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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

If you’ve had Induction, did your OH stay with you whole time?

26 replies

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 14:50

I’m booked in for induction on my due date in just under 2 weeks, have to be there at 09:30. Start with pessary & progress to drop 24 hours later if required.

From what I can understand, it’s mostly a pretty long process, with not a lot happening for at least the first few hours.

Partners can stay with you until 8pm then have to leave anyway so it’s not like he’s expected to be there 24/7.

So my question is, if OH sees me settled in and is there while they do the pessary, is there any point him staying there all day if we’re just going to be hanging around doing not a lot? Or would the hospital expect him to stay? How much notice would we have to call him back if things start to happen?

For context we live 15 mins drive from the

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Original poster

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 14:51

Pressed post too soon!

*from the hospital

TIA

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Santasbigredbobblehat · 08/01/2018 14:53

I went in Friday morning, baby came on Tuesday. DH came and went as it took two pessaries to get going and there was no point him staying all that time and we had another child at home.

Sarahh2014 · 08/01/2018 14:55

I was in labour for 2 days and my dh stayed the whole time

DPotter · 08/01/2018 14:58

I had to be in at 6.30- 7am and DP “stayed” all through. He did keep wandering off (he has form for this) and admitted later he was calling into one of the medical secretaries he knew who was feeding him coffee and biscuits- I was nil by mouth.
He still get s teased for this 18 yrs later........

Kraggle · 08/01/2018 14:58

Hi I was induced and things happened pretty quickly for me and dh stayed the whole time. I had the pessary at around 12, had to lay down for half an hour to let it get started then dh and I went walking and for something to eat in the hospital canteen, then we did a little more walking. After 2 or 3 hours I was getting contractions so went back to the room and did ball bouncing etc and dd was out at 17.33.

If it had been a slow process for me I’d have sent dh home for some sleep or out to get some proper food etc. We lived about half an hour away from the hospital but I’d have wanted him there for company until kicking out time to be honest.

Original poster

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 14:59

santa that’s how I feel I think, there’s no point two of us sat around doing nothing all day, I’m sure I could write him a big list of stuff to keep him occupied around the house!

sarah were you in labour right from the start then? I guess if the pessary has an instant effect then I’d expect him to stay but if I’m just sat there not even in early labour then it seems a bit daft...

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AssassinatedBeauty · 08/01/2018 14:59

We lived 45 mins from the hospital so it was a bit more of a pain to go and come back. It took 5 days from the start of the induction for my DS1 to arrive. When I was having the pessaries DP stayed all day until visiting was over then went home. Same again the next day but was called back when my waters broke overnight and then he stayed with me from then on until DS was born.

I think it's probably an idea for him to get some sleep/rest if nothing much is happening. When things kick off he can be there quickly enough not to miss anything. I appreciated my DP's company during the day as it was very very boring waiting for things to start.

ObiJuanKenobi · 08/01/2018 15:02

I had been in hospital for a few weeks when I was induced, they did it whilst DH wasn't there and my mum was visiting me. DH rushed there when I told him. Nothing happened so he went home to rest but I only got to 1cm after 24 hours so they broke my waters. He stayed from when they did that until little ones arrived by Emergency CS another 21 hours later!

Good luck with it, induction can be long and boring - get as much rest as you can!

Original poster

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 15:04

Lol at ‘wandering off’, my OH gets bored pretty quick whereas I’m happy reading my book so assuming nothing starts quickly I think sending him home after a bit is better than watching him fidget all day!

kraggle that’s interesting yours was pretty quick, there is a coffee shop on site so maybe we’ll let the pessary settle then go for a walk & lunch then let him go home

Also knowing the car will be racking up £2/hour just sat there in the car park is frustrating!

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cluelessblogger · 08/01/2018 15:05

Yes, induced late afternoon, had dd 48 hours later. He may have gone to the toilet at some point but otherwise he was there.

cluelessblogger · 08/01/2018 15:07

Sorry. Should have added that not much happened with the first few hours but when contractions started I absolutely needed him there, but that's just me.

Original poster

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 15:09

I think we’re lucky to live close to the hospital so that definitely helps!

Thanks for the different perspectives

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LeaveAllThisToYesterday · 08/01/2018 15:17

Also knowing the car will be racking up £2/hour just sat there in the car park is frustrating!

I realise this wasn't your question - but at my local hospital a week pass works out the same as a full day at hourly rate! Worth checking.

gryffen · 08/01/2018 15:35

When I was induced hubby with me from admittance to 8pm that night then he was allowed from 11am next day and stayed with me right through til next morning when I delivered.

So Friday 1-8pm the sat 11am -10sunday morning. Then back with family at 1pm after mass.

I'm Scotland though so places have diffent rules

pops5007 · 08/01/2018 15:36

My waters broke with Ds1 2 hours after being induced. We went to the cafe for food then went straight back as contractions started. My son was born 4/5 hours after being induced by emergency. Section. I however had got to 8 cm in that time so my partner didn't have time to go back home .

bringmesunshine7 · 08/01/2018 15:39

Yes, both times.

I had pessary in afternoon both times and baby born early evening and early morning.

Not sure if he would have been sent home if I didn't progress?

JaneEyre70 · 08/01/2018 15:42

I was there 4 days with my 1st, and DH went to work! He popped in at lunchtime to say hello and then came back at 6pm and stayed for a couple of hours. It's so boring just sitting there waiting for something to happen, I was happy watching TV and reading a book.

My DD was induced with her 1st baby at 3am, and baby was born at 7am so it's totally unpredictable.

I'd let him come in with you to start, then send him off again for a few hours if he's got a low boredom threshold .

FloatyFlo · 08/01/2018 15:44

Arrived at hospital with dp at 10am. Had gel in at 1.00pm. Had to lay down for monitoring for half hour which he stayed for. We went for walk round hospital, got some food, I bounced on ball for a bit. I had early contractions get going from the off tbh. Antenatal ward we were on had no visitors or partners from 8pm but when they examined me (at my request ) at 7.30pm, I was in established labour so he didn't have to leave as we were moved up to delivery suite.

I wanted him, and he wanted to be, there for as much as hospital would allow.

elliejjtiny · 08/01/2018 16:59

My dh stayed for most of both of my inductions but neither went on for very long (14 hours for dc3 and 4 hours for dc5.). If I'd have had a long induction I would have told him to go home, at least at night.

Original poster

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 17:31

Thanks everyone, all really helpful

My OH is really bad at sitting around and doing nothing [if I want a fly-and-flop holiday I go with my sister] so I will prob find it more relaxing if he buggers off, although some fab quick inductions reported here so fingers crossed for that!

And thanks for the car park tip, I will have a look into that - we’ve been going there fairly regularly for fertility treatments, ops etc since 2012, I probably could’ve bought my own space on site by now the amount we’ve spent on parking over the years!!

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Original poster

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 17:33

Good tip about requesting they check me before he goes as well! Would be typical if he got home & had to turn round and come back again...

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Original poster

ScarlettInSpace · 08/01/2018 17:34

And I’m not telling him about the DH who went to work, don’t want him getting ideas

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StylishDuck · 08/01/2018 18:27

My DH came and went until my labour started properly. Got the first pessary on Sunday afternoon so he stayed for a bit then went home to sleep. Came back in the morning and he was out getting some lunch when my waters broke Monday lunchtime. I phoned him to come back and my contractions got pretty intense after that. He was with me then the whole time until DD was born early hours Tuesday morning.

Some hospitals prefer OHs to make themselves scarce during mealtimes.

I'm due to go back in on Thursday night to be induced with DC2. I imagine he'll stay until I'm settled then just come back in the morning.

TeaAndPjs · 08/01/2018 22:27

I went in at 8pm at night with I mentions of 1 pessary that night (10pm ish) then next at 6am and on drip by 9am if need be so OH was there till after I got 1st pessary then he had to leave ward, was called back a few hours later when I was in labour. I was happy reading my book so enjoyed the peace (till contractions started)

ginne · 08/01/2018 23:58

I had my pessary at 7.30pm, worked too well and contractions started within the hour. I hyper stimulated and it was removed at 10pm. Injection to reverse it didn't work and my husband had gone home at this stage. They had to break my waters at 2am and drip went up after, hyper stimulated off and on all of the next day and was only 4cm by 6.30pm so ended up emcs due to baby being distressed. I always don't take pain relief well...two failed epidurals and baby was back to back

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