Induction for labor tips?

[TheHallsHall]

Hello MNers
My wife and I have been told that if she doesn't have baby boy by his due date 06/04 she will be medically induced, we were wondering if any of you parents new or experienced had any tips or advice for a natural induction? We've tried the usual methods already and he could be a stubborn lad
Thanks in advanced 🙂

There isn't anything that is proven to work unfortunately. Justthe usual things

She's still only 38 weeks and if it's her first, could easily go over.
If she doesn't want to be induced, you can refuse 😊

Definitely ask more around reasons for induction, risks and other options.

I hate how some things are presented as non optional when it's always the patient's choice to consent or not.

Eat 6 dates a day.... Look it up, science suggests it works

Induction is a choice, they won’t tell you that though. You can also choose to wait or choose a c section.
Sex got things going with my second.

So we've been up and down the ward all week and they've diagnosed her with pregnancy hypertension. Kinda like preeclampsia but not as severe... Does sticky toffee pudding count? 😉

Watching loads of comedy shows that made me laugh really hard worked for me first time round - it’s not a scientifically proven method but can’t hurt

I also ate about 6 dates every day from 36 weeks but I don’t think the research on this is that solid but I love dates so I had nothing to lose! Good luck!

My midwife told me yesterday to eat 6 dates a day, drink red raspberry leaf tea once a day, eat pineapple and the most likely one to work, have as much sex as possible that and just staying relaxed, baths, bouncing on the ball, short walks a few times a day, uphill if you can.
She can still refuse an induction and they will just monitor her, I dont know much about hypertension but inductions are always a choice from what I've heard. She might just need to go in frequently to have blood pressure checks etc, a lot of midwives and doctors won't even offer it as an option and will just say 'we're doing this now,' but it's her body and her choice with how to proceed with the information and knowledge provided by them on her condition. Good luck!

She does have a choice about induction. She needs to ask about the risks if she doesn’t, the absolute risk not the relative risk. They’re not going to hold her down and make her have the induction.

It’s a difficult choice. As a woman who is nearly 38 weeks pregnant too I understand the frustration! Long walks, bounce on ball, sex.

We discussed options and we don't want to risk the placenta being damaged causing risk to baby after the due date so, if he isn't here by the 06/04 she will be induced and even though it's not 100% guaranteed it at least gives us something to work towards.
Blood pressure tablets are keeping her stable for the time and they're monitoring her very closely.

What an exciting time for you!

You definitely have options when it comes to an induction. I'm sure your midwife will have gone through them with you.

With my first, I was overdue (by two weeks) and in the end was given an induction. I received the pessary which meant I nipped into the hospital to have it put in, and then went home (via a nice pub lunch) and waited for labour to commence "naturally". If your wife is keen to have an "as natural as possible" birth then that could be an option for her. They don't always work as effectively as something like the drip, and sometimes require a second attempt or eventually another form of induction, but for me I went into labour later that day.

Best of luck when the time comes! From someone who got to 42+2 I can tell you that no amount of pineapple or curry worked to get my little one out!

In your position I’d ask for a CS. I’ve had both an emcs and a vbac, which was great and recovery was a doddle. I should have refused the long augmented labour the first time and just had the CS even though recovery is tougher.

100% find a reflexologist specialising in fertility/labour- it really works

Sorry just realised your due date is 6/4- 6 days before reflexologists can work again.

She'll be baking a lovely sticky toffee pudding then for all the dates it contains 🙂
We won't be having a CS no matter what, she hates the idea of it and it was awful when she had her appendix out.
The midwife has said on the 06/04 she will go in to have a balloon induction and go from there.. 🤞 the next time we go to the ward we will have our first baby

@TheHallsHall

She'll be baking a lovely sticky toffee pudding then for all the dates it contains 🙂 We won't be having a CS no matter what, she hates the idea of it and it was awful when she had her appendix out. The midwife has said on the 06/04 she will go in to have a balloon induction and go from there.. 🤞 the next time we go to the ward we will have our first baby

C sections aren't always preventable unfortunately. And having an induction increases your chances of needing an emergency csection.

Regardless of what the midwife says, she still has choices

Well 🤞 we can have as a natural birth as possible.. makes you wonder why even draw up a birth plan?
How has everyone coped with being pregnant through the pandemic, its been bitter sweet for us. The whole not seeing anyone or having normal social interaction has been difficult but at the same time we feel we haven't been pestered as other people have felt.

I havent made a birthday plan but a 'preference if possible' list. Might be helpful for you both to have that so you still have some level of choice during the birth. So although I know labour is not straightforward and can change I have written down that I want to be mobile and upright for as long as possible, to ask for pain relief rather than being offered it, my own music playing, aromatherapy, hypnobirthing birthing, no epidural unless forceps or c section are needed. All of these things I could do with a spontaneous labour or with an induced labour so I'm not set on one specific birth plan of a spontaneous birth as that's not always possible but still can make it as calming and natural as possible! Then if I need a c section that can't be avoided I go into it as calm as possible.

That should say birth plan, not birthday, although I suppose thats still correct haha!

It’s possible to have a plan even if you don’t stick strictly to it.

For example:
I’ve requested unless a medical necessity only to have female HCPs. I’ve given my consent to monitor baby without asking every time. I’ve explicitly stated I do not consent to Keillands forceps etc.

Just a few of my personal preferences.

It’s sensible to have these things written down ahead of time but also to understand it doesn’t always go to plan!

@Fleetw00d

I havent made a birthday plan but a 'preference if possible' list. Might be helpful for you both to have that so you still have some level of choice during the birth. So although I know labour is not straightforward and can change I have written down that I want to be mobile and upright for as long as possible, to ask for pain relief rather than being offered it, my own music playing, aromatherapy, hypnobirthing birthing, no epidural unless forceps or c section are needed. All of these things I could do with a spontaneous labour or with an induced labour so I'm not set on one specific birth plan of a spontaneous birth as that's not always possible but still can make it as calming and natural as possible! Then if I need a c section that can't be avoided I go into it as calm as possible.

Yeah that's what we've gone for too. We worked on the template on the NHS website. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly!

@TheHallsHall thank you, and same to you as well