Advice needed re: induction TONIGHT!

[sleepsuit]

Second baby.

Waters broke lastnight but no contractions and I went in to be assessed. They confirmed waters had broken and did a sweep to get things moving. I've had a few bad "period pains" but nothing horrendous and they are over 30mins apart so no real sign of labour!

I'm booked in to have an induction tonight and I'm considering an epidural. My first baby's birth was exactly the same. Waters broke. No contractions, induction, forceps, episiotomy... It was very painful and I can just see a similar thing happening again - who'd have thought!?

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations? I struggled with the pain last time and also being constantly examined so I feel an epidural is the answer.

Any advice or experiences would be much appreciated! I'm feeling a bit flat!

Hi OP. No experience of my second pregnancy going the same way but ask me in 10 weeks! We were induced due to labour going too slowly but it was 27 hours of hell. I didn’t want to read and run but if I were in your shoes having had the drip of hell to induce my labour I would have had the epidural wayyyyy earlier in the process. Hope all goes well tonight xx

I was induced a couple of weeks ago .. first birth was also induction a few years ago and was difficult so I was incredibly anxious this time around (not helped by the 4 days as an inpatient waiting on the induction bed - reduced movements)
I had a lovely midwife who recommended taking an epidural before they started the drip and I'm glad I did.. dd wasn't born until almost midnight epidural and drip in around 11 in the morning .. I used gas and air too 🙈 my mums advice going in (she is a nurse too) was take all the drugs they are offering 😂 I would say if you aren't against go for it. It doesn't affect baby and might make things a bit easier for you.
Baby and I were discharged by 4pm the afternoon after dd was born so less than 24 hours old and tbh they would probably have discharged sooner except we had to have 12 hours of obs post birth due to me having group b strep.

I've been induced in 4 of my 5 births. My first was 42wks, pessary, drip, epidural, ventouse, 3rd degree tear and episiotomy.
2 inductions started once they'd broken my waters and were very quick. But my 4th nothing happened at all once they broke my waters so I opted to have an epidural before they put me on the drip. I had a 5hr wait for the epidural so im glad I didn't let them start the drip before. Once in it was a very relaxed labour. He was born 4hrs after the drip got me to established labour.

Ask for an epidural as soon as you can.
I had to wait 4 hours for mine and it was horrendous.

Thanks everyone this is really helpful and making the decision easier. I don't know why an epidural seems so scary but it does! I just can't think about going through.the same pain again!

I was also scared for mine but the midwives were brilliant at keeping me calm.
And honestly it just made everything easier, calmer, and it relaxed me enough to catch an hours sleep!

Good luck!!

If you've been there before without an epidural, get one if you can, honestly it's like magic. If you get it put in before they do the drip or anything you'll be able to sit still so it will be easy for the anaesthetist to get done quickly and accurately. If I have to be induced this time there's no way the drip is going in before the epidural!

I literally didn't care what they were doing to me for checks etc as couldn't feel it of course and we knocked it right down at the end so I could feel the pressure to push without the pain. Hope all goes smoothly 🙂

I was induced (pessaries x2 and the drip) with my first. Definitely ask for the epidural as soon as you can have it.

Good luck! You'll do brilliantly.

Thanks everyone. I did ask for an epidural as soon as I arrived and it was a no as I wasn't dilated enough. It was then far too late as baby came naturally without induction! All safe and well and now home.

Ah congratulations @sleepsuit xx