Inducing labour experiences

[LucyKirk92]

Hi all!

I am booked in for a sweep on Monday. I'll be 9 days overdue by then. First time mum also.

I'm feeling conflicted about it and quite sad tbh. I want baby to come when it feels ready but aware that the longer they go over, the more risks attached. On the flip side, due dates are on estimates & can be wrong, so maybe baby isn't even that late but will never know I guess.

What's everyone's experience of an induced labour? Did anyone else feel sad about having to get induced also?

I'm hoping baby will arrive before Monday but I doubt it, I've had no signs of any labour.

Are you booked to be induced, or for a sweep?

A sweep can get things moving, but it is hit and miss (in my experience anyway).

Induction is a step further, where they artificially kick start labour.

I pushed back induction of my second for a week hoping something would happen naturally but after reflexology and two sweeps other than a few niggles, nothing. The induction itself worked great though. Into hospital and (24-hour) pessary in at midday, then baby arrived at around 2230. I was a bit sad going in, and also didn’t want to leave my toddler for days, but in hindsight it was the best thing I could’ve done.

Saying that, it can all happen so quickly that you could already have a baby by Monday! Try to stay positive and active to encourage things, but also get as much rest as you can while you’ve got chance. Good luck.

Sorry to just hop in but I’m in the same boat - @Riverbiscuits did you have to stay in for a night once baby was born? Did you end up with assisted delivery/epidural? Did you find they monitored you much more?

I was 2 weeks overdue. 24hr pessary didn’t seem to work but then my waters broke 10 mins after they put the second in.

DS was born naturally 11 hours later. I did have to have the syntocin drip about 9 hours in. They didn’t believe I was so far along until I started pushing in the pre-labour ward & then they miraculously found me a room on delivery. At that point, my contractions just stopped - probably with the realisation that it was actually happening!

Aaah sorry, my bad I thought a sweep was part of inducing labour. So is a sweep slightly different? I'm thinking of asking for it to be pushed back for another few days, just to give baby a chance but don't want to risk anything either.

@RainbowsMoonbeams sorry forgot to tag you to my comment above.

A sweep isn’t induction but it’s fairly inconclusive if they work or not. My attitude was I may as well have a sweep.
Sex did work to get things going with my second.

@LucyKirk92 sweeps are a form of induction but very mild, they are aimed at kick starting labour and they are an intervention with risks and potential benefits. Eg could introduce infection or break waters so it's always good to be fully informed before having one.

Generally speaking if baby is doing well, there is no need to be induced or have a sweep. As a first time mum you are more likely to go "over". The due period is 37-42 weeks. In fact it depends what evidence you look at in terms of whether risk factors go up the further along you are - it's not conclusive.

Have a look at Dr Sara Wickham (feel I'm recommending her a lot ATM on threads on here 😅) - she has excellent writing on induction.

You don't have to be induced just because you are "overdue". It's your choice. There are other options included increased monitoring eg extra scans.

I refused induction. Baby arrived 41+6.

Best of luck x

Oh and I also found sex seemed to help get things moving. Terribly uncomfortable though 😂

Thank you for clarifying! I will definitely look into her as someone else has mentioned her name. I think I'm going to speak to my midwife on my appointment on Monday and ask for it to be pushed back another week or at least 5 days. I would be 9 days over due but my mum was 10 days over with me so still chance for baby to come on it's own if all is healthy. Hopefully baby comes this weekend but honestly not getting any signals so...

@frenchie4002 I delivered in the midwife-led unit in the waterpool and had no other interventions. Apparently my second stage was quick but they took the pessary out at around 2000 when it was clear things were speeding up then I went straight in the pool with just gas and air and minimal monitoring. My waters didn’t break until about 15 mins before baby was born. They kept me in the delivery suite room, did baby checks after 6 hours and I was on the way home at 0730, so I spent less than 24 hours at the hospital altogether.

My induction was fine and worked very quickly, 5 days over. IMO you'll only be told the horror stories - you might well be fine

5 days early* I meant

I was induced with my first for reduced movements. It was positive experience in the sense that I wasn't sat around for days on end waiting for something to happen and baby arrived safely!

I was given a sweep on the night I was seen for RM which just made some plug come away. 3 days later I was given the pessary which started my contractions within an hour. They were pretty intense and close together with the midwife not listening to me and kept saying I wasn't in labour... I was alone during covid so it was pretty stressful. I wasn't allowed any pain relief apart from codeine and pethidine to which point I begged them to take the pessary out after 5hrs of having it in. 6 hours after this my waters popped naturally as the contractions didn't stop thankfully like she said they would... 7hrs later I was fully dilated 🙂. I would 100% do it again but NOT alone and I would make them listen!! Make sure you know what you want before it happens and have a birth partner who knows you and what you want too to stand up for you!

I believe my body was ready to labour which is why I reacted so quickly but everyone is so different.

Iv had 2 inductions both at 37+2 for IUGR small baby. Both really quick and positive overall.
I'm probably in the minority but I just wanted my babies out and I was so hoping to be induced with my second too, and I was delighted when I got the date booked.