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

Original poster

Being induced tonight and I'm scared. Can you share your induction experiences with me please?

27 replies

Februaryblooms · 27/04/2019 17:17

Posted here and in pregnancy.

Im Being induced tonight following episodes of reduced movements. Im 40 weeks.

I'm really bloody nervous Sad

Can you share your induction experiences with me, if you have a moment?

Any tips on staying as comfortable as possible?

How long yours took from first pessary to birth?

What pain relief you had?

How long you and baby were in?

Any words of encouragement welcome.. just no horror stories please Grin

OP posts:
sirmione16 · 27/04/2019 17:24

First pessary fell out after less than 12 hours, turns out I was 3cm already so they didn't bother replacing - just went to delivery suite! I was in the suite having my waters broke at 8.50, baby arrived at 12.50!! We went home at 8pm that very same day.

Oh and all just on gas and air

Induction means labour tends to start pretty quickly

Take snacks!! Some pessary have to be in for 24 hours THEN they examine you, it was just luck mine fell out really. I wasn't told it was so long and sent hubby home to get laptop with Netflix and snacks Grin

You can ask for a birthing ball whilst you wait too if you don't have one, to stay a little comfortable and maybe help things along.

Of course it hurts, but I can honestly say my birth experience was "easy" and simply amazing as far as they go, and I loved being induced as it meant I was there, in the hospital from the start should anything go wrong - which for me is a good thing, I know others don't feel the same, but yeah.

It's the most overwhelming feeling being in labour, it washes over you. My advice would to be to let it happen. You're in safe hands, you just focus on staying as calm as possible and breathing as much as possible (even if it's breathing through the gas and air tube)

Good luck!

Surfskatefamily · 27/04/2019 17:30

Some hospitals have wireless monitors but you only seem to get them on request. I asked...it means you stay mobile.

The drip contractions do get intense, dont be afraid to get an epidural.
Instant relief.

Trust in the midwives. They are amazing people

StarringRole · 27/04/2019 18:06

I was induced at 37+6, one pessary, I was 1cm when it went in, 2cm when it come out 24 hours later. They decided not to bother with another pessary just thought they would break my waters and get the drip.
Waters were broken at 8.30, they said they would give me 4 hours until the drip went in, I didn’t have a monitor on, I just asked for monitoring every hour or so. At 11.30 I said I needed to push, she checked and said ‘no you’re only 3cm, let me go get you some pain relief’, she connected the gas and air up and went to get pethidine, while she was gone my son was born at 11.47 on the toilet :D

SpeckledDot · 27/04/2019 18:11

No idea on how you'd stay comfortable!

I had my first pessary on a Tuesday morning and birth happened on thursday morning. The pessaries (i had 3, they kept falling out) didn't work for me so i had to have my waters broken and be put on a syntocinon drip.

I had gas and air, paracetomol, the opioid one (forgot the name) and then an epidural. The epidural got me fully dilated and i was able to push fine.

I had my baby Thursday morning and we stayed in until friday evening as i had supraventricular tachychardia and needed check ups

Good luck!

Asiama · 27/04/2019 18:24

I loved my induction. I was on a drip and baby was out in 3 hours. I had gas and air for pain relief, and also an injection that I can't remember the name of, but no epidural. I did not have any tears. I was most comfortable lying on my side on the bed.

Good luck!

snoopy18 · 27/04/2019 19:25

Mine was just last month OP had a great experience so I hope you do too!

Pessary was in 8:30pm on Thursday - cramping began within half an hour 🙈 observations were done in the morning again as I was being monitored for heart rate as it was scatty - they decided to remove the pessary around 10am or so.

They took me down to delivery suite I was 6cm dilated. They broke my waters and I was then free to do whatever ie move around etc. I used gas and air & exercise ball had really helped through my pregnancy as I was doing yoga videos - Birthing ball was used during the labour. I squatted the baby out - yoga definately helped and breathing techniques.

The baby arrived by 2pm the Friday afternoon 🙈 photographer couldn’t make it in time & my mum thought we were joking when I rang to say the baby arrived as it happened all quickly.

Drink plenty of water I mean jugs of it as it’ll help you so much and eat / snack as often as you can!

Other than that - focus on your breathing and enjoy the experience 💗 it’s amazing.

Good luck and keep us posted!

PotteringAlong · 27/04/2019 19:28

2 inductions; 1 for ds1 and 1 for ds3.

Ds1 born 23 hours after first pessary. Had drip and epidural.

Ds3 born 11 hours after first pessary, no drip and gas and air.

Both were fine!

Good luck Flowers

Newyearsameoldshit · 27/04/2019 20:47

Pessary in Saturday morning, 2 rounds of prostin gel Sunday, baby born Monday evening.

Long old slog but healthy baby pushed out with no assistance or tearing so I was happy! I got to 6cm on gas and air, then got an epidural, it was wonderful.

Hope all goes well x

toriaplum · 27/04/2019 20:48

I was induced with dd at 41+5 wks. It was a very positive experience. Especially after my first labour with ds which was very long and ended in an assisted delivery in theatre.

I had the pessary at 3.30pm. Cramping started at around 5.30pm. Baby was born at 9.50pm.

I tried to keep moving, went for a little walk and bounced on a birthing ball. When contractions were starting to get more uncomfortable I had a bath and found the warm water on my back which helped. I had co-codamol.
My waters broke naturally on the antenatal ward. When I was examined, I was fully dilated and ready to push. I was rushed into a delivery room on the MLU. Once in the delivery room, I delivered 9lb back to back dd with gas and air and hypobirthing /yoga breathing. I had a small graze and no tearing.
We would have been discharged the next day but we stayed in to get breastfeeding established.

Good luck OP Flowers

4andAbit · 27/04/2019 20:54

I was induced by the drip. From the moment they switched it on until I had her in my arms was just 2 hours! Brilliant all round

LGFuad · 27/04/2019 21:07

I was so adamant that I didn’t want to be induced but at 41 weeks with reduced movements and an increase in my blood pressure they recommended I have one.

And (despite the tears when I realised I wouldn’t be able to have my water birth in the midwife led unit) it was a really positive experience! First pessary went in at about 5pm on Tuesday, that fell out on the Wednesday morning so it was replaced on Wednesday afternoon. Contractions started kicking in about 1am on the Thursday morning but I had some paracetamol and managed to get some sleep. Told the midwives at about 10am that I needed some gas and air so they took me down to the delivery suite and broke my waters, I was 5cm by then. I was on continuous monitoring so couldn’t move about as much as I had intended to but by that point I was too tired from 2 sleepless nights in hospital. No drip or epidural needed and baby was born at 2pm - both of us very healthy but we stayed overnight in the post natal ward as it was my first baby. I felt really well looked after the whole time I was in hospital and really wouldn’t have changed anything about it. I would say take something to keep you occupied because it can take ages but I was too excited to focus on anything anyway!

Hope it all goes well for you, I will be thinking of you!

TildaTurnip · 27/04/2019 21:09

If I did it again, I’d make sure I had more than gas and air.

If you still don’t feel any movements or have reduced movements, be vocal about it. I was and they moved quickly.

Good luck!

1sttimeDD · 27/04/2019 21:13

I was induced at 39+3 with 24 hour pessary. Lots of walking around, rocking my hips!
24 hours later, I was put onto a hormone drip. 7 hours later DD was born naturally. Gas & air throughout.

Left hospital after 21 hours.

Mamamiais · 27/04/2019 21:23

TBH it is a long process and luckily our hospital had free Wi-Fi and we watched Netflix...;). The woman next to me gave birth on the bed as there was no time to move her. Wow

MrsKyloRen · 27/04/2019 21:25

I was induced the day of my due date, nothing happened for two days. 😂😂 it was a bit boring in the hospital and I would rather have been in my own bed, but it was fine. Water broke shortly before the consultant was due to have a chat about a section. DS born 4.5 hours later, gas and air only. I found it was brilliant for keeping me calm during the birth, as well as for pain relief. All the best OP! ❤️

snoopy18 · 28/04/2019 06:40

How is it going OP?

liz1222 · 28/04/2019 07:47

I might be getting induced soon as well and these stories were helpful :)

MindyStClaire · 28/04/2019 08:13

Hopefully you're well on your way now OP! Just wanted to say that I had a failed induction and emergency section. Beforehand that would've been a horror story to me, but it was actually brilliant. The hospital took great care of us and I have only good memories (probably because I never really dilated so very little pain Grin ). We were in for two nights after she was born, and I recovered really well.

Original poster
Februaryblooms · 28/04/2019 19:21

Thank you all for the replies, I was reading them as things progressed last night!

I had the pessary at 10:00pm, some mild contractions began at 1:00am.

By 5:00am I was contracting regularly and they were getting painful so I was wheeled round to delivery where things picked up at a crazy pace, I wasn't prepared for that.

I wanted an epidural but there was a delay and by the time they arrived to set things up I was in transition and howling like a wolf. I had to make do with gas and air, almost beheading poor DP by gripping him in a headlock as each wave came over me (he was fab bless him) and she was born at 9.45am Grin

Second degree tear, bloody exhausted and the furthest thing from my birth plan but I'm absolutely in love and she's amazing.

I'd do it all over again Smile

OP posts:
Mamamiais · 28/04/2019 19:22

Congratulations

Aimily · 28/04/2019 19:23

I had no advice last night as never done it, but just seen your update. Congratulations and welcome to the world baby girl!!

notacooldad · 28/04/2019 19:24

Congratulations!!!!

troppibambini · 28/04/2019 19:26

Congratulations Thanks

Browniee · 28/04/2019 20:06

Congratulations!! And thank you for posting these questions.

I’m currently in the middle of induction for reduced movements too (not that you’d know it as baby was kicking like crazy on the monitor...!). Had my pessary in at 5pm today and these stories are so positive and helpful as we wait to see what happens ☺️

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 28/04/2019 20:35

Congratulations! And good luck Browniee, hope yours goes well!