induction

[TheMrs04]

So yesterday I went for my 36 week growth scan. My consultant came through and told me baby is measuring big and they want to induce me in the next couple of weeks! He's gained 1.4kg in the last 4 weeks and don't I know it!!! This is baby #1 and I have no idea what to expect!! Here's me thinking I have another 4 ish weeks to prepare but now I have a week or two! Doesn't help that my mum is away on holiday and the prospect of her missing the birth is daunting!

I would take the prediction with a pinch of salt..I was scanned on the Thursday and they declared he was 8lb 2ozs with a big head..I was induced on the Monday he was born on the Tuesday weighing 7lb6ozs and an average size head. I had only one outfit to fit this and his hats didn't fit either! They are often very out with the weights mine not so much as some I have heard.
He had been measuring big from 24 weeks with this giant head...!
Good luck with your induction :)

My DD was induced (due to my maternal age they didn't want me to go overdue). Like you I didn't really know what to expect with induction -MW will explain the process on day you arrive but be prepared for a long wait for labour to commence -it can take up to 48hrs depending how you react . They insert a pessary -drug to simulate the labour , I believe they check every four hours . As it was my 3rd pregnancy, I went into labour 3 hrs after pessary inserted and DD arrived shortly .Be warned that with induction labour pains are more intense ! I didn't scream with my other two but this one I nearly burst my dp ear drums !! . Take plenty reading or headphones to listen to music to pass the time you will be fine x good luck

Thanks ladies! I've been trying to keep my mind busy looking after my mums pets (4 dogs 8 chickens) and a brisk walk along the beach this morning! My poor DH is 50 miles away and panicking! Pretty sure he's more worried than me lol!

Be prepared to wait. I was meant to go in at 8 am, they didn't have a bed for me till midnight. Them took 24 hours to get me into labour.

I also started taking paracetamol every 4 hours when I got in. I think you can also take cocodamol. And after baby was born alternated with ibuprofen. This helped with the early mild aches before established labour, and really helped with the recovery pains. I kept this up for about a week.

Good luck.

Another one saying it could take a while. 4 days for me. The wards and delivery rooms were busy so instead of moving me onto the next stage after 6 or 12 hrs or whatever, they never seemed to have anyone available to do it at the right time so I only had one thing (pessaries and gels) happen each day.

The rest of the time was spent doing laps of the hospital and up and down stairs. I expected this because the same had happened to two friends in the past year, so just stayed calm and used the time to catch up on films and argue with dh about names.

Make sure you take ear plugs and an eye mask as there could well be noise and light throughout the night as other ladies get moved on/off the ward and have obs taken every couple of hours.

Good luck! I can't say I enjoyed my labour but an induction isn't as bad as Google will tell you!

I went in on Friday at 4pm to be induced and gave birth on Sunday morning at 06:41 but most of that time was a lot of faffing about.

I was 39 weeks and they induced due to maternal age, the fact he looked like a whopper (and he was 9lb 4) and the risk of pre--eclampsia (pre-existing but managed hyper tension). It took ages to book me in due to the labour ward being full - babies come when they come! So lots of time waiting in the cafe - they finally started me off at 01:00 Saturday morning with two lots of gel pessaries which did exactly nothing for me during which time they woke me up every hour to take my temperature and blood pressure which drove me nutty.

Given nothing was happening then took me down the labour ward and manually broke my waters at about 4pm Saturday and put me on the drip which pretty much launched me straight into it. This was my least favourite part of the experience. I used a combination of gas & air, a tens machine and breathing exercises and it wasn't too bad compared to what people say its like even though I did have to have an episiotomy and forceps at the ned. This was my first birth so I have nothing to compare it to but it was much less traumatic than I was expecting having read of peoples experiences. It certainly wasn't a calm and joyful experience (except at the end when he finally made an appearance apparently furious ). Best of cup of tea and round of toast I have ever had - I was starving.

Good luck to you - I am sure you will be absolutely fine

Thank you for sharing your experiences! I'm really hoping it all goes smoothly! Still not sunk in yet that in a couple of weeks my lb will be here!!

What a nice surprise that you'll get to meet your little one sooner than planned. Take plenty of snacks with you to keep you going!
I was induced on a Monday 5pm and our daughter was born Wednesday 10am.
Good luck!x

My DH has been shopping and bought all our favourite snacks! Just hope there's room for them all in the suitcase! I've had a few twinges today so I'm really hoping he comes naturally rather than induction! But hey ho my lb will soon be here

Been a while since this post but I thought I should add my little boy arrived 4 days after this post! Waters went on the 26th and he arrived on the 28th!

So you avoided the induction? How was the weight prediction? I had my 32 week scan on tues and apparently she's put on loads of weight and jumped from normal to the 90th percentile so they've booked me in for induction at 38 weeks. Hoping to avoid it too!

Weight was 6lbs 1.5oz so not a big baby at all! Although I should add the labour and birth was awful!! Has put me off for life!! Have learnt not to listen to them when it comes to weights!! I had two friends both due after me who were told they to we're having big babies yet both of them had 6lb ish babies!

Thanks for your reply. Hope you and baby are doing well. How much were they predicting your baby would weigh? 6-7lb is lower than average so they were pretty far off! That's why I'm concerned that they're wanting to induce me based on one scan measuring big. I've read about a lot of scans being off and a private scan sight said they can be off by 25%. I'm going for a private one as a second opinion and will see what my 36 week says.

They said he would be around 8/9lbs! So well off!! We're all good! He's now a little chunk! Just turned 12 weeks! I would get a second opinion! Just peace of mind! Wish I would have thought about that when I was pregnant!

I have had 2 inductions and they were brilliant. 1st was with less art and 2nd with ARM.p and oxytocin. Both very quick and without pain relief. 3rd due and it's likely to be a natural start which I am so so scared about! I want another induction!