Waters gone but no contractions...being induced

[polkadotpixie]

My waters went yesterday at 38+0 but I'm not having any contractions

They said I'll be induced today if it didn't start naturally and I've had nothing

I'm terrified. This is my first baby and they said I'll have to have continuous monitoring and a drip to start labour

I wanted a water birth and no epidural but it looks like it'll be the exact opposite 😩

Help!

This is what happened to me. Don't panic. You may not get the birth you hoped for, but it's often the way it goes.
Being induced wasn't a bundle of fun, I took all the pain relief offered which helped. The epidural was a complete blessing! Painfree but I could still feel and didn't feel helpless. I had been dreading one if it was needed, but really,it was fine.
Good luck.

I've had this twice. First time just had gas and air, second time epidural. First time 3 1/2 from drip to birth, second time 17 hours from pessary, then drip to birth. Every time is different.

It may not be what you planned, but as long as you get the baby at the end, it'll be fine.

Good luck.

ask about another option for induction?

with my first, my waters went and i was given 48 hours for labour to progress, then booked for induction.

when i was admitted i was 3 cm dilated but hadn't noticed anything really happening.

I accepted the gel / pessary but refused the drip. Fortunately for me the gel started regular contractions.

I was put under a deal of pressure to have the drip, and an epidural from the outset which I refused, because they thought the contractions were too weak, but lo and behold on the next two examinations over the course of about a 12 hour labour i was 5 / 9.5cm dilated so in the end i avoided the drip and had no pain relief and birth unproblematic.

the benefit of this for me was that i could sit on my ball , walk about etc although i still wouldn't have been allowed in the midwife led unit for a water birth which I had wanted.

No guarantees on anything but just to let you know there may be an alternative if the pessary / gel option is there.

I had similar and refused induction at 24 hours and asked for a further 12 hours to see if anything happened naturally, which it did. Just remember you don't 'have' to do anything you don't want to, they are there to advise but cannot insist. Have a read of reputable websites about the risks of infection etc.

I was induced with my second and it was a hell of a lot better than my first birth, complete with pool, midwife led unit. Don't panic, it'll be fine. Just take the drugs if you need them. X

I had the same situation, waters broke at 7am and by 10pm that night I'd not had a single contraction so I was induced using a pessary. I think I would have refused the drip if offered but it wasn't mentioned. I was 41 weeks. Contractions started at 1am exactly 3 hours after pessary went in. I used paracetamol and a tens machine until I was 6cms and then had an epidural which was fantastic. The epidural did slow things down as it took a further 12 hours to go from 6cms to 10cms but if I'm honest I didn't give a fuck as I was exhausted having been awake from 7am the previous morning and the epidural allowed me to doze in and out of sleep when I wasn't being shifted about by midwife that is. Good luck op, everything will be OK.

Thank you all for replying. Just on the way to the hospital now

They've said that if my cervix is favourable then they will try with the pessary but if not then it'll be the drip. Fingers crossed for the pessary!

I'm torn between an epidural or no epidural. I know induced labour is often more intense and painful which makes me want it and I also think I will cope better if I'm not as frightened by the pain but on the other hand, I know intervention is more likely with an epidural and I desperately want to avoid forceps

Exact same thing happened to me. Had a plan for waterbirth at midwife led unit, waters broke and no contractions. Had pessary, nothing happened. Eventually went on drip. Whole thing was fine, did it all with gas and air. Make sure that the midwife tells you if she will increase the drip so you can agree/prepare. But it was honestly a really positive experience and I'm glad it went that way now. The only thing I'd change if I went back is I wouldn't bother with the pessary as it just delayed things. Good luck, you'll be fine - just go with it now. You'll do brilliantly

The upside of this kind of delivery is you get a lot of midwife support, but minimal intimate exams to reduce risk of infection.

There's no need to feel torn about anything, just see how you go.
Best of luck, your baby is nearly here!!

I had this too - had the drip and the epidural.

This can often take a while so highly recommend the epidural because you can sleep through the contractions (I did) but still feel them.

Also meant that I was already pain free when we had to go to theatre for an episiotomy and forceps!

Honestly it never goes to plan - safe healthy baby and mum is all that matters!

X

Just had the pessary inserted for my induction. It wasn’t as bad as I expected thankfully! Just got to wait and see what happens now and then they’ll start the drip later on apparently

I think I will probably have the epidural unless I'm coping very well as I think overall it'll be more beneficial for me to be as calm as possible

Good luck!

Just to add obviously everyone’s own choice and everyone is different but I never had epidural or anything (2 babies) and honestly didn’t find it too bad but understand it’s the drip which can make the contractions much stronger

Just started the drip. Getting really nervous now 😩

👍🤞Good luck! You're in for an interesting night!

Good luck OP. I hope it's over by now and you have met your little one. I was in exactly the same boat (except went straight onto the drip after 24 hrs) and it was absolutely fine. I used a TENS machine for pain relief and I didn't need an epidural. I was scared of the drip too, but (just like unaugmented labour) not everyone will find it unbearable. I hope you had a positive birth experience in the end. Thinking of you.

Good luck!

You'll be fine OP, you're so close. It's nearly over.

I’ve had three inductions . One pessary, one drip and one gel.
The gel and the drip did give much more painful contractions, both progressed too quickly for epidural but the labour and delivery were straightforward

Good luck, you’re on the home stretch now!

No baby yet 😩

Contractions started about 5:30am, gradually increased and started having gas & air about 8:00am

Still unbearable so I've had the epidural now and feeling much better! I can still move my legs and feel but the pain is massively reduced thankfully!

Just got to wait til pushing time now

Wowzers!
How many cm dilated are you?

I was so off my face when I had the epidural
I couldn't even understand the words the MW was telling me, let alone post on a forum.
The way and the amount of epidural administered differs, I guess I had a lot!

I’ve just been checked again and I’m only 4cm after 12 hours on the drip. They’re giving me another 4 hours or if my temperature hits 38C and then looking at a C Section because I'm not progressing very well

My dsis was induced with her second and it went quite slowly for a while. Took about 24-36 hours. Her non induced first took 3 hours!

I was induced in June, I had the pessary inserted after 36 hours they broke my waters, and I had the drip and a epidural, I only every got as far as 5cm after 24 hours and ended up with emcs which was fine! My little girl is 11 weeks tomorrow!

2 years ago I could have written your posts. My situation sounds very similar to yours. I did end up with the c-section but honestly it was completely fine.

It wasn't the way I planned to have the baby but I'm just about to have my second (hence I'm on the pregnancy board!) and I have opted for a c-section this time.

Good luck OP.