A good induction - My experience

[swedishchick]

As I had some good feedback to this post last week, http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=247413
I just thought I’d share my experience in the end to possibly calm anyone else worrying.

I had a great all natural birth with DD1 and was hoping I’d have the same with my son – but 10 days overdue and after lots of chili, sex and even acupuncture he still refused to budge. I decided to go with doctors advice of induction rather then wait any longer. I was very worried though, as I had heard lots of stories about inductions being a much rougher ride then normal labour.

I had already been 2cm dilated for a week so I didn’t need the gel. They broke my waters at 8AM, and on my request, allowed me two hours to see if this would get things going naturally, I only had a couple of very light contraction so they put a drip in at about 10.15.

In difference to what I had been told, this did NOT lead to full-on breath-taking contractions from the word go. As they started the drip on the lowest possible setting and then gradually upped the dose every half an hour – it wasn’t really all that far from my first labour. Probably a little bit more intense, not stronger contractions but just a little more frequent. But then you'd expect that with the painful stage of this birth lasting 2hrs - 1.5 hours less then with my first. I managed to get through it all with a few puffs of gas here and there and being able to feel it all I had him out in no more then a handful of pushes. Thanks to another almost all natural birth I recovered in no time and could bring my son home in less then 24 hours.

So if you are worried about an induction – talk to the midwife and see if they can make it slow and gradual – to simulate natural labour. And believe, that if that’s what you’re hoping for there is every chance you can get through it without an epidural.

Good luck!

[Bubmum]

Hi swedishchick:wave:..I had an induction as well as quite a few Mums in my Mother's group. They had pretty good experiences as well, and it sounds like you had a very good outcome. I am guessing that your baby and body needed a little nudge along, with what you say. How wonderful that you can share a positive induction story. I remember freaking out that I had to be induced, but the midwives were so amazing and capable, that it really was a good experience.
I wrote my birth story as well, and it was a positive experience, even though it was over 2 days, ending in c-section. I felt the hospital was wonderful, very supportive and encouraging, and perhaps that is what makes the difference? Oh, and the gas, when you get the hang of it, is really quite good;)

[wildfire]

I'm glad you had such a good experience.

The thing is, you were induced in the same way as everyone else, what you thought was slow and gradual is just the regular interval for increasing the Syntocinon (every half hr), you coped well, but remembering that all women are so very different, other women find that their uterus becomes hyperstimulated (far too many contractions far too quickly), and many babies do not cope well with this, and many women find it excrutiating, as in truly natural labour, the uterus would mostly slowly work up to this intensity.

But once again, it's good to hear a positive induction story, as so many are traumatic.

[tania1971]

thank you for writing your story. My story is a little different as I was induced at 33 weeks after being told that my placenta had broken away and my daughter died. They induced me immediately and the pain was horrendous. Non stop contractions that almost took my breath away. But I got through it, despite the circumstances and pushed her out in 4 1/2 hours with no stitches or grazes.

My concern is that this time I'm 36 1/2 weeks now and the ob told me he would induce at 37 weeks. Now he is saying to let this baby come on her own.

My husband and I are terrified and are now very confused as to what is right for her. The fear of having another stillbirth and placental abruption is extremely high....and we really have no idea what to do.

I don't want to put her at risk......by having an induction again....but I also fear that something may go wrong anyway.

What do you think I should do, or ask or insist on!
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

:angel:Angelica Hope 13/11/2006
:smiliedance:Precious Bub on the way 31/05/2009

[wildfire]

Tania, often when they induce someone whose baby has already died, they will do it differently with something called misoprostil, which I have heard is very painful. Maybe try to find out, as chances are this induction could be different. xxx

[newmummabear]

Wow, after reading all this Im not sure whether to be excited or nervous! Abit of both I think!

I'm 41 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I'm booked in to be induced this Sunday afternoon, I'm not sure what to expect! Ive heard sooo many bad stories but a few good ones too so I can only hope Im one of the few good ones who have a smooth go at it.

I hope it goes ok!!! :fingerscrossed:

[littlemissleft]

Hi there :) I was due on the 15th of May and was sent for an ultrasound to determine the size of my baby... my belly was HUGE! As I am only 5ft 2 and my hubby is 6ft 4 we all started to worry. On the 14th they did the scan and made a guesstimate that she was 10 pound 6 oz... They told me they would induce me at 9am in the morning... of course I burst into tears at the thought of trying to get a baby that size out!!! They gave me something to help me sleep, then took me down to labour ward 9am. My doc induced me with the Gel (prostaglandin... sp?) and said he will be back to check on me at 12 noon. I had niggly pains for the three hours but nothing unbearable and nothing I needed pain relief for, Doc popped in at 12 and said I had dialated 1 cm... grrrrr! He said he would be back to check at 2 pm... My pains got stronger but were very irregular, at this point I asked for the gas to be turned on. Doc said if I hadn't dialated anymore he would use some more of the gel. He checked and I had dialated another cm, so he said he would be back at 6 pm. My pains remained irregular but not unbearable with use of the gas. 5 pm the midwife called the doc as I had much stronger contractions and they wanted him on hand if I started to give birth due to the size of her and the fact that she was posterior. Doc checked me once again, accidently breaking my waters, then my contractions went crazy... 30 seconds apart. Doc said that bubby was not able to come down due to her size and after her heartbeat dropping to 30 beats per minute they gave me an emergency c-section (nothing to do with the induction, just because I had a giant posterior baby!) But all in all I'd have to say the induction was a good experience :) And now I have my (not so little) chubba bubba. By the way... she was exactly 10 pound 6 and a half ounces! LOL She must have put on half an ounce overnight :) Best of luck and soon you will be holding your little bundle in your arms :cloud9:

[bgbgbb]

It's good so see someone showing the positive side of induction.

Having had 3 labours that started naturally and one (the last) the was induced, I must say that the last one was quite a nice experience.

#3 came in less than 2 hours. Very scary when you have other children to get taken care of, rush to the hospital without knowing if you will make it and left me in shock for a little while afterwards.

With #4, due to a medical condition, my obgyn induced me and like swedishchick, it gradually built up, delivery was great (although somewhat immobile).

But the best part was after the labour, when the pitocin was continued to contract my uterus. when you've had 3+ labours, the afterpains can be quite intense. Having the pitocin do the work for me meant that for the next few days I could relax and enjoy my baby rather than be zonked out on top painkillers because of excrutiating afterpains.

With my fifth I would get induced again without a hesitation if my obgyn recommended it.

[rheasmum]

My waters broke naturally with my DD but I stopped contracting after 2cm dilation. Because the waters broke a long while ago (about 12 hours), they had to get me induced. But then before I could feel the contractions come on, I had the epidural. So yeah, I suppose I cannot be of too much help here.

Oh, yes, within 4 hours of induction, I was fully dilated and DD was delivered.

[kobi'smama]

I was induced at 39W at my own discretion and my induction was positive.
Had Gel inserted at 9pm and my waters broke naturally an hour later, contractions came quick and hard straight away, Had gas for a little while but didnt like it all. Went from 2cm to 10cm dialated in half hour so couldnt have any pain relief. Pushed for 2 hours...and DS was born. So from the time my water broke to the time DS was born was a total of 4 hours 45 mins.

Obgyn said my body had a reaction to the Gel which is why i went into labour straight away. Once the Gel was inserted, ten mins later DS heart rate dropped and i was having huge contractions before my water even broke. This subsided and heart rate went back to norm after about half hour. I was given sleeping tablets and told Dr would come in morning to break my waters....so i ended up having to go through the whole thing under the effect of sleeping tablets.
I cannot be induced again because of this reaction but in a way i was glad it happened this way as it was quick and bub was under no effects of any drugs at all! I had no stitches or grazes and was up and about after giving birth straight away.