Should DH stay home on induction day? Not much leave and sounds like a long drawn out process

[Jellybabie3]

Just curious. I have been told i have to wait for a call on Thursday to be invited in to be induced. My DH works maybe 15-20min from hosp max. My understanding is i will be having another stretch and sweep before they attempt anything else which to me means immediately alot of waiting around. Dh finishes work at 4pm but could obviously leave when required. He doesnt have a lot of annual leave left and this has been allocated for xmas. He will of course have paternity which should kick in when ds is born. Personally, i am inclined to go in alone and call him if there is anything happening but i just wondered what others do. I am also aware I may not even get in on the Thursday.

DH didn't come with me both times. First time he came in the next morning when I had started contractions and stayed til baby was born, second time things moved faster so they phoned him at 5.30am and (unbeknownst to me) said come in now and don't hang about! He arrived 25 minutes later, baby came 1 hr later!

When I was induced, I was told to arrive at 4pm, so DH worked late the previous day to finish early. He settled me in, went out and brought us back dinner, and left around 8pm, when the doctors started the induction. He waited for me to call him back to the hospital and I called him back around 12 hours later. If I were you I'd bring some magazines etc and settle in, cos you have no idea really how long til it'll all really get going. Good luck

I was induced at 10am yesterday and I had my DP with me as it's our first baby and we knew nothing of what was going to happen. It wasn't until 5pm that I got the actual pessary thing inside me, so he stayed until 9pm then left. He's at work today but only about 20mins away from hospital and theres no sign of baby yet. He has no holidays to use, but even if he did, I'd rather he have them after baby is born.
(Make sure you pack ear plugs, the one thing I forgot and now I'm suffering!)

My induction was a 5 day process of utter bollocks frankly. My DH took the week off and was with me all the time and we were frankly quite bored!

I'd sooner have had him at work whilst I settled in with the TV and some books and called when it started to kick off.

I don't believe I'll be able to have the same scenario this time for a variety of reasons but if I were to have another I'd definitely go in alone and call when it all started.

I went in morning to be induced, ended up been closer to midday when I received pessary and contractions started within the hour, baby was born before 8pm.

Going in on Tuesday for another induction and husband will be coming, hopefully goes as smoothly and quickly as last time.

Good luck op

Does he have an option for "special leave"? MyDH has been told that he can have special paid leave when I go into labour - although I presume they mean a day or two, and aren't anticipating a potential 5 day induction

If he's that close to the hospital, I'd be tempted to send him to work if you're comfortable being there alone. Induction generally is a slow process. If you find you're not coping or things are moving faster than expected, you can always call him.

If the baby is born before midnight that will count as the first day of paternity if he chooses. Otherwise majority of places would give the day as compassionate leave anyway.

Sorry I meant special not compassionate as well.

Yep, my DH was working on days 1&2 of my induction, day 3 "wfh" and day 4 "wfh" until lunch and I was CS'd at 4:30pm.

Induction is hella boring. Please

• buy all the magazines. Even Take a Break
• bring your charger. Candy Crush is an effective time zapper
• pay for hospital wifi. We thought £16 for unlimited access was dear. It was a godsend.
• take headphones and download plenty podcasts etc
• or just take a couple of books you know you'll get into easily and read fast. Martina Cole got me through first two days something lovely.

And snacks. Jaffa cakes are your friend.

Also, most people I know who've been induced have been kept waiting around for a fair few hours before anything is actually done.

Yes, mine took three days

Even if they got you started and you progresssed straight away you still have a good few hours ahead of you. You'll have to wait for a doctor to get round to you, get round to actually inducing you (however they plan to do that) and it could be unsuccessful and do nothing to you so i agree that I wouldn't waste DHs time off on waiting with you. A few hours into labour you'll want to punch him in the face anyway so I'd enjoy the quiet haha!
Good luck x

I wish hubby had been able to go into work when I was induced - started on a Saturday morning and to be frank, didn't really need him until Monday night! I was having lots of contractions, but I'd have been totally ok on my own.

Sadly hubby worked 1hr30 from the hospital, so it just wasn't practical.

Baby wasn't born until Tuesday night, and we didn't get home until Thursday night , then were back in hospital Saturday - Monday. Hubby was back at work on Thursday! So basically, his paternity leave was a write off!

Oh thats good to know, thanks all. Think i will wait here and let him know when i get the call, make my own way over and keep him updated. I am not anticipating it to be quick and smooth (hosp appointments rarely are) so if i go 'expecting the worst' i can only come out pleased. Have packed a book, magazine, headphones, charger, mp3 and will of course have my phone to stay on MN . Everything else (hosp bag) can go with DH. Next job is to work out how to get there alone! I cant driveaa obviously that would abandon my car. Hmmm. Least i have something to focus on now (in a messed up kind of way!!)

Oh tootise what a nightmare!!

@Jellybabie3 it really was! This time WILL be different as I 100% won't be getting induced! Also helps he now only works 30 mins from the hospital / 5 mins from home, and he's the boss so basically will go in as and when!

This time he has sorted out cover 'just in case' for the week I'm due and 3 weeks after due date!