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

Original poster

Can I ask to be induced?

54 replies

dinosaurkisses · 17/08/2017 19:22

Currently 33 weeks with DC1, and about to move an hour and 15 minutes away from where we live now to be nearer family. Still intending to give birth in the hospital down here (hopefully anyway!)

I'm worried about dealing with labour/ contractions etc once things get going and bracing myself for the most uncomfortable journey of my life.

Ideally, and probably naively, I'd like to be induced at 40 weeks so I can avoid it if possible.

Does anyone know if its likely that the hospital will consider this without me going overdue?

OP posts:
Craicvac · 17/08/2017 22:30

I've worked in both Dublin (Rotunda and Holles Street) and Belfast.... I would do anything I could to try and give birth in Belfast. Both the Royal and Ulster are good hospitals with excellent care, and the Ulster in particular is a beautiful new unit- the home from Home has pull out sofa beds for the dads to stay on.

RyanStartedTheFire · 17/08/2017 23:50

I've had two amazing four hour inductions with no epidural so it's not all horror stories, but I wouldn't recommend one for no real reason either as they carry risks.

3boys3dogshelp · 17/08/2017 23:56

I've had three inductions and they've all gone pretty well, but I still wouldn't have one unless there was a good medical reason.

Uiscebeatha85 · 18/08/2017 08:51

Get the bloody epidural in and, CRUCIALLY, working before you have the drip. If it's your first you'll be all gung ho and wanting the "experience" take my advice just fucking don't, get the epidural, have a sleep, have your baby grin just like that

👆This.

PurpleTraitor · 18/08/2017 08:56

If I was worried about a car journey, my first thought would be home birth, not induction.

Threenme · 18/08/2017 10:39

Op just get in the car as soon as your labour starts I know not always but usually takes forever and really not that bad or uncomfortable at start. You can then spend the day at dh dp house until contractions are close enough to head to hospital.

Lules · 18/08/2017 10:45

Getting in the car for a long journey in labour sounds awful. Even the 15 minute journey to hospital for me was painful. And what if there's an emergency? I wouldn't want to have to call an ambulance.

I think you'd be much better registering in Belfast.

oldbirdy · 18/08/2017 10:51

I had two induced labours and two natural. It wasn't massively different. So not for certain that it's a horrendous experience; though both my inductions were for failure to labour after water broke so perhaps I was more "favourable" than an induction starting from nothing.
Having said that I wouldn't choose induction over natural onset of labour, and I wouldn't choose to "commute" in labour.

Dina1234 · 18/08/2017 11:28

Quite frankly you'd be lucky to get a bed at all in an NHS maternity ward. They probably won't even consider it if it's medically necessary (they refused to even admit me when my waters broke let alone to induce me st the reccomended four hour mark).

CatchingBabies · 18/08/2017 12:31

Dina it isn't recommended to induce 4 hours after waters breaking, not sure where you heard that. The guidelines are 24-48 hours after if labour dosnt start itself. X

Tigerpig · 18/08/2017 14:14

Hi OP

Another one here saying avoid induction - it's an intervention - and sounds to be unnecessary.

interventions = more risk of needing more interventions and complications.

For what it is worth I had an induction with DD as she was 2weeks late and an episode of reduced movements. The induction went well BUT I was already 1.5 cm dilated so would have probably gone into spontaneous labour with 24/48 hours.

It was painful as they medically force the contractions. Mine were every 1.5mins and were intense to say the least. You can't walk around to get comfortable as you're attached to a drip etc.

Even though I was nearly ready to labour naturally, my notes say my active labour was 15hours!!

I had a huge baby (9lb12) (I'm 5'6 and slim size 10 so huge baby for me Grin) who was delivered with only an episiotomy which healed beautifully....so complication free really. However, I then had a massive PPH losing 2.5lts of blood. Subsequent research has suggested that you are more likely to have a pph as your uterus is so knackered after induction that it can't contract naturally to stop the bleeding.

Losing so much blood made me very poorly afterwards so next time I will do spontaneous or elcs. No way am I being induced again.

Also echo other PP points around traveling for 1.5 hours after you've had a baby would be unpleasant to say the least. Your nether regions will be battered and sitting down will be painful. And what if the baby cries and you're not able to pull over. Literally, that will be horrendous post delivery when you are an emotional wreck already!!

The Ulster hospital sounds ace with a home from home ward!

Redken24 · 18/08/2017 14:41

Sweet Christmas I would never say yes to anther induction

NK346f2849X127d8bca260 · 18/08/2017 15:22

I have six children, had two inductions one ended up as forceps and the other a emergency CS. All my spontaneous labours were straight forward births.
Personally I wouldn't choose induction.

weeblueberry · 18/08/2017 16:10

Really surprised so many people are saying inductions are a horrendous experience... I had them for both of mine (straight onto the drip) and thought they were totally bearable.

Not a stealth boast, just a reminder that folk are different and it might not be the awful experience some people are setting you up for.

Not advocating asking for one but if it ends up that way don't go in expecting the worst...

minifingerz · 18/08/2017 19:10

30% of inductions in first time mums end with an emergency caesarean.

That's the national average. In some hospitals the figure is greater than 40%.

Nationally at least another 30% will have an instrumental birth.

So that's an average of 60% of inductions ending with significant complications (most c/s are for failure to progress and/or fetal distress).

Ask for one if you want. Personally I'd rather have a planned c/s than put myself and my baby through a labour with only a 30% chance of ending in an uncomplicated birth.

Rinceoir · 18/08/2017 19:22

I transferred from Dublin to London heavily pregnant. No issues transferring hospitals, or can definitely be done with minimal drama.

ifonly4 · 18/08/2017 20:19

Hi, I was induced at 37 weeks due to complications and the procedure was nothing compared to labour, so that side wouldn't worry me at all again. However, I've found out since it is well known making labour worse, I guess because your body isn't quite ready to progress it naturally. After 12 hours of labour my contractions were every 90 seconds and I had 31 hours of labour. I had an epidural and the maximum top ups allowed, ie they wouldn't give me any more.

Having said all this, the midwives, anaesthetist and on call doctor were fantastic and totally supported me throughout labour, and that when a long way.

Tinkerclare · 18/08/2017 20:49

I had 2 elective inductions. Far preferable to first spontaneous labour. With epidural, all very manageable.

Starlight2345 · 18/08/2017 21:05

I don't know the way to transfer...However do look into this... It will be possible. You also need to think post giving birth sitting in a car for over an hour to travel home. sounds a nightmare..Also remember you can never know if you will end up with emergency c section..

I would want to go straight home as soon as myself and baby were ready to ..To our own home so we could shut the door.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 18/08/2017 23:26

Well, I've had three inductions and they weren't all horrific! One was, two were fine.

However, there is no way my Consultant will induce by request. You may find yours to be similar. Each time I had to wait for my BT results to show signs of moving from pre-eclampsia to eclampsia before induction happened.

With DS1 it was 20 hours & a failed epidural - meaning I had no pain relief. I opted for gas & air and pethidine with DS2 and he arrived much easier after around 4 hours of proper established labour.

With DD I had just gas & air. By the time I felt the need to ask for pethidine her head was visible so it was too late! She arrived 15 minutes later.

Not all inductions are horrific but,
no, I wouldn't expect you to be granted one without medical need much before 42 weeks.

MumRuns77 · 19/08/2017 06:43

I'd be nervous about a 90 minute drive home with a new born too. I know it's stressful moving between healthcare systems but it can be done. Excellent hospitals in Belfast too. Don't be nervous of the NHS! Very best of luck.

TSSDNCOP · 19/08/2017 13:42

I asked for and had an induction on my due date. It was absolutely fine.

AcademicOwl · 19/08/2017 19:52

Haven't rtft, but I've had 2 inductions and one normal. The inductions were fine & felt much easier to manage (more time for pain relief, I felt more in control).
You haven't said how old you are. You can request induction if you're 40+ at 40 weeks, as it's safer for baby.
Good luck with whatever you choose!

Mummyh2016 · 19/08/2017 20:44

I have 2 friends who lied to get induced early (one said she had terrible back pain - she did but also admits she laid it on thick to get induced, the other kept complaining of reduced movement). The friend with the back pain had a nice labour, 12 hours after she had the pessary inserted she was 4cm. 20 minutes later she was 10cm, baby was out in 4 pushes, no stitches. My friend with non reduced movement was admitted on the Monday, they tried to get her labour started 3 times (pessary, breaking waters and drip), before having to have an EMCS on the Friday. She has said she would never lie again and wishes she had waited as it was clear now that the baby wasn't ready to come. You might be lucky and have the experience of my first friend. You might be unlucky and have the experience of my second friend. I rarely hear good stories of induction though and I did all I could to avoid being induced.

Viviquinn · 19/08/2017 23:06

Don't do it. I was induced and it is only now 17 months after that I have came to the realisation that I struggle with PTS because of how awful it was. My son wasn't ready to come out and the complications that followed still have a huge impact today. I know for lots there is no issue but ive already decided that with baby number 2 I would rather have a c section!!