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Original poster

Labour anxiety

9 replies

babydays123 · 30/03/2022 22:09

I'm 38 weeks tomorrow, this is my third pregnancy with my previous 2 being over a decade ago so it feels like I'm doing it all again for the first time

First pg I was induced at 42wk with a very straight forward and fast birth

Second pregnancy I was 10 days overdue with a 1 hour active labour.

This time round due to being 40 and growth having slowed a little they are talking about maybe inducing me next week at 39weeks

The thought of going through it before body is ready is terrifying me and I'm leaning towards requesting a c section just to avoid the unknown.

I just can't remember how terrible the pain was the first two times as it was so long ago and I'm getting myself in a tizz about the thought of days of labour and a c section at the end of it anyway.

I don't want to have any additional risks if the healthcare providers strongly suggest induction next week (which I suspect they will), but I was banking on being allowed to go overdue with monitoring to give my body time to be ready for labour.

What would you guys do in my situation?

Please hit me with your positive pre term induction stories too if you have them ♥️

OP posts:
RoaryLion1 · 30/03/2022 22:39

Hello! Positive pre-term induction experience here - I was induced at 37+2 because of slowed growth. Like you I was really worried about body not being ready and I’d heard about induction leading to very long, painful labour. In the end, DS was born almost exactly 12 hours after I was induced. I started contractions very soon after the induction but active labour was only 4 hours. It was painful (I only had gas and air, there was no time for an epidural even though I really wanted one!) but felt like it was over pretty quickly. So I would say totally normal to be worried, but it is possible that you’ll have a fast labour and no need for c-section (especially as it sounds like your other labours were quite fast?). But of course if you want a c section and feel that’s right for you then that’s also fine!

One thing I would say - I think midwives assume that if you’re induced pre-term, labour will progress slowly and so they won’t examine you regularly. I was measured at 4cm and then left alone for a few hours, because they didn’t think I would have moved far along. By the time they examined me again, I was too far along for an epidural, which at the time was quite upsetting!

Good luck!

Original poster
babydays123 · 31/03/2022 09:55

@RoaryLion1

Hello! Positive pre-term induction experience here - I was induced at 37+2 because of slowed growth. Like you I was really worried about body not being ready and I’d heard about induction leading to very long, painful labour. In the end, DS was born almost exactly 12 hours after I was induced. I started contractions very soon after the induction but active labour was only 4 hours. It was painful (I only had gas and air, there was no time for an epidural even though I really wanted one!) but felt like it was over pretty quickly. So I would say totally normal to be worried, but it is possible that you’ll have a fast labour and no need for c-section (especially as it sounds like your other labours were quite fast?). But of course if you want a c section and feel that’s right for you then that’s also fine!

One thing I would say - I think midwives assume that if you’re induced pre-term, labour will progress slowly and so they won’t examine you regularly. I was measured at 4cm and then left alone for a few hours, because they didn’t think I would have moved far along. By the time they examined me again, I was too far along for an epidural, which at the time was quite upsetting!

Good luck!

Thanks for that, it's really reassuring to hear of positive experiences.

I've just got it into my head that my body is going to be almost a month away from being ready to labour given my previous overdue pregnancies, but maybe that's not going to be an issue.

The unknown is just quite scary compared to the predictability of a c section, however the recovery is not to be downplayed.

OP posts:
Original poster
babydays123 · 31/03/2022 21:28

Any more positive pre term induction stories?

OP posts:
Overandabove1 · 31/03/2022 21:35

I was induced at 39 weeks due to small sizeS Had two lots of gels and contractions grew stronger gradually over around 9 hours. My waters then broke naturally and DD arrived an hour later no pain relief but all went very well. Whole process was under 24 hours

Nikki037297 · 31/03/2022 21:43

Iv been Induced at 37+6, went into labour over night, born 6am after a 45min active labour! Home by dinner time. Please don’t stress. You did this twice before already yes was a while ago but your body won’t forget what to do! And 39 weeks is a fine time for labour to start. I went into labour all on my own with my first baby at 39 weeks exactly. Never have reached 40 weeks. I would avoid a c section at all costs as the thought terrifies me! Your body is designed to get pregnant, grow a baby, then go into labour and give birth. Don’t doubt your body for a second it was put on this earth to do just that.

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 31/03/2022 23:04

I was induced due to small baby.

I had 2 x gels applied and contractions started to get stronger, they manually broke waters and 12 hours later baby was born.

FTM so nothing to compare it with.

strawberrysummer19 · 01/04/2022 08:09

I'm being induced at 39 so far my consultant thinks with my risk factors and I'm happy with that

When I say happy obviously not happy as such but I know if I go over I will be very anxious so it might be a bit calmer for me having a time to go to hospital etc

My first was 11 years ago almost, FTM very traumatic natural labour - has put me off if I could even have a natural again but I think I will give it another go rather than opt for elective c which also scares me

My healing time was worse than my friends c section but due to a traumatic experience but I'm hoping as two births may not be the same then I may have a different experience

So although I've not had an induction labour it is what im swaying towards

I'm only 23wks and have only one consultant app where we touched on it briefly but he said we would discuss it at my next consult properly and after my growth scans x

Fruby · 01/04/2022 09:16

I would choose C-section over induction. I was induced at 38 weeks, and it wasn’t traumatic, but so many induced labours end up in surgery anyway. Mine was forceps delivery but I had been prepared for an EMCS.

NinaJames · 01/04/2022 19:31

@babydays123 I am 38 weeks Monday. Second pregnancy after having DD 10 years ago. I am feeling exactly the same as you!!!!!!

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