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Pregnancy

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

Tell me about inductions

11 replies

emma911030 · 03/12/2020 23:37

Hi Ladies,
I'm 36 weeks today with a twin pregnancy, all has been more or less fine so far.. when I last spoke to the consultant at 34 weeks he said that provided I hadn't given birth by 36 week app (which is actually tomorrow at 36+1 although I know this makes no difference) then they would likely look to induce on Monday 7th, twin 1 has been head down for a while now and they said it's unlikely he will be able to turn now so all is looking good for induction rather than a c section...
My first son I went into labour 'naturally' so my waters broke on my due date surprisingly and I ended up having forceps delivery early house of the following morning, so I'd been kind of hoping similar would happen this time. Anyway no babies have arrived as of yet, so will be attending my app tomorrow to get induction definitely booked in their diary..
My question is to those who have been through it, what can I expect to happen? Will I be in monitor the whole time? Can I move around (assuming this will only be within the room I'm in and not walking the ward due to covid obviously) should I expect it to take forever? Is the induction process painful in anyway? Do they tend to tell you to go in first thing and get it started or can it be any time of day?
What's the best thing to pack? So my hospital bag and babies bag is done but was going to pack a small 'induction bag' with snacks, energy drinks, activities (cross word/iPad etc) suggestions of best things to put in that?
I've never left my son over night in the 21 1/2 months he's been alive, and I'm terrified of leaving him, cause although I know he will be in safe hands (my partner while not a lot is happening at the hospital and then with my partners brother when he arrives and my partner comes to me) but I just can't bare to think of not being there if he's upset etc. He's a total mummies boy cause I do most of the care due to my partner working and our bond is just stronger in general. I know I will be concentrating on getting two more babies out of me but still I'm worried.
Sorry for the rambling and probably stupid questions, I'm so clueless you'd think I'd never had a child before!
Any advice or just anything would be amazing! TIA x

OP posts:
Somewhereelsewhere · 04/12/2020 00:24

How exciting! Congratulations!
I didn’t have twins and didn’t have a full induction, so my response is limited but should bump your post and someone will then come along.

I was 2/3 rounds of pessaries to see if that would kick off labour. The next stage would have been the drip. Luckily, my waters broke and I then went into labour.

But I was told that they very strongly urge you to have an epidural before the drip starts. If I recall correctly, the anaesthetist told me she wouldn’t feel comfortable any other way.
I had to have a needle at top of my hand ready, should I need it. It actually hurt me quite a lot and looking back I wish I’d insisted they remove it.
They wanted to monitor my babies heart rate (as I had said I had reduced movements previously) and they bought a machine in which meant I had to lie down. This was agonising for me (I didn’t have any pain relief). I asked for a portable one. They said they had none available. I asked they sign a document that my husband would prepare to that effect and put it on my notes and miraculously one appeared. They were actually a lovely team, but just over worked and tired and I think they just thought I could manage lying down.. but I couldn’t!
So, my point is should they want you strapped up to a machine ask for it to be portable- which at least gives you option to walk around.

From what I know, a successful induction is pain free and can be very very positive. Down side is increased risk of intervention/ emergency C-section. Not that it will come to that but I’d of mindful of that when packing

As for your little boy, just try not to worry. He isn’t going to be in real distress. He isn’t 5minths old where he has no concept that you will return. He’s got a great, secure bond with you and know that you are there, or if away will return. He’ll be with people he know and who love him:

Wishing you lots of luck

Dyra · 04/12/2020 01:17

Exciting times ahead.

I had an induction last year. I'm not sure how much of it would be modified for a multiple pregnancy, let alone Covid. I'll try to address all your questions though.

First, how they start you off varies from trust to trust. My own used gel pessaries as a starting point, but now they prefer to use catheter balloon instead.

Monitoring, with the gel pessaries anyway, is every few hours. So you should be free to move around at all other times. However, unless you're in a private room, with Covid, I imagine it'll be very limited. My own induction took place in a 4 bed ward bay, so bear that in mind. Once my waters were broken, and I was on the drip, I was on continuous monitoring until I gave birth.

Inductions don't necessarily take forever, even if the pessaries don't send you into labour. The main aim is to dilate your cervix enough to be able to break your waters. The main concern would be that you are a high risk pregnancy. So they're going to want to ensure they have adequate staffing and the equipment available. There's also SCBU availability to take into account. So unfortunately if things are a bit busy, they'll want to delay you until things quieten down. If your waters break on their own, they'll make space, so don't worry about that.

Pain wise, it was uncomfortable having the gels inserted, and other than the occasional cramp everything was fine. ARM was very, very, very uncomfortable. That was entirely due to needing a second midwife pressing hard on my bump to push the membranes down, so the first midwife could rupture them. Gas and air got me through it though. It wasn't until I was truly in labour that I had pain. I was on the drip though, so it was to be expected. Gas & air and diamorphine got me through it though.

I was already an inpatient, so I didn't need to be called in. I believe they usually try to schedule a morning time for you to come in. But if things are too busy, they might ask you to come in at a later time. Conversely, if there's not much going on, they might call you in early! So yes, it could happen at any time.

Entertainment will be key. I worked on the assumption that it would take a long time, and planned accordingly. Download a few films or TV seasons onto your iPad, take a book or two, puzzle books. Make sure you don't forget pens and a long charger! Unfortunately, as I think movement will be limited, comfort is also going to be vital. Hospital pillows are crap, and there's never enough of them to go around. Bring your own, bring a body pillow. I also had my own fluffy blanket. Ear plugs/headphones to ignore the world are also handy.

I don't have any other children (yet!), but I'm sure your little boy will be just fine. He won't remember this at all in later years, and soon he'll have two siblings to adore. Plus, if my experiences of being looked after by other people while my Mum was in hospital having my younger siblings are anything to go by, he'll be spoilt rotten. 😛

Good luck with everything!

Hatepickinganame · 04/12/2020 05:10

I was induced with my 3rd, and contrary to most stories it was really fast, had pessary inserted at about 11pm ish and midwife sent my birth partner home saying it would be hours, I was barely dilated and nothing would happen til morning etc. Encouraged me to sleep. I woke up maybe an hour later in full labour, midwife didn't believe me. Had to push to be examined. Was then told to call back birth partner and rushed to delivery where they broke my water and my baby arrived by 3am. I was 40+5 at the time but just wanted to offer a flip side that not all inductions take ages and some are super quick. The only thing was that the contractions built up so fast, it felt really intense. Being induced tomorrow, really hoping its like last time lol! Good luck

Stargazer87 · 04/12/2020 11:06

I'm also feeling like I might be heading down the induction route. I've been low risk my entire pregnancy and was hoping for as intervention free a labour as possible in a midwife led birth centre having a water birth. Does anyone know if an induction would make this completely out of the question?

Dyra · 04/12/2020 15:01

@Stargazer87 If you have any medical reason for needing an induction, it is highly unlikely a birthing centre would accept you. Post dates (as long as there is no meconium) might be ok. Definitely ask your midwife what their criteria are.

As for water birth, I was told that if I went into labour at any point before the hormone drip, a water birth would be ok. Once the drip goes up (and you need continuous monitoring), a water birth is out of the question.

emma911030 · 04/12/2020 15:41

Turns out the induction not going to be necessary! Contractions started at 5/5.30 this morning and have two beautiful baby boys xx

OP posts:
emma911030 · 04/12/2020 15:41

Thank you all for your replies I really appreciate them! xx

OP posts:
reservoircats · 04/12/2020 15:44

Wow @emma911030 congratulations!!!!!!

Stargazer87 · 04/12/2020 16:58

@Dyra There's no medical need but I was due on 1st and was told that I'd need to be induced on 12th/13th if I haven't gone into labour beforehand. I really want to stick with my preference of a birth centre water birth if possible...

grey12 · 04/12/2020 17:12

Had 3 inductions. No twins but all babies beyond 41 weeks

Before anything else, coconut water was great!!! And yes, take snacks, wtv floats your boat. Missed my chocolates Sad DH had to come back the next day with them (stayed in hospital for a few days waiting for a room in delivery ward)

Induction 1, not even BH, had to have 2 pessaries and drip. It was horrible!!! Had to have epidural and baby had to be delivered forcefully with forceps. As you can imagine it was written in my notes that I refuse pessary from then on.... Confused

Induction 2, had BH so something was happening (yay!). Doctor broke the waters. Had just drip, no pain relief. It was a really nice labour Smile I felt more in control, more responsive.

Induction 3, spent many days in hospital waiting for delivery ward room. Baby ended up choosing her birthday Grin silly midwife still broke the waters even though I was like 6cm and after that contractions became CONTRACTION!!!! No breaks! It was horrible! And it was over in 15 min, at least. But baby heart rate was low at some point Sad and crash team had to be called.

Sooooo good luck!!! Grin personal experience, if there is nothing actually wrong or not normal, avoid all and every procedure.

(As a side note, gas and air gives me most terrible headache/head spinning. Don't need that on top of contractions....)

grey12 · 04/12/2020 17:14

Uuu didn't read

Congratulations GrinThanksThanksThanks that's amazing! Hope you had a great experience and that your boys are healthy and happy

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