Induction

[lilygogan]

HI, im being induced on monday at 38 weeks im feeling quite nervous about it. Does anyone have any advice?

[Pickle]

Try to relax about it - you will hear all sorts of horror stories but it's not always bad.

I've had two inductions, both at 37 weeks. The first took a while to work, but once it did I managed the labour with just a tens machine and had a complication-free birth (I was given the prosten pessary and a syntocin drip once my waters broke). Second time it all happened very quickly, and once again I managed a natural birth with a bit of gas and air and my trusty tens machine again.

I had been told, by everyone I spoke to, that I would NEED an epidural, and to expect a c-section. I'm due my 3rd child in January and it's 99% certain that I'll be induced early again, so it's a way of life for me now!

My advice would be to do as much as you can to have the whole process happen the way you want it to. Walk around as much as you can during the day of induction (I'm convinced that the fact I stayed upright pretty much the whole time helped me), and try to stay relaxed.

Good luck!

[Fuschia]

It's worth thinking through what your 'limits' are likely to be (depending on the reAson for induction and any special factors)

My main concern has always been to be be able to stay upright and mobile (I have been induced twice) so wanted to avoid the drip if possible as continual monitoring is needed then

If things are favourable (bishops score) then breaking the waters might be easy, and all that's needed to start you off

If things aren't favourable, it's good to have prior warning that it might not work

[Fuschia]

Having had two babies naturally with no pain relief at all and two with syntocinon, I wouldnt try it without an epidural (twin 2 I had just gas and air, latest baby I had a failed epidural)

More than enough of that bloody drip to last me a lifetime! Mind you the Prostin gel is a Bit uncomfortable too

C

Having had baby no at 41+4 no induction

Twin 1 just after hVing waters broken (born in 3h)

Twin 2 waters broken and synto

Latest baby had the whole works, Prostin gel, pessary, waters broken, synto and epidural (took from Monday- Saturday)

I feel I have experienced most angles!

I think

[Annie456]

I was recently induced with my first baby at 42 weeks having had 3 failed sweeps in the week before. I just had the pessary which kicked labour off after 2 hours. It was an intense start but completely managable with just gas and air and my tens machine and I was able to stay mobile throughout including a few hours in the pool.

I was at Tommys in their midwife-led unit as opposed to their full on 'hospital birth centre' - they are both on the same floor (same corridor even) but it meant I would need to transfer if I wanted an epidural or needed the hormone drip. As it turned out, my contractions started to really die down to barely any for the last 2 hours and the midwife felt I could have done with the drip to kick things off again, but there were no beds in the hospital birth centre so I just had to make do. My point is, give yourself all the options. I know all labours are unpredictable but I was kicking myself for wanting a water-birth so badly that I denied myself the chance for more pain relief and the hormone drip later on.