Help me come to terms with induction please!

[Squeakyheart]

I am due to be induced Wednesday at 37 + 4 due to age , gestational diabetes and slowed growth on the last scan. I really don't want to be induced as my last birth was a spontaneous easy short labour with no medical interventions and as it was early none of the constant queries from family and friends re when is it happening, has it arrived etc!

I just can't get my head around having to be induced this early and having to be monitored and in hospital for so long as I just want to be at home ( I work in the hospital so won't even be able to walk around for fear of bumping into someone I know!) I know that this is being done because of the high risks and is best for baby but my instincts are to let nature take its course and I keep getting upset because I can't. I know they can't do it against my will but when I try to discuss it they present the risk factors and I feel like not doing it will end up being the wrong decision!

I just have to put my big girl pants on and accept that it's in the babies best interest and that's the important thing! But any help to get my head round it gratefully received X

I was induced for my 3rd pregnancy at 41+5 and to be honest it was my easiest labour and birth, even though he was my biggest baby.

I wasn’t constantly monitored and went for lots of walks in the hospital grounds and to the canteen.

Why do you not want to bump into anyone you know?

I was induced with my first and it wasn't exactly fun, required more time in hospital than I'd hoped for and meant I needed more intervention than I'd have liked, but it want the end of the world. My DS arrived healthy and that's all that mattered. It was hugely annoying constantly being asked "has it happened yet" though. In the end I started one large fb message and added everyone who was nagging for updates to it and sent a message to all saying to shut up, I wasn't going to answer any individual messages sent outside that chat, and I wasn't going to respond to any request for updates. If there was an update I would post it in the main group. If I didn't post anything, it meant there was no update. A few tedious people decided to send me private messages asking for updates anyway and I just muted the conversations. I honestly had zero tolerance for it by the end, it was so annoying.

I was induced at 37 weeks. Baby was safer out than in. She's now a beautiful, happy 2 year old and I don't give it a second thought how she got here. I'm just glad she's healthy.

Would it make you think differently if you knew what you were at actual risk of? It might be hard to relax and labour at home anyway if you're at risk of haemorrhage etc. Can they put some actual figures on the risk you'd be taking, like 3 in 10 women in your position need intervention etc?

You could also plan to do as much as you can to personalise the induction process if you do go for that - music, lighting etc?

Maybe you just lucked out on the first birth?!

Glad to know I won't be tied to the bed with monitors! I don't want to bump into people I know as I don't want people to know I'm in labour, can't really put my finger on why though it's just a strong feeling I have. Obviously the two people looking after DD will know and the mums at the school gate will twig! But just wanted to keep it in house so to speak!

No idea why I am so emotional about it other then it's a loss of control thing.

Ah I see.

I delivered my first at the hospital I worked at - on the actual ward I worked on! I quite liked having my colleagues dropping in the room whilst I was in labour, helped pass the time having people to talk to other than (bloody annoying and useless) dh.

We didn’t tell anyone when I went in to be induced, but I feel very different circumstances as DD was only 34 weeks. We waited until we knew she was ok and had told all close family and friends and then did the obligatory social media post. What we didn’t realise is we would then have people nagging for updates from the NICU. After a tough time getting baby into the world and then a NICU stay I had little patience and just ignored these people. It was family time! Best of luck OP. They seemed fairly laid back with the induction procedure at my hospital (I was only monitored when I asked to be!! And this is when a problem was picked up! So if monitoring is adhoc go with your instincts and ask to be monitored if something feels awry)

Thanks for all the support! I have just had to explain to my best friend that I am putting a radio silence plan in operation for everyone to avoid the updates! And am going to listen to my instincts re monitoring and thank my lucky stars re how well the last one went and just concentrate on getting this one here safe and sound! X