Induction

Do you mind sharing why at 37 weeks? I’m getting induced at 38+0 and my consultant said absolutely can’t do it beforehand and listed all the risks! It’s so strange how it varies so much by trust xx

A mixture of things really. First of all we have pushed for it as we feel it’s safest. We have had a lot of reduced movements, bleeding and I have a heart condition that’s been made a lot worse and I can’t take my usual medication. This has caused fainting and we personally aren’t comfortable with beta blockers and other meds as it will affect the baby. They said there’s a 5% ish chance of needing nicu ect from inducing at 37 weeks but our baby is all well so probably less. However going another week in pregnancy will only make my heart worse and there’s a high chance of fainting which can then lead to even worse complications.

I was induced at 40wks exactly. It was a bit rough as I needed other interventions, not due to the induction but for other reasons. The whole process for me was pretty quick but I know that’s not often the case. They offered me an early epidural (before they administered pitocin). From the time they gave me the pitocin until babe was in my arms was just under 4hrs. I was 3cm at my sweep the day before.

I’d recommend taking a few things to keep yourself entertained, long charger leads or battery packs, headphones, snacks & drinks, chapstick, slippers & flip flops,

Have you discussed how you’ll be induced as I know that it can depend on a few circumstances too and length of stay etc.

@Katie wishing you luck. X
I'm first baby so don't have any suggestions

I had a great induction! It was super long (15 hours) but other than that all went smoothly. I had the balloon fitted the day before to widen my cervix. Went back the next morning to have waters broke, waited an hour to see if my contractions would start on their own, but they didn’t so was given the hormone drip. Everyone’s pain threshold is different and I couldn’t tolerate the pain so opted for epidural after a couple of hours. Once I had the epidural I was completely pain free and it was amazing for me personally. Only thing I didn’t like was how I couldn’t be up and moving around, but it’s one of those things unfortunately. No intervention needed and it was painless. Highly recommend the epidural 😂. I was so set on not having it too before birth! But everything goes out the window when you’re going through it. Just be open minded xxx

oh bless you, that sounds really scary. I find it so strange how different trusts have different “rules” of when they can induce. I was pushing for week 37 too but they’ve said absolutely not. In terms of positive inductions, have you joined the induction group on here? There’s also threads on mumsnet too. People will give you horror stories but ignore them xx

2/3 of mine have been born through induction, first time I was scared as it was my first baby and didn’t know what to expect, but when I reflect back it went well, pretty quick (7ish hours), she was 11 days overdue. My 2nd induction was my third girl, worried about my placenta so was a week early, felt a lot more relaxed and went well, labour went very quick, 2 hours!
Now 11 years later expecting my fourth and I know it will end up being an induction again as the consultant doesn’t want me to go past my due date and my babies are lazy bums 😂 I feel relaxed about it being an induction again. Good luck and wishing you good health too xx

that’s really good to hear. It’s my first and I have just had lots of scary induction stories. Also worried it won’t work 🙈

I was induced at 36+5 with my first due to my waters going early and being timed out. My son was born small, but not abnormally so. He was 6lb2, didn't need nicu or anything special. He did have a touch of jaundice.

The actual induction isn't something I'd choose again, but as it stands it wasn't awful. I prepared for days in the hospital. In the end, the pessary worked REALLY well for me, and then I went from 3cm to him arriving in 40 minutes. It was a bit of a shock. I have some lessons:

- induction contractions can be more intense. This isn't at all anything to worry about but I would have liked to have known
- know your pain relief- I didn't want anything but my TENS (would recommend for early labour!), water (wasn't allowed because of the infection risk with my waters having gone early) and gas and air - I never ended up getting this leading me to my next lesson learnt (1)

- advocate for yourself - seriously trust your body. I was examined at 3cm and told at 4cm I could have gas and air. They thought I'd take ages to get that next cm. I didn't. I knew in my gut I was progressing faster than they had assumed, but I didn't advocate for myself. To the point where by the time we finally got someone back I was moments away from my son arriving! No one expected me to progress so quickly, but I could feel I was and I should've got my husband to demand them to get me the pain relief I wanted
- I personally avoided pethidine and other pain relief like that as with an early baby I was concerned it would make him sleepy on arrival which would then have subsequent consequences
(2)

- demand what you need - I couldn't be on my back on a bed even though I was being continuously monitored. I had to move around. This caused the monitoring to be intermittent and they kept telling me to lie down. I refused. I knew my body needed to move and I trusted my body with that. My actual birth was "easy", in that I didn't even push. My body did all the work! And I put that down to me trusting what my body was capable of and what it needed, like movement!

(3)

thank you so much for your reply. It makes me feel a lot better as I was really worried about Nicu and complications leading to c sections because it’s my first. I’m definitely learning that you have to speak up for yourself with maturity care or they won’t listen.

sorry this isn’t my post but I’m also getting an induction! Can you be monitored and also able to walk around/use birthing ball? I can barely tolerate 20 mins on the CTG now let alone in labour and don’t want to be lying down the whole time as believe gravity is our friend in labour! I also expressed concerns to my consultant this week about induction contractions being more intense and she essentially said that was BS and to just accept all pain relief 🤦🏻‍♀️ I don’t want an epidural due to nerve damage so was hoping to cope with gas and air, I’ve not looked into pethidine yet!

@Katie you really have got this, being induced or going early doesn't have to mean you don't have control over your birth. It is yours! Ask questions, listen, decide. Don't be forced into anything you are unsure of! I know how those nerves feel and I really wish I could go back to myself going into my induction, give myself a good shake, and tell me to remember women have been doing this for all of time and our bodies are MADE for it. The unknown is scary. If you feel able, it might help to watch some positive birth videos. 2lifedoula on Instagram has some incredibly empowering real videos of people giving birth, even though they might be a different setting to you and what I had.with my first, seeing these strong, calm, amazing women do their thing can give so much confidence 🥰

@Laura for me, in theory the wires were long enough. But when I moved the connection did drop. Honestly though, I didn't care. I had to move 😅 you can request wireless monitoring which they use in pools as well, if your hospital has access to them.

That midwife sounds shit imo 😅 I guess I'll find out if I don't get induced with my second, but I've seen other women say the same thing. I also wanted to avoid an epidural. I do think I would have coped better if I had the gas and air when I needed it.

I can really recommend a TENS machine for early labour. It works best if you put it on earlier than you think you need. In hindsight, maxing out on the TENS should've been a good indicator I was progressing quicker than anticipated haha. (1)

@Laura Also, a midwife post birth told me that it's not necessarily a bad thing to bring your own paracetamol. I wanted some for very early labour but they kept forgetting it (it happened to be a really busy night) and I could've just popped a couple myself if I'd had it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Do look into all pain relief you will be offered so you can be informed on what you accept. We were set on not having diamorphine or pethidine and the midwives did try and push it on us. I didn't need it! (2)

thank you! This was a consultant that said that 🙈 wireless monitoring, I’ll have to write that down 😅 do you have to buy your own tens machine or do hospitals supply them? Yeah I’ve packed paracetamol just in case as I know how busy it gets and even half an hour late can cause issues! I’ve spent a lot of my pregnancy as an inpatient and it’s quite frustrating waiting around for meds! Good idea I need to look into all the options as the last thing I want is to feel out of control xx

I bought one from boots incase I start labour naturally at home but my hospital does have them

thanks, I’ll have to ask my midwife about it, feel so unprepared xx

@Laura some hospitals do hire them out, is ask in advance. I borrowed the one I used off a friend but would definitely buy one of my own now as I did find it helpful!

You can also ask your midwife ahead of time if they offer wireless monitoring as movement is very important to you. Don't be made to feel silly for your requests. I find some birthing professionals to be a bit eye rolly sometimes. Less so the midwives, but the consultants are very on the business end I suppose. They seem to be less considerate of the overall birthing experience for the mother which I think is so so important. Of course the most important thing is a healthy baby at the end of it, but next important is you and whatever you need to make your experience positive you are entitled to 🥰

I was induced at 41+1 and it was great! My whole labour was 2hrs 17 minutes, they time it from when active labour starts. I went to sleep they woke me up and told me they needed to break my waters baby was coming 😂 I have contractions for 1hr 40 ish, they weren't too bad. Took 13 minutes to push her out then about 20 minutes for placenta. I'm being induced soon, early this time. Praying it's as good as the first one