labour's have been a good experience, I was bolshy and insisted on staying mobile etc but that and lots of gas and air got me through.

Oh what position is baby in? Try and use optimal fetal positioning/spinning babies info to get baby to be in good position ie not bsck to bsck that will help.

Good luck.

5madthings · 14/02/2016 15:24

Ha it took me so long to write that post you had updated! Congratulations!

Lj8893 · 14/02/2016 15:30

It would definetly not be done with a knitting needle!!

Lj8893 · 14/02/2016 15:30

Congrats op! I had a feeling we would have an update before an induction! Flowers

unimaginativename13 · 14/02/2016 16:31

Congratulations OP

Some people have no imagination - of course the consultant didn't just whip a knitting needle out of her handbag

Scarydinosaurs · 14/02/2016 16:36

So pleased for you! What fabulous news!

Lj8893 · 14/02/2016 17:02

Unimaginative, I didn't get your humour, sorry I didn't realise you were joking. I have plenty of imagination though thanks, just don't like to imagine a knitting needle anywhere near my cervix and uterus thanks Wink

Eliza22 · 14/02/2016 17:24

Goodness! Congratulations ... A ten pound baby. Hope all is well xx