Inductions

[rach91]

Why do so many people want to avoid them?
Are they really that bad/high risk?
Does anyone have a birth story that involves induction they could link here???

 

[yolliss]

I dont have a birth story but but i have been induced twice due to not going into labour myself, I didnt have any issues with either it just brings on labour very thick and fast, so i found that hard to cope with but apart from that no issues here. I think people see them as not natural so try and avoid them but my babies needed out and that was the best way for them xx

 

[SeonaidMac]

I was induced with Serena because although my waters went labour never started. As Yolliss said it does bring it on thick and fast so it can be very intense and hard to deal with because your body doesn't have the time to adapt to it the way it would in normal labour.
People can be against it because alot of inductions result in assisted delivery either, forceps or ventouse or even emergency section x
As with Yolliss my baby needed to come out due to the risk of infection after losing my waters... they don't induce unless they have to hun x

 

[CARNAT22]

The reason I wanted to avoid induction was because the hormones given to your to bring on labour are artificial... So your body isn't doing the work, it is being forced to do the work iykwim?

Inductions carry a higher risk of intervention [depending on what study you read and who you speak to !!] and more women end up opting for pain relief.

Labour to me was always meant to be gradual - your body builds up to what it has to do... Whereas having it artificially started for you means your body is being made to do something without the build-up.

There are very good reasons for accepting an induction and believe me had I got to 42 weeks I'd have gladly accepted one. However I would never have wanted an "early" induction - unless I medically needed one. To me it was always last resort.

I went into labour naturally and then stalled at 6cm so I had what is called an augmented labour. I was put on the drip and had my waters broken so I went from nothing to full blown, excruciating labour within about half an hour.

When the Dr's put my drip in they asked me if I wanted an EPI and laughed when I refused and told me "you'll be begging for one in an hour"

I must confess that after almost 45 hours of being in labour / stalling / being exhausted / dehydrated / starved that it was actually a positive for me when it all kicked off as I was finally getting somewhere.

They had to actually turn my drip down as with them breaking my waters too it was all going too fast and upsetting babies HB.

I thought early labour was painful but once that drip went in I was in a world of pain - but it was good pain!! Pain that meant I was finally getting my baby out.

I wouldn't want an induction if we have another, but I wouldn't fear it as much as I did before having James.

I managed a normal delivery, no tears and not even a graze!

xxxxxxxx

 

[Rebecca89]

my induction wasnt the best process, it went on for days and ended in an emergency section, i know that could of still happened if i had gone naturally but they wanted baby out due to high blood pressure xxx

 

[Nicnax]

My induction was due to being term plus 12- the limit for induction in my PCT. My Labour was relatively quick, kicking off at 4am, and her arriving at 6pm. It was extremely intense and painful, ending with a consent for an emergency c section, but her eventually arriving with forceps. She w as s in an awkward position, back to back with her chin tilted up, and I have since found out that the consultant noted I have a small pelvis. Baby was bigger than average, so chances are that my problems were o this rather than induction. Certainly not my ideal birth, but certainly worth it,to have my gorgeous girl.

 

[LYLLJellyTots]

I had inductions with both of my deliveries and ended up with a section both times this isn't the case for everyone though Hun x

 

[DiddlePlumbs]

I didn't want an induction because I really wanted it to be natural.

When I had it done I wasn't classed as high risk because I laboured really well apparently. Until they had to pop my waters though. Then mu contractions slowed down. Ended in a forceps delivery but its all just a blur now!

 

[BunnyN]

Inductions save lives, they are a great tool when used wisely. As with everything though they do have their risks and disadvantages though and it seems wise to avoid interventions without a good reason. Doctors tend to overuse them IMO and I would make sure I know why a doctor wanted to do one before I had one and what my other options were. I refused an induction at 41 weeks (hospital policy where I live) and went into labour naturally a couple of days later. I did do tests to make sure the baby was doing well.

Inductions are often harder on the mother and the baby and can lead to interventions. If your body is not ready for labour an induction can fail. Plenty of women do have good experiences with induction though. Do you think you might need one, or is it just a general question?

 

[titch]

My induction was a nightmare. If I knew what it was going to entail I would have refused and gone straight to section. A failed induction is not one where nothing happens and you just sit and wait (although this can happen) my failed induction consisted of more than 48 hours of contractions every 4 or 5 minutes which were too intense to talk through or sit down for from the start. I required continuous monitoring and a canula in my hand, so i couldnt walk around or use the pool. I was pressurised into having an epidural I didn't want because I was a mental wreck from lack of sleep. The outcome of this was that I got to almost 3cm in 2 days before my baby became distressed and I was rushed for an emergency section. I fell asleep once we were in recovery and couldn't stay awake for most of the rest of the day, even when a nurse was trying to squeeze milk out of my nipples! I've never been more tired in my life. I cannot tell you how depressing it is to stay awake all night on a ward having regular conteactions to be told that you are almost 1cm dilated.

I will not be giving a dignified answer if anyone ever suggests induction again!

 

[Wilson28]

Hi There

I work in the jessops maternity hospital, and every women deals with inductions differently, please don't listen to horror stories as it may not effect you like it, you could be induced and not need the drip as your contractions may pick up on their own, you may have the drip and still not dilate and need a c section, you may dilate very quickly and need an epdidural, every woman is different in my experience at work.

I went into labour the day before I was due to be induced and I had an epidural as the pains because to much very quickly and I had to have intervention as my baby wasn't coming down, you wont know what its like till you get induced or go into labour, every women is different.

If you are having to be induced because you are late id personally get walking a lot and bobbing about, helps bring baby down to natural labour xx

 

[loopylou83]

I've got an induction booked for Wednesday when ill be 41 plus 6! Just wandering, I've been told ill have a propess and then be sent home and then reassessed 24 hours later if nothing has started! Has anyone else had this pessary? If so did you go into labour within the 24 hours or did you have to have something after? I know everyone is different- I'm just curious and also not sure what to suggest to my oh regarding work ( he has just gone back after 2 weeks holiday- the plan was for baby to be here and him take the 2 weeks paternity straight after hols but baby had other ideas) have to have the pessary at 6pm on wed so does he go to work on the thurs and I call him if I go into full blown labour? Or not risk it? Anyone's experiences would be welcome xx

 

[BunnyN]

I've got an induction booked for Wednesday when ill be 41 plus 6! Just wandering, I've been told ill have a propess and then be sent home and then reassessed 24 hours later if nothing has started! Has anyone else had this pessary? If so did you go into labour within the 24 hours or did you have to have something after? I know everyone is different- I'm just curious and also not sure what to suggest to my oh regarding work ( he has just gone back after 2 weeks holiday- the plan was for baby to be here and him take the 2 weeks paternity straight after hols but baby had other ideas) have to have the pessary at 6pm on wed so does he go to work on the thurs and I call him if I go into full blown labour? Or not risk it? Anyone's experiences would be welcome xx

I'm afraid I can't help you with the details but I do know a lot of women go over 41 weeks, few go over 42 weeks so chances are you will go into labour before then anyway. I did a lot of research about it because they wanted to induce me at 41 weeks and I decided to wait until 42.

At least if you do get an induction your body should be ready for labour. A large number of failed inductions are early inductions, when the body is not ready for it. Hope it goes well. The waiting is harder than labour if you ask me!

 

[Gemsy]

My birth story is in that section, and I had the propess gel...my contractions started pretty much straight away!

For me, it was not the experience I wanted, but I don't know how much of that is due to the fact I was induced. Baby was stuck and needed to be manually turned and born with forceps. It has made me nervous for next time. I was induced due to blood pressure, so I am hoping it will not be an issue again. Having said that, it got baby here safe and sound and I am fine, so that is the main thing.

 

[Kiagirl]

I had an augmented induction as my waters broke but nothing else. I had been in hospital for 3 days by this time and tired as it was so noisy. The pain was intense after an hour as the contractions came so quick. After 4 hours I had an epi as I wasn't dilating so they said it would be a while. 17 hours later she arrived, I couldn't have done that without an epi. I was v close to a section as my waters had gone over 48 hours earlier. I didn't have a birth plan except to have a baby and have whatever pain relief that I needed. I can see why some people get upset if they have something fixed in her mind. I would relive it if I could and not change anything so it can't have been that bad.

 

[BunnyN]

I had a slow labour which seemed to stall in the middle there was talk of augmenting it but I didn't want to unless it was a last resort. The MW said the baby was in not quite the right position and when she was born her head was very squashed. She was 9lbs 5oz with a big head. I fully believe that I had a slow labour for a reason and that having an induction or trying to speed it up may have ended with LO stuck or in distress and a forceps delivery or CS. As it was ,despite being long, LO and I both coped well with the labour. I would certainly get an induction with good medical reason but I am wary of statements like "you must have an induction at 41 weeks" or "you should have your labour augmented if you are not progressing 1cm an hr", these are usually hospital policies and vary a lot from one place to another. Even then it can be the right thing to do but I'd rather discuss the benefits and risks in my particular case.

 

[LauraMummyToBe]

Apparently induction is more painful than natural labour. I wouldn't know the difference as this is my first. I was induced and I can safely say... It hurts, a lot. I went through 12hrs of agony, still suffering a week down the line. X

 

[Ella1979]

I had a failed induction with my first. They induced due to pre-eclampsia, but my daughter was so tiny that the contractions actually slowed her heart rate down to dangerously low levels and they ended up whipping the pessary back out and doing an emergency c-section.

This time I had the choice between an induction or a planned section and decided the induction - for me - just wasn't worth the risk.

 

[Melanie3103]

If everything is well - do you HAVE to be induced at 42 weeks (ie 2 weeks overdue) ? If there is no real medical reason to force things, or ?

Can you wait another week, say or ?

 

[BunnyN]

If everything is well - do you HAVE to be induced at 42 weeks (ie 2 weeks overdue) ? If there is no real medical reason to force things, or ?

Can you wait another week, say or ?

It is your choice. Risks increase slightly after 42 week so medical advice is usually to be induced by 42 weeks but some mothers decide to carry on and do regular tests to monitor the baby. The risk of waiting goes up much more after 43 weeks.

You might find this helpful: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a552040/im-overdue-now-what