Preparing to be induced.

[mitsubachi]

Hi all - been lurking throughout my pregnancy and love the variety of views you all have, so I was hoping that I might get some cross-section of advice.
I was due on the 13th but with no signs of imminent labour it seems my worst fear is coming to pass - I will be induced on Thursday morning.

Is there anything anyone can recommend to prepare, mentally and physically, for this? I'd felt quite comfortable about dealing with a slow, natural onset of contractions, but all my positive thoughts are gone right now and I'm pretty scared.

Was there anything you wished you'd done that could have made a difference, or anything that you did do that you felt made an induced birth a positive experience?

[AM]

If you are not comfortable with it, don't have it done.

You can request to be monitored and only be induced if there is actually a problem. Being 41 weeks or so pregnant is not a problem

[meegs]

I was induced with both my kids. First labour was 8 hours, second was 3 1/2.
Beforehand I just thought of it as one day of my life and the pain will be over and I'll have my baby. That helped alot.
My first labour hurt like hell and I really wasnt looking forward to being induced with bubs #2 but it went so well and I couldnt have been happier with the whole labour. I will be happy if I get induced with bubs #3 because my second one was such a positive experience for me :)

Goodluck to you. Hope all goes well.

[korahblue]

From my experience, its not as bad as I thought it would be.

I was induced a week after I was due. They put the gel in at about 9pm, I stayed in hospital overnight as it was a 40 min drive home. Then they had a look in the morning at 8 am and I was pretty much ready to go so the OB broke my waters and I was having contractions within about 15 minutes. The rest of the labour was much the same as my first except it was over in 4 hours compared to 7.5 hours. I had a shot of pethadine for pain relief and I had also done some self-hypnosis training which really helped

I was nervous about it before hand as I had heard horror stories about having to have the drip and being contained to your bed. But i spoke to my OB about it and he said it is fine to walk around if you have to have the drip.

So my advice to you would be to ask your doctor as many questions as you need to feel more comfortable about it, and if you're still not happy about it, then ask to have it postponed a little longer and see if bubs comes along naturally.

Good luck either way, you'll be getting to see your beautiful baby which ever way you go!!

[shed]

Your post makes me think your gut instinct is telling you that this induction is too soon. Is that the case?

If so, trust your instincts. You are a pregnant woman and thousands of years of evolution have honed those instincts. You can believe in them.

I think induction due to being past 40 weeks is not really a reason. Are there any other reasons that you are being induced apart from being past your estimated due date?

Good luck.

[mitsubachi]

Thanks all - it's reassuring to know it isn't always a horrible experience.

Shed, I am half thinking it's too early but also half worried that my boy might be getting distressed in the there as he runs out of room. Some variation in my initial due dates makes me uncertain of where I really as on the spectrum between 'could happily wait longer' and 'really ought to consider some intervention'.

I've talked to my doc - at first I thought the gel sounded like the more natural option, if only because it didn't involve a drip or the word "rupturing" but he did say I could still move around (which is part of my pain management strategy) and said that the drip can be turned up or down as need be, whereas the gel cannot.

I am still a little worried about the whole rupturing membranes process - does this necessarily have to come before the drip? Or would it be medically acceptable to request a slow start to the drip and monitoring before the decision is made to rupture?

I am probably only worried on this point because I perceive the fluids as being conducive to birthing, and I've read some birth stories where the waters didn't burst at all, or only at the final stages of labour.

I am very happy to focus on the fact it is an experience that (even if it is very painful) will not last forever and at the end I will finally get to meet my boy. Thanks for reminding me of this.

[youngones]

I'm with Shed and ApprenticeMomma on this.

I went 13 days over and consented (well, was pushed really) to induction. Time over again and I wouldn't have allowed it - not because it was a terrible experience, although it wasn't a good one either, but just because I now know that there is a lot of evidence to suggest that a baby knows when it is ready to be born. Some recent research out of Europe shows that an enzyme is released when the baby's lungs are mature enough to breathe on their own and it is this enzyme that triggers the onset of labour. Amazing stuff!!

Like you said, the build up of contractions in a familiar environment, like at home, allows you to distract yourself - just one more load of washing, folding, empty the dishwasher, pat the dog, get the mail or whatever, but in a hospital environment, even one as nice as a birth centre, it is artificial, adds stress and there is always a feeling of time pressure, which I felt actually hindered my progress.

For what it is worth, I had my waters broken at 9am (I had apparently been in pre labour, because I was 3cm), but I ended up on a drip at 9.30pm, still at 3cm. It was a very stressful 12 hours, because of the time pressure and every examination showed that I wasn't progressing, which caused me more stress, which in turn, probably slowed my progress.

Being hooked up to a drip really isn't an ideal way to deliver either, because it gives them a reason to keep you on a bed and pushing uphill isn't much fun and it can also increase your risk of tearing (but not always).

If you do decide to go ahead with an induction, maybe go for the least intervention first, which would be breaking your waters. The gel and drip both have additional risks, which you should be made aware of well before you consent to having them.

In the meantime, :fingerscrossed: that you go into labour tonight!!!

[mitsubachi]

Thanks youngones - the doc was planning on breaking waters first, but I wasn't sure whether this was the lesser form of intervention or not. I will try to not feel time pressures (I'm in a private hospital, I'm paying for this, so I will take as long as I want! lol)

I will be hoping the boy decides to move on his own today/night though. Didn't know about the enzyme but it all makes sense, all the more reason to want a natural kick-off.

[PunkyDiva]

Answer from another forum but I agree with it.

"Do you think trying to simply relax and go with the flow, and have complete and utter trust in your body that your baby will be born on exactly the right date, at exactly the right maturity for bub might be an option?

The problem about taking too much notice of your ESTIMATED due date is that for some reason the mind locks onto it as a deadline, when we all know that a normal gestation can easily be 42 weeks, even longer, so I hate to say it, but you could be waiting a while longer yet. Don't fight it is my advice. Relax while you can!

Natural methods can have limited use in that they give you something to do in very late pregnancy when you are feeling completely stir crazy, but I do not believe they will bring your baby any quicker than bub was coming anyway."

And this reply too...

"You are meant to feel uncomfortable, restless, impatient and absolutely ready for birthing your baby when s/he is ready: this is normal, and helps you to fully embrace and invite the hard work of labour and birth.

Please do bear in mind that a first baby (on average) arrives ten days past the given 'due date' (which is irrelevant and arbitrary to begin with!) so the system of measurement is inappropriate to begin with. This being an average means many babies choose to come even later: four weeks wouldn't be unusual (where babies are not induced for dates alone).

The risks of induction are high, even so-called natural induction (60% higher chance of c-sect, and rocketing other interventions). Induction for dates alone is never justifiable/safe/worth the risk.

This time can be really challenging. Learning to trust yourself, your body and your baby, and 'go with the flow'; to let go of times, dates, measurements and control is a huge journey.

But, these lessons offer you a huge gift and blessing as you head into the wild, rocky and exhilerating journey of labour and birth and parenting; where patience and trust are so essential...

Yes to pampering. Lots of treats and trips out, meeting friends - whatever you love doing...

You will hold this precious baby in your arms when the time is right.

And, before you know it s/he'll be packing up to leave home. Cherish every moment. Even these.

Go gently."

Some sites to peruse...

http://www.kentmidwiferypractice.co.uk/induction.htm

http://www.hencigoer.com/
__________________

[shed]

Shed, I am half thinking it's too early but also half worried that my boy might be getting distressed in the there as he runs out of room.


I have never heard of a baby getting distressed because they run out of room in their own mother's womb. I think he would have to be in there a lot longer before that would even cross my mind, unless I had gestational diabetes or something.

Your baby is an expert at being born, honestly, he has been programmed to know what to do and when to do it, they are wonderful amazing little creatures who get it right more often than they don't. All they usually need is to be given a chance to let nature do its job. That's all they need.

Too many doctors like to be 'useful' when really, they are not needed, all that is needed is a pregnant woman and a baby.

[doulacara]

I know it is difficult watching that due date pass by, but it is just an approximation - an estimation. A normal pregnancy is considered to run anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks. If you were due on the 13th, that means at least another week until you reach the end of week 42. Some even suggest that the range should be expanded from 36 to 44 weeks and there are plenty of people who have birthed healthy babies past 42 weeks. Certainly a lot of midwives and birth centres do not become concerned until the end of week 42.

If you are not comfortable with induction - don't do it. Talk to your OB about monitoring the fluid levels and heart rate after 42 weeks. Most women will go into labour before 42 weeks - some don't.

Sending birthing vibes to you -

Cara

[AM]

Hey Punky!! Thanks for quoting me!! :laughing:


QUOTE:
"Do you think trying to simply relax and go with the flow, and have complete and utter trust in your body that your baby will be born on exactly the right date, at exactly the right maturity for bub might be an option?

The problem about taking too much notice of your ESTIMATED due date is that for some reason the mind locks onto it as a deadline, when we all know that a normal gestation can easily be 42 weeks, even longer, so I hate to say it, but you could be waiting a while longer yet. Don't fight it is my advice. Relax while you can!

Natural methods can have limited use in that they give you something to do in very late pregnancy when you are feeling completely stir crazy, but I do not believe they will bring your baby any quicker than bub was coming anyway."

[youngones]

:smiliedance::smiliedance::smiliedance:
Sending you lots of positive vibes to get things rolling along!!!

Remember too, that even with just breaking your membranes (which is actually very non invasive, when you think about it after the birth itself!), there is time pressure - left too long in labour after your waters have broken, without progressing, can increase risk of infection. Like I said, given my time again, I'd opt to just let nature take its course, with a little monitoring, just to make sure things are still ok. Given you are going private, if I were you, I'd be pushing to leave things well alone, with some monitoring, until at the very earliest 42 weeks. After all, as you say, you're paying them to do what you want, not the other way around!

Of course, next time, we'll both be telling people that our 'due date' is about 2-4 weeks later than it actually is :laughing:, because for me, people asking if anything had happened yet was almost more mind-numbingly frustrating than the fact that nothing had happened yet...

[ShadyCharacter]

Another thing to keep in mind is that induction via syntocin (the drip) is quite likely to lead to a distressed babe. Distressed babe is VERY likely to instrumental delivery or c/section.

Induced labour is also more painful... VERY likely to lead to unwanted pain relief like epidurals... in turn, very likely to lead to instrumental delivery or c/section.

Its a slippery slope.

I would ask for close monitoring and leave well enough alone unless there was a real problem.

[vespertine]

38-42 weeks and beyond is considered term. Not 40 weeks only. "40+" isn't a medical condition. From someone who consented, heavy heartedly, to an induction- I can honestly say it was a huge mistake and I've regretted it ever since. Try a lesson in trust and patience, and allow your baby to choose her own birthday. Meddling with nature often brings complex consequences, and even if you were one of the few lucky ones who scrape through the induction with no physical harm (and your baby) it is likely that you will look back on the interference with your healthy pregnancy, with a bad taste in your mouth, and if you're anything like me an a thinker/processor/reflector this isn't something you'll just 'get through' and be fine. It'll play in your mind like a broken record, over and over. Again, I stress- allow your healthy baby to gestate to his own timetable, not to rigid one enforced by the medical model. Some buns take a little longer to brown than others, and yours is probably putting all her finishing touches on right now, all those important beautiful little final steps of completion before birth. Don't rob her of that! All the best.

[SassyMummy]

I would wait. If your gut is instructing you to wait, then wait. Agree to regular monitoring, but nothing more, unless absolutely necessary.

I wish I had done this with my daughter.

I was induced at 10 days over. Then again at 11. Then again at 12. None of these times did it do anything - and I believe it was a combination of many things.

1. My body just wasn't ready.
2. My due date was off (I only figured this one out recently... my cycle was longer than I thought, meaning my due date was actually later than the due date I had... meaning I wasn't as far along as it was though).
3. I spent those several days laying around in a hospital bed, because I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital, and laying in bed was the only thing I could do. Being ACTIVE can be helpful to bring on labour, but my body didn't have much of a chance by just laying around all day.

On day 13, I was told I would need a caesarean. I was given the choice, "Dead baby or caesarean." Of course, this was only based on the fact that I was overdue according to dates... and nothing more.

On day 14, I had the caesarean.

More than 2 years on, I still can't get over it - it was the most horrible experience ever, and it was just a straightforward caesarean.

I kick myself day in, day out, for not listening to my instincts, telling me my baby was fine, that I was fine, that I didn't have the strength to say no even though I wanted to.

Seriously consider your options here - you don't want to regret it, and kick yourself, like I do, for years down the track. I didn't think I would have been affected like this, but I have...

I hope you don't make the same mistakes I have... it's awful to be inable to get over it...