Looking for advice/info on induction?

[LynneK]

Hi girls!

I'm currently 38wks preg today with a yellow bump and so excited to be a mum. I've been having extra growth scans due to a blood condition and at my latest at 36wks it revealed that bub was measuring 42wks round the abdomen. Predicted birth weight of 10+lbs. I'm petrified and had a check up today where consultant has booked me in for induction on the 7th of April @ 2pm.

My question is for those of you who were induced. Is it safe/scary? Do you regret it or was it an ok experience? I was happy with the idea of getting one til the consultant was quite negative about it and now I'm a bit nervous/scared x

 

[openeyes]

I was induced with my little boy - due to Gestational Diabetes. I'm not going to lie, it wasn't the most fun experience in the world. It started with 2 days in the hospital with nothing happening, even after pessary and gels, them then telling me that they would have to reassess things next day as nothing was working, only for my waters to go that night!!

But its perfectly safe, they wouldn't do it otherwise! I also know my mum was induced with both me and my younger brother - bearing in mind that was 28 and and 25 years ago respectively, I don't think they would continue doing it if it was unsafe.

But the most important thing is that you come away with a bubba at the end of it Which is obviously the biggest upside to the whole thing!

Best of luck with everything hun, you will be fine! xx

 

[hayes]

What a shame the consultant is putting u off already. As above has Saud my mum was induced 35 yrs ago with my sis n I was induced last yr with my son n we both had easy births. I was already 3cm when we arrived so no gel or pessary for me just waited around for Labour ward to quieten down n then we went up n they broke my waters.

The drip was put on n monitored all the time but things happened quick fir me n he was born after only a few hrs n with no pain relief. I'm hoping for a hone birth this time but won't b to worried if I do hw've to hw've an induction again as I really didn't find it to bad at all.

Hope it all goes ok for you hun, n just think in a few weeks it will all b behind you n u will have ur gorgeous bubs.

Michelle.x

 

[LynneK]

Thank u very much girls, I guess I'm just scared now incase anything goes wrong but I cannot wait to meet this little one x

 

[clairem1980]

I think the consultants have to tell you everything and are so busy and doing this day in day out that they don't realise how scary some things can sound. I was induced with Dd1 as she was 10 days overdue and that's when my hospital induce. It turned out she was breech so after a 24 hour pessary and waters being broken I ended up with emergency section. It was nowhere near as scary as I imagined even though it was the polar opposite to my birth ideal!
��I think hospitals are just honest that inductions sometimes don't work. It's trying to start your body off doing something it hadn't started itself. There are lots of positive induction stories but also some that end in section for one reason or another - mine included. I found the induction midwives really helpful and informative and they will put your mind at rest.

I would have opted for induction over section with my second but when checked on my due date my cervix was so far back and tightly closed they couldn't even attempt even a sweep. Due to my previous section the only form of induction they would offer was breaking waters and that didn't look hopeful so I opted for a section two days later.

 

[flisstebbs]

I had an augmented labour (my waters went but then couldn't get going properly on my own), I had the drip (synto) up. I was happily doing hypnobirthing through normal contractions, but fairly quickly had an epidural once the drip went up as it really does kick things into a different gear. Drip went up at about midday and my baby was there by 3.43 the next morning which sounds like a ridiculous long time, but I remember the whole experience as a good one! My MWs were fab at keeping on top of pain (when the drip got to much it was like the anaesthetist was waiting outside the door for the epidural), and they kept me updated the whole way through. Hubby and I listened to loads of music and even watched some tv and films on my tablet!

Try not to worry about it, keeping calm is definitely helpful to the process, and you get helped through every step of the way.

 

[buggy1]

My first was a natural birth but our second (baby born at 16 weeks due to severe dandy walker) I was induced for. The natural birth was definitely better for me for several reasons, mainly being that I didn't need monitoring so could be in the birth centre and free to move around and I think just because I knew our second wasn't going to be born alive so that just makes it a worse experience anyway. Fortunately the latter doesn't apply to you!

I may need to be induced early with this baby as there have been some complications. Also, my first baby was 10lb 1oz so this one could well be bigger if I reach term or go overdue. Honestly I'd weigh up my options and if I felt I could 'get out of' the induction I would. I don't want to be lying around in hospital waiting for something to happen, being stuck on the bed because I need monitoring and I do think the labour pains are worse with an induction because they come on more quickly and strongly.

I hope you don't mind me saying all that, I just want to be honest. Really you need to weigh up your options, if the induction is really needed for your and your baby's safety then of course it's best to go with it. It's not the end of the world, getting your healthy baby at the end is the most important thing.

 

[LynneK]

Thank you v much girls. I appreciate the honesty!!

x