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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Propess Induction...not really working????

31 replies

LizP77 · 30/03/2010 21:33

Hi,
Wonder if any of you have had any experience with Propess Induction?

My wife went in on Monday for induction of our first baby, she was term + 13 days. After some monitoring and an examination (a painful one at that!), they put in the propess and we waited. The insertion has made my wife incredibly sore...not a good start!!

Anyways...it was left 24 hours to see what happened. We had nothing! A few little twinges, but nothing to write home about. THey did another internal to see if the propess had softened the cervix at all, or if she was in a position to have the waters broken, but we were no further than before. So, they decided to put in Propess number 2!

This has left my wife still in hospital, for night number 2 and in a whole lot more pain than before...and 12 hours after the second propess still no sign of contractions.

My concern is that they will want to try this procedure once again tomorrow, and I don't want her to have to go through with it. It doesn't really help that the midwives have only being using this method for 6 weeks, so have no evidence to back up if it does / or doesn't actually work!!

Should we refuse the third and insist on another method / C-section?

Hope someone can help / advose / put our minds at rest...with a nice story!

Thanks so much

Mr Caring and very worried for his wife...at term +14 (soon to be 15!)

OP posts:
ilovesprouts · 30/03/2010 21:36

after two it did not work for me so had a cs hope all goes well x

ilovesprouts · 30/03/2010 21:42

sorry ignore my comm dint read poast prop did not have me glasses on

Original poster
LizP77 · 30/03/2010 21:45

Ahh...well, thanks anyway.

Just reading around the boards. I think I may ask them to try one of the old methods of gel in the morning (if labour doesn't start tonight of course!).

I'm now worried about the placenta as that certainly hasn;t been checked and lots of people talk about a risk of still birth as this deteriorates after term...

OP posts:
Portoeufino · 30/03/2010 21:49

I think mine worked after number 2, but it might have been 3 - as in contractions started. It got a bit vague. At the end I was put on a prosta thingaminy drip and had ARP. And still ended up with a emcs after 20 hours of contractions. If you HAVE a choice and nothing has happened by morning I would ask for a planned CS.

Induction as a general rule has a much greater chance of ending in CS. Do it the pleasant and comfortable way!

JaMmRocks · 30/03/2010 21:50

I was induced with Propess with DS2, it worked very quickly for me after one lot, so I'm not sure that's any help to you. They must have some sort of guidelines to follow if it doesn't succeed? Best wishes

Original poster
LizP77 · 30/03/2010 21:57

Yeh, I have to say I think we are seriously thinking about a CS.
My worry is having to really fight for it as I know they try to avoid if at all possible. Was hoping to get some kind of evidence / argument together for when I go back tomorrow...

OP posts:
ruddynorah · 30/03/2010 21:58

it worked fine for me with my 2nd baby in november. took 6 hours for light cramping to start, then it dropped out as my cervix started to open. proper contractions started after 12 hours.

it was my midwife's first go at using it!

have you been given a bishops score to see how favourable your wife is to induction?

Original poster
LizP77 · 30/03/2010 22:07

No, not sure we have.

Not sure its looking that great as she was initially told she had a narrow pubic arch. Another midwife has also said this today, although we know this can still change a lot during labour.

The baby is in a good position, but the cervix is showing no sign of movement.

OP posts:
ruddynorah · 30/03/2010 22:10

are you confident your dates are correct?

Original poster
LizP77 · 30/03/2010 22:12

Well, this is the other huge concern. Our first dates, based on her cycle (which is very regular) was 5th March. Then our scan date given was 14th March.

OP posts:
ruddynorah · 30/03/2010 22:13

i agree the insertion is pretty awful. i was maybe more ok with it as it was my 2nd baby so was quite used to the erm, rummaging..which i must say did involve me gripping the top of the bed to stop me bashing my head and breaking my neck with the sheer force of it all

sometimes they offer gas and air for the insertion, that may help? but really, if your wife isn't favourable then it just isn't going to work.

ruddynorah · 30/03/2010 22:15

ask about the bishops score. read up on what the score means, and take it from there. also read up on c sections. ALSO, read up on breastfeeding after a c section if that's part of your wife's plan.

good luck!

Original poster
LizP77 · 30/03/2010 22:19

ok...will do. Thanks so much.

Just want as much info as possible, its the least I can do...I know you ladies have it really tough, but us fella's feel a little helpless watching our loved ones in so much pain and discomfort

OP posts:
hellymelly · 30/03/2010 22:23

went through this,I felt as though I had been assaulted ,it was horrible,and I just got more and more stressed and more and more exhausted.My BP was high (I had pre-eclampsia) and I asked for a c-section in the end as it seemed clear to me I would end up with one anyway,probably an emergency one.They agreed to do a c-section.My DH has done some research on this as part of his work and the stats are not good,it is likely your wife will end up with a c-section and my advice personally would be to ask for one sooner rather than later.Let your wife go with her gut feeling on how her body is responding.My baby was a few days before her due date,but they wanted her out (PE,and hind waters gone)and my body was not at all ready.In this case the chances of a c-section are very high,the induction works better when the conditions are already good.I am sorry to have to post a negative answer,but the worst part of the birth for me was being messed with so much beforehand and it took me a long time and another baby to get over it.

Original poster
LizP77 · 30/03/2010 22:26

Really appreciate your honesty...I think this is what we will be doing as my wife feels exactly as you describe. I feel so bad for her as she is in so much pain.

Even if she does go into labour now I think it would traumatize her given what she has already had to go through

OP posts:
LittleSilver · 31/03/2010 00:25

Has she had G and A for it? I have various issues around this and have always requested to use it even just for a VE, and I've always been able to have it. It really does help.

mears · 31/03/2010 00:31

I posted this resonse on your other thread.

LizP77. Sorry to hear that your wife is having such a long drawn out induction process. In the unit I work in, prostin tablets are used. Propess is meant to have the benefit of slower release prostin but I don't have experience of using it. I believe it is more expensive than traditional prostin tablets and that is why we haven't changed!

There are options that you can discuss with the obstetricians. It sounds as though at the moment your wife is not ready to go into labour. If the baby seems happy when monitored then you could ask for a break in this induction process. You could also request a scan for reassurance about the baby's health. Some babies are just not ready at 42 weeks and the pregnancy can be monitoed a bit closer and allowed to continue for a bit longer.

It may well be that your wife will start contracting tonight if she is so uncomfortable. Prostin itelf does cuase painful tightening which women often describe as worse than labour. The combination of a bath and paracetamol can help ease the pain, possibly even cocodamol.

All the questions you have written here you should take with you tomorrow. Your wife doesn't need to consent to anything else until you have had a full discussion of your options.

You might get a surprise call at 3am with your wife in labour though.

mears · 31/03/2010 00:37

I have seen women go into labour after a 3rd prostin tablet but I am not sure that a third propess would be attempted to be honest.

I don't think that you will have to 'fight' for caesrean if your wife's cervix has not changed at all, so don't worry unnecessarily about that.

Internals prior to labour starting are much more painful when the cervix is very posterior. When labour progressed, the cervix gets eaxchier to reach and examinations are not as bad.

Labour pain is easier to cope with when you know you are progressing. What will be soul destroying for your wife is that she is so sore but not actually in labour yet. Women ofetn fear that if they cannot cope with this stage, labour will be impossible. It all changes when you have a positive knowledge that things are moving on.

Do make sure you have your questions all answered tomorrow before consenting to anything else. Good luck.

Original poster
LizP77 · 31/03/2010 07:39

Just spoken to my wife and nothing yet! Going in shortly and feel a lot more prepared now so thank you all so much.

Fingers crossed our little bundle of joy will be here soon

Mr Less Worried Husband!

OP posts:
cinnamongreyhound · 31/03/2010 08:21

I have never heard of propess induction before but just had a little read about it.
I have prostin pessary induction which worked very well, I know this doesn't work for a lot of people either but I know a lot that it has.

When I was induced they gave me a lot of information before I went in explaining the process and the order things were done in.

A vaginal delivery was important to me so I went from prostin pessary and got stuck at 5cm so had the syntocinon drip and managed to push him out myself.

Good luck.

JaMmRocks · 31/03/2010 10:28

Just wanted to add, I had a prostin induction with DS1, which was slightly earlier, and I definitely wasn't as ready that time, it was immensely painful with no let up. I sympathise with your wife if this is how she's feeling but assure her she will manage if she does get to labour and deliver.

Good luck to you both!

ruddynorah · 31/03/2010 17:27

any news? hope today has been a better day

hellymelly · 31/03/2010 21:29

really do feel for you and your wife and hope you are all ok and your baby is here!x

Original poster
LizP77 · 01/04/2010 08:06

Hi everyone,

We had a beautiful boy last night...ended up with an elective CS as the cervix was not dilating and were were term +15. Main thing is both are doing great.

Thanks for all your advice / help / support...it was a great help

OP posts:
cinnamongreyhound · 01/04/2010 08:35

Congratulations!!!