Has anyone been induced before?

[PregnantGrrrl]

I was wondering if anyone would mind sharing their experiences of being induced.

I've been given a leaflet with the added risks etc. It says more chance of forceps / ventouse, pains that aren't actually contractions, longer labour etc.

Did it affect ability to move around in labour? Did you have any complications because of it?

I'm hoping to avoid it, but would like to hear some real stories about it so i can make the most informed decision possible.

PG, I was induced. There are some posters on here who will give you a very positive take on it, so don't let my story put you off completely, but I don't have a single good thing to say about it myself tbh.

The induction ward was horrible, I was essentially strapped to a bed for monitoring and so couldn't get up even to go to the toilet, and the midwife wouldn't bring me a bed pan, she just said that soon they'd finish monitoring and I could go to the loo.

I started with something that felt like mild period pains and built up into a crescendo. They said they couldn't move me to the actual labour ward until I was in full labour, but bloody hell it certainly felt like full labour! Eventually they moved me onto the labour ward.

I was 25 hours from first pessary to delivery.

I had a drip of that fake oxytocin stuff, had my waters broken, was constantly monitored (first through that strap around the bump, then through something stuck up my fanjo to ds' head, which contrary to what they said did leave a huge scratch) and for actual delivery was told to lie on my back so she could see what was going on, even though I was finding things much easier on all fours.

Had an episiotomy, had diamorphine (which I really regret, it did nothing for the pain, just made me drowsy and out of it) and ds was taken into special care for monitoring as he'd been in distress.

Really messed up bfing for the first few days too. Which messed it up for the first few weeks.

I think with hindsight, if I had had to be induced, i.e. if I had chosen it without pressure and of my own accord, I would have felt less disempowered (if that doesn't sound too wanky) and been able to cope better, iyswim.

I was induced both times, I wasn't restricted in anyway and as far as I know I had 'normal' births.. I had diamorphine with first birth which did a lot for the pain but because I couldn't feel much I pushed more and despite not tearing I could hardly walk for a few days due to being so stiff and bruising. Second birth much more painful but perfect mobility afterwards.

I was induced with ds1 (at 38 weeks) and it was fine. The gel worked first time. Very short labour - too short for anything other than gas and air. Normal birth, as far as I can make out, with some tearing. No forceps, ventouse etc were used.

I was allowed, even encouraged, to walk around during the early 'acute period pain' stage of things. That seemed to help with the pain.

I've been induced 4 times, all different experiences!!! I had epidurals with the first 3 but had unassisted deliveries with all of them, a nick and grazes with the first, one stitch with the 2nd (was the original nick that reopened) and nothing with the others.

Once they put the gel in and you've waited and hour you are free to get up and move around etc I do recommend a tes machine as I found the pain quite bad as it shot down my legs and this went on for a long time.

I was induced and if I'm honest I'm sure it made a bad situation worse but I had an undiagnosed medical condition affecting my joints (particularly pelvis) which meant I felt ALL contractions right from the first one like agonising bolts through my joints. I also was 15 days overdue with a 12lb 12oz baby. There was no way he was coming out naturally induction or natural labour due to the state of my pelvis and his size. The first gel caused me to start contracting every 3 minutes but my cervix was not dilating. This continued for 18 hours with only pethidine for pain relief. I was on the regular ante-natal ward with sick pregnant ladies trying to sleep whilst I was writhing in agony and my DH sent home. It was truly a horrible experience and I've never felt so scared and lonely. After 18 hours a new midwife took pity and sent me down to delivery despite me still only being 2cm but there I could have an epidural. I then took another 20 hours to get to 8cm on the drip despite still contracting every 3 minutes and feeling a lot of it despite the epidural - the midwives were saying most women would be at the pushing stage with contractions the strength of mine! After 38 hours from the first contraction my cervix started swelling and went back to 4cm. That's when the decision was taken for an emergency section and to be honest all I felt was relief, thank god it would be over! DS was born minutes later 40 hours from the first contraction.

I know my experience was unique and not simply because I was induced but I still feel horrified when I think about it. The only consolation is due to my medical condition IF I ever have another pregnancy it will be an automatic caesar.

good luck but my advise would be don't rush in to induction just because you want baby out quickly, if possible let nature take it's course.

hi i was indueced with my first (they thought my waters had broke then had to break them about 24 hours into it)...
my experience was not good. i was in labour 33 hours, 45 mins pushing then about 30 mins 3rd stage. i would not dialate and had 2 jels and 2 bags of the drip stuff. had full contrations about 5 hours into and when drip put in was unable to get up even to pee! then almost had a csection becuase was contracting too long and babys heart beat went down. ended up having ot have the babys head scrapped while inside to make sure o2 levels were ok. then vantuce and 2 degree tear with 3 stiches, finishing with pph (post pardium hemerage) and almost bleed out, having transfers for 2 hours after deleivery.
im prego again and have had worries of this happening again but midwife said that i had everything (minus csection) that could go wrong with an iduction. and she has ok me to have a home birth (feeling that none of the things that had happened before will happen again).
if your worried about having to be induced there are other things you can try first. my midwife has recomended rasberry tea or pills from 36/37 weeks to help relax the cervex and bring labour on. it maybe worth having a look whats out there?

loopsymumsy- genius. hadn't thought of that

Weegle, what you have described is a classic 'obstructed labour'

Were there no indications or suggestions prior to induction that you were carrying such a large baby?

experiences can very widely. i was induced with both of mine, first ended in huge cycle of intervention stuff, was awful, second arm then baby 2 hours later easy peasy they would need a very good reason to induce me these days now as am more assertive, make sure it is what you want after weighing up all info.

I was induced at I went 10 days over my due date with my first. The nurse inserted a pessary at 9am and when she checked at 10am she reported that I was 1cm dilated which was a goot result in such a short time. However, by 2pm I was still only 1cm dilated so they took me to theatre and put a drip in to induce me. This having been my first birth I had no experience of contractions, but they came from nothing to 1 every 2 minutes. I was quite scared as I hadn't had the time to get used to them etc. Having said that I remembered thinking at the time that the pain was not so bad, imagine worst ever period pain - not pleasent but not as bad as I had imagined. Niave that I was as the nurse put me straight onto 2nd stage breathing I thought wow! I must have only half an hour of this - be strong girl I can do this. Of course when I said this to my gynea she told me that I would continue having contractions for perhaps another 6-8 hours, every 2 mins! The second she said that all my resolve crumbled and I asked for an epidural which was dully administered. Then I was great but by 7pm the gynae had had enought (apparently when you induce it's 50/50 that you will have a c-section) and I had a ceaserean.

Nanski

loopsy- 10 days over today.

I have twice.

Once with ds as I was 2 weeks overdue.
Contractions came very soon after having pessary, within half hour, then after that I had no let up . No gaps between contractions .
There was no room for me on labour ward so I had to stay on antenatel ward. Only had portable gas and air which ran out( they didn't tell me this till later) Yuk. Oh and pethadine which made me sick. My waters broke in labour and I wasn't taken to delivery suite till 10cm.
By then I was screaming and hysterical. I demanded an epidural and wouldn't let them examine me. They said they thought I was 10cm but gave me the epidural as I was insisting. After I'd had it and calmed down they checked me and I was fully dilated.

They waited an hour for ds's head to come down then I started to push. But I had had so many top ups I couldn't feel anything. I think they were too scared to let me feel pain again as I'd been so distressed!!!

Anyway I had to be prepped for a c section as they said if I couldn't push him out they'd do a section.

I was wheeled into the operating theatre and in the end ds came out with the help of an episiotamy, forceps and a ventouse.

He was beautiful though and wide awake.

With dd my waters broke at home in the night.
I had 2 due dates. According to one due date I was 3 days late and the other said I was 2 weeks late.

I went to the birthing centre and when they checked my pad they said there was mecconium in the waters. I would have to be induced as the baby needed to come out. She may be in distress.

I burst into tears. The midwife said I could have my epidural AFTER I was induced.

So I was given my epidural then induced and sat back for 4 hours and read Heat mag.
After 4 hours I was checked and told I was fully dilated so they only gave me a half top up.
Then I pushed dd out. I could feel everything but had NO PAIN.
Only problem was dd's heart rate dropped and her body took a long time to come out after the head did.

Conclusion is Induced=Epidural

I was induced twice. First I was 16 days late by the time DD came out - had the full shebang induction and was still sitting at 3cm 3 days later. Pethadine is what made her come out eventually - I was in the LONG queue for a c-section, and when miudwife told me would be 7 hours before section, I asked for pethidine. And out she popped! No other intervention required, but I did hemorage (due to low platelets - not induction). That combined with long labour made me really tired first few weeks.

2nd time, had all induction options, but my body did assist more that time. First gel to birth was 24 hours - and not a tear or problem. HAd diamorphine that time near end, and the baby came quickly after that. No ventouse etc intervention again. Was up having a shower afterwards and home the next morning.

Am pregnant again, adn fully expect to be induced again. It doesn't concern me though. Main thing is to try to relax and if you need pain relief - for goodness sake - take it! There are no medals - but if you get too distressed, you could end up with problems.

Good luck!

I'm about 12 days overdue and have been booked in for an induction on Sunday night. They are giving me a pessary and then hope to break my waters. The bit that really upsets me is that my husband can't stay with me until I'm in 'established labour'. It's my first child and I don't know what to expect - by the sounds of things I could be in hospital without him all night having contractions before I'm in established labour...

By the way - what does ARM and SROM mean?

PregnantGrrrl I feel your pain..Hopefully they'll come out before our induction dates. I'm going to have some reflexology this afternoon - might help...if not..it will feel nice anyway!

ARM = artificial rupture of membranes
SROM = spontaneous rupture of membranes

Alicat.
I'm 41+4 so I'm in the same situation as you.
I've got to ring the hospital 8am on Monday about my induction, so I don't even know what time I'm booked in to be induced yet, or even if they're going to do it on Monday. I'll not find out til Monday morning.
Midwife's coming round 2pm today to do a sweep, which I'm hoping with get things started.
I'll ask her about the procedure at hospital. DP has booked his 2 weeks paternity leave to start on Monday, but he might as well postpone it for a day if he won't be allowed to stay with me until I'm in established labour.
I've peeled & chopped a fresh pineapple, so I'm going to eat that now to see if it helps . Had a curry last night, but it hasn't had any effect so far.
Good luck - hope your babs comes of its own accord before Sunday.

AliCat07 they tried to send my DP home when I was induced but I refused and said I wouldn't go through with it unless he was allowed to stay. They found us a room and he stayed, although he had to sleep on the floor covered with a towel.

My induction wasn't great and I won't do it again. I was in labour for 3 days from start to finish. I don't remember a whole lot about it, certainly not to the level that DP remembers it all, but I remember the pains coming on really quickly and strongly. I asked for an epidural and it was refused until I was in established labour (i.e. 3cm), eventually they broke my waters and gave me the injection.

We then had two days of waiting for me to dliate. I was strapped to the bed, and completely paralysed (legs swelled up like uncooked sausages). They tried to get things moving at one point by increasing the oxycontin drip, but this aftected DS's heart rate, so they stopped it. They kept coming in and saying 'I'll give you another four hours etc.' Eventually midwife said I could start pushing, so I did, for about 1.5 hours. Then doctor came in and shouted at midwife for letting me push as I wasn't fully dilated.

Eventually they took us to theatre and gave me one last examination to see if I'd dliated fully. I hadn't so I had EMCS. DS had passed meconium so they took him straight away but thankfully, he was alright.

I don't think my experience is the norm, certainly the midwives on the post-natal wards were all lovely to me as they said I'd had a real ordeal. I think some people have a really successful induction, unfortunately my DS didn't want to come out!

i have been induced 3 times (with 3 different babies!) the first time was painful but very quick at 10 days overdue.
2nd time was 2 weeks early with a very big baby ...and at the time thought it was unbelivably painful...until the 3rd time which was the most horrendous experience of my whole entire life! (sorry-but it was)
was induced at 6am with the breaking of waters (already 2 cms dilated-due to it being baby number 4) and put on the drip. contractions started straight away-very painful from the off. asked for an epidural an hour later...but when examined i was only 3cms dilated. Eventaully had pethidine and epidural later on and delivered him at 10.26pm that night at only 8cms dilated as he was in major distress.
I went on to have c-sec with twins, and then another c-section with 2nd set of twins as the consultant said i could not be induced again because of the 4th birth.

Basically if your body is ready to give baby up then it should be straight forward, but there is a risk of a bad induction if it is happeneing before your body is ready.