Induction on Saturday - HELP!!

[MikeWhiskeyIndia]

Hello ladies,

So as the thread title says - I’m having an induction on Saturday.

I’m all over the place as went for growth scan today and the wee one hasn’t grown the way they want. They offered induction as they are concerned about my placenta and feel it’s best to just get her out. Obviously I would have rather not but I won’t put her at risk after the professionals have said it’s the best way to go.

Problem is I’m now absolutely crapping myself as I’ve heard so many horror stories. My other half is only allowed in till I’ve been examined and then they have to go until I’m in established labour. The thought of being on my own for pessarys, waters being broken, drips, is giving me the actual fear.

I’ve went through my bag about 20 times and also worried I forget something.

Any help or reassurance from any of you lovely people would be great as I’m on the verge of tears just with the not knowing.

Thanks 😊

Hello! I was induced with my second (I was overdue) and it was totally fine, better than my first labour. It was very quick, and I didn’t need the drip because I progressed so quickly.

My husband was with me for the pessary and then had to leave. I will admit that this part wasn’t great because I was in labour, but had to convince the midwives as it was so fast. But otherwise I was planning on sleeping/watching a programme.

I downloaded the Freya app and so could time my contractions by myself and a wee portable charger for my phone.

Like I said, I look back on it fondly! Would even consider it again, and I had scared myself with the fouling of induction!

Good luck, you’ll be great and you’ll meet your baby this weekend!

I had a wonderful induction experience and have opted for it again this time with no hesitation. As PP said, not all inductions are bad!

Take an iPad/laptop/phone with trash TV downloaded and some ear plugs. Extra long charging cable. Snacks. Squash (I hate water!). A book if you like to read, puzzle book. Whatever you fancy!

I was allowed to leave the ward and walk whilst waiting for pessary to work, so could meet partner outside if you wanted.

They wouldn’t attempt to break waters or administer drip on the induction ward (in my hospital), it’s done on L&D which is where partners are allowed as generally if your there your in established labour. So partner would be present.

Good luck! And try and think of it as you’ll be meeting your little one VERY soon 🥰

My induction failed after 2 days but I also quite enjoyed those 2 days! I was in and out of the bath to ease the pains, got nice meals brought to me, read a book. This was pre covid but even then DH wasn't there most of the time, he doesn't like hospitals much and I don't like other people being there for my medical stuff much either. Take some nice pampering bath and moisturiser stuff and try to enjoy it

Thank you ladies. I’m going to have to completely re-do my bag today as I don’t think I have enough stuff in case I’m there for days. The doctor did say that my partner can visit for half an hour a day so suppose if I’ve forgot anything, it can be brought in then.
Or hopefully I’m one of these women who goes really quickly(fingers crossed)

Hello, I don’t have any experience yet, however I’m due to be induced Monday and have all the same fears as you. I’m also really unclear as to when my husband can/can’t be with me. Looks like our hospital changed their rules on 12th April and are now saying a birth partner can stay with you at all times but the staff still weren’t sure about this. I suppose it’s a bit of wait and see but it doesn’t help in the meantime.

Wishing you all the best and I hope it goes smoothly for you

Don't panic. You always head the horror stories and rarely the good. I had the drip with dd3 and ended up going 16 days overdue because I was terrified! Turns out it was better then natural labour and wish I'd done it much sooner!

Take magazines, a book, nice snacks, comfy pjs and try to relax. You can refuse any kind of induction your not comfortable with.

Good luck, your not far off meeting your baby xx

I was induced for exactly that reason. I think there is a lot of scare mongering by midwives and tbh a lot of mums groups on social media around induction. I was also terrified, but didn’t need to be. I think it’s worthwhile finding out their induction protocol is, ie. 24 pessary v gel? Anecdotally it seems like the 24 hr pessary seems to work a bit better. It did for me, my hospital allowed 2 pessaries, I just needed one. From the time it was put in to birth was 12 hours. I’d say I was feeling the effects for about 6 of those hours. So definitely a lot shorter than most spontaneous labours. Staying relaxed and keeping moving are key. I ended up having pethidine because when the contractions came they were one min long and one min apart but I wasn’t really progressing, it helped me take my mind off the pain and then an hr late bam I was at 10 cm.

If it helps, I walked about of the delivery room thinking, yeah, I could do that again no problem! Xx

I was induced with my first (pessary, waters broken then drip at the end) and although it took a wee while and I was alone for the start bit of labour it was fine - I don’t think my partner could have done much to help in those early stages any way!

I was not induced but just wanted to add to definitely pack for far more than you think you'll need. I very much knew the unpredictable nature of birth, yet silly me only packed for the strictest minimum and ended up staying in hospital for 5 days for some reason, I was convinced that I'd be home soon after birth! Best wishes

Just an update - baby girl born 22.23 on 25 April 2021. So right now about 4 hours old.

😀

Congratulations! That’s wonderful!

That’s wonderful. How was your experience

I wouldn’t write off the induction process completely. The pessary gave me terrible pains that I was only allowed paracetamol for. I was like for about 12 hours but after I was transferred to the labour ward it was really great - very very easy birth. Epidural, lay and slept while the hormone drip did it’s work. After a few hours baby had moved right down and was nearly out and was here was literally 3 pushes.

No where near as bad as I thought however the induction part was crap as I couldn’t have partner with me and it was quite lonely. But overall I would say a position experience.

Congratulations 🎉 So pleased you had a good experience. Enjoy your baby snuggles x

Hi, I'm so glad your induction went well & congratulations 🎉

I'm to be induced on Saturday. I'll take all of these comments on board!

To the OP, do you have any tips from your experience? I'm really nervous

@MikeWhiskeyIndia

I wouldn’t write off the induction process completely. The pessary gave me terrible pains that I was only allowed paracetamol for. I was like for about 12 hours but after I was transferred to the labour ward it was really great - very very easy birth. Epidural, lay and slept while the hormone drip did it’s work. After a few hours baby had moved right down and was nearly out and was here was literally 3 pushes.

No where near as bad as I thought however the induction part was crap as I couldn’t have partner with me and it was quite lonely. But overall I would say a position experience.

I'm getting induced Friday and my worry is the lonely part! Was your partner not allowed with you at all?

@amiikaii

I went to hospital 8.30am Saturday and my partner was allowed to settle me in until 10am and I didn’t see them again until I was moved to the labour ward at 2.30pm on the Sunday. Had I not been moved to the labour ward I was allowed a 30 minute visit that day.
That part I found quite lonely but I just sucked it up as every women currently is having to do it via my trust - yours may be different so check out with your midwife before the big day.
Honestly you will be fine and will find strength you didn’t know you had.

Good luck.

@amylee1817

My advice would be to go in with an open mind - don’t expect anything and just go with the flow.
Take magazines, iPad or tablet and just relax as best as you can. What got me through was in knowing I wasn’t leaving until my baby was in my arms, when she was laying on my chest I knew it was all worth it.

I was so nervous as well I was having panic attacks and honestly everything was fine. I swore I wasn’t having an epidural and for me that was the best part, the pain just melted away and allowed me to get some rest, by the time she was due to come, it was night time, the room was dark and cosy, we had the TV on just watching random stuff and it was just me, the midwife and my partner. Totally relaxed and just how I imagined my birth going and I hadn’t even planned it that way.

Good luck 😊

Aww that does sound lovely. I am 2cm and the midwife said I probably won't need pessary as they should be able to break my waters straight away. So this means my partner will be able to stay for the whole duration (fingers crossed)

Thank you x