When to be a bit more assertive during an induction?

[carrielou2007]

Starting to get a bit nervous about going overdue/being induced.

My MW is lovely and of course tries to reassure me second births are quicker/easier etc etc and baby will come 'when it's ready'. I KNOW this but dd didn't and was forceps!!

Went in on the tues (had 3 sweeps in the previous week) at 42 weeks not given any gel as I was aready having regular contractions. By lunchtime I then had some gel. I had another dose the following morning and at midday. I walked laps and laps of the hospital (ex dp complained his feet were aching). I could not get past 3cm but not allowed to go home.

They were SO busy that I did not get taken to have my waters broken until 8pm the day after. I'm really pissy by now, no sleep for 3 days, contractions evey 5/10 mins but not dilating then they hit me like a bus but still no dilating. Onto thr drip at 10.30, ex dp sent home fully dilated by midnight.

Finally dd born safely forceps at 4.3am.

If I'm induced again when can I say put me on the bloody drip

i don't know if you can actually; both times, my carefully drafted birth plan was effectively thrown out of the window. in my case, i loathed having to sit on the bed with my knees up when I KNEW other positions and was asking to try them and being ignored or fobbed off with poor excuses such as "we don't have a mobile heart rate monitor so you can't move from this sitting position"

That part was ok as I had an epidural but it didn't work so I kept upright/squatting (over the loo only place that was right!) until having a top up to give me a c section.

It's the how long is a piece of string question...

have you considered hiring a doula - expensive but well worth it according to friends

Just say you're not consenting for the sweep or the gel and that you'd rather go straight to the drip. They can't do what you don't give consent for.

Ooh, I can do that?? It's the not being able to tell of course and I understand baby will come when it's ready but I don't want to sit around for 3 days like last time!!

I'm on my own so logistics of sending ex dp home to collect dd from childminders (who has said she is happy to have her in the day even if it is a bit longer than normal) and have him in my house/making sure dd is ok etc then repeat the next day worries me!!

The labour ward was just so busy, they were fantastic when I eventually got down there. Even if I stamp my foot they can always put it down to hormones and ignore me I supose!!

Carrielou - I was induced with DS1 one at 42 weeks and as a first timer was totally bulldozed by the hospital midwife. Second time round with DS2 earlier this year I hired a doula to help fight mine and DH's corner in birth so I could just focus on giving birth, did a hypnobirthing course to let go of the ghosts of DS1's birth - and in the end DS2 came a week early and was a fast natural waterbirth. So I think let go of your first birth experience and focus on the kind of birth you want this time - I was all ready with DS2 to say no to induction/sweeps etc unless medically necessary but didnt have to in the end. Best of luck with the birth.