Induction advice

[Lizzi102]

I found out this week I will be induced after Easter weekend. The reason for this is baby has a coniditon called exomphalos which means bowels are outside of the body. I’ve had a very awful and stressful pregnancy so wanting to try and get this next bit right. The baby will be born and will pretty much immediately be transferred hospitals to a children’s hospital for surgery. As you can imagine that is traumatic in itself. But so far the plan is for me to have a ‘normal’ induction and to have a vaginal birth.
What I want is any advice for induction? Is there anything I can do to help whilst in hospital? I really don’t want a section because of the fact that my baby is moving hospitals and I want to go with them. Any advice welcome for a worried mum to be

Hi, I had one, try to remain as active as possible, walk around the hospital, then bounce on a ball when you can’t. Once things start, I’ve always got into water which have made me jump from 3 to full dialation quickly, however inductions can be long. I would try to be active in walking etc now onwards and bouncing. Goodluck

Sounds like you're going through an extremely tough time - I hope you have a safe delivery and your baby is well after the surgery.

As above, keeping active is supposed to help. It didn't seem to speed things along for me (took 3 days!) but when it came to pushing baby was well positioned and came out easily so may have helped there.

I would take ear plugs and an eye mask so you can sleep if you are in hospital a while, being rested will help if you can manage it!
Also some entertainment to help you relax and pass some time - I couldn't concentrate on a book but enjoyed listening to radio on headphones and zoning out.

Best of luck x

Hey I had a great experience with being induced back in March.

Pessary was used and removed in the morning as I wasn’t doing well with it, surges or contractions had begun within half an hour of it being in me. This was 8:30pm Thursday night. Around 12:30pm the following morning I was taken down the delivery suite & baby had arrived by 2pm. They broke my waters for me & I went on to use the yoga ball & natural delivery.

Listen to your body and I would highly recommend The Positive Birth Company digital pack too.

If someone could guarantee me the same labour & delivery experience I would have another 😂 I had the best experience.

Good luck and I hope you and little one will be ok 💗

Major thing with induction is lots of waiting for stuff to happening and quite a lot of monitoring even with a standard induction - would assume you will have more. They can/Should be able to monitor you without you lying down - the wires are quite long. I had ctgs kneeling up on bed and sat on a ball as well as the more traditional lying down.

Other tips - stuff to do - maybe that keeps hands busy - we did most of a technic Lego car when I was in the niggling early stages of labour. Also portable crafts like cross stitch, knitting or crochet.

Films, podcasts/audio books and music plus headphones or earplugs. The antenatal ward is noisy, even on a side room, lots of people roaming around trying to get things going, people arriving in early labour, actually going into labour etc.

Also take snacks and drinks for you plus birth partner.

For clothes, light layers, ward is likely to feel hot a lot of the time.