Lost all hope of natural birth

[Strawberry06]

41+1 today and starting to accept my fate of an induction on Monday.

Feeling so down about it as I have had the most wonderful pregnancy; no sickness or pain and baby growing lovely throughout. So I'm just gutted that now when I'm at the very end, he won't just come naturally, I feel like a complete failure :-(

I've had two failed sweeps, last one being today when she said my cervix was completely closed. Not had any signs whatsoever despite baby being head down and engaged for weeks.

I really don't get how people just stand up and go into spontaneous labour! All I want is to be woken up in the night with contractions! It just seems impossible to me.

I don't know whether to hold out hope he'll come over the weekend or channel my mental capacity into preparing for the induction on Monday (which I really don't want but time is ticking)

I have tried sex, nipple stimulation, ball bouncing and long walks but nothings worked. Not tried other things as I believe they're just old wives tales...

I went into labour the day I was due to be induced.It happens quite often 😊

https://positiveinduction.com/course/

That's not always true. Also what is the tablet?

Mine started with prostaglandin pessary, moved on to artificial breaking of waters and when that didn't work they moved on to oxytocin drip. What they never fully explained in advance was that: oxytocin drip makes contractions longer and more powerful than natural birth (agonising); drip increases risk of complications such as shoulder dystocia; drip requires continuous monitoring of baby (due to risk to baby).

I had two inductions, honestly they weren't as bad as people make out. My worst labour was one where I went into labour naturally. I didn't want an induction with the last one, like you I negotiated a few days past where Consultant wanted it done. I arrived at hospital with not a twinge in sight, doctor examined me and said I was 5cm dilated and I didn't even know so I'm crossing my fingers for you that it might happen to you as well.

Well that's a nice encouraging post for the OP.

I'm sorry the truth of my birth story is not sufficiently 'encouraging'. Personally, I feel like pregnant women need less infantalising around induction process. Hospitals often favour induction over c section because of the cost and for most women everything is fine - but for a significant minority induction leads to a cascade of intervention and complications. OP can ignore my post if she wants - she's a grown ass woman and I wish her well.

Have you tried Midwives Brew of Castor Oil. Look on Youtube for a channel called Care about Littles ones - Castor oil. They cover the science and studies. It is very effective.
I used. It at 39 weeks and went into early labour after 24hrs slowly and then had DS 4days after that. 1st timers it seema to take a bit longer to work.

I plan on doing the same again at 39 weeks. But 2nd timers it works faster accorsing to the data.

My Midwife led center gave me a pack with the data and statistics..they are very holistic and natural and all about consent. They very frbakly atate going to consultant led unecessarily increases the risk of layers of interventions when was not necessitated.
I am also a part of a group all babies born the same month and all those who had interventions have not recovered well 2 years on. 1 went on top have complications foem her induction had ECS and had infected wound for months. The others had epidurals and suffer with back issues.

Consultants are great when medically necessitated. My BIL is a OBGYN great at emergencies awful for Natural and understanding natural. There is a time and place.

I used it and didnt have Diarrhea. I had slightly looser stools but nothing horrid. The only affect was labour being induced. I lost my Mucis Plug and had bloody show around 18 hours later and then over the days contractions were more consistent in the days and nights. No bad side affects.
Went into the birthing unit at 4cm at midnight had DS at 9am. It was a quick labour and then stayed in for 6 hours then discharged home.

I've had one natural and 3 inductions I make it too comfy for the boys I've had. All various types. One was just popping my waters 2nd was the pessary and 3rd was the drip. All was naturally delivered no extra help needed. I did tear with each of them but a couple of stitches and was fine.

No amount of anything I did helped bring on labour. Inductions don't have to be bad. I had an epidural before they started the drip as baby was back to back.
All labour's were under 10 hours my fastest being 1 hour 5 mins.

I've never thought women who have had inductions (including myself) are failures.. Why is it a failure, it's soenthing you can't control?

Hi there it's a midwife working on the labour ward. With labour, the baby is the ultimate decision maker. In my experience, some babies are just slightly misaligned in pelvis and induction is the way to get the ball rolling. Even if the cx is completely closed at the beginning of the induction. You can have a good birth experience with induction too. Make sure you ask questions if you are not sure what the midwife or the doctors are proposing. Bring the TENS machine and ear plugs to hospital. Gas and air us very helpful to most woman. Ask for morphine before asking for epidural. If something is being offered ask to be given some private time to discuss it with your birth partner. Go with your gut instinct. Go for long walks this weekend (weather permitting) however please don't have more sex. There's no evidence sexual intercourse helps to induce labour. I am also wondering why there seems to be more labour infections for women induced for post dates compared to women induced for other reason. This is just my clinical observation. I hope it helps and good luck

Hi there I am a labour working on the labour ward. Induction is often more costly than an elective CS. It could take the best part of 3 days. How is this cheaper? It's offered on NHS when the risks and benefits of induction outweigh the risks and benefits of a CS.

We've been out for meals etc, I've had long baths. It's just boring now!

As someone 3 weeks the other side, please just enjoy it while you can. Sleep. Go places you can't go with a baby. Read. Clean your home from top to bottom. Fil the freezer. See friends. Go to the cinema. Go to a bar. Go dancing.

Oh, I could have written this post 2.5 years ago. I am so sorry you're going through this and I know how agonising this is. I totally understand the feelings of failure although of course this is not true - you can think these things without rationally believing them, iyswim.

Ignore the people who say all that matters is a healthy baby - of course this is the most important thing BUT your experience is also important, your wishes do matter, and you are allowed to feel whatever you feel. Giving birth is important, and you are allowed to care deeply about how it happens, BUT it has nothing to do with the sort of mum you are. The two things are completely separate!

If these feelings linger after the birth don't hesitate to ask for mental health support. In the meantime ask yourself where these feelings are coming from - for me it was my mum's beliefs about natural birth which I grew up hearing over and over.

Kosen - how is induction cheaper than a cos? Induction might take 3 days, but that is rare.
I think the key thing you’ve recognised is that induction is offered when the benefits outweigh the risks. (Assuming that is what you meant). Ie - it’s offered when needed.

I don't think she came on here to be terrified by other people's horror stories. Maybe she did but it certainly wouldn't be my first thought. On the off chance I wouldn't deliberately start out to frighten someone particularly when many people have inductions without problems.

I assume the Consultant had more complicated cases than the midwife led unit?

Yes I don't think they do inductions for the fun of it.

Book something expensive and non refundable tomorrow night that you are really looking forward to. Works like a charm!!

An acupuncturist put me into labour…like magic! Six needles. Half an hour walk. Two cups of raspberry leaf tea and off we went … exactly as she said it would. I was so impressed I trained as an acupuncturist myself! I love starting labours. It definitely works and it’s 💯 natural. Find your local one 😊

Hi there, while acupuncture is better than placebo it's not 100% effective. Your post is slightly misleading

@Kosenrufugirl I have had many, many successes. For the sake of one session the OP May wish to try it …

My induction was just fine. Whole
labour lasted around 12 hours. Was obviously painful but managed through it with a tens machine and some basic drugs.
Try not to get het up about it. What happens, happens. Your baby will still be your baby no matter what.

I was 11 days late and went into labour naturally despite untold pressure for an induction, I told them not to book me in and they did anyway, then they told me I HAD to go in because I had told them the day before I had pink on my pad and they said was hind water so within 24 hours they were holding me there against my will after saying 'we will check on baby and let you go' despite me being in labour with contractions on a timer they wouldn't let me go home, I ended up storming out saying I needed sleep and pasta. Unfortunately I didn't get home until 9pm and by 10pm by contractions were too strong to sleep, I ended up putting on my tens machine and going back in at 4am, they wouldn't let me in the birthing centre as my 'waters had gone' and put untold pressure on me to break my waters manually, which she didn't do properly anyway and I never made it past 2cm. Ended up in emergency c-section.
Why am I telling you this? I spent months feeling like I failed. Like they had failed me, and that we almost lost DC as he came out in such a state with bad vitals and not breathing.
No one warns you.
Please be easy on yourself,
The more I look back, the more I realise I didn't bond with my son and I had PND. Likely due to traumatic birth where I didn't stop being sick for 6 hours.