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Original poster

First time Mum failed induction at 40 weeks

18 replies

Somersetgirl89 · 14/06/2022 18:41

Hi there.

This is my first ever post and I'm hoping for advice or anyone who has had a similar experience.

I'm a first time Mum and was induced 3 days ago on consultants advice at 40 weeks due to the estimated weight of baby being just below the 10th percentile.

I was given one 24hr Propess and then two 6hr pessaries. The induction has failed and my cervix is still not even 1cm dilated.

I've been sent home and told to go back tomorrow to either start the induction again or have a caesarean.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

OP posts:

Fruby · 14/06/2022 20:15

Hello! I was induced for completely different reasons, but….
the propess & pessaries didn’t work on me either, and most people I know who have been induced also did not respond to those methods. It’s very common unless your body is already close to Labour naturally when they use them.

Good luck for tomorrow! Hope all goes smoothly x

babyjellyfish · 14/06/2022 21:18

I'd be tempted to go straight for a C-section after (hopefully) a decent night's sleep.

tigerandtea · 14/06/2022 21:22

I was also induced for different reasons and none of the gels etc worked. I was told (not given the option) that they would forcibly break my waters at less than 1cm dilated, which is what happened. Queue interventions and complications and a very traumatic birth.

For my second I had an elective section after the trauma of my first.

Go for the section.

Sections are also (in most circumstances) safer for your baby than natural deliveries (riskier for you though).

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 14/06/2022 21:25

I don't have direct experience but my induction did take 36 hrs to kick in after first propess inserted, I found it only really started working when I started pacing and bouncing on the ball. Laying or sitting still paused the contractions completely. Were you allowed to be mobile in the hospital while waiting or did they keep you on monitoring?

babyjellyfish · 14/06/2022 21:31

I had the balloon catheter overnight, which caused some quite painful contractions which stopped me from sleeping, then had my waters broken at 10am and was then put on syntocinon.

Never dilated past 5/6 centimetres and ended up having the C-section at nearly midnight when I was absolutely exhausted.

I'm now pregnant again and will not be induced this time. I'll be booked in for another C-section and if I go into labour spontaneously before then we'll see how things go.

babyjellyfish · 14/06/2022 21:33

Also, if you do try syntocinon or pitocin, have an epidural first.

ShirleyPhallus · 14/06/2022 21:33

Another voice to say I also had a “failed induction” (horrible term) and never progressed beyond 2cm despite being in labour for 40 hours. I ended up with a c section anyway. Very very common that this happens if your body isn’t ready for labour.

In your situation I’d have a decent sleep then opt for an unplanned c section tomorrow. Good luck!!

Whoatealltheminieggs · 14/06/2022 21:37

babyjellyfish · 14/06/2022 21:33

Also, if you do try syntocinon or pitocin, have an epidural first.

This ^ without a doubt. Those drips are the work of the devil

Amipreg1 · 14/06/2022 21:39

I had 2 failed inductions and ended up with a csection. I wish I had refused the second induction as all they did was give me back ache and I was so tired and fed up from being stuck in hospital for 4 days.
I'm now pregnant with my 2nd and will be opting for a section again.

Spinfit · 14/06/2022 21:46

I elected for an IOL just after 41 weeks - the pessary didn't work after 20 hours so they started an oxytocin drip as I absolutely didn't want a c-section. The whole thing lasted 36 hours. Pain was pretty bad with the drip but I asked for an epidural early on and made sure it was inserted by someone experienced! I didnt want a section because of the post-op recovery time (my husband only had 2 weeks off and we didn't have family close by) so the oxytocin was the better option for me. Good luck!

BotterMon · 14/06/2022 21:47

Yep. "Failed" induction and left hospital at 5pm on Monday evening to get home to loads of flowers as was incommunicado so everyone assumed I'd had the baby.

Returned the following Monday for another try and gave birth naturally to a 10lb girl 8 hours later. They broke my waters at midday and I had an immediate epidural.

I didn't want a caesarian as baby was fine and couldn't be doing with the post C-section recovery.

ricketybeauty · 14/06/2022 21:47

Mine went the same as yours, only I did get to 1cm dilated which is when they broke my waters and not to frighten you but for me it was the most horrific pain of the whole thing. Once they’d gone I they put me on the drip with no epidural working. I ended up having a Cat 2 Section in the end. I’d just go for the C Section in your shoes! Good luck!

babyjellyfish · 14/06/2022 21:58

Personally I found the C-section recovery fine, especially after the first few days, although obviously I have nothing to compare it to.

Have a read of some of the C-section threads here, to help you decide whether to go for it and also so you know what to expect if the second induction doesn't work and you end up having to have one.

In your position I'd worry that if the first induction failed because your body just isn't ready, nothing is likely to have changed by tomorrow (unlike the PP who waited a week between attempts).

That was the issue for me. I was at 39+5 and my body was nowhere near ready. He'd probably have stayed inside at least another week.

Tartanblankets · 14/06/2022 22:03

Similar happened to me at 41 weeks, I got admitted with high blood pressure. First of three inductions started Monday pm with nothing happening until Wednesday am when a rather painful exam broke my waters. Still no dilation and I was moved to delivery, put on a hormone drip and still ended up with an emergency c section. I'd opt for the planned c section if I were you. Good luck!!

Northernlurker · 14/06/2022 22:11

My induction worked at 42 weeks so not the same experience but having laboured three times I would say go for a c section. You will get to meet your baby tomorrow, feeling well and with energy. If you try induction again who knows when you'll give birth and it would be much harder. Honestly, just go for baby in your arms ASAP.

ihoeihoeihoe · 14/06/2022 22:14

Yep! Ended up with a section at the end of it all anyway. I found the recovery fine and aside from a few days of being sore I was up, showered and walking around less than 12 hours later. I’m my experience, the initial failed induction, then 2 days of contractions and no sleep for 36 hours, I welcomed the section.

If I was ever to have a second DC I’d opt for a section and refuse an induction. DS came at exactly 42 weeks as I pushed back hoping he’d make an appearance on his own but he just wasn’t ready no matter what they tried.

Mangotea · 15/06/2022 00:15

I had a induction for other reasons also. I asked for a membrane sweep first then went the next day for an induction, my waters ended up breaking naturally with the induction. Last they checked I was 6cm dilated but ended up having a cat 1 c section due to multiple other reasons.

Perhaps you can ask for a membrane sweep first and use a birth ball. Birth ball helped pain for me but I also used it to do labour inducing exercises.

Mangotea · 15/06/2022 00:25

I should mention the induction was painful, I was experiencing back labour so my behind was so sore!! When I was being rushed for an emergency c section I was relieved to be put under general anaesthetic (no time for spinal but they had a quick try and it failed)

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