Being induced

[Laurenr1991]

So I’m being induced on Saturday morning cause my waters have gone today without contractions etc. But I have never been induced, can people tell me what to expect please so I don’t go in nervous?

[Seb9]

There's different ways to be induced depending on where you are, your midwife should be able to run you thru what they do.

For mine I had a pessary inserted on the first day for 24 hours to soften my cervix and to possibly kick start labour. I stayed at the hospital overnight, it was uncomfortable but not painful. I took some paracetamol and used a tens machine which helped.

The next morning I taken from the maternity ward to a delivery suite. Pessary came out and my waters were broken. That was uncomfortable and I had gas and air for that. After they were broken a little monitor was attached to babies head and a monitor round my leg. I then had a fluid and hormone drip out into a cannula in my hand. This stated the contractions off, which were painful but I wasn't dilated enough to be able to do anything. I asked for an epidural which meant I could rest without pain till I w dilated enough to push. Once I had dilated enough, the epidural had worn off so I could feel the contractions again and push when the midwife said to. Baby came out and I only had a small tear and graze, no stiches needed. Baby was handed to me, delayed cord cutting was standard at our hospital, dad cut the cord and we were skin to skin, she was suckling within the first hour. I had gestational diabetes so we had to stay on for 24 hours for her sugar levels to be checked, they were great and we were allowed to leave before the 24 hours were up. It was all in all a very good experience, good luck

[Minnie92]

Same thing happened to me my waters went but nothing happened, I had the pessary Put it at 8pm which didn’t work for me So was started on the oxytocin drip at 4am, my baby was born 7 hours later! Good luck! X

[Zobot84]

I had the same happen to me in February; I was put on an synthetic oxytocin drip 24 hours after my waters went, as once your waters have gone there is a slightly higher risk of infection.

The midwife was present throughout and I had monitors in my bump to keep an eye on baby (mine were Bluetooth controlled so I could move around more), my contractions began about an hour after the drip started and as with any pregnancy steadily got stronger.

I found the whole experience really supportive and although it wasn’t the birthing pool I’d hoped for it was still ‘my birth’. Try and relax, you’ve got this mumma xx

[Bailey135]

I was induced 4 weeks ago and I had a 24 hour pessary (which didn’t work) because it was my first. I then went in and had pessaries 6 hours apart (this would be what happens if it isn’t your first) they failed too. But they managed to break my waters... once my waters were broke they gave me a hormone drip and I went from 1cm dilated to 10cm dilated in about 12 hours. Xx

[Bailey135 in reply to Bailey135]

Also I would recommend the epidural- inductions are supposedly more painful (not sure as it was my first baby) but I was in agony - epidural definitely a life saver for me x

[Sevy571]

Your question prompted me to have a look for myself, maybe you will be interested in those resources (you don't have to be induced right now if you prefer to wait) - if not do ignore my message!

swbh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uplo...

evidencebasedbirth.com/evid...

I wish you all the best!