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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Induction at 37-38 weeks - stories please

16 replies

Tigerlily08 · 27/03/2021 10:01

I'm being induced between 37-38 weeks due to being Type 1 Diabetic and am looking for stories about early inductions. They've told me to 'keep an open mind' as it's likely that I'll need a C Section, so wondering if it would be better to go for ELCS rather than an EMCS. I'm 34 weeks now so starting to get nervous.

Please I'm not asking for opinions on early induction or to be told to refuse it, I'm going with the advice of my medical team.

Thanks x

OP posts:

Dyra · 27/03/2021 12:43

I had a growth (though is also standard) scan at 36 weeks that showed baby was a "good size for gestation" (6lb 15oz). I wonder if they're telling you to keep an open mind as well as baby might be big due to your GD.

Anyway, I digress. I had an induction at 37 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. I started off with a Bishop score of 0. Despite that, my induction went well (if slowly) and I had a vaginal birth with no interventions. Proof that early induction isn't a guarantee that forceps/C-section will happen, despite what this site will have you believe at times.

I would advise keeping a very open mind in regards to pain relief, as it's highly likely you'll need the drip to get you into labour. Also bring lots of things to do and eat. The pessary/balloon stage can take a while.

Good luck with everything!

Original poster

Tigerlily08 · 27/03/2021 13:08

Thanks Dyra, I'm pleased to hear yours was successful. So far baby has been measuring at the upper end of normal range at all growth scans. It sounds like a really long process, they said they start with non-hormone method for 24 hours, then the pessary for 24 hours then the drip if that fails.

I would really prefer a vaginal delivery but they're making it sound like an EMCS is inevitable 🙄 x

OP posts:

HBGKC · 27/03/2021 13:12

Is it your first baby? If not, what have any previous labours/births been like?

MinnieMous3 · 27/03/2021 13:25

Hiya! I was induced early for t1d as well the induction was long - 2 lots of 24 hour pessaries, a 24 hour cook balloon, then another day’s waiting for a room on labour ward. Once they broke my waters and put me on the drip things ramped up, and my daughter was born 12 hours later. She was a forceps delivery as I didn’t get the urge to push for some reason, so the pushing I did do was coached & pretty ineffective really. Anyway the forceps were fine, had a spinal so zero pain, and no continence issues etc afterwards.

In hindsight, i would ask for an outpatient induction if they use the pessaries - the ward I was on was so noisy, I didn’t get any sleep in the 4 nights leading up to the labour, so I was exhausted before I even got going. If they say no, see if you can get a private or side room.

My second piece of advice would be to ask for an epidural as soon as they start you on the drip. Drip contractions are utterly relentless and painful, and you will need to save your energy for the pushing stage. If you’re pain free you can have a nap while you’re dilating and the overall experience will be so much nicer.

That said, A relative who is a midwife says t1d usually ends up as a c-section. So there’s no harm in packing your bag with c-section appropriate items.

Let us know how you get on and congratulations

LaBellina · 27/03/2021 13:28

I was induced at 38 weeks. Cervix was still pretty much on ‘complete lockdown’ so they did a sweep which actually was really painful to me. After that I was given a drip (with oxytocin I think) to start labour. I delivered my son within 7 hours of starting the induction. I can’t say anything about the pain because I was given a epidural as soon as I started to get painful contractions.

Original poster

Tigerlily08 · 27/03/2021 13:31

@HBGKC this is my first baby

@MinnieMous3 that's really helpful, thank you. Im happy to just go with the flow so will definitely be asking for epidural if I end up on the drip. I will ask about the outpatient induction at my next appointment x

OP posts:

MuchTooTired · 27/03/2021 13:32

I had an elcs at 36+5 due to severe pe with my DTs. They were absolutely splendid, weighed 6lb 6oz and 7lb 3oz, no scbu stay needed etc. We stayed in for 2 days afterwards to monitor their blood sugars.

They tried to get me to 37 weeks so they’d be full term but my body didn’t play ball 😂

MinnieMous3 · 27/03/2021 13:36

They usually like to monitor you every 4 hours during an induction, if you live near to the hospital you can ask to pop home in between and compromise by going back for the monitoring. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!

Original poster

Tigerlily08 · 27/03/2021 13:47

Thank you all, feeling a bit better - was scared of being in pain for days being induced, knackered then being whisked off for an EMCS regardless x

OP posts:

GoneCrazy · 27/03/2021 13:53

Hello please ask for steroid injection for lung maturity. I had a failed induction at 37 weeks (GD and Obstetric Choleostasis) my baby was born 5lb 12oz and required ventilation due to immaturity of lungs - I ended up with an EMCS. The hospital should have given me steroid injection for baby lungs.

MinnieMous3 · 27/03/2021 13:55

@Tigerlily08

Thank you all, feeling a bit better - was scared of being in pain for days being induced, knackered then being whisked off for an EMCS regardless x

I thought that was inevitable as well, so much so that I fully expected the induction not to work - I think my resignation to it relaxed me and actually helped if that makes sense!

SaraJS216 · 27/03/2021 14:13

@Tigerlily08 hi OP, I was induced at 38 weeks, first baby, had a couple of days of pessaries, then I had my waters broken and was put on an oxytocin drip. I had an epidural about 2-3 hours after being put on the oxytocin as I started to find the pain unmanageable. I was dilated enough to start pushing after 12 hours after the drip was started, and baby was born weighing 8lbs after around 45 mins of pushing which went smoothly (other than me being violently sick shorty after delivery!).
Best of luck with your labour whatever route you choose x

Vodkabulary · 27/03/2021 14:18

I’ve had 2 inductions at 38 weeks (both because my placenta failed and baby needed to come out) they went really well. They were my 2nd / 3rd babies but my 1st was also an induction!

Needed pessary, waters broken and drip so had epidurals

Original poster

Tigerlily08 · 27/03/2021 15:24

Thanks again all, will definitely be packing some stuff to entertain myself. Sounds like I'll be in for a while 😂 xx

OP posts:

minnimiss · 27/03/2021 16:24

I had both of mine induced at 37 weeks and neither ended in Csections. The first was a very very long first stage to get to the point of being able to break waters... like 2 days! But the last stage the pushing bit was very fast. 6 pushes and he flew out. The second birth I went in for induction and was 3cm dilated so there was no waiting just popped waters straight away.

Janxyb · 27/03/2021 16:31

I was induced at 38 weeks i had 3 pesseries and finally got to 1cm so they broke my waters. It ended in emergency forceps (was going to be csec but they managed to turn baby). I wasn't allowed home after first pessery as they said I lived too far away to keep coming and going for monitoring. Good luck 💐 xx

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