Anxiety over inducement! PLEASE HELP!!!

[confusedandcurious]

Hi I've been booked to be induced at 2pm today (41 weeks +5 with DD1)- which we didn't think would be necessary because I've been having contractions since 4am Monday (50+hours). They prescribed me di hydracodine as I'm feeling it all in my back but last time I was checked I was only 2cm dilated and contractions are slowing down. I'm so anxious about being induced as I keep reading it can be more painful than natural birth and have a fear of needing emergency cesarean or episiotomy etc. So shattered I can't think straight, so really feel I need her out soon so I have enough energy to deliver her. Please can I have some positive stories???

I had normal labour first time, but needed episiotomy and forceps. Induced second time round with drip and tbh when your in the midst of it all you will not care a jot about all that stuff. Episiotomies heal, forceps marks fade but you have a lovely healthy baby at the end of it.

It’s so scary first time around but try and focus on the end point. You just do what you need to do to get there safely. Remember people openly elect for sections, so whilst it’s not your first choice if it’s best for you and the baby it’s a no brainier.

How exciting, congrats!

I think the worst of the “horror stories” on induction comes from when women are 0 dilated or effaced and their body is forced to do something that it is completely not ready to do. Certainly that was my experience.

If you’re already 2cm dilated that’s great and the induction will just help you along a bit. The contractions can be harder and faster than natural labour though, so do consider an epidural. That would help you get some sleep too.

Don’t fear an EMCS, I had one and it was absolutely fine.

Lots of luck, make sure to come back and update us!

Thanks for the reply and sharing your experience @Yellow85 You're definitely right all I want is a healthy baby - I think the long wait and lack of sleep is affecting my perspective 🤦🏻‍♀️

That's true @ShirleyPhallus hopefully when they examine me again I'll be even further along 🙏🏼 Hopefully will be able to update you sooner rather than later 😁

Personal experience: if you are having contractions ask to be left alone. If you aren't I'm afraid they'll insist

If they do insist, personal advice, try to avoid pessary/tape/wtv (1st child). Breaking waters was much better in my experience (2nd child). They also have a balloon. It depends on your dilation/wtv but you should be informed of all your options. Drip was ok, they use it as a complementary thing.

If you are having regular contractions tell them to just monitor. I was having regular contractions for a few hours already and, because it was already kind of booked for it, they still broke my waters (3rd child) and it was terrible!!!! It went into one long contraction, baby heart rate went down, crash team came in, all the shebang!!! Thank God everything was ok in the end

Sweeps don't work but I'm sure you know that by now.....

Good luck!!!!

@confusedandcurious

Thanks for the reply and sharing your experience *@Yellow85* You're definitely right all I want is a healthy baby - I think the long wait and lack of sleep is affecting my perspective 🤦🏻‍♀️

The "healthy baby" argument is a bit flawed. The more UNNECESSARY interventions the more risk there is for both mum and baby

Overdue pregnancies are not odd or uncommon, they are just stupidly unnaccepted by modern medicine. Even with an extensive family and personal experience of overdue pregnancies I was still treated as a flaw to be fixed, as a mental patient almost!

I had a really positive induction with the drip, I slept through a lot of the start of it, I didn't have an epidural in the end although I hadn't ruled it out (by time I started to think I might need more pain relief it was time to push and then you don't really focus on the pain anymore), but a couple of the girls I know did have epidural and also had positive experiences of their inductions so that is something to consider. Hope all goes well, get as much rest as you can beforehand.

2 positive inductions here, even though both needed the drip, which had to be ramped up to the max. Managed with just gas and air but would have happily taken an epidural had I felt the need. Both were on a par with the spontaneous labour that I had with DC2.

If you're already dilated then is a balloon induction an option for you? Then they may be able to break your waters and get you going naturally. I had this with DC3. Unfortunately I didn't progress after having waters broken but with contractions already, you'll probably be more favourable.

I didnt want to be induced either op, but as I was an older mum and baby was 11 days late they insisted. It was my 4th baby I was induced with the pessaries, they didnt work until the 3rd one was inserted. Then it was all systems go ! The contractions started I only had gas & air and was in labour 4 hours. Its really not that bad, good luck wont be long before you are cuddling your baby x

Please remember that you don’t need to accept induction. You can ask to be monitored instead. If I could go back in time I wouldn’t.

Just to explain better, with 3rd child I was having very regular contractions for about 8hr already. Went from every 10min, every 7, every 5, getting closer, progressing well maybe every 3 min and then they broke the waters no need.....

Baby 2 I was having only BH and after they broke the waters, plus drip, baby was out in 3hr. Lovely birth actually.

Pain relief is super important. Again, when needed. I had epidural for my first because it went on for 2 days! Pessary had to be applied twice..... terrible....

Had a gynaecologist/obstetrician tell me that she refused pessary/tape for her labour and asked for Csection instead!!

I had a lovely induction.

Had pains in my back and it turns out that DS was back to back.

Go on all fours or slightly hang off the bed with your arms leant on the bed. It's mean to help you dilate quicker. It worked for me.

I didn't need the drip and no interventions.

You've got this. Good luck!

Meant*

Thanks very much for your responses. At the moment I'm hoping I'll be further on than they say, but given the option at the moment I'm leaning towards the drip. But have a fear of epidurals (google doesn't help) so don't want one. Not long now!

An epidural is honestly fine, they spray freeze spray on your back and you really don’t notice the needle. Don’t read up on it or it would freak you out but it’s really fine. You might appreciate it with the drip but make up your own mind later

Epidural is great when needed. When labour is not very long honestly the pain is bearable. Keep the conversation going with your MW. If they say stuff like "no progressing very well", ask them to define time frame

Please don't worry, you will always hear the horror stories on here and it's hard to find the good ones.

I have had two inductions and both went perfectly. The first one was slow to get started but I didn't need a drip and both babies arrived less than 24 hours after the first pessary.

Best of luck today, hopefully you will have your babies safe in your arms this time tomorrow!

I should also mention, diamorphine was fab for letting me get a bit of rest overnight

Hi OP how's it going?

@grey12 Just had a sweep and gel after a lot of monitoring. Already 3cm before they did it so hopefully will work with just the one lot 👍🏻 thanks for asking x

If you get the drip I’d highly recommend an epidural. The drip is very ‘intense’ and everyone I know who got it begged for an epidural. Each to their own though! Good luck

@confusedandcurious how are you getting on?

@Shirleyphallus long story short - needed an emergency c section as the contractions weren't long and strong enough. Out baby Lola was born today at 9lb 8. 79 hours from first contraction to delivery 😱 wort it now though ❤️

[quote confusedandcurious]@Shirleyphallus long story short - needed an emergency c section as the contractions weren't long and strong enough. Out baby Lola was born today at 9lb 8. 79 hours from first contraction to delivery 😱 wort it now though ❤️[/quote]
This was basically my story too. The c-section is actually ok though isn’t it! Recovery is much easier than you think.

Glad baby Lola is here safe and sound, huge congratulations. Hope you recover well

Congratulations!!

Wishing you and your baby all the best!!!