Induction

Your measurements are just an estimate, my best friend was told her boy was huge all the way through and when she had him he was only 7lbs 1 so try not to focus on the size! Xx

@Paris is it worth it to risk declining the induction?

I’m having an induction at the moment because our baby was predicted 10-11lbs. Obviously it’s not 100% accurate as we knew, we ummed and errred about it for ages and eventually decided to just go with it… I wanted a water birth too but obvs not possible. It is nice and relaxing in the room still though, the balloon got put in 3.5 hours and is definitely working, started with mild period pains to severe period pains and have had one fairly weak contraction. Comes out at 6am and then potentially a pessary if not dilated enough x

@Hannah I'd be very interested to hear the weight of your baby once they're out 😌 congratulations on the soon arrival of your little one ❤️ thank you for your information as well x

I had an induction for my little one this month; the process was explained and the midwives were very reassuring,
Firstly when you go to hospital they give you prostatin (a chemical to relax your cervix to start the labour process) which is like a small tampon they insert into your cervix for 24 hours. Personally this started my contractions but didn’t move any further. The next step then if you don’t go into Labour would be a gel placed in your cervix which does the same thing but quicker - this is 6 hours; and then you can have it again another 6 hours later. You and your baby will be constantly monitored. At any point you are ready you may naturally have your waters break (mine did) or they will medically break your waters to set your Labour in action.
If these steps don’t work to start natural labour; the next step (which I had) was a drip (oxytocin) that essentially creates the contractions for you and helps dilate your cervix. Any questions feel free to ask!

yes you might need to remind me and I’ll let you know how much he weighs x

@Hannah thank you so much ❤️❤️

I was in a similar boat. At my 39 week growth scan my baby was on the 97th percentile. I was offered an induction or C-section and declined induction. We asked if the section could be delayed to see if I’d go into labour naturally, but our section date is fast approaching so that’ll probably be how my little one comes into the world. I declined the induction because I thought it was too early for my body and I have no idea how much body would react to the methods. I’ve heard some really good induction stories since then though and I know now that it may not result in a long stay in hospital.

You’ve got do what you think is right for you and make sure you’re thinking about how you can control your narrative. Your baby is probably big but they’re never bang on correct. I really wanted to be in control and decide for myself. If you’ve got a little while before you have to decide, get as much info as you can before you have to.

Good luck and best wishes for whatever you choose xx

So my boy 2 years ago was predicted 9lb 4oz and they advised a due date induction, I went for it and he was born 8lb 14oz - 2 days late
This time, baby girl was predicted 8lbs 5oz and was born 7lbs 7oz - 3 days late and spontaneous labour.

@Grace thank you 🥹 that was very helpful! They're trying to induce me in my 38th week, they don't want me to take it up to my due date but I know for a fact if I reject induction and c-section I will go past that date as I've had 0 signs of dilation or labor nearing.

I'm really just lost on what I would prefer especially it being the 1st baby, I have 0 experience or expectations for any method really, which is why I was keeping the birth plan as natural as possible so it could be menouevered as required.

@Michelle I'm seeing a pattern here of over measuring 🤔 I know I feel super heavy and I know my stomach has always been larger, I've had a bump since 10 weeks and was feeling baby move by 14 weeks... he's been measuring big forever really. But based off what you're saying I have hope to my natural birth 🥰

My baby boy is on the 100th centile, and I am still having a home birth and collected the rented birth pool from MLU yesterday. So, I am unsure what you mean by ‘clearly’ it is not possible. It really is. You always have a choice; the scans are not always accurate at this point in pregnancy.
I hope whatever you decide feels like a positive choice for the birth that feels right for you. Best of luck 🥰

@Lizzie I only said clearly because of the advice given to me by the doctor at the hospital. I explained to her my birth plan and she told me there's a restriction on how large the baby can be for the birthing center to accept me for a water birth 🙄

While I understand I have a choice, I'm finding it hard to make one because of inexperience and being afraid of making the wrong one.

I wish you a safe and healthy birth ❤️ thank you 🥰

@Emily I hope you do too! I feel they were quite accurate with my boy, but definitely were off a decent amount with my girl.
I really hope you get to go natural.
My girl didn't even give me the chance to be medicated (didn't want to anyway but still) and I'm so glad I got that experience.
The only reason I didn't get a lot of my birth plan was just because of how quick she was.

@Michelle thank you so much 🥹❤️

@Claire you're saying they are inserted into the cervix.. do you mean the cervix itself or the vagina? I've never heard of the pessary or gel going into the actual cervix

@Claire I absolutely commend you for the details, I needed this sort of explanation. My main question for you because this is what scares me the most, obviously I know labor is painful, but from 1-10 how painful was this process? Thee reason I'm so terrified of induction is because I know someone who's had 3 kids and 1/3 was induced and she said she'd never hurt as much as that time.

the midwives told me they were inserting it to sit in the cervix; but I imagine the vagina would be the most accurate

JP is my only child so I don’t have another Labour to compare it too; but talking to other mums on the ward, yes it was painful but the process itself I don’t think was more uncomfortable than other types of Labour. The induction parts were essentially extra vaginal examinations.

And that terrible cliche of ‘you forget the pain’ really is true

I was induced and had a 7 hour labour once the drip started. I didn't need and pain relief for the first few hours and only took the morphine at transition. I had a very positive induction. It's definitely not all about the horror stories. I was so gutted going in as well about the water birth etc, but I ended up having a great birth. Sending you love for an uncomplicated labour ❤️

@Jade 🥹 thank you so much ❤️ I appreciate being able to read a good induction story, definitely helps the nerves

@Claire thank you either way for all the details ❤️ it's greatly appreciated and has definitely made me feel more confident !

I won’t give you my induction story cus it was horrific but… just seen a previous comment the pessary is supposed to be tucked behind the cervix they try and hook it onto your cervix / as close to your cervix as possible you don’t want it sitting in your vagina as you will be very very sore this happened to me xx

I was told something about dilapan ?? It's some sort of rod, I'm not very familiar with inductions

ahh okay, I had the tampon like thingy, sorry! X

@Emily I can't comment on that really as it's totally your decision! I was only reassuring with your size worries as I've had growth scans for a small baby throughout mine and currently at 38 weeks plus 3! I think I'll be refusing sweeps/induction as it stands if they recommend based on babies size but I'll find out more info hopefully tomorrow at my midwife 😊

@Emily I really hope the ladies on here have settled you a bit. I really appreciate everyone’s input even for myself and my own knowledge!
A midwife explained the rods to me a couple of weeks ago. So, as long as your cervix is open a little bit, they can get rods in. The rods sound similar to a pessary but they don’t release any hormones. I think they’re just to help your cervix dilate on its own and not close up again. That’s what I got from her explanation anyway!
I’m 40+6 tomorrow and have my C-section. It’s not the route I expected but I’m glad I waited longer to see what my body would do. But nothings happened! I know it’s major surgery having a Caesarian but I’m hoping it’ll be better for my own mental well-being. I’m also feeling quite ready to have this baby out now 😂.

Good luck with whatever you choose, and as I said, get all the info you can from midwives and hospital staff. Ask all the questions and if you don’t want to be induced yet, tell them! They can’t force you! Xx

@Grace thank you so much for that! I'm so happy to hear someone else's side on letting their body decide the outcome! I'm back and forth honestly because it's really taking a toll on my back, I've never weighed more than 110lbs my whole life so carrying this much weight is getting to be too much.

Part of me wants to believe I can do it but the other part of me is TERRIFIED that if I let this baby stay until 40 weeks I'm not going to manage labor and I really want to avoid a CS as I've never had any surgery ever.

I know a lot of people are trying to reassure me about the weight saying they can be wrong but looking at my stomach and the size I am, I'm convinced he's massive 😂

I wish you the best of luck on the arrival of your little one ❤️ and hoping for an easy and quick recovery for you 🥰

@Paris I wish you the best of luck on your next appointment and hoping for a quick and easy labor for you ❤️🥰

I’ve never had any kind of surgery either!! It’s very daunting but I’ve got a few friends who have been through the process and they’ve told me how calm and lovely their elective sections were.

My baby feels really big but I’ll just have to wait and see what they actually come out weighing. I haven’t put on any weight through my pregnancy so my tummy is ALL baby! 🤣🙈

I hope it all goes well for you, whatever you choose xx

lol! Same!!! My body looks the same except for my belly 😂 I'm curious to see what your baby comes out weighing ahaha

Thanks lovely, fingers crossed for you to have a positive experience with your labour too 💕

he was 7.13lbs but so glad I had him at 38 weeks as was rushed to emergency c section, my uterus had a strange muscle ring round it that was crushing him. Prior to that I was stuck at 5cm for 12 hours which is when they thought something wasn’t right xxx

@Hannah I'm so happy to hear you had a healthy baby! I'm sorry to hear you endured a long labor to finally end in CS ❤️ wishing you a speedy recovery 🥰