Getting induced tomorrow

timewilltel · 2022-03-01T09:50:01+00:00

So I'm booked in to get induced tomorrow (2nd March) I'll be 40 weeks exactly, that's if baby doesn't come today which I'm hoping for. I just spoke to my midwife and she explained what will happen when I get to the hospital. She said there's different procedures they will try all depending on how my cervix is after they check it, one includes rods being put into my vagina?? Has anyone had this done it sounds so painful? Another is breaking my waters and another is putting a tablet inside me. I then asked if it's certain that baby would be here by tomorrow which she did say it could be but also for some women it could actually take days! What?! I'm not prepared to stay in the hospital for so long! Has anyone here been induced and how long did it take and how long were you in hospital for??

2022IamHavingYa · 01/03/2022 09:54

The rods are called Dilapan and they go inside your cervix to slowly dilate it enough that you waters can be broken www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/WomenandChildrensHealth/6604-1-Induction-of-Labour-with-Dilapan-S.pdf

2022IamHavingYa · 01/03/2022 09:56

It can take days and it depends on lots of different factors, including how busy it is (they won’t start anything unless there is a labour suite bed for you), how ripe your cervix is, how well you take to the method they used, so go ready for the long haul and hope for the best

CornishGem1975 · 01/03/2022 10:00

My last induction took 5 days so take plenty of reading material just in case as it was dull and boring! (After 3 days I was ready to go to the labour ward but it was then too busy for me to be safely transferred so I had to wait another 24 hours.)

Barkingmadhouse · 01/03/2022 10:22

Mine was supposed to happen on the Friday afternoon. After arriving at the hospital they told me other emergencies and natural births had taken priority and they may be a chance I would be set off in the morning. If it wasn't the next morning it would likely be 4 days later. Luckily about 6am I was taken to the labour ward and induction started about 11am. Baby here by 17.30

slapmyarseandcallmemary · 01/03/2022 10:25

I was induced by pessary 5 years ago, was told to be at hospital for 1.45pm, but there weren't any b ds in labour ward so my induction didn't happen til 9pm. I was in labour 14.5 hours and then had a c section. Induction can be quick or slow, it just all depends. Good luck.

CornishGem1975 · 01/03/2022 10:38

The Propess pessary is a 24 hour one, so they pop it in and then check after 24 hours, then they'll break waters etc so it takes at least a day unless things really kick-off with labour in the meantime! I hyper-stimulated about 4 hours after the pessary went in so they needed to inject me with drugs to stop it and then start again the next day - which didn't help!

I think the rods is 12 hours but that method wasn't used at my hospital.

Nurselife2020 · 01/03/2022 10:47

Morning, it really all depends on the day abs person. They may delay you if not enough space etc but if they do get you in, it can take a while (if it does actually work) when I had my daughter I was in latent Labour for days and nothing happened. She then passed a bowel motion so needed to stay on Labour ward. I had the 6 hour pessary to start, then they broke my waters, then another 6 hour pessary, then the drip for 8 hours, 2 sweeps and I still didn’t get past 2cm so off I went for a C-Section in the middle of the night. Inductions can be funny old things as it really is different for each woman but I would definitely advise bringing books, magazines, IPad etc to pass the time. Just be prepared to have a bit of a wait (fingers crossed you won’t) and good luck

welshladywhois40 · 01/03/2022 11:58

Did they give you more information about timescales? With my last one I remember getting a leaflet and essentially if the methods don't work and don't get labour going after two days they would consider it failed. If failed they would move to c-section. So mentally I prepared for two hard days

Be very firm about pain relief. You don't know how you will cope till it starts. If you need help - ask don't be a hero. No awards for coping without.

And for me who was an anxious mum - I actually enjoyed that once I checked into the hospital that someone else was now in charge and with the regular monitoring - my baby was being looked after.

During the regular monitoring they were not happy with his movements - he was moving too much and the consultant was there keeping an eye on me and moved straight to a c-section.

Whywontitname · 01/03/2022 13:14

I had the rods and I would recommend them, a bit uncomfortable putting them in, painless once they’re up there.

Had them in at 5pm, at 5 am they had dilated my cervix enough to break my waters and be put on the drip, had that baby that evening. First baby.

I’d heard a lot of horror stories about the pessary and that it can take longer and you’re still likely to have to go on the drip so I chose the rods for that reason. I’d also recommend having any pain relief they give you!

Original poster

timewilltel · 01/03/2022 15:28

@2022IamHavingYa oh wow thank you so much for that link it was so helpful. Up until now I thought the rods were metal, good to know they're not and are completely safe for both mum and baby! X

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timewilltel · 01/03/2022 15:31

@CornishGem1975 5 days?! Wow it can take that long? I really wasn't mentally prepared for this but it's good to know that it could happen so at least I can prepare myself and be ready! Thank you. X

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Original poster

timewilltel · 01/03/2022 15:34

@Barkingmadhouse so it took around 5 hours after you got induced? That's not bad at all. I can see that it can vary so dramatically for different people. Thank you x

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timewilltel · 01/03/2022 15:35

@slapmyarseandcallmemary can I ask why you got a c section in the end?

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ChickinMarango · 01/03/2022 15:39

There are a million horror stories but it doesn’t always turn out that way.

I was induced at 39 weeks, I’d had two failed sweeps before this. My uterus was far back and I had a twisted cervix. I went in at 1pm, had two pessaries a few hours apart. These did little but gave me mild contractions.

I then had waters broken which hurt ALOT due to the cervix issues. Contractions ramped but kept dying down so I eventually had the drip which worked and treat. They said they’d put me on it for 4 hours then check me and give me another 4 hours session.

She was here less than 3 hours of the drip being on. Just over 9lbs and I had no pain relief or gas and air at all, it was very painful though!

mumofbun · 01/03/2022 15:51

Agree with everyone that it can vary a lot depending on the person. Prepare to be in there for a few days and hopefully you won't be! I took a book, nintendo DS, phone with music. If i went again i'd probably take a tablet with some tv shows downloaded.

I went in at 12 noon on Sunday, baby was born 10.14 on Tuesday. A lot of the time in between was sitting waiting. I was then in until the Thursday morning so take plenty of clothes too if the wards are closed to visitors still!

Good luck :)

Original poster

timewilltel · 01/03/2022 16:07

@CornishGem1975 thank you so much for that info it's so much more helpful than what the midwife was telling me! X

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BabyMoonPie · 01/03/2022 16:07

I was induced at 40+1. Pessary in at 3pm, proper contractions started about midnight and baby born at 3am. I was in and out of hospital within 24 hours. Hope all goes well for you

Original poster

timewilltel · 01/03/2022 16:09

@Nurselife2020

Morning, it really all depends on the day abs person. They may delay you if not enough space etc but if they do get you in, it can take a while (if it does actually work) when I had my daughter I was in latent Labour for days and nothing happened. She then passed a bowel motion so needed to stay on Labour ward. I had the 6 hour pessary to start, then they broke my waters, then another 6 hour pessary, then the drip for 8 hours, 2 sweeps and I still didn’t get past 2cm so off I went for a C-Section in the middle of the night. Inductions can be funny old things as it really is different for each woman but I would definitely advise bringing books, magazines, IPad etc to pass the time. Just be prepared to have a bit of a wait (fingers crossed you won’t) and good luck

@Nurselife2020 I defo will bring so kind of entertainment lol funny how the midwife didn't tell me this. Can I ask did you want the c section or they had to do it?

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Original poster

timewilltel · 01/03/2022 16:11

@welshladywhois40

Did they give you more information about timescales? With my last one I remember getting a leaflet and essentially if the methods don't work and don't get labour going after two days they would consider it failed. If failed they would move to c-section. So mentally I prepared for two hard days

Be very firm about pain relief. You don't know how you will cope till it starts. If you need help - ask don't be a hero. No awards for coping without.

And for me who was an anxious mum - I actually enjoyed that once I checked into the hospital that someone else was now in charge and with the regular monitoring - my baby was being looked after.

During the regular monitoring they were not happy with his movements - he was moving too much and the consultant was there keeping an eye on me and moved straight to a c-section.

I wasn't given no info leaflet at all which is why I'm just so unsure about everything. She did try explaining over the phone but that way you end up forgetting what she has told you but saying that she was very vague about it all like "anything could happen" 🤷🏻‍♀️

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Original poster

timewilltel · 01/03/2022 16:13

@Whywontitname

I had the rods and I would recommend them, a bit uncomfortable putting them in, painless once they’re up there.

Had them in at 5pm, at 5 am they had dilated my cervix enough to break my waters and be put on the drip, had that baby that evening. First baby.

I’d heard a lot of horror stories about the pessary and that it can take longer and you’re still likely to have to go on the drip so I chose the rods for that reason. I’d also recommend having any pain relief they give you!

@Whywontitname omg that's made me feel so much better thank you so much for that! This is what the midwife should have told me over the phone! X

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Perfect28 · 01/03/2022 16:14

Why are you having the induction op? Good luck!

Nurselife2020 · 01/03/2022 16:15

@timewilltel
I honestly didn’t mind at all. I was 41+1 and had been in latent Labour for 3 days then induction for 2 I was happy to have her anyway she was going to come. They did say I could try another drip but I was exhausted and just knew I wouldn’t dilate. 2cm and still nothing moving I just knew the section was the best choice and I actually loved it. Was able to walk round to theatre still, laughed and joked with the medical team and baby was born healthy and happy within 30mins. I’m a firm believer of whatever way they come as long as mum and baby are happy. I’m due an Elective in 6 weeks and I just know it’s the right option for me.

Hopefully they will talk through everything with you tomorrow but stock up on anything to pass the time/keep you comfy. Even go out this evening and treat yourself to some new PJs, fav mags, nice cold drinks etc x

Original poster

timewilltel · 01/03/2022 16:15

@mumofbun I'll take my laptop just incase! Thank you for that info x

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timewilltel · 01/03/2022 16:17

@BabyMoonPie

I was induced at 40+1. Pessary in at 3pm, proper contractions started about midnight and baby born at 3am. I was in and out of hospital within 24 hours. Hope all goes well for you

Oh that's brilliant news I hope that happens with me too! X

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Raindancer411 · 01/03/2022 16:41

@timewilltel I was induced with my second as she didn't want to come and was 10 days over!! 11 by the time they induced me as they had a mad night when I was meant to be.

I was already 2cm so they just broke my waters but she did say if I hadn't of been, they use a balloon over 24hrs to help.

Anyway I had waters broken and they left me for 4 hours but then they gave me a drip to speed it up... I won't lie it was painful as it ramped up fast as my body didn't have time to adjust. But I was in established labour shortly after and from the drip to her coming was just under 2hours!! The midwives couldn't believe how fast and the one I hadn't refused to check me as she said she wouldn't come within the next four hours.

She had to take me seriously when I said I couldn't stop pushing and contractions were constant. It feels like you need a painful poo...

The pain was over as soon as she was born.

Good luck and just listen to your body :)