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Original poster

Confused about induction

15 replies

Dvg · 14/07/2018 11:02

Hey all,

Just wanting some advice really, have been offered an induction and not sure whether i should go for it as i'm scared about the extra pain..

A week ago i was 2cm dilated and favourable (not sure how dilated i am now) but i've heard that induction can hurt way more than letting nature do its thing.

Hospital has booked an induction for the 22nd but have said i can have it earlier if i want to and i'm considering it but at the same time i'm panicking.

Ill be going for an epidural asap , also wondering .. does induction normally cause labour to take longer from when the waters break than letting them break naturally?

OP posts:
WhirlingTurkey · 14/07/2018 11:36

I can only speak from my personal experience and all labours are different, but I was induced on the drip (which would be the case for you too if you are already favourable and dilated) after my waters broke and it was a positive experience on the whole.

I used a TENS machine for pain, which was great. Personally I wouldn't opt for an epidural immediately, because you may be fine without one, and epidural increases the chance of intervention (forceps etc) and will mean you are immobile on a bed, rather than able to stay as active as possible during labour, and you won't be able to try different positions. Unfortunately the drips and monitoring wires make it difficult to be fully mobile, but I laboured on my birthing ball so induction doesn't have to = stuck in bed.

How fast you progress will vary from woman to woman. The general rule of thumb is they expect roughly 1cm per hour for a FTM. However I went from 0 to 10cm in 3 hours. Some women progress slower too though.

Remember you don't have to agree to be induced of you don't want to. Even if you are "overdue" you can just opt for additional monitoring.

Original poster
Dvg · 14/07/2018 12:12

@WhirlingTurkey

Thank you so much! that was actually super helpful, going to try get a tens machine on monday then and try that first, did you have any other pain relief?

Good point about being immobile, I think that would annoy me too and i do have a birthing ball.

OP posts:
LoveRainbow02 · 14/07/2018 12:42

I was induced with my first in March. I dilated to 2cms on my own before being induced. I got 1 round of gel and that dilated me a further cm. I got my waters broken and started on gas and air. I got very sick using that. I then opted for an epidural once the drip was started as for me that was very painful. I had an epidural where I could control when I wanted pain relief so I was still relatively mobile and could change positions easily. My ds didn't cope well with contractions so my drip kept being turned on and off a lot. In total my labour was 15 hours from waters being broken and I needed no interventions.

WhirlingTurkey · 14/07/2018 13:05

No, I just used the TENS machine in the end. I tried gas an air but I didn't like it. I did ask for an epidural eventually, but in the same breath said I wanted to push. They examined me and I was 10cm, so it was too late. It was fine though, as once I started pushing the pain became less intense/faded into the background, so I felt OK during the pushing stage. I have no comparison for pain of "natural" labour, as it was my first, so I have no idea if it was more painful, but it was manageable with the TENS machine, up until maybe the last 30 mins before I started pushing (when I asked for the epidural). I think I was lucky too though as I dilated very quickly, if it had taken a lot longer I possibly would have gone for more strong pain relief!
I would certainly say go in with an open mind. I wanted to have a natural labour if I felt able, but I always said I wouldn't rule out any pain relief options of I felt it was necessary at the time. I'm pregnant again and hoping to be able to do it normally, but if they said I needed induction again I wouldn't be worried.

Original poster
Dvg · 14/07/2018 13:09

Thank you so much, that's definitely made me feel better about the situation and more able to cope, ill go in with an open mind and hopefully i wont have a too long of a labour :D x

OP posts:
Twickerhun · 14/07/2018 15:40

I’ve had both a’natural labor’ and a induced labour.
The induction was more painful up to the pushing but but not off the charts more painful. I managed my first ‘natural’ labour with no pain relief and the second induction with just gas and air. In the end an epidural
For the induction would have been preferable but I did manage without it.

In the end the goal is to get your baby out safely. If you need an induction to acheive that then go with the induction - it’s not so bad :)

butlerswharf · 14/07/2018 15:56

I was induced last year. I don't think it was more painful. I wasn't on a drip and wasn't immobile. The whole labour was just a couple of hours and I just needed two paracetamol. It really wasn't that bad. Good luck!

userabcname · 14/07/2018 16:03

I was induced on the drip and didn't have an epidural although wish I had as I found it very painful.
My friend has laboured naturally and by induction - she said induction wasn't more painful in her opinion.
I personally wouldn't opt to be induced again as I had a bad time but many (most?) people are absolutely fine with it.

Kidneybean2016 · 15/07/2018 21:52

I was induced in 2016 with my first baby. It took me 3 pessaries and I did a lot of walking - wish I’d taken trainers instead of flip flops. After they broke my waters I had the drip. I progressed really quickly and had to beg them to check my dilation as they weren’t due to check me til 8pm and by then my son was born. I had diamorphine for pain relief as I forgot about my TENs machine and couldn’t get to grips with gas and air x

Original poster
Dvg · 18/07/2018 05:24

Hi all ..update..

My son was born last night weighing 9.4lb :) i only had some morphine 4 hours before as when I went to get an epidural he was already at the entrance!
Was a really quick labour and waters never popped! But the contractions from the pessary I had at lunch time was agony!

Went from 1cm to 3cm dilated and then pushed him out somehow 30 minutes later XD

Thank you all for your help and making me feel more relaxed about the situation

Confused about induction
OP posts:
Annalogy · 18/07/2018 05:31

What a beautiful big baby! Congratulations SmileThanks

Tropicana123 · 18/07/2018 05:32

Oh my goodness. Congratulations he is beautiful!!!

I was coming on here to reply about my experience & didn't expect to see the baby had arrived !

Flowers
Original poster
Dvg · 18/07/2018 05:44

Haha Thank you guys x

Was a surprise for sure I'm just thankful he was long rather then chubby as he was big enough! Haha

OP posts:
Bezm · 18/07/2018 05:47

What a lovely surprise to see him. Well done xx

WhirlingTurkey · 18/07/2018 06:31

Congratulations OP, he is beautiful!!

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