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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Induction vs spontaneous labour

43 replies

Countrylifeornot · 06/09/2019 21:35

Hello, I'm having a few issues in my pregnancy and have a consultant appointment next week at 38 weeks.
Judging by what's been discussed thus far I think we'll have a conversation about whether I want a spontaneous labour, or would be happier being induced to mitigate some risks.

I had the most wonderful drug free, midwife led birth last time and would love to recreate it this time, but it appears I'll be consultant led whatever happens, meaning a different birth centre etc.

So, my question is should I just get induced to at least have a plan and know a date etc, or is it much more restrictive and less autonomous? I guess only women who have experienced both could answer, and I don't know any, so wise mumsnetters, what do you say?

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ThePolishWombat · 06/09/2019 21:39

I’ve experienced both induced labour and spontaneous labour and will never ever consent to an induction ever again.
If my baby needs to come out and isn’t coming naturally, I will be having an elective csection.

No compromises.

Original poster

Countrylifeornot · 06/09/2019 21:44

Crikey sounds like you had a terrible experience. Can I ask what was so bad, only if you're happy to share of course.

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SlB09 · 06/09/2019 21:48

I kind of had both in one!! Normal start to labour then augmented. It is more restrictive if you need oxytocin as you & baby need to be monitored all the time, you are hooked up to IV's so basically with the monitoring and lines your pretty much restricted to the bedside. I would have it again though if I needed, I'm not sure I would if it was 50/50. I did need diamorphine as the contractions come faster and harder. I was consultant led but still birthed in a midwife let unit where a consultant was Oncall. You kind of have to accept that your handing yourself over to the team - but that's for a reason. Hopefully the consultant will give you all the facts so you feel informed enough to decide either way. Good luck x

3boysandabump · 06/09/2019 21:49

I had an induction with my first and it was awful.

3rd baby needed to come out on due date by the latest and I chose a section over induction. If I'd been able just to go over I would have 100%

4under4our · 06/09/2019 21:49

2 induced labours, 2 started naturally. Only difference was being induced is incredibly boring initially, lots of waiting around.

SlB09 · 06/09/2019 21:49

You not need anything but a pessary though!!

Original poster

Countrylifeornot · 06/09/2019 21:56

Thanks for all your replies.
SIB09 I understand that where I live policy is if you get induced you have extra monitoring, deliver somewhere different etc, so really changing the whole thing. I'm also told the contractions hurt a lot more

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Solihooley · 06/09/2019 21:58

Induction is incredibly painful with the drip, so I would request and epidural early on. I’ve had a very long back to back natural labour (with one shot of diamorphine and gas and air) and a fairly quick (once drip was in) induction and there is absolutely no way I would have survived the induction contractions without an epidural. It was agony. However once the epidural was in it was fine and no other complications with induced.

ThePolishWombat · 06/09/2019 22:00

Pessary didn’t do anything for me other than a few cramps - and having the pessary put in in the first place was one of the most painful things I’ve ever felt. I was out straight on the synthetic oxytocin drip the next morning and contractions began almost immediately - no build up. Just 0-100mph in a few minutes. No break between contractions. Lots of vomiting. No time for any pain relief other than gas and air which just made me vomit even more. It was only 3 hours from starting the drip to my baby being born, but those 3 hours were literally the most hideous 3 hours.
Compared to spontaneous labour which I think is more like an ebb and flow of intermittent pain for most of it, I found the induction to be absolutely fucking brutal the entire time

Mrsthomasshelby1 · 06/09/2019 22:05

I've experienced both. I'm told it's more painful if you have the drip, but I luckily didn't need this. Pessaries and getting my waters broken worked for me. Once I got started everything was pretty much the same, I was in the same hospital but a different unit. Only real difference was that the monitored the baby's heartbeat more, but that's not a negative in my opinion. I did feel they were kind of waiting for something to go wrong in the consultant led ward, but I suppose they do see the more riskier births as opposed to the midwife led unit.

They also said that I possibly didn't need the drip as it was my 3rd baby. Things can take a while to get started so just be prepared for a lot of waiting, books, films on tablet etc. I also think to listen to your body, they wanted to put me on the drip, I asked to be examined first and I was 7cm and didn't need it.

If I had to be induced again i wouldn't be too concerned, it was actually my favourite birth of the 3 once I got going.

Stephminx · 06/09/2019 22:08

I've had two inductions and both were fine and over and done with safely in 4 hours from time the pessary was administered.
First was at 36 weeks due to early waters breaking but no contractions - that was a bit more restrictive as I had constant monitoring of the baby's heart and she was back to back - meaning I had to stay on my back to avoid her getting distressed, which is meant to be most painful position anyway even without back to back positioning.
Second time was at 39 weeks due to her size (10 lbs 2 at birth) - again went great and I was up and about until right near the end.
No drugs either time, just gas and air. I think most people want as little intervention as possible really but I argued for the induction second time round as my first went really well and I was in so much pain due to her size that I needed her out !
See what the professionals say and how you feel after that - I was consultant led on both and they'll take you through it but I found they were reluctant to give me my second one and I had to push for it.

babyonitsway · 06/09/2019 22:10

As someone who is currently in hospital going through an induction (been in since weds 4pm) and am currently 2cm dilated (after having 4 inductions gels - similar to pessary). Likely having waters broken/drip tomorrow.

I would probably advise a planned c section.

Reasons being:

SO much waiting around
very clinical environment (same as c sec, but you're in an induction process for much longer!)
no guarantee the pessary etc will work
could easily result in c section anyway (I'm still half expecting to need one)

Good luck either way :)

IDontDrinkTea · 06/09/2019 22:14

I had an induction. It was a genuinely positive experience. I had the pessary, my waters then broke on their own but not a lot else happened so I had the drip. It was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be and I’d happily do the whole thing again tomorrow

smallplainblonde · 06/09/2019 22:15

I had a relatively quick, spontaneous labour the first time and was induced at 37 weeks the second. First time was a lot easier. It’s not the same for everyone but for me there was a LOT of waiting involved in being induced. Having said that once my waters were broken I had baby within 3 hours. Quite a stressful birth and way, way more painful on the drip. Once I had the epidural it was a lot better so I would 100% request that early on.

Basically I found the induction more difficult but it was definitely better for my baby to be out earlier so I would do the same again. Also, I healed really quickly and felt fine the next day which obviously wouldn’t have been the same with a section. It’s a tough decision because you don’t know how it will go for you but I think in your position I would take the induction.

HarrietM87 · 06/09/2019 22:18

I was induced with my first - he was 12 days overdue. Had the pessary and it worked really quickly - contractions started a few hours later and 3 hours after that I gave birth in a pool in a midwife unit with just a bit of gas and air - I was v lucky but it was my dream birth.

Babyfg · 06/09/2019 22:29

I've had both. My first was induced for medical reason. Tbh if the doctors recommend it and gives you good reason why they are recommending it, you should probably listen to them!

My spontaneous baby came really quickly and was nearly a car park baby, so spontaneous doesn't necessarily mean less stress!

Also weigh up the epidural (I'm a big fan of them and think of you can have one!) but an early epidural means you're not really moving around and can cause complications. I had an early one and my labour slowed down too much. The end baby needed a ventouse and a lot more help than he'd have probably otherwise needed!

Kej13 · 07/09/2019 07:07

@babyonitsway I am also in ATM for induction, and have been since Wednesday! How are you getting on??

Completely get every point you have made. I have had two pessaries and only 2cm dilated and been on them since Thursday morning. In absolute agony and can't even stand the pain of the examinations any more. We've had to have baby at 37 weeks so I'm sure that being induced early doesn't help things but if I'd had my time again I would have insisted on c section because this is unbearable!

@Countrylifeornot for reference I haven't had a natural labour in the past, this is first baby so no idea how I would have coped with the alternative if that makes sense?? This is just my experience as it is right now! Good luck with whatever you decide Xxx

Gwlondon · 07/09/2019 07:15

I have had both. Why are you being induced? My son had IUGR and had to be induced early. My daughter was 37 weeks and it was spontaneous.

I prefer spontaneous but if they have asked you to be induced it’s because they are worried. With IUGR they don’t know how well the placenta is functioning and the placenta needs to work really well during labour. It’s better for the baby to be out.

Don’t worry. It won’t be terrible. Not as good as a spontaneous labour. Try and make peace with it before you go. Doctors as wearing up all the risks to keep both of you safe.

Do you know what the problem is?

randomsabreuse · 07/09/2019 07:31

First was spontaneous, most of labour in the car as "not in active labour" 4 hours before birth, 2 hours of which was pushing. Needed ventouse at end and tore a bit. Had meconium in waters to transfer from MLU to consultant led while wanting to push was not fun.

2nd induced at same gestation - just needed gelx2, struggled with exams because scar tissue from first was tight. Waters went on their own but very similar pattern to first in that I had painful contractions with no dilation then dilated all at once. Needed epesiotomy/ventouse which was better than the tear.

Irene1975 · 07/09/2019 10:19

I have had experience of c-section,spontanious labour and my last was an induction..i dont mean to alarm but i found the induction experience horrible. No one had discussed the effects of being induced and the overwelming feeling of having no control over your contractions.if you do end up having to be induced prepare yourself mentally to feel no control and except this is a normal feeling..it might help s little during labour.

Kaiser1805 · 07/09/2019 10:25

Literally on induction ward right now... seems like such a long winded process 😩

babyonitsway · 07/09/2019 10:51

@Kej13 oh I feel your pain so much!
I'm waiting to be moved to the labour ward so they can break my waters (I'm only 2cm dilated but they think it's possible to do).

Labour ward is full and there's a little queue of us waiting, so no idea when I'll actually get to go in.

What's next for you?

Kej13 · 07/09/2019 11:14

@babyonitsway been a nightmare but they're going to give me an epidural and move me to labour ward, I can have a c section but they want me to make a decision when I'm not in pain. Had my pessary removed but still just absolute agony.

Just waiting for a space on delivery then we can start that but happy something will be done about it soon! I would prefer a vaginal birth if possible but I can't stand any more examinations without epidural so sort of in limbo at the moment, no idea how dilated I am but they will check once I've had epidural and go from there!

I hope everything goes well for you, no one warns you just how bad induction can be 🙈 is this your first baby? Xx

babyonitsway · 07/09/2019 11:29

@Kej13 I think if you can have the epidural and be put on the drip, you'll feel so much better (everyone says how great the epidural is), id try to hang on for that so you don't have the longer recovery time of a c section (as you've come so far down the natural route already!)

However, there are pros of a c section so won't be awful if you had that and it'd be over much more quickly!
Thinking of you and hope you get some pain relief / baby is here soon!

babyonitsway · 07/09/2019 11:30

@Kej13 and yes first baby!

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