I'm expecting to be booked in for induction tomorrow at 37 weeks + 4 days due to baby being on 96th centile and gestational diabetes.
I'll be assessed to see if my cervix needs opening, but will most likely need a pessary or rods.
Does anybody have any stories to share please? E.g. of cervix being open/ closed at 37 weeks/ preference for rods/pessary/ experience of contractions/ how long the process took from beginning to end? Having a larger baby compared to own size?
Hope everyone is doing well and are having a good start to the new year!
Thanks!
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Orangeflowers
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I was induced with pessary at 39+6 last year. I was examined at 39 weeks and my consultant attempted a sweep but my cervix was closed.
My consultant was concerned that baby was big, but I didn’t have gestational diabetes. He did speak to me about an elective section but I opted for induction (for some unknown reason 😂).
I was induced before lunch and waters didn’t go until the following morning, but I ended up having a section later that day due to baby’s heartbeat.
I found that my contractions were coming quite close together within a few hours, even though when I was examined I was progressing very slowly. I don’t have another labour to compare the intensity of the contractions to. I have heard that the labour is more intense with an induction, but I suppose everyone’s experience is different and subjective!
Thank you so much for sharing! ☺️ Turns out that on assessment yesterday, I'm 2cm dilated all on my own without intervention at 37+4. Who would have known?! Monitor also picking up contractions although only feeling mild period pains! Waiting on a list for delivery suite! x
I was due for induction at 39 weeks and they performed a sweep 3 days before that luckily broke my waters broke on their own the morning I was due to have the balloon catheter fitted. The balloon is a method you can have fitted to stretch your cervix and then go home for 24 hours and then you come back and they see if they can break your waters, if not you get the pessary (which you need to stay in for)
Even though mine went on their own my consultant wanted to monitor me so put me in the ward with the ladies being induced. The experiences around me were so varied going from a young girl beside me induced at 38 weeks for a small baby who had the pessary and 2 hours later had to pull the emergency cord in the toilet and was fully dilated to ladies who had been there for over a day and on their 2nd and 3rd pessary.
As my waters had been broken for more than 24 hours and I hadn’t given birth yet (was about 6-7cm dilated) they put me on the induction drip. I hadnt had any pain meds yet except paracetamol at that stage and heard the drip can bring on quite intense painful contractions so asked for an epidural first (my original plan was to work up to the epidural and try gas and air etc first but I didn’t want to feel groggy etc once I was there as hadn’t slept for 24 hours)
And don’t feel anything much after that in terms of pain and would highly recommend! Baby arrived about 5 hours later natural birth, only minor 2nd degree tears and I will be hoping to go down the same route for my current pregnancy if I can. Defo recommended trying a sweep (with a consultant rather than a midwife if possible)
Thank you! ☺️ Turns out that on assessment yesterday, I'm 2cm dilated all on my own without intervention at 37+4. Who would have known?! Monitor also picking up contractions although only feeling mild period pains! Waiting on a list for delivery suite!
Will go for epidural as well I think when it gets to that point! x
Amazing! That’s what I was when they did the sweep about 2cm dilated and then waters broke a couple of days later on their own too! Waters broke Friday 6am bay was born Saturday just after 3pm. Your baby will be here very soon by the sounds of it, best of luck lovely xx
hi, I was induced with my first baby at 38+4 due to large size, but he was 67th percentile when born. My cervix was closed, I went with the pessary, then the gel. Started treatment Sunday night, waters broke Tuesday 7am, had the oxytocin drip, baby born 7pm.
As the oxytocin rate increased, I found the contractions a bit more painful than I thought I could handle so I had an epidural. Had some vomiting so had an anti nausea injection. Overall was fine, monitored the whole time, felt safe and in control as you can be.
Second baby, also induced at 39w as I was 43 by that stage. Had the balloon to dilate cervix which I could go home with. Dilated to 4cm after 9 hours, then midwife broke waters, then waited a bit , then had oxytocin drip and epidural again. From waters breaking to baby arriving was 12 hours. Again, monitored really closely and although it feels like a longish time and slow progress, I felt in control and calm.
Both babies were average-ish size and the midwife told me that if at any time there is not enough progress or the baby is becoming distressed , then they can intervene or can opt for c -section. Whole thing was controlled and calm and they kept me informed of options the whole way through.
Thank you so much for sharing! ☺️ Turns out that on assessment yesterday, I'm 2cm dilated all on my own without intervention at 37+4. Who would have known?! Monitor also picking up contractions although only feeling mild period pains! Waiting on a list for delivery suite!
It sounds like I could still be waiting quite a while after my waters break too..
I'm pleased to hear all went well after the epidurals. I'll probably opt for x
My waters went at 38+1 & after a trip to the hospital they sent us home to return 24 hrs later. When I went back in, they did some checks and I was 1cm dilated so they gave me a pessary & said due to my waters already breaking 6hrs later I would be moved to the delivery suite.
When we went to the suite I was put on the hormonal drip (this was 5.30am) and at 2pm I gave birth to my son. My contractions really started to ramp up from around 9am & I don’t really remember a great deal from this point if I am being honest… I went from 1cm to 9cm very quickly & actually had minimal pain relief. I did have to have some intervention at the end but I would say overall my induction process was positive & I wouldn’t hesitate to be induced again if needed.
You always hear the worst stories - wishing you a safe labour x
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