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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

When is induced baby most likely to arrive?

71 replies

pebble5552 · 21/04/2020 10:23

I’m going into hospital on Friday evening to be induced at 38 weeks. I’m nervous but also very excited to meet our firstborn! I’ll be starting off with a pessary and then another one if that doesn’t work, followed by gel. The doctor has told me he expects DS to arrive any time between 48 and 72 hrs, so I should of given birth by Monday night or the early hrs of Tuesday at the latest.

Does that sound right to you? I’m really hoping for Tuesday because the 28th is an important anniversary for me, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold on that long! What do you think?

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Brianna83 · 21/04/2020 19:58

I went in on 31st Jan and had first pessary that morning. Had another the following day, then the gel but felt nothing at all. They then started the drop which did nothing either. Finally on the 2nd Feb they broke my waters at about 4pm and I gave birth the next day on 3rd Feb. Midwives told me it's quite unusually that someone doesn't react to all of the drugs like I did but I guess everyone is different.

orlarose · 21/04/2020 19:58

Why do you want to hang on op? Just curious as most people on here are like please tell me it doesn't take 72 hours. Ps. I was never told not to eat but as it happens I was vomiting and couldn't even keep water down. Had to have an IV bag of fluids.

Wolfgirrl · 21/04/2020 20:11

I was induced at 36 weeks. Induction took 4 days. 2 lots of 24 hour pessaries and a cook balloon. Then a wait for a bed on labour ward. Finally had ARM and drip on day 5, things took off nicely and baby born after 12 hours on the drip. Good luck.

whistleinthewind · 21/04/2020 20:17

I was admitted, and then they broke my waters at 1pm, drip started at 3pm, DD born around 10pm. But I was 4cm dilated when they broke my waters. She could have been born sooner but I was being a wuss and begged for the drip to settle. I'd recommend an epidural if you go for the drip, I didn't and it could have been much quicker if I hadn't been so stubborn!

Not to scare you, but if you want an epidural make it known ASAP. I've heard from a few hospitals that the anaesthesiologists are all very busy or redeployed to other areas to cover COVID19. So you may be waiting a while or not get one at all at the moment.

Original poster

pebble5552 · 21/04/2020 21:11

Why do you want to hang on op? Just curious as most people on here are like please tell me it doesn't take 72 hours.

@orlarose It sounds silly but the 28th is a significant date for me, so it would be lovely to have DS on that day. No biggie if not though obviously!

I've heard from a few hospitals that the anaesthesiologists are all very busy or redeployed to other areas

The midwife was telling me how most women with inductions have an epidural so I think my hospital is all good on that front, thankfully!

OP posts:

ShirleyPhallus · 21/04/2020 21:24

I was allowed to eat too, I didn’t want to so made sure I had lucozade instead

Sgeld122 · 21/04/2020 21:26

I was induced at 12.20 am and by the balloon method by 1.15am my contractions had started and by 11.52 am my little girl had arrived

Chista · 21/04/2020 21:41

OP may I say, Induction is boring as hell. Once induced, you cannot leave to go home. I was stuck on the ward for 9 days. Yes I had visitors and people bought me food too because I couldn't stomach anymore hospital food. I went for walks around the hospital, did everything I could to stop myself being bored. Every woman that came in after me left for the labour ward before me. I was so fed up at one point I actually packed my bags and said I am leaving. The contractions barely registered with me but the sweeps - torture!

ShirleyPhallus · 21/04/2020 21:49

Once induced, you cannot leave to go home.

This also wasn’t true for me, I was induced then free to go home for 24 hours

stophuggingme · 21/04/2020 21:49

My first induction at 41 weeks ( pessary) took a few hours with only an active labour for an hour

My second at 39+1 was a hormone drip as they had to break my waters and she was born after two hours active labour

My third was born at 39 + 2 after a single gel insertion and five minutes of active labour

Active labour being 5cms plus dilated

There is nosey timescale but hopefully not too long and you will have a baby fairly soon after induction

Good luck!

DeadbeatDescendant · 21/04/2020 21:53

I was induced at the same gestation as you OP with my first, as they were unhappy with a scan and fluid amounts - they told me it would take days but it was just under 12 hours from start to finish!

BillyAndTheSillies · 21/04/2020 22:11

First DS was induced on Sunday morning at 9am with the pessary, moved on to the drip after 12 hours and he arrived at midday on the Monday. I was 40+2.

Second DS, waters went at 37 weeks but no labour and reduced movements so was induced. Pessary given at 3pm on the Saturday, moved on to the drip at 3am and DS2 arrived at 10am on the Sunday.

I was prepared to be in for the long haul but they both happened fairly quickly.

Chista · 21/04/2020 22:16

@ShirleyPhallus I need to move to your area 😂

turnthebiglightoff · 22/04/2020 09:07

You can eat up until the drip I believe. I was on the drip for about 29 hours. They also forgot to feed me until the day after the baby was born; I went 3 days with no food and sleep. Well, 1 year technically my first post birth meal was a microwave omelette

schafernaker · 22/04/2020 09:31

I had the pessary in at 5pm and DD was born via EMCS by 7pm as the pessary sent me into crazy 8in 10 contractions that made her heart rate plummet.

She was only 34 weeks when I was being induced though, so there were other issues too. Good luck!

Ginntoniconpause · 22/04/2020 09:35

I had ds 9 hours after being induced!

Bluntness100 · 22/04/2020 09:35

There is no telling op, but when it comes to it, you’ll want it sooner rather than later.

I was induced on the wed night and they gave me a c section about twenty four hours later. It will take as long as it takes and they will do what is right to protect both you and your babies health.

Iwalkinmyclothing · 22/04/2020 09:38

Impossible to predict as so many have said!

I was 42 weeks when I went in for induction with ds1. Had a pessary around lunchtime, went into labour in the early hours of the next morning, he was born 2.5 hours later. My friend was induced at 38 weeks and it was 5 days between her going in and her baby coming out.

Best of luck, I hope it all goes really smoothly for you

latheritup · 22/04/2020 09:41

Induced at 38+5. Pessary in on Thursday and was left for 33 hours. I was moved to labour ward on Saturday for my waters to be broken, baby arrived just over 5 hours later. No need for the hormone drip.

I would have been moved earlier but labour ward was busy. Good luck! X

TimeIhadaNameChange · 22/04/2020 11:05

Mine was started on Thursday night as I wanted a Saturday birth (Feb 29th) and that was my midwife's calculation. My daughter arrived on the Monday morning, 79 hours after it all started.

BeMorePacific · 22/04/2020 11:08

I think once you’re in labour you won’t want to wait until the Tuesday
Exciting that you’ll have your baby in your arms soon. Good luck xxx

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