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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Being induced: What's it like?

39 replies

Celou · 10/07/2004 18:33

I was told by the midwife that I would have to be induced as my amniotic fluid is quite low. Everything else is fine (baby's heart, dopplers, baby's size etc...) however because my due date is imminent (12th of July), they'd rather induce me. I've got to go in on Thursday so they can arrange a date.
Has anyone got any past experiences of being induced, or any tips? I'm quite worried as I was told that it triples the contraction pains.

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Tommy · 11/07/2004 00:27

bunny2 - after my induction with DS1, DS2 popped out in 2 hours with only TENS machine!

jimmychoos · 11/07/2004 00:42

Bunny - my second lasted five hours start to finish with no pain relief (no time!)

suedonim · 11/07/2004 01:38

I've had two inductions. First was by prostaglandin tablets and rupture of membranes. I had ds2 4hrs later, my easiest birth! Dd1 was induced with a pessary. It took about 6hrs for anything to happen, then I had a 9hr labour. I had pethidine with both labours but in both cases it was really too late as the babies were born less than 45mins after having the jag. My induced labours were not very different to the natural kind. Hth and good luck.

soothepoo · 11/07/2004 02:02

I was induced 24 hours after my waters broke, as I had hardly any natural contractions. I opted for an epidural from the start - supposedly the 'mobile' type, although I couldn't move around. Fell asleep a couple of times, read the paper, chatted to dh, then after eight hours dd was born. I couldn't push properly at the vital time, so dd was ventoused out and I had some stitches. In some way, I don't feel as if I have had a labour, because I don't remember it being hard work, or painful (except when the epi began to wear off) but that is definitely not a complaint!

Toots · 11/07/2004 12:18

I didn't have a great experience Celou. DD was very late. I had a pessary, then a few hours later, about five minutes after my waters had been broken at 7pm, contractions came on sledgehammer style and stayed that way until 4am when I had an epidural. I should have asked for it earlier. Dilation was slow and at mid-day I was given an internal that showed dd was op and had had been having her poor little head slammed against my pelvis for seventeen hours. She was a big girl though 9lbs 6oz and maybe there just wasn't room for her to turn, or to get through my pelvis. The resulting c-section was fine. Most baby's do turn though. If I had to do it again, I'd ask for another pessary before having waters broken to see if things could have got underway more gently. And, as mentioned, asked for an epidural sooner. Best of luck. At the end of the day it was only a day out of my life and dd and I were absolutely fine - although I do think dd had a headache for a couple of days!

iota · 11/07/2004 12:33

Another failed induction here:

3 days of 3 lots of prostaglandin gel, 2 attempts to break the waters followed by a caesarean.

Sandi102 · 11/07/2004 12:49

After giving birth to my 1st son on the due date, assumed my second would either be on time or b early. I was wrong. in fact i was 10 days late and was induced..the first gel was inserted at 10am..contractions started but were not painful..so they insered another gel..within half an hour contractions started again and this time it was very painful..at 8.30 i'm taken to the delivery suite and i'm sitting there watching the soap awards..within the next hour baby boy was born..i don't think the pain was any worse than the first time, just a little quicker

CountessDracula · 11/07/2004 13:46

Oh I didn't realise failed inductions were so common either

I had 6 days of the gel, by which time my cervix had dilated enought to ARM, so they gave me an epidural, did the ARM and put me on syntosin (sp) drip for 12 hours - nothing had happened so then went to C -section

prufrock · 11/07/2004 15:25

My induction failed as well - It started fine with contractions only 30 minutes after the first pessary - another 3 lots of gel and 44 hours later I was only 80% effaced and 1/2 cm dilated so I had a c-section.
When I asked the doctor for the success rates for induction she told me it was around 85% - I have since found out that was for all inductions, and succesful inductions after you have already had a viginal birth are far more likely.

Nimme · 11/07/2004 19:22

Was induced with DD 6 hours after waters broke and had no contractions to speak of. They put me straight on a drip and offered me an epidural (which I took). When the epidural wore off (an hour later) I was in agony and wanted more drugs. They told me okay but would delay the birth by half hour. I was very keen to push and when given the go ahead it was all over very quickly.

I agree it probably doesn't hurt more - but is more intense as you go from nothing to full flow very quickly. As long as you know that when you can push it should be over fairly shortly - so you don't think you'll be in that kind of agony forever.

Also my friend had pessary at 9am, went out had lunch with DH, came back at 3pm and gave birth at 7pm.

So not all horrible. Good luck.

littlelamb · 11/07/2004 23:34

I wish I had been told more about what would actually happen when they induced me. I went in at 8pm on the day I was ten days overdue and had a pessary and had to be hooked up to a monitor for an hour afterwards. Had some cramps the next morning which really worsened after the next pessary. The tens machine was a godsend and I managed to get to 3cms quite painlessly with it, but then my waters broke while I was just sat in bed talking away to my birthing partners and that's when I started to feel I was losing control. The midwives wouldn't believe I was in pain and wouldn't let me go to the labour ward, so I was stuck upstairs with only a tens machine which by that time had become useless. My baby was OP and noone had explained to me that that could make it more difficult.Eventually I got taken downstairs but I was strapped to a monitor and the gas and air did nothing for the pain, just made me feel out of it. I waited two hours for an epidural. That slowed things down a lot, though I was grateful for the relief. However, the midwife let it wear off so that when I was pushing I had such an unbearable sense of pressure because of the way the baby was lying. She eventually arrived at quarter to three the next morning after two hours of pushing! I would say that the most imporrtant things when being induced are to make sure you understand everything that might happen and to equally make sure the staff are aware of your wishes. I was in the labour ward completely off my head when the midwife thought to ask me what I wanted to happen after the birth, and I've no idea what she said to me or what I replied. If you want an epidural, make sure everyone knows about it as early as possible! Also, if you can, ask not to be strapped to the monitor the whole time. I despertately wanted to move around but couldn't. Hope that helps, but don't let that horror story scare you. It's all forgotten as soon as you see your beautiful baby

pupuce · 12/07/2004 01:50

I am glad for this thread .... many of you admit they didn't know inductions weren't necessarily a quick solution or a failed solution..... there is a reason WHY inductions lead to SOOOOO many sections... avoid them if you can.... if you can't you can try other methods first !
Good luck

Original poster

Celou · 13/07/2004 18:01

I would like to thank everyone for all your stories/tips. It's great to hear so many different senarios.
I spoke to a different consultant today, and he said that he thought a lot of people had panicked for nothing, as reduced fluid happens a lot in late pregnancy, and he said that if they started inducing everyone in my case it would result in a lot of C sections.
As my baby's heartbeat is absolutely normal as well as its movements, and as his growth and size are spot on, the consultant said that they would not induce me () unless nothing happened by the 41st week.
I felt so relieved, but I did say to him that I wished they'd never told me that as I worried for nothing.
However, I'm so glad about all your messages, as they will come in useful if I am overdue.
Hopefully I'll be able to enjoy a spontaneous/natural birth.
Thank you all.

OP posts:

ChantellyLace92 · 13/06/2011 21:57

Im 19 years old and a week from now on monday 20th of june im goin into st marys hospital in manchester to get induced when i will be 37 weeks +3days. My original due date was 8th july but i am to be induced because my baby boy has a condition called gastroschsis, his bowels are outside of his tummy and will need several operations when he's born. He is my first child and although many if not every pregnancy is terrifying i must say i am absolutly petrified i have read up on induction and pain relief but im so scared and theres only a week to go!

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