Being induced today at 38+3 - Positive stories please!

[PointyMcguire]

Following our most recent growth scan a few days ago we’ve been advised to have an induction due to concerns over slowed growth and potential low level amniotic fluid and I’m absolutely terrified. The hospital is due to call this morning to confirm what time they want me in.

I’ve been fairly anxious throughout, despite having a low risk pregnancy as I had an early miscarriage at the start of the year, and even now I can’t quite get my head around the fact we’ll have a baby soon and am still waiting for things to go wrong. So suddenly losing the best part of 2 weeks prep time has sent me into a bit of a tailspin.

Please can people share their positive induction stories, especially if it were your first pregnancy and you were induced at a similar term, as I feel wholly unprepared for what’s to come and afraid that even though baby is technically full term, being born so early will cause complications.

I was induced with my first at exactly the same term. It all went to plan- pessary was inserted at 11pm, contractions started mildly during the night, by midday they had got stronger, by 4pm they were extremely strong even though I was only 1cm and at 7pm I delivered him- normal vaginal birth no complications except some tearing, he was just quite drowsy as I had pethidine at 4pm but nothing to do with being slightly early! Good luck!

I was induced at 36+5 due to pre eclampsia. Pessary inserted at 9pm, mild discomfort from 2-4am. At 4am I had a bath and the contractions intensified. My waters were broken at 5.15 and baby arrived at 7.21am.

Baby was early but overall well and we spent 3 days in hospital due to mild jaundice and my blood pressure.

Good luck today.

No induction advice as it didn't work for me, but DS came at 38+1 absolutely perfect! He weight 7lb 1oz and didn't need any extra help, we were home 24 hours after EMCS

Good luck!

Thanks ladies for all your stories, it definitely makes me feel better knowing that others have been in the same boat and all has been fine. I don’t feel remotely ready, but I guess that’s always the case with your first.

She’s been 3/5 engaged since 28wks, and at our 38wk appointment she’d further engaged. Overnight I’m fairly sure she’s dropped even lower as her bum now feels closer to my belly button and her kicks are no longer in my ribs, so I’m hoping it’ll be less of an eviction, and more of a mutual agreement to seek more spacious lodgings!

1st induced at 39 weeks - pessary at 12 midday. Tightenings by 9pm ish but nothing unbearable! Woke up at 4am for the checks and baby's heart rate was a bit dipping so while they had a bed available on the delivery suit the doctor decided to send me up there to break my waters as I was 2cm and they were bulging! Waters broke at 5.30am, baby born at 7am. Crazy fast but I found it amazing - it was the midwife who looked as white as a ghost!!!

2nd induced at 38+6 - gel at about 11am. A slow afternoon with some mild tightenings but contractions started at about 11pm. Whisked me up to delivery suite soon after midnight. Baby born at 2:21am so again quite quickly but this time even smoother.

3rd (this was literally last week) - no induction as midwives wanted to give baby a chance to come as naturally as possible. Went in for a sweep on the Tuesday (5pm) at 37+6 - midwife said I was 2cm dilated and waters bulging. Contractions started at about 8am on the Wednesday, made it to hospital at 1:45pm and she was born at 2:34pm!

I think my experiences were all quite smooth because my body had already started the process. I was 2cm dilated already with "soft and stretchy" cervix,
so none of the times were we trying to force it open. I bounced and bounced and bounced on the ball too so see if the midwife can find you one. Mentally you have to go in knowing it could be a few days before anything happens I think rather than something instantaneous. Get some films downloaded and try and relax this afternoon. Easier said than done I know!

We miscarried in February this year, so between 2&3, and it's been a hideous year full of so much anxiety. Take comfort in the knowledge that you'll be in hospital, being looked after, they do checks every 4 hours if not more if you feel baby's movements have changed. You can do this, and by the start of next week your sweet baby will be here!!!

I wasn’t induced, but had a surprise elcs at 36+5 with my DTs due to severe pe. They weighed 6lb 6oz and 7lb 3oz, and were/are perfectly beautifully healthy. DD did have trouble breathing when she was first born and was whisked off to scbu but joined us in the recovery room later before the three of us moved up to the ward.

I’d gone into hospital because of severe water retention a couple of days beforehand, and whilst I was desperately hoping it would mean possibly having the babies earlier because I was absolutely massive and so uncomfortable, it was a huge surprise on the day when the consultant looked at my paperwork and said let’s get these babies out today.

i wish you the very best of luck today, and soon you’ll be having gorgeous snuggly newborn cuddles! ❤️

Well I’m your woman here! I was induced for my first baby at 37+0, it took a few days for the pessaries to get me dilated enough that they could break my waters but once they did and the drip was in, it was only a 12 hour labour. I would most definitely ask for an epidural the moment the pain gets too much - not just for pain relief but because pushing is very physical, the induction process is tiring abs it will help to conserve energy for the end bit. I fully expected mine to fail and end in EMCS, so was pleasantly surprised when I avoided that, and you may well be too. Good luck!

Same reason as you for induction. Waters were manually broken and I was put on drip to start contractions. Baby's heartrate was dipping as contractions got stronger. So had emergency csection having got to 4cm dilated. You're in the very best hands and will be absolutely fine! Our little girl was 5lb14oz, completely fine and no prolonged hospital stay. I've gone on to have another little girl, and having a little boy in about 9 days time! So the 1st experience certainly didn't put us off! Good luck!

You'll be fine!
Iv been induced twice at 37 weeks due to her growth restriction, both my girls were 5lb 3oz.
First one was a 2 hour active labour after 2 pessarys and my waters being broken, and my second was a 1 hour active labour after waters being broken and the drip. Just gas and air both times. After my first I was apprehensive second time but this time was much easier!

37 weeks is term and 40 weeks is full term so technically your baby won’t be ‘early’.

I had my first via spontaneous labour at 38 weeks and no issues.

I was induced with my second at 34 weeks, laboured for 24 hours and only dilated 2cm and then they decided to do a section. Obviously baby was preemie so spent quite a bit of time in NICU.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you! Good luck mama!

I was induced with my first at 37+1 due to high BP. It went very well. I was also pretty anxious that pregnancy due to previous missed miscarriage then secondary infertility so I ended up very happy being induced early as I couldn't wait to hold my boy! Induction went very quickly. They tried one method first but it didn't do anything, so I wasn't in discomfort either. Then when they tried another, he was in my arms 4 and a half hours later. It was fast, and without complications, just a small tear in my urinery tract as my son decided to come out with his hands on his head but that wasn't a big deal. I'm 35+2 now and my BP is rising again so I might have to be induced again but very relaxed about it all!
Good luck and hope all goes well :)

I was induced at 37w 5d due to big baby as a result of GD.

Went in at 8am wed morning, there was a fair bit of waiting around and then a couple of hours of checks of my BP and baby's HR using a belly band before the propess pessary was inserted, then some more monitoring. After that i was shown to my bed on the ward and was able to wander around the hospital with DH. Nothing really happened so settled in for the night. Had a few tightenings overnight but nothing significant.

Next morning more waiting around and monitoring and at about 1pm they checked me and I'd dilated enough that they could break my waters. Bit more monitoring then a bit more wandering the halls.

Things cranked up pretty quickly and by 3pm I was in proper labour with regular contractions in the antenatal ward. Was given the gas n air about 4.30pm which was nice!

All of a sudden was sick and then started to feel like I needed to push, MW was a bit dismissive and said she'd check me in a bit and baby had probably just moved but I knew I needed to push so she came over and baby was crowning.

Bit of a panic to get me on a bed and wheeled into a delivery room and I was pushing as we rolled down the corridor so baby was born just after 6pm as we went through the door to the delivery room.

Are there not enough boards already full of positive induction stories?

Surprisingly few, especially for early inductions with first babies, which is a world away from a post-dates induction especially if not the first baby (you get those types of threads everywhere). If baby is being induced at 38 weeks or less it’s usually because there is an issue of some kind, and it’s very likely the drip will be needed rather than just ‘they popped the pessary in and the baby fell out of me in the pool 2 hours later, good luck’.

Not a positive induction story but I had a c section at 37 weeks. Very healthy baby (now toddler) no complications.

Good luck x

I've been induced both times due to pre-eclampsia before 38 weeks.

First baby had the induction start at 37 weeks. Two gel pessaries didn't do much. Luckily for me, the delivery suite was virtually empty that night; so I was taken down anyway for a managed ARM. Labour didn't start in the 2 hours allowance afterwards, so I had the drip. Took a while for the drip to take effect so chose to manage on gas+air. The magic 3 contractions lasting 1 minute within 10 minutes didn't occur until somewhere between the penultimate and highest doses of the drip. Highest was too much, penultimate not quite enough. Shortly after that, the pain got to be too much. I was 5cm. It was a choice of opioids or epidural. As I felt I had enough risk factors for an assisted birth (early induction, high BMI, first baby) I decided against an epidural. Diamorphine is amazing. I was asleep between contractions! Still needed gas+air for contraction peaks, but otherwise I was very comfortable. Just as it was wearing off 5 hours later, I was 10cm. Go time! I had zero urge to push, and zero contractions without the drip stimulating them. But at least I can apparently consciously push very effectively, as a mere 20 minutes later, I was holding my baby. 7lb 5 baby girl born at 37+1.

Hi all, so sorry for the radio silence, I just wanted to pop back and thank you all for your positive induction stories. Sadly ours wasn’t quite so straightforward, but finally after 4 gruelling days of induction DD was born bang on 39wks at a healthy 6lb 8oz. I found the whole thing fairly traumatic (and I like to think I’m usually quite stoic) but meeting our beautiful girl absolutely eclipsed all the anxiety of the last few days.

@pointymaguire sorry you had a rough time, I'm not surprised you feel slightly traumatised. My induction was straightforward enough and I still felt a bit messed up. So glad you have your daughter safe and sound though, what lovely news! Good luck for everything ahead! I found it all got easier as the baby got bigger (though mine is only 9 months old now, so I'm no expert).

OP, similar experience to you with my son. Traumatic, long induction where I was treated very badly by the staff and I ended up feeling quite violated. If you feel traumatised make sure the midwives refer you for therapy. It’s faster wait times if you go the post natal route, and it really helped me. Hope you’re okay, sending you a big hug x

Thanks @SlagathaChristie (great name btw)

Right now I’m just so delighted DD is safe and well, that I don’t think I’ve had time to process everything but I expect in time I’ll need to work through what happened.

The staff were utterly brilliant throughout, but I don’t think I was at all prepared for just how many internal checks there would be. Naively I thought that because I’d never had any issues with smear tests I’d be fine, but having someone tinkering with your cervix several times a day is a whole different ball game! Nor did I really think about how soul destroying it would be watching everyone else progress whilst I was struggling to get the pessaries to take effect and just the general anxiety of not knowing if I’d progress enough for the VB I so desperately wanted until the 11th hour.

I’m hoping DD will help me focus on what’s important, but I have no doubt if we’re lucky enough to get pregnant again this experience will definitely cloud my feelings as I get closer to birth.

I know a lot of people (myself included) who had crappy first births but excellent second births. I think people are much more likely to get their birth plan birth the second time around. So if that’s what’s worrying you, take comfort xxxx

Thanks @DealOrNoelsDeal that’s definitely reassuring! I ended up having an episiotomy and stitches so anything like that couldn’t be further from my mind right now, but I know DH and I are keen for DD not to be an only if we can help it (no judgement, I’m an only and had a very lovely upbringing but find the pressures as an adult when it comes to DP isn’t something I’d want for my child if possible).

My induction was easy at 39 weeks. They took me in the night prior and made a start with a pessary late that night. I was having contractions when they examined me in the morning that I couldn't feel. They manually broke my waters about 10am then she was born about 12. It really did go fast once they broke the waters.