Positive induction stories please - 39 weeks.

[anonnancy]

So I had my consultant appointment today and it has been agreed I am to be induced at 39 weeks, so all is booked for 30th December.

Could I please have POSITIVE induction stories to get me into the calm zone rather than the slightly panicked / nervous zone I am currently in!

First baby so I have no idea what to expect apart from pain!

Been told baby has rather large head too so I've already apologised to my vagina and we've had words....! Lol.

Tia x

Not gonna lie, with my first I was a bit naive and didn’t go to hospital until I was 9cm dilates. It turned out he was back to back and he was panicking so they decided to give me the drip.
All I can say is I felt like I was in the electric chair.
I categorically refused to have the drip for any future births. Luckily I haven’t needed them.
You can refuse the drip.

Update from me! I'm bored in labour at the moment. Had the pessary this morning at midday, I was already 2cm dilated, and started having contractions at 2am, waters broke about 3am, lost a bit of plug and the pessary. Waiting to see what happens next. Contractions are every 5- 10 mins. Really thought I'd need the drip to get going! I've spent the day alternating between resting, bouncing on my yoga ball and walking around the hospital. I'm on a ward with a woman snoring which is driving me insane!
I'm so glad I haven't needed anything other than the pessary so far though!

@DamnitCharlie that's great! Best of luck with it.... I'm in tonight to start me off & I'm dreading it! Hoping I wont need the drip either! Did you have any pains before going in?

@starfkake only the usual aches and pains and a few contractions last week that fizzled out just to tease me!

Induced at 42 weeks and it honestly wasn't bad!
Waters broke around midnight but went straight up to labour ward due to meconium. Had a bath to relax before being hooked up to monitors, practiced hypnobirthing and listened to audiobooks.
Eventually took an epidural for me to sleep as I was coping well with the pain! Slept for most of the day and then ended with an emergency c-section as baby was distressed.
The whole thing was very calm and not what I thought it would be.
And if you're suffering with the pain, take the drugs, there's no shame in wanting pain relief

@DamnitCharlie oh good luck! Glad everything seems to be going smoothly for you - keep us updated!

I've been having braxton hicks on and off for the past 2-3 days now.... currently lying in bed with baby having a little wiggle. Going to make some breakfast and go for a slow walk (or waddle?) and then finish wrapping Christmas presents (which can I just say is SO difficult with a bowling ball stuck to the front of me! Lol)

X

I've had two babies, one spontaneous labour and one induced. Loved the induction, not the spontaneous! I think the evidence does show less chance of emcs if you are induced at 39 as opposed to 41+ weeks if that helps with positivity?
I actually didn't find the drip anywhere near as painful as the spontaneous labour, but I am in the minority on that. I had a quick labour on the drip, was 2cm so no need for any pessary or balloon, waters broken for me but nothing happened, drip on and 3 hours later.... baby! Didn't need any pain relief until the last hour, then realised baby was about to come out just before epidural sited.
I think the great thing about induction is you can talk to your midwife before anything starts. First time around trying to talk about pain relief etc when I was already contracting was really hard.
Be prepared to have to wait around if it's your first baby, but take advantage of the time and make sure you've talked everything through and make informed decisions.

DC1 induced, DC2 spontaneous labour.
I think mine is a positive story as it didn’t take forever (10pm pessary, contractions by 1am, baby at 7am) and I also didn’t tear, just some grazing.

However I do do wish I had known how intense the pain was going to be - and I think it really can be much worse than spontaneous labour? I was being a ridiculous martyr and felt like I should be able to cope without an epidural. I absolutely couldn’t cope without one (tho it only worked down one side - still, better than nothing) and glad I got one. My number one recommendation for anyone having an induction, and glad lots of PPs saying same.

Good luck to those being induced right now, and positive thoughts to you OP for when the time comes.

@anonnancy thanks, baby was born this afternoon. Induction went well and managed labour on gas and air and hypnobirthing techniques (which I really doubted would work) then I had a few complications towards the end that we're unrelated to the induction - baby was unkowningly back to back so needed a ventouse and I had a placental abruption which caused lots of bleeding and baby's heart rate to decelerate - couldn't guess these things would happen though. Good luck! I'm still glad we have a healthy baby and all I have is a small tear!

I was induced on my due date. Positive experience on the whole apart from what a PP said about midwives being dismissive of the fact you are in labour. They have probably seen it all before. Also the hospital I was in had a no visitors after 8.30pm. So my husband and mum had to go home. My contractions then started after that. So be prepared to do some of it on your own. When I was checked at 7.15am I was 4cm dilated so they sent me to labour ward.

I had GD but still managed to labour in the water on just gas and air and a couple of paracetamol. I had to be given the drip to increase my contractions in the end as when I got out of the water for them to examine me my contractions stopped.

I was moved to a bed to give birth. I have to say for me (even though the research says giving birth on your back is not the best position) it was. I had the traction from the stirrups to be able to push properly. I dont have a bad experience from my birth and although I wouldn't tell my husband just yet based on the experience I'd go for number 2 in a few years. 😂😉

Thanks for the stories ladies. I saw my consultant yesterday and I appear to have developed gestational diabetes along with the SPD I've had since 28 weeks, so we've booked in an induction for the 2nd Jan (38+1). Despite 2 glucose tests and regular pee tests, the diabetes has only just become apparent but may be one of the reasons baby is measuring at the 95th percentile... I'm actually quite happy with the choice to induce and actually a lot of questions I had since the appointment, you've answered!

Thank you all for the reassurance - I am feeling really excited to get this little (or big.. who knows!) guy out. I am in agonyyyyyy and just want to feel somewhat comfortable again.

My SPD has gotten 100% worse over the last week and I cannot sleep at all, cannot sit or lie down or walk without being in pain. Even sitting on my birthing ball is painful!

So just feel totally ready to get into my warrior mode and push this baby into the world.

I am planning on using the pool for some of my labour but will be asking for a epidural so obviously not birth in the pool. I have made it VERY clear in my birth plan that I would like an epidural - and especially now I'm being induced I want the epidural before I have the drip so if things go crazy all of a sudden I can still remain as calm and relaxed as possible.

But obviously who knows what will happen and I'm just going to flex and flow with the whole thing!

X

I was induced at 37 & 6 had the best experience! He is my first & most likely only baby too. I was admitted for induction last minute due to another episode of reduce movement. Pessary was inserted 8:30pm Thursday night, within 30 minutes things started. The pessary was then removed in the morning as I wasn’t getting on with it. They took me downstairs after an examination & gas and air was there waiting - wahey! - I was at 6cm. They broke my waters & baby arrived 2pm. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience and delivery was vaginal and the yoga paid off! Good luck!

I would recommend hypnobirthing / breathing techniques 1000% if you haven’t alredhd done this

Also sorry if I missed the info but induction doesn’t mean you’ll be on a drip or need an epidural :)

Had a sweep yesterday (being induced on Monday), midwife said I was 2-3cm dilated and cervix had shortened to 2cm and was central.

She seemed to think I wouldn't make it to Monday for the induction and would go off on my own over the weekend.

I haven't really had much happen - a few niggles here and there but nothing regular. No bleeding after sweep either which surprised me.

Not too fussed if I go off on my own - now the induction is so close I just want to get it over with and meet my baby!

X