Induction / First Baby tomorrow

[ramdcg]

Hi Ladies,

I am 41+4 today and going to be induced tomorrow. This is my first baby and although my amazing midwife has explained everything to me, I am still a bit scare of not knowing what to expect. This is my first baby and I just want everything to go smooth for her and to have a healthy baby.

Could anyone share their experiences? Even if it was a bad one, don’t worry I would love to hear it too. I want to be all prepared with the good and bad stories before I go into the hospital.

Thank you all! This group is amazing xx

[KiboXX]

Hey lovely,

It’s completely natural to be scared but you’ve absolutely got this and you’ll be fine. Your body was built to do this ❤️

I had an induction with my little girl six weeks ago, she’s also my first. Had the pessary put in and my contractions started a few hours later, pretty mild at first and then my waters broke and I was moved over to delivery. My little girl came along a few hours later. It was bang on 24 hours from the pessary going in to her making her arrival xx

[AllWeNeedIsluv]

Just wanted to wish you all the best my love. It is,natural to be.scared!! Its a very anxious time. Im not going to share my induction story. Wishing you a smooth delivery 💗😘

[cmbxm]

I have no advice other than you’ve got this and remember, every contraction brings you closer to your baby, YOU CAN DO THIS 💪🏻 x

[KTL80]

I was induced at 39+1. I went straight on the drip. It was started at 2pm & increased every hour. I had my first proper contraction at 5pm & my son was born at 7pm. I have nothing but positive memories about the whole experience & cannot complain at a 2 hour labour! Everyone’s experience is different & I hope it all goes well for you. Wishing you lots of luck, you will have your little one in your arms before you know it! Xx

[Seb9]

I had a really positive experience too, I went in and had the pessary inserted, and then I had to wait for 24 hours.

I stayed at the hospital overnight, it was a bit uncomfortable and they have me a tens machine and paracetamol which was good. I would recommend taking ear plugs if you sleep on the ward, it can be quite noisy and you'll need your rest for the pushing bit.

When the pessary hadn't started my contractions I moved on to the drip in the morning. They took me to the labour suite and broke my waters, again it was a bit uncomfortable and I was given gas and air, which really helped.

Then when I had the drip, I asked for them to arrange the epidural, which I'm glad I did, with the drip the contractions were very strong and intermittent, and I wasn't dilated, so the epidural helped so I wasn't in pain, right up till I was ready to push and the epidural was wearing off. I even managed to have a nap during the day while I waited to dilate.

They monitored baby and me very well through the day and changed the levels in the drip when needed.

At one point they thought I might need assistance with the doctor but by the time they got him set up to assist, baby came just from me pushing.

I was very lucky and only had a small tear and a graze, so was up and on my feet within an hour or so.

I had gestational diabetes so we had to stay in for 24 hours monitoring of babies bloods, but otherwise I think we could have left a few hours after.

Everyone was very friendly, but you do have to be fairly confident about your choices, my first midwife was not overly keen to organise my epidural and I ended up asking another midwife for it while the first one was on her break, so if they aren't being helpful, make sure that you ask or what you want and be confident in your choices.

Best of luck xx

[LauraX19]

Hi I was induced with my first baby last year, I was just as nervous as you really don’t know what to expect but honestly you’ll be fine my birth went smoothly no complications and I did it all without any kind of pain relief your body’s built for this you will be fine 💖

[MrsE29]

Hi I had an induction at 10 days over. Started with pessary and then went to drip. Had gas and air for midwife to break my waters as labour didn't really progress. Ended with an emergency c section although would still describe as a positive experience. All the best xx

[Fifikoko]

Morning dear

I had an induction at 39+2 with my first baby 13 weeks ago.

I was really really dreading the thought of lots of internal examinations during the process and had also heard negative stories about how long it could all take with the drip, epidurals etc. I rang the midwife triage number a few days before I was due to go in and told them my worries. The midwife I spoke to was lovely and told me about something called Dialapan. It’s basically some little plastic rods (she called them plastic matchsticks) which they insert in your cervix (up to 5 of them) for 24 hours before they do anything else. It helps your cervix expand gently. I had that done first. I only dilated about a cm so I had the pessary put in next.

I started having contractions soon after that first pessary was put in (around 9pm), was in established labour by around midnight , waters broke themselves (just before midwives were about to do it) at 5:30 am and my son arrived at 10am with just gas and air.

I think the key is just to try and stay as calm and relaxed as possible. As someone else said be firm and confident in your choices. I would also recommend taking lots of stuff in with you to help you feel relaxed and comfortable. Your pregnancy pillow if you have one, favourite treats and snacks, music or meditations to listen to, essential oils to calm you down, tea lights etc.

Best of luck! 🤞🏽🙏🏽💖

[Abs1403]

good luck today!

We didn’t have a great experience unfortunately which started from the morning of the planned induction when the midwife told me I was a day early to be going in.... I wasn’t but she seemed to think I was in the wrong 🤦‍♀️ This was Saturday morning.

The balloon method wouldn’t work (this was Saturday evening) so had the normal pessary in for 24 hours, despite having contractions labour didn’t progress. I had a second pessary for a further 6 hours (Sunday night) and still it didn’t progress. The midwife broke my waters anyway and then 5 hours (8am Monday Morning) later I went on the drip. Was on that from 8am until 6pm experiencing pretty strong contractions (4 every 10 minutes) from about 2pm.

By 6pm I was still only 1cm dilated (I’d been that since the Thursday before my induction) so baby was delivered by emergency c-section at 8.20pm.

I went into hospital imagining my baby would be born within hours, not days and frustrated further by my husband being allowed in for every induction treatment but then being sent away again while we sat and waited. He was luckily with me from about 5am on the Monday morning until baby arrived and then a couple of hours after birth.

My advice.... don’t worry about any birth plan you may have and let the experts take control... but voice your opinion all the way. As soon as I said I wanted baby out they took me for c-section no questions asked.

I hope it all goes well for you xx