Positive induction stories/advice?

[firstfreakout]

Hey ladies

So as you can probably see by my signature ticker, I'm currently 4 days overdue. I have been booked in on Friday for an induction, but as this is my first baby I'm quite worried and upset by this for a number of reasons, which probably sound silly to some of you!

(Worried about increased chances of it being more painful/needing intervention/lasting longer; having to be in hospital for days waiting for it to work; it feeling more like a procedure than a natural birth; being stuck waiting on a ward for ages not feeling comfortable or in my own space..)

Can anyone offer any personal positive stories or advice regarding being induced to help me see it in a different light?

Thank you

 

[BexTez]

Not a story but I'm in the same position, now 11 days over and booked for induction on Friday, with similar concerns. So although I can't offer advice I can sympathise my hubby and I have started an uno tournement, so at least we'll have something to entertain us during the waiting stage! He also bought me a jigsaw (1000 pieces, hope labour doesn't take that long!)

My mum was induced with me as was a good friend and they both said that whatever happens when your baby is in your arms you forget about everything that came before, and we're lucky in that we know for sure that this time next week we will have our babies!

I hope it all goes well for you, look forward to comparing stories after the weekend!

 

[Kiwi_53]

I am writing to reassure you that induction can be a very positive experience well it has been for me twice. With my first I was induced at 36 weeks and my second was at just under 37 weeks. Both times my cervix have been favourable even being weeks early and the midwifes have been able to send me straight to labour ward to get my waters popped and the drip started. With my first I started feeling contractions at around 12.30am and he was born at 6.06am. So a quick first labour. And my second I started to feel contractions at around 12 noonish and she was born at 4.40pm so an even quicker second labour. So I can certainly say I had good experiences both times, anything you want to ask me I will be happy to speak about to try and help. Hope you can feel more reassured that not all inductions are less than desirable. X

 

[firstfreakout]

Thanks for the reply Bex! It's actually really comforting to know that I'm not being silly with my worries.
An uno tournament sounds hilarious. I'll have to get a little entertainment package sorted tonight.

It's very true that I'd do anything to hold this kiddo, and I'm sure whatever happens having him here safe will be 100% worth any experience, I guess I just need to remember that when I'm sitting in hospital waiting for anything to happen. I find that sitting here now, as he's asleep and I can't feel him or see him or hold him, it's easy to only focus on myself, but that won't be the case for much longer.

Feel free to send me a message and keep in touch throughout and good luck!
(Kick his butt at Uno!) x

 

[firstfreakout]

I am writing to reassure you that induction can be a very positive experience well it has been for me twice. With my first I was induced at 36 weeks and my second was at just under 37 weeks. Both times my cervix have been favourable even being weeks early and the midwifes have been able to send me straight to labour ward to get my waters popped and the drip started. With my first I started feeling contractions at around 12.30am and he was born at 6.06am. So a quick first labour. And my second I started to feel contractions at around 12 noonish and she was born at 4.40pm so an even quicker second labour. So I can certainly say I had good experiences both times, anything you want to ask me I will be happy to speak about to try and help. Hope you can feel more reassured that not all inductions are less than desirable. X

Thank you for sharing. So amazing that you've had two inductions that were both so positive and quick!

My cervix is 1cm but still slightly long and posterior, and I was having contractions on Saturday but they've since stopped, so my body is trying to start but just not getting there. I don't know if that has anything to do with him being back to back or not...

Did you use any pain relief for your inductions?

 

[Kiwi_53]

With my first I had a shot of morphine due to thinking it was going to be a long process, because like yourself I was told expect days so that I had at around 4.30am and the checked me at 5am and I was 9cm then started to push at 5.30am so I always said if I had known that I would never have taken it. With my second I had gas and air for 15 minutes only and that was at the transition stage I only know this as I asked them to check me and I was 10cm and they suggested pushing without the gas so I could concentrate better. X

 

[firstfreakout]

With my first I had a shot of morphine due to thinking it was going to be a long process, because like yourself I was told expect days so that I had at around 4.30am and the checked me at 5am and I was 9cm then started to push at 5.30am so I always said if I had known that I would never have taken it. With my second I had gas and air for 15 minutes only and that was at the transition stage I only know this as I asked them to check me and I was 10cm and they suggested pushing without the gas so I could concentrate better. X

That's awesome. I was considering an epidural but I would love to be able to do it without and plan to see how much I can do without anything. So that's reassuring that you're proof it's not always a long and painful drawn out experience!

 

[Elspeth]

Hi ffo.
I wanted to offer you my own perspective as I had an induction with my first and a completely natural water birth with my second (no vaginal examinations even or gas and air).

My induction went well, I was induced due to pre labour rupture of membranes. My hind waters went and 2 days later labour still hadn't started.
I had the pessary and contractions started straight away. I dilated to 4cms within the next 4 hours. Then things got more painful and I didn't progress so well so they started the drip. I had been advised to have an epidural if having the drip so I did. It was amazing. Complete relief from the pain. I slept for a few hours and when I woke up was fully dilated. I started pushing and my daughter was delivered about 10 mins later (by vontouse as her heart rate dropped).

Holding her and looking in her eyes is still the most incredible moment of my life. I was comfortable and pain free, I felt safe and overwhelmed with love.

I had wanted a natural birth and with my son I did manage to get to the birth centre to deliver. This was a completely different experience. Incredible and intense in its own way. The first stage was fine, I dilated and was able to cope with the contractions breathing through them. The second stage took over an hour. It was really really hard work and just the weirdest feeling needing to push. By the end I was pushing with everything I had. By the time he was born I felt completely spent. I was just shaking in the pool. I could barely hold him. I was still in pain as had to deliver the placenta. It was crazy and took me a good half an hour to feel better. I had expected with a natural birth then holding my baby would be the most incredible thing but I actually preferred the epidural!!

Its certainly given me the perspective that my induction first time round (which I thoroughly resented), wasn't so bad after all.

Good luck, stay positive, still plenty of time to avoid induction.
Xx

 

[firstfreakout]

Hi ffo.
I wanted to offer you my own perspective as I had an induction with my first and a completely natural water birth with my second (no vaginal examinations even or gas and air).

My induction went well, I was induced due to pre labour rupture of membranes. My hind waters went and 2 days later labour still hadn't started.
I had the pessary and contractions started straight away. I dilated to 4cms within the next 4 hours. Then things got more painful and I didn't progress so well so they started the drip. I had been advised to have an epidural if having the drip so I did. It was amazing. Complete relief from the pain. I slept for a few hours and when I woke up was fully dilated. I started pushing and my daughter was delivered about 10 mins later (by vontouse as her heart rate dropped).

Holding her and looking in her eyes is still the most incredible moment of my life. I was comfortable and pain free, I felt safe and overwhelmed with love.

I had wanted a natural birth and with my son I did manage to get to the birth centre to deliver. This was a completely different experience. Incredible and intense in its own way. The first stage was fine, I dilated and was able to cope with the contractions breathing through them. The second stage took over an hour. It was really really hard work and just the weirdest feeling needing to push. By the end I was pushing with everything I had. By the time he was born I felt completely spent. I was just shaking in the pool. I could barely hold him. I was still in pain as had to deliver the placenta. It was crazy and took me a good half an hour to feel better. I had expected with a natural birth then holding my baby would be the most incredible thing but I actually preferred the epidural!!

Its certainly given me the perspective that my induction first time round (which I thoroughly resented), wasn't so bad after all.

Good luck, stay positive, still plenty of time to avoid induction.
Xx

Wow thanks for sharing this, Elspeth. It's really interesting to hear a different experience as like you said, you would expect the natural water birth to have been a better experience. Glad both your babies got here safely!

I think once I've slept on it and had tomorrow to prepare mentally it won't seem like such a daunting idea, I'm just getting used to the idea of not going into spontaneous labour and rushing to the hospital and doing it my way! But hearing that it can be a positive experience, and even a quick one, is helping me realise that it can be as versatile as a natural labour

 

[kinkers]

I was induced at 10 days over with my first. The drip was given to me at about 3pm and my waters were broken and baby was here by midnight. I had to have a ventouse delivery and an episiotomy but it was the best thing for my baby as his heart rate had been dropping throughout my labour. I had gas and air from 6cm and then had pethidine but never felt like the pain was unbearable. It's the best piece of advice my midwife gave me - to always make sure the pain was manageable and not try to go for as long as possible without pain relief. The hospital said they would have let us go home the next morning but they kept me in an extra night as I had a really long journey home cos I live in the middle of nowhere basically! My recovery was super quick and it hasn't put me off being induced again.

 

[firstfreakout]

I was induced at 10 days over with my first. The drip was given to me at about 3pm and my waters were broken and baby was here by midnight. I had to have a ventouse delivery and an episiotomy but it was the best thing for my baby as his heart rate had been dropping throughout my labour. I had gas and air from 6cm and then had pethidine but never felt like the pain was unbearable. It's the best piece of advice my midwife gave me - to always make sure the pain was manageable and not try to go for as long as possible without pain relief. The hospital said they would have let us go home the next morning but they kept me in an extra night as I had a really long journey home cos I live in the middle of nowhere basically! My recovery was super quick and it hasn't put me off being induced again.

Thank you, kinkers. Glad baby arrived safely and it wasn't a negative experience for you!

 

[BexTez]

I'm glad you posted this FFO, I'd just resigned myself to the fact I would be disappointed and end up having a scary, complex birth, and I'm seeing it's not how it has to be, so thank you

I will also make sure once I have given birth the phrase 'ooh it's much more painful when you're induced' never leave my mouth, as that's all anyone has told me, and even if it is true, what good does it do to worry and stress about it? I think some mums are so keen to tell you their war stories and show how hard they had it that they forget how scary those stories can be for first time pregnant mums!

xxxx

 

[firstfreakout]

I get what you mean. I'm all for honest stories and I like to be prepared but as I already know the risks and complications I'd like to hear the not-so-spoken about positives of this kind of labour.

I'm also sick of hearing the 'oh when the baby is here your life will change' speech. Like it hasn't already?! Silly peoples.

I think I'm coming to terms that what will be will be, and we can make it a positive experience by looking at it positively, if that makes sense.

 

[Elfs Mummy]

I met a girl in hospital she had the pesery 4 hours later her daughter was in her arms ! X

 

[snowbee]

I was induced as my waters had gone but nothing else was happening. I started in the drip at 11am and he was born just before 4pm. I had gas and air to get the drip in, it was possibly the worst bit! I didn't realise how fast it would all happen. It did get painful quite quickly. I had more gas and air then the last hour I had pethadine. I think I would have asked for it sooner if I had known I was that close to the end! My baby was also back to back. The drip did make me sick and they gave me the anti sickness jab, which made me feel better. The last hour I didn't enjoy much but it was only an hour and as soon as he was out all the pain went. It was all much better than I thought as I was fairly horrified at the thought of induction and hospital to begin with. Good luck, you will do great!