Hospital want to induce me this Friday (38+0) - help!

[worried88]

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 36+0 weeks and am now 37+5. I've been monitoring my blood sugar levels at home since the diagnosis and have managed to get them under control.

At my 36 week scan the baby's weight was estimated at 7lbs 1oz and the head circumference was 35.5cm (97th centile), so the baby is already on the large side because of the GD.

My midwife rang this morning to ask how everything is going and then asked what my thoughts were on the birth. I said I was confused over whether to go for an induction or c-section due to the size of the baby's head, so she went to speak to the consultant to get his thoughts.

She rang me back 10 minutes later and said the consultant thinks an induction is the best option and that they could get me in this Friday to start the process. I was quite shocked as the phone call began as a routine chat about GD and ended with the possibility of giving birth in two days' time.

The midwife explained that the baby will just keep on growing from here on in, so it's better to induce sooner rather than later for a vaginal delivery before they get too big. She also said that if I did go for a c-section then that could be done at 39 weeks.

I said I'd think everything through and get back to her, but I'm so confused now. Should I take their advice and go in this Friday, wait another week (when I'll be 39+0) or two (when I'll be 40+0) to be induced, or ask for a c-section?

My head is spinning - if anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated.

Thinking of you OP good luck!!

An emergency caesarean is a very rare situation where the mother is given a general anaesthetic and the baby is born as quickly as possible to save their lives. If you are sitting on a bed being given an epidural and the birth partner is in theatre wirh you then that's not an emergency, that's an unplanned caesarean.

Actually it is still called an EMCS when it's unplanned, it's just not an actual emergency.

@bluemoon2468 I think that’s called a crash caesarean, an emergency caesarean is just one that wasn’t planned, but you are very much awake x

OP I've had an epidural (not for labour/section) but for a gynae operation and I couldn't feel a thing. Honestly, nothing. You do what you need to do to get your baby here in whatever way is best for both of you. Good luck x

That's a category 1 section @bluemoon2468. Even the GA isn't 100% a guarantee.

Categories 2 and 3 are still emergencies. The difference between the 3 are how soon baby needs to have come out by after the decision has been made. NICE guidelines indicate Cat. 1 within 30 minutes (in reality we try to do it in

Thinking of you today @worried88 hope you've had a good night!

Hope you're doing OK OP and that you managed to get some rest overnight!

Morning everyone! So after the pessary was inserted at around 9.30pm last night, I was lying in bed and felt a trickling sensation from my vagina at about 11.30pm. I stood up and sure enough I was leaking water everywhere - my waters were officially broken! The midwife echoed what others have said on MN, that pessaries can sometimes take many hours or days to work - so I consider myself very lucky!

After this the midwife did another cervix exam to check for cord prolapse and said all looked good.

I bounced around on the ball for a bit to try and get some contractions going and I started getting what felt like bad period pains every couple of minutes or so.

I was transferred to the labour room after about an hour and the baby was monitored again. The contractions were still happening so I used gas and air to help.

The doctor was keen to get me onto the drip, and as requested I was given the epidural first. I was very nervous about this as I have a terror of needles, but after a bit of stinging from the local anaesthetic it was fine.

I can’t believe how effective the epidural is - I very quickly couldn’t feel my contractions at all!

I think I’ve been in the labour room now for about six hours and it’s all going well so far (touch wood). The baby’s head has descended down to where they’d expect it to be at this stage and my cervix is dilating.

I did have a bit of a scare with the epidural when after the initial top up, I topped up again after 20 minutes (you can do a maximum of three top-ups an hour). This made me feel really faint and nauseous and my blood pressure fell quite a bit, but it was soon sorted out when they gave me some extra fluids via a drip.

I’ve been told to top up at the very first sign of pain, but I think I was too late with the last (third) top up as I am feeling a few recent contractions (though not badly enough to need gas and air). It’s hard knowing when to top up while avoiding the almost fainting scenario!

Oh yay I'm so glad things are progressing and going smoothly! Well done! You're doing so well :)

Might be good to feel the contractions slightly as it will help when it comes time for pushing as you push 'with' the contractions (though I think they will have a monitor which will tell you when they are happening, if you can't feel them!). I guess after a few hours you will get to know what your body needs in terms of topping it up!

Are you on the drip already? How dilated are you now - I guess you're not in active labour yet?

How exciting!!

Thank you for the update - how exciting! Good luck, sounds like you’ll be holding your baby soon

Fantastic update, sounds like everything is progressing nicely and you are feeling positive which is great You must have your partner with you now? Best of luck for the rest - I bet you'll meet your baby very soon! x

Thanks @IslayBrigid! I figure I will probably need more regular top ups as the contractions get more intense. Yes, I’m on the drip now - I thought I might as well as I was having an epidural anyway.

I think I’m about 4cm dilated now but not sure - I need to double check. What qualifies as active labour - is that when you start to push?

DH is now with me which I’m very happy about. He got here around 2.30am and is totally shattered - he’s currently trying to catch some zeds on an uncomfortable looking chair!

Thanks everyone! Now my epidural top ups are getting more regular, they said that now could be the time to insert a catheter (shudder) as standing up to go to the loo could get harder. Not a pleasant thought but probably necessary?

You won’t feel catheter with your epidural.
Active labour 4cm, pushing at 10cm
You’re doing great!! Xx

I’m up to four contractions in 10 minutes now apparently. Once I get to four or five in 10 minutes they stop upping the drip and keep it at a regular level, as any more would put too much pressure on the cervix. I’ll be interested to know how dilated I am! I’ve done a few more epidural top ups and the pain I was feeling has gone, which is a relief.

Good luck, OP. Glad all is going well!

Good luck @worried88 you're doing amazingly. Glad your DH can be with you now! How surreal that you're having all those contractions but can't feel them haha. I'm glad it's all going well for you :) :)

Do you know baby's sex yet or is it a surprise?

You won’t feel catheter with your epidural.

True. I just hate the thought of them for some reason!

How surreal that you're having all those contractions but can't feel them haha.

I know, it is so surreal! Here’s hoping that everything continues to progress smoothly...

Oh wow! Sounds like your induction is going fantastically and you sound you're coping extremely well too. Well done you!

Things are well and truly underway now. You'll be meeting your baby before you know it!

All sounds like its going well. Good luck.

Thanks everyone! I’m randomly feeling quite nervous at the thought of my contractions being so full on now - I just hope the epidural continues to work and my body is doing ok handling all this pressure even though my brain isn’t registering it, if that makes sense. It’s a completely irrational thing to worry about I know.

Just had a vaginal exam and I’m up to 4cm now!

I mentioned this earlier but will repeat as imagine might help! To help your body, try to focus on your breathing when you can. 4 seconds in through the nose, 6-8 seconds out through the mouth. Esp during contractions, if you can feel them at all, or if you get notified they are happening.

Natural to be nervous - the breathing will help with this, it will keep you present and calm, and will push oxygen to your uterus, which needs it right now.

When you are pushing you can also breathe out through your mouth quite strongly, this helps with the pushing and will mean you can hopefully 'strain' less :)

Oh wow just read the updates @worried88, sounds like everything is progressing really well!! Hope you're holding your baby very soon

Ooh the silence is promising! Hope it has all gone/is going smoothly