Induction at 38 weeks - terrified

[waterlily7]

I’m a high risk pregnancy and need to be induced at 38+6 due to complications. I was hoping for an elective caesarean but the hospital won’t perform one as they don’t think it’s medically necessary.

The problem is I’m completely and utterly terrified of induction - the thought of forcing my body into labour when it’s not ready just seems so wrong, even though I know it’s safer not to go to full term in my situation.

Almost every story you read online sounds like it’s a hellish and traumatic experience, which usually means a hospital stay of several days - probably longer than if I had an elective caesarean.

It’s even more daunting at the moment because I’ll be there on my own until I’m in active labour, at which point my partner will be able to join me.

I feel so tense, nervous and tearful about the whole thing, which isn’t exactly the best mindset to go into birthing with.

How can I get over the fear? I wish they’d just let me have an ELCS.

Have you practised hypnobirthing? Are you able to look it up and try and practise breathing techniques in the mean time?

I did end up being induced (at the end of a nearly 2 day labour so different to you) and what I will say is I know some of my friends who had very positive and quick inductions. Some had different experiences... point being, it is different for everyone!

I wish you all the luck and try to visualise the baby, a positive outcome of the birth and please please don't let fear take over you. Try your best to shake some of the fear off- easier said than done I'm sure but my birth experience was very positive until fear set in which is why I just wanted to comment.

Xx

Will they give you a sweep OP? I had one at 37 weeks in preparation for my induction a few days later, went into labour a few hours later and she was born the next day

I was induced and was offered an epidural prior to being given the drip. I took it and found the whole experience to be calm, well controlled and actually enjoyable. Being pain free took all my anxiety away. Of course it was highly clinical (no water birth etc) but that would have been my preference anyway. It doesn’t have to be horrific.

Good luck!

A sweep hasn’t been offered to me (I’m not sure why?) but the baby’s head is not yet engaged.

I was induced at 38+2 with DC2. It was very similar to my first spontaneous labour and I only needed the gel stuff to get going - needed a end dose. I did need an easy ventouse at the end, same as DC1 but easier so not a result of induction.

I only had 4 hours of labour after an induction properly set in . I know you’ll be like but an ELCS has no pain. It has pain for weeks after, much longer than a natural birth and the initial caring for your baby in hospital would be much harder. You need to go in with a positive mindset, including hypnobirthing etc. I used diamorphine and gas and air but if I’d have asked for an epidural earlier I could’ve gotten that. I was also high risk. Consider the options you do have open to you and create a plan using them. After all if you went into labour naturally it could be as bad as having an induction and at any time past 37 weeks you are technically full term.

I was induced at 38 weeks. It was quick and fine. I only had two paracetamol and I was done. People love to share horror stories

@wowjustwowyes17262 was it your first sweep? I'm 40 weeks next Friday but if she hasn't arrived by then I'm booked in for a sweep for that day, I've heard mixed things about them. I'm worried they are going to tell me my cervix is too high or I'm not dilating or something and they can't do it and I'll have to wait even longer.

It’s good to hear some positive stories at least - there seem to be so few out there!

I’ve been asked to come in at 9pm on the day to start the induction. Doesn’t that seem very late in the day? What will most likely happen?

I came in at 6 but had to wait until 9 or so. Gel up, wander around a bit, try to sleep (take stuff to do, phone charger with long cable or charging brick, I flitted a lot, audiobook/podcast/music. Checked 4 hours later and then more waiting. It's 24h service

@FearnRJ yes was the first sweep, she was being induced because of her weight was low, had the sweep at 11am, went back to work...... finished my day a bit crampy.... went to hospital at midnight and I was 7cm...

I had a bishops score of 7, the consultant who did it said one more sweep later in the week and i shouldn’t need an induction... clearly she was better at them than she thought!

@waterlily7 i was induced at 40+5 with my third. Pessary went in at around 10pm, midwife said something about my cervix being nowhere near ready and it would take a while. 2 hours later was in full blown labour (they didn't believe me, i had to push to be examined,at which point was rushed to delivery suite) and he arrived about 2 hours later. The only thing i can say is it all seemed to feel more intense and it happened so fast. But there's no reason for me to think it wouldnt have been fast anyway, as my labours have been 12 hours, 7 hours then 4 hours all from the very first twinge/waters breaking to baby arriving. Terrified this time i wont make it to hospital 😂

@wowjustwowyes17262 I'm hoping mine will be a good outcome if she hasn't arrived by then as don't really want to get to the point where I need to be induced but I've heard a lot of sweeps are unsuccessful so keeping my fingers crossed that something happens next weekend if not before then 🤞🤞 x

Does anyone know how long I can expect it to take as well? I’m thinking that it might be on the longer side given that it’s an early induction...

@waterlily7 hi so it can take anything from a couple of hours to a couple of days to actually start working. That’s the annoying bit. I went in at 3 on a Saturday. They do lots of tests and then got the first pessary about 7pm. That didn’t do much so I got a second pessary on Sunday morning at like 8.30am. I didn’t really feel much until like 10.30 and had her at 14.10. I was also induced early so that doesn’t factor into how long it will take.

Hi @waterlily7, I was induced at 37+5. Went into hospital on the Monday evening and had the gel. Had it again on the Tuesday morning but nothing much happened during the day except some cramps. On the Tuesday evening, a midwife gave me what she called “a really good sweep” which was pretty uncomfortable and I took some pain relief to help me get some sleep. The following morning I had progressed enough for my waters to be broken and I was then put on the drip to aid contractions. Three hours later and with just gas and air, my DS was born. It took a while to get me going, but I ended up with a lovely birth. An induction can be a positive experience.

@waterlily7 was your previous name something else and have you posted a few threads about this? If so, I really think you need to speak to your midwife about your concerns as you sound extremely worried/anxious. If you’re not the other person, apologies and good luck!

I was so terrified of induction. My 38 weeks induction was fine....once I’d had an epidural . That’s always an option. Mine was quite quick once I had the drip in I think it took about 5 hours. I didn't need any intervention either which was my big fear about the epidural. They always say epidural makes it longer but I only progressed once I had it in. I was so tense before I think every muscle in my body was clenched and nowt was happening. I won’t lie the drip is very painful, but it probably preferable to a section tbh. I imagine they will start you off with the pessary and leave you overnight to see if that works, then they progress up by maybe breaking waters and then the drip if nothing works (which it didn’t for me). Good luck!

Mine was 38 weeks and it took only 2 hours!