Induction fears

[Bambi11]

Hello, currently 40+5 first baby and low risk. They said they would let me go over 12 days and have an induction booked on the 12 day (if no slots this will be sooner)
had a sweep at 40 and one today but they said I’m just the same, cervix not short and 1/2cm dilated.

Im so scared about being induced as I’ve heard it can be a more painful Labour, longer and more likely to end up in c section. I didn’t want a lot of intervention but baby is way to comfortable 🙄

anyone been though the same? Or had a good experience with induction?

Have you had a read of information from Sara Wickham. She talks a lot about inductions.

Also you cannot be forced to have an induction at any time, they should be explaining the benefits and risks (in real terms) to you of doing nothing vs inductions. Some people/babies do just take longer to be ready, additional monitoring and scans may be preferable to induction but only you can decide what is right.

Link to Sara Wickham

www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-of-labour/

I was induced with my first, and had a spontaneous labour (water birth) with my second. The induced labour was no worse than the spontaneous labour, I didn't need any intervention with either and only had a minor tear with both. Hope this reassures you that not all inductions are bad x

Thank you @Ducky88 I’ll have a look at the link. Because They are short staffed I’ve seen so may different midwife’s but luckily they are all very supportive and said it’s up to me and all my decision. I’ve read going over can cause still birth that why I’m thinking about it. I’ve wanted this for so long and don’t want this to be the outcome.

hoping now it’s booked my body will go into Labour before 😅

Also after my waters were broken, I was in labour for around 3 hours. I'm 40 weeks today, refused a sweep at my midwife app and hoping to go on my own but will happily be induced at 41+5 if needed x

Hi @KSAM that makes me feel so much better. If someone would just tell me ‘this is how it will go’ no matter how bad/good is be okay, it’s the limbo I’m struggling with.

may I ask what indication was like, did you start with the gel?

@KSAM I wasn’t going to have a sweep but I’m so uncomfortable and can hardly walk now so thought I’d give it a go. I don’t think I’d brother if I get pregnant again, just over protective being my first.
that sounds quick after your waters broke

I had an induction at 37+5 due to obstetric cholestasis. Shattered my dream of a water birth with mood lighting and music but it was best for the both of us. It was quick once things got going and I didn’t need any intervention. First pessary to waters breaking was 27 hours and waters breaking to birth was 7 hours. My induction experience was positive and if I need another in the future I am prepared.

I had an induction three years ago. It was my second baby but it had been fifteen years since my first so it was like starting again. Both labours were exactly the same length.

I should probably add that both labours were five and a half hours between first contraction and birth. First was spontaneous and the second an induction

Hey @op, I had an induction at 39 weeks because my baby was big and I had gestational diabetes. I had to wait on the ward 3 days due to lack of beds. I had a few sweeps and was 4cm dilated. Midwife had to move my cervix, which was like a sweep but worse. Then she had to burst my waters, but she struggled and had to get help. Also deeply uncomfortable and it hurt, but we got there.

I still needed a hormonal drip after an hour as baby wasn't shifting. After that, it took maybe 10 hours. I had gas and air, diamorphine, and an episiotomy. Diamorphine really took the edge off, but made me throw up.

Episiotomy didn't hurt too much, but rather hurt to recover from. Sitting on a breastfeeding cushion and mainlining ibuprofen/paracetamol helped. As did a spray bottle for my downstairs my mum gave me, something with lavender designed for post-birth, can't remember its name.

Worst thing was being hooked up to the canula for fluids and hormones, having the blood pressure strap and baby monitor around my middle, and also having blood sugar tests for the GD. Felt a bit trapped.

It hurt, but it worked, and I had a healthy baby. I might get an epidural next time though.

Good luck, and try not to stress. Practice breathing, it helps. Remember, a lot can change between now and then, baby might pop out before you know it. Sorry for the lengthy post, just wanted to give you the details I would have wanted.

I had a natural labour with my first and was induced at 36+6 with my 2nd, my induced labour was much nicer and quicker than my natural

@FarmersWife2019 @CuddlyRita it nice to hear positive experience with this, it’s made me feel much better!

@FarmersWife2019 that was my plan too, I know I still have time to go natural but I just need to prepare myself as it will make me less stressed

I had an induction at 38+1. I had the pessary and it took About 17 hours (mostly overnight) for my contractions to start. From contractions starting to baby being born it was roughly 12 hours. I didn’t need any further help - gel, artificial rupture of membranes or the drip. I had no interventions and had gas and air.

From my experience and others experience (not a medical professional but from friends), I would say that if they get to the point that they want to put you on the drip, I would ask for a c-section as it is more likely you’ll end up with an emergency c-section. Especially at 42 weeks.

Yeah so I went into hospital the Friday morning, had the pessary put in. I think the purpose of this is to soften the cervix? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Spent the day/night in hospital, started to have mild contractions through the night but I was only 2cm dilated the next morning so I was taken down to the labour ward and put on the hormone drip. Waters were then broken shortly after, and 3 hours later my daughter was born. I had gas and air and pethidine.

I had a sweep with my first too, tbh the only reason I didn't have one today is because I couldn't be assed with someone poking around down there 😂

I had a really good induction exp OP. It took a few days to get going (but I was 38 weeks) but then contractions kicked in at 2.30pm and he arrived at 4.30am without intervention. I dilated really quickly! 2cm at 10pm and was 10cm by 3am - and this was with my first!

Currently pregnant waiting for DC2 and to be honest, the waiting is making me want another induction now 😅 obviously I won't, I'll see what happens!

Hi OP, I had a positive experience with induction, only needed the pessary and that kicked things off. They recommended walking up and down stairs to get it going too - not sure if that helped but I think it might have done.

Pain-wise I don't have anything to compare it to but I'm fairly sure it wasn't any more painful than 'normal' labour. I found it quite manageable with a combination of hypnobirthing, tens, gas and air, and remifentanyl (that last one was great for me!).

Best of luck, you've got this!

@Bambi11 It was my first pregnancy (like you) so I had no experience of what to expect. In the days prior to my induction I read online (and scared myself) about the drip and how it made labour more painful so I went in with an open mind as to what pain relief I may want. A complete 360 from a water birth. In the end I didn’t even need the drip (all that worry for nothing) and managed with gas and air as by the time I mentioned an epidural I was ready to push. There’s still time for things to start naturally but it’s good to have thought about a plan B so it’s not a shock if it does happen.

@SlagathaChristie thank you and don’t worry about long post I like to know everything!

@PurpleBananaSmoothie did you stay in hospital or did they send you home? It is possible to ask for c section? I’ve just heard to 100% have epidural if having the drip (I’m also scared of epidural)

@KSAM oh I know that feeling, midwife suggested sex to help…I’m finding it hard to walk never mind anything else 😂

@ablisha good to hear some positive stories

@Hagster that sounds good to me 😅I’ve read the hypnobirthing book and practise breathing and walk when I can so hopefully this will help. I just want to meet our little one now

I was induced with my second and had a positive experience. Only needed the gel. Strolled around the hospital garden while it kicked in. Textbook progression and pushing only for 20 mins with no help. 8 hours all in all, half the time of my first labour and delivery. Induction doesn't necessarily equal shit. Good luck op.

I've had 4 indictions and even with my last one didn't get to 1/2cm on my own!!

2 of them were longer and needed ARM to get things progressing but I delivered all unassisted and they didn't lead to the cascade of intervention that everyone tells you about.

@bakewellbride id like what you had please
😂

@RandomMess maybe I need to stop listening to awful induction stories 😅

I found a tens machine helpful for coping with the weird pains in early induction but for three of them I had an epidural - no prizes for being in a lot of pain!

I did stay in hospital. The way it works in our trust is that you are given a date and then you ring up just after morning shift change to see what time to come in. They asked me to come in about 1pm. They did my obs and some monitoring of DD. Then they inserted the pessary about 4pm. When they insert it, they have to monitor you for a little while and then every certain number of hours (can’t remember how many now). However, I was able to leave the ward when I wasn’t being monitored. We stayed overnight in antenatal that night and in the morning we went for a walk to the hospital coffee shop after my monitoring. My contractions started on the way back to the ward at about 11am and DD was born just after 10pm that night. I spent most of the night on the delivery suite and go to post natal about 2/3am. I spent the following night in postnatal but that was because I was struggling with feeding rather than complications from birth. Take some ear plugs for antenatal if you are induced and have to stay in.

It is possible to ask for a c-section during the process. They might try to discourage you but if you want one, you can ask for one. You asking for one will mean that some women who are needing more emergency treatment might go ahead of you. In our trust for FTM they did the pessary, then gel x2, then artificial rupture of membranes and then they gave you 4 hours from then before they put on you on the drip. I had in my mind that I would start discussing asking for a c-section as we were getting to the rupturing of the membranes to give them time to plan it in before I needed the drip. It is recommended that you have the epidural before having the drip because that can make the contractions more intense and the increased risk of a c-section so they would just need to top up the epidural if you needed one. You can turn the epidural down though if you are having a vaginal birth.

Epidural isn’t necessarily something to be scared off. If you need the pain relief, then you need the pain relief. I wanted an epidural but I moved a bit quicker than they thought and was too far gone by the time I was asking for one. If they think your baby will be born in a couple of hours they will try to encourage you not to have an epidural or pethedine.

I really liked my induction. I liked knowing we were going to hospital on a specific day and we live 40 mins without traffic from the hospital so I was really anxious about giving birth on the side of the road. DH was able to plan his work and hand everything over and we were able to get someone to look after our dogs. I felt in control. Even at the prospect of potentially being in it for the long haul and resulting in a c-section, I felt I’d made that decision to keep me and DD safe and ease my anxiety.