Induction questions.

[JoAnn&Aimee]

I am getting my induction on Sunday and I was wondering if the mummies who got induced could answer a couple of questions I had about it.

-What is the procedure like?
-I've been told it will be the pill in the fanjita but does it hurt after it has been put in?
-Roughly how long does it take after getting the pill put in does the contractions start?
-Can it make the baby go into distress as she is basically being forced to come out?

I know these must sound like stupid questions and I meant to ask my midwife them yesterday but my mind was going at 100 mph and I forgot. I know every labour is difference so the question about how long the contractions take to start will vary. I was told that it could take until Tuesday to get fully started but I just wanted some advice from people who have done it.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Becky]

I don't think there are any set rules about induction - it really is different for everyone!

However my experience went like this:

Booked into hospital 2pm on the Wednesday, got settled into a room on the labour ward and told a midwife would be along soon. Had my first pessary (stupid midwife faffed about so much finding my cervix it hurt that time) at about 3:30 and had the monitor put on my tummy for 30 mins to check baby's reaction.

Nothing much happening adn told that if nothing had happened by the morning then I'd have another pessary (I think you have to have them 6 hours apart?)

Thursday morning had no signs so had another pessary (didn't hurt again - more just uncomfortable putting it in) - same deal monitor on tummy to check baby. Thursday afternoon still nothing so had another pessary.

Thursday evening I was discharged and told to come back in the morning and we'd discuss options. The choices would be to try more inducement drugs or to go elective section.

At home had bath, relaxed and just as OH had finished making pizza my waters went so back to hospital! My contractions started mildly in the car on the way to the hospital.

After that I was put on a drip to help contractions but had problems with the strength of them - too much drip baby got distressed too little and I wasn't making good progress.

I don't know if the induction itself made baby get distressed or not - but in the end I had an emergency section.


Hope that mini essay helps! Some people start to have contractions quickly after the first pessary others (like me!) take a long time. It all comes down to how ready your body is.

 

[JoAnn&Aimee]

Thanks Becky! I know it is different for everyone but I can't help worry about these things. Really nervous about Sunday but excited as well as I know I am at the end of the road now. Just want to hold my little girl and give her cuddles.

 

[daftscotslass]

Mine didn't go swimmingly but I have two friends who both had very straightforward experiences with induction. Normally I think they would have a couple of tries with the prostin pessary before the drip but I only got one shot with the pessary because my waters had gone 48 hours beforehand and they needed to get things moving. I didn't find it being inserted was painful at all though the woman in the bed next to me was moaning when she got hers in and that gave me a fright! Was no more painful than sex anyway . Normally if your waters haven't gone they'll break them for you and that will sometimes start things quite quickly too. Here's how mine went...

2pm... had first pessary. Nothing happened and by 2am was still only 1-2cm. Was started on the drip not long after. By 4am when the drip dose was really cranked up things were really uncomfortable and I started on the G&A which was great. By 7am it wasn't helping and I asked for an epidural. They told me to wait till 9.30am and they'd examine me again. Was 6cm at 9.30am and asked again for an epi which didn't work (couldn't get the needle in). Next couple of hours are a blur. Somewhere between 11 and 12 I had the urge to push and was fully dilated. Gave up on the G&A as the pain now was manageable and had a focus. She was born at 1.17pm. So I managed in the end with just G&A.

It wasn't fun at the time but I know I won't be asking for an epidural again! Just bear in mind that the experience is very different for everyone - stay open minded about pain relief because the drip can (it did for me) bring on very strong contractions with no build up.

All the best for Sunday - won't be long till Aimee is in your arms!