I’ve realised that the most important thing to me in this pregnancy is that my labour starts naturally. I don’t really care about drug options - I had an epidural first time round and it was marvellous but worked so well I felt absolutely nothing. Don’t really ‘care’ whether I end up with a C section or instrumental birth if it’s necessary once we get to that point but I just want to go into labour myself. It’s hard to cut through the figures but it seems like it’s roughly a 2 in 5 chance from most of the sources I’ve read, though some place C sections and induction of labour at around 70 - 75% of all UK births! Feels like you‘re stuck between a rock and a hard place sometimes doesn't it.
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I feel the same! I’m almost 39 weeks and at my midwife appointment yesterday she was saying about booking an induction and I’m like “Just let my girl come when she wants to?” so I’ve booked it for when I’m 42 weeks to give her as much time as possible but she looked at me like I had 2 heads!
With my first I had a C section booked because gestational diabetes so they didn’t want me going over 41 weeks, and the week before I was in tears to my husband because I wanted my boy to come naturally, and he must’ve listened because the next day I went into labour!
I’m not completely woo-woo/crunchy but I don’t like how much they push inductions. When I said I absolutely didn’t want to be induced and would prefer a scheduled C section they made me feel so sad and so stupid for that decision
That makes me sad that they made you feel silly for preferring a scheduled c section. It is YOUR birth!
I denied a few inductions and waited until bang on 42 weeks and have no regrets, just hold firm girl!
If anyone needs positive induction stories I’m happy to share. I definitely read too many negative ones beforehand which was dumb.
Would love a positive induction story because all I’ve heard from everyone (including a pal who’s a paediatrician) is that inductions either take days and are agony and super slow or lead to emergency C sections
I have a positive induction story. I was induced with the gel at 11am and baby boy came at 7.30pm and I didn’t need the second part of the induction which would have been the hormone drip. The pain was quite intense though and I was let down with getting my epidural really late but the actually induction was fine!
Tbh I didn’t realise there were so many negative stories of inductions when I had mine. I had it because my waters broke but I didn’t go into labour.
For my second pregnancy I’ve been advised I should be induced before 40 weeks because I have gestational diabetes. I’m almost 37 weeks now. I am going to agree to it as for me personally, I’d prefer that to a planned c section. I’m hoping baby comes on her own though soon!
Tbh I didn’t realise there were so many negative stories of inductions when I had mine. I had it because my waters broke but I didn’t go into labour.
For my second pregnancy I’ve been advised I should be induced before 40 weeks because I have gestational diabetes. I’m almost 37 weeks now. I am going to agree to it as for me personally, I’d prefer that to a planned c section. I’m hoping baby comes on her own though soon!
I would also welcome positive induction stories! 33 weeks with my second and have GD this time too, I didn't with my first.
The consultant has said they would likely offer induction from 38 weeks as baby is looking big. But I am struggling with being comfortable with that as there is so much negativity and often judgment with inductions, I think.
It worries me that it could take days and we'd be leaving our son for a long time. My first labour was long and the birth was difficult so I was hoping it would be easier this time round!
Positive induction story!
Context:
- low risk pregnancy
- 1 baby and first birth
- 42 weeks
- 2cm dilated already
Appointment at 4:00pm. CTG for a few hours and one last sweep. Was told it would be the next morning to get onto the labour ward but they saw I was 42 weeks and they took me down at 6/7pm with a dedicated midwife. Perks of being overdue I guess
1st check I was 3cm and I chose to get my waters broken (first stage of induction for me) as the midwife said it was super easy to. No pain, felt a bit weird, just leaking. Prepared to be there for days.
Contractions started really well and I asked for 2 hours instead of the usual 1hr before talk of the hormone drip. I was on a ball and could deal with contractions ok. I was soooo close to labouring without the drip but they weren’t quite strong enough, they were regular though.
I had a few ml of the drip and my god I was off. I must say the only bad bit was the Syntocin contractions, they were exactly what everyone said, horrendous!
At midnight I was in full flow. Gas and air, peanut ball, oxytocin playlist on. I begged for the epidural when the gas and air no longer worked but their next check I was 10cm and there was no time so birth comb was well used
vaginal birth @ 4:30am 12 hours after I stepped into hospital , my notes said my total labour was 3.5 hours.
So she took her time but at the end all she needed was a little wake up call and she was out quick.
If I could do anything again I’d have asked for the epidural earlier but as it was my first birth I just thought that’s how the contractions felt. I’ll know for next time! Would happily have my birth over again, blessed that it was a positive experience.
Context:
- low risk pregnancy
- 1 baby and first birth
- 42 weeks
- 2cm dilated already
Appointment at 4:00pm. CTG for a few hours and one last sweep. Was told it would be the next morning to get onto the labour ward but they saw I was 42 weeks and they took me down at 6/7pm with a dedicated midwife. Perks of being overdue I guess
1st check I was 3cm and I chose to get my waters broken (first stage of induction for me) as the midwife said it was super easy to. No pain, felt a bit weird, just leaking. Prepared to be there for days.
Contractions started really well and I asked for 2 hours instead of the usual 1hr before talk of the hormone drip. I was on a ball and could deal with contractions ok. I was soooo close to labouring without the drip but they weren’t quite strong enough, they were regular though.
I had a few ml of the drip and my god I was off. I must say the only bad bit was the Syntocin contractions, they were exactly what everyone said, horrendous!
At midnight I was in full flow. Gas and air, peanut ball, oxytocin playlist on. I begged for the epidural when the gas and air no longer worked but their next check I was 10cm and there was no time so birth comb was well used
vaginal birth @ 4:30am 12 hours after I stepped into hospital , my notes said my total labour was 3.5 hours.So she took her time but at the end all she needed was a little wake up call and she was out quick.
If I could do anything again I’d have asked for the epidural earlier but as it was my first birth I just thought that’s how the contractions felt. I’ll know for next time! Would happily have my birth over again, blessed that it was a positive experience.
For me the intensity of the pain and the way it was handled (my hind waters broke early at 36+5, they admitted me, said I could have some time to think about what I wanted re: induction or C section then appeared at 2am and took me to labour ward whilst me and husband were still half asleep and started the process; having my 'proper' waters broken was the worst pain I have ever felt) has totally put me off. I will refuse sweeps too, as I have such a sensitive cervix, and any vaginal exams are so so uncomfortable it's nigh on unbearable especially if I'm already feeling crampy/sensitive. I got the epidural pretty early which then slowed labour, was in labour for 36 hours and basically felt nothing apart from them doing the placenta thing when he'd arrived after forceps in theatres.
It's all so different from person to person but I am desperate (lol) to at least try a more natural birth. Maybe it's not something my body can do but it feels so forced and out of your hands especially if something is leading them suggest induction over waiting for labour to start naturally. I am someone who gets really bad period pains though - not sure if that's related - when I was a teenager they used to make me vomit and pass out
I don't use tampons for example because I find them so uncomfortable so the idea of a pessary, gel or balloon makes me want to die a little!
If I'm in the same situation again (something medically necessitating an induction or C section) I will find it really hard to decide I think.
It's all so different from person to person but I am desperate (lol) to at least try a more natural birth. Maybe it's not something my body can do but it feels so forced and out of your hands especially if something is leading them suggest induction over waiting for labour to start naturally. I am someone who gets really bad period pains though - not sure if that's related - when I was a teenager they used to make me vomit and pass out
I don't use tampons for example because I find them so uncomfortable so the idea of a pessary, gel or balloon makes me want to die a little!If I'm in the same situation again (something medically necessitating an induction or C section) I will find it really hard to decide I think.
My induction was fine, too. They broke my waters at 11pm already 3cm dilated, put me on the drip at about 2am and by twenty-past I was off it as the contractions were horrendous and then he was born at 5.15am.
I am nervous it won’t be that smooth if I need another one with this one, though. My “thing” is really not wanting a c-section, but it’s mainly because recovering from surgery with my disability would be grim.
I am nervous it won’t be that smooth if I need another one with this one, though. My “thing” is really not wanting a c-section, but it’s mainly because recovering from surgery with my disability would be grim.
I appreciate the positive induction stories but woken up early so reading the info about inductions that my Trust have given me and oh my god I’m in tears I really don’t want this. I had one VE during my labour with my first to check progress before they gave me an epidural and I really struggled handling that, there was so much discomfort and anxiety I don’t think I can cope with how invasive an induction is. Also they’re like “inserting this can be uncomfortable so we give you gas and air” yeah well that makes me throw up. Please manifest for me that I go into labour spontaneously in the next few weeks.
I really didn't want any VE as I had GBS and didn't want to risk an infection but I felt like I had to, I did end up just saying as few as possible but I do wish I was more forceful about it. I had a student do my induction and omg, I know they need to learn but WOW, I still feel partially traumatised about it nearly 5 years on. She couldn't even do it properly so asked for help so considering I said I wanted as little 'up there' as possible it was quite the opposite
I really wish I said no and labour is not the time to people please I'm not saying this to scare anyone but me and baby did end up with sepsis and baby was treated for suspected meningitis (had 3 LPs that weren't successful) and I don't know if the VEs had anything to do with it but just whatever you do please advocate for yourself because if I had I wouldn't have the what if around it
I really wish I said no and labour is not the time to people please I'm not saying this to scare anyone but me and baby did end up with sepsis and baby was treated for suspected meningitis (had 3 LPs that weren't successful) and I don't know if the VEs had anything to do with it but just whatever you do please advocate for yourself because if I had I wouldn't have the what if around itIf you don’t want it then don’t agree to it. But the alternative is a C section if baby needs to come out.
And don’t forget the best way to start labour is to get that oxytocin flowing so worrying about inductions will make it harder for your body! I think that’s one of my bigger gripes about it all, it’s so prescriptive (my local trust - not the one I’m birthing at - books people in for their 41 week inductions at 37 weeks!) and having that deadline hang over you can be really counterproductive to starting labour naturally.
Yeah I’m trying to stop worrying - my husband has taken my 2 year old out this morning so sitting on my pregnancy ball watching a fave tv series and trying to think about nice things.
My next midwife appointment is my 40 week one which I’m hoping I don’t make it to but might phone her tomorrow and talk through my worries. With a Duracell bunny of a 2 year old the recovery time post C section isn’t ideal but it’s less anxiety inducing for me than an induction.
It’s so mad that it’s clear that stress and anxiety obviously isn’t helpful to kickstarting labour but then they’re like “Here’s this deadline if you’ve not had your baby when we think you should even though a due date isn’t accurate”
I was reading that in Europe in a lot of countries full term is considered 41 weeks and yet we’re like “Your baby is a week late let’s get it out” at that point!My induction was quite positive! It did end in an emergency section but that would have happened without the induction I think anyway as BabyA was face up and got stuck. The pain was quite intense but that was partly due to him being face up. I hadn’t at all prepared for the possibility of an induction which probably helped as I went in a little less aware of what it could be like.
I had pregnancy induced hypertension for the last couple of weeks of my pregnancy so the decision was made to induce me on my due date (they wanted to go earlier and I got it pushed back, I did a long post about it on maybe the first page of this thread?).
I went in for 9am but they didn’t actually start the process until 1pm, I had the pessary which was basically like a tampon but a bit more plasticky, wasn’t uncomfortable per se but just felt a bit weird. Contractions had started by 6pm, if I’d not had to be in for monitoring because of my BP I’d have gone home to labour.
Contractions were more intense by about 1am and they considered removing the pessary as they felt it was going too quickly but realised the pessary had come out on its own anyway!
Because of his position face up labour did slow so I had the hormone drip, but I’d already asked for an epidural at this point because back to back labour with a 9lb baby is not the one so I didn’t feel the pain, just a lot of pressure.
It did end up that labour slowed and BabyA was stuck but I think that would have happened anyway as he was face up and big, so I did end up with an emergency section. Honestly after the first week which was rough recovery was pretty straightforward as I was fit and active before - by about week 3 of recovery I wasn’t particularly in much pain or anything so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been!
I had pregnancy induced hypertension for the last couple of weeks of my pregnancy so the decision was made to induce me on my due date (they wanted to go earlier and I got it pushed back, I did a long post about it on maybe the first page of this thread?).
I went in for 9am but they didn’t actually start the process until 1pm, I had the pessary which was basically like a tampon but a bit more plasticky, wasn’t uncomfortable per se but just felt a bit weird. Contractions had started by 6pm, if I’d not had to be in for monitoring because of my BP I’d have gone home to labour.
Contractions were more intense by about 1am and they considered removing the pessary as they felt it was going too quickly but realised the pessary had come out on its own anyway!
Because of his position face up labour did slow so I had the hormone drip, but I’d already asked for an epidural at this point because back to back labour with a 9lb baby is not the one so I didn’t feel the pain, just a lot of pressure.
It did end up that labour slowed and BabyA was stuck but I think that would have happened anyway as he was face up and big, so I did end up with an emergency section. Honestly after the first week which was rough recovery was pretty straightforward as I was fit and active before - by about week 3 of recovery I wasn’t particularly in much pain or anything so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been!
Haha tell me about it! I literally haven’t even given the actual birth bit much thought as I’m still so focussed on the actual getting there nonsense. My own fault for working in the a end of nowhere ha. But at least the air is fresh
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I think I’m actually starting to get a bit of a bump and I’m so excited. I can’t wait to start feeling them kicking. Consultant appointment today but I think it’ll just be around upping my thyroid medication so hopefully not too scary!
I’m 15w3d and I’m fairly sure I felt baby move last night 
it’s so nice to feel this early on !!! Helps bide the time until our next scan
is anyone else not finding out the gender of their little one ? my husband and I found out at the anatomy scan for our previous two pregnancies but this time as it’s our third and we are already blessed with one of each that we might just keep it a surprise !
it’s so nice to feel this early on !!! Helps bide the time until our next scan is anyone else not finding out the gender of their little one ? my husband and I found out at the anatomy scan for our previous two pregnancies but this time as it’s our third and we are already blessed with one of each that we might just keep it a surprise !
Our second ended up being born at home due to an extremely quick labour despite living in London! I'd had the route planned since our first as she was a quick labour too. Turns out, I needed a faster route!
As a former medical student, can I just say thank you for letting the student do your induction no matter how much you wish you'd said no!I really didn't want any VE as I had GBS and didn't want to risk an infection but I felt like I had to, I did end up just saying as few as possible but I do wish I was more forceful about it. I had a student do my induction and omg, I know they need to learn but WOW, I still feel partially traumatised about it nearly 5 years on. She couldn't even do it properly so asked for help so considering I said I wanted as little 'up there' as possible it was quite the opposite
this is my first and we’re keeping it a surprise. I feel like that moment when I give birth, being told if it’s a boy or girl will be like no other feelingI’m 15w3d and I’m fairly sure I felt baby move last night
is anyone else not finding out the gender of their little one ? my husband and I found out at the anatomy scan for our previous two pregnancies but this time as it’s our third and we are already blessed with one of each that we might just keep it a surprise !
Hi just wondered if you anyone else did the same and everything turned out okay. I’m 8 weeks with my 4th baby and on progesterone pessaries as had some early bleeding and had a very early miscarriage about 5 years ago. I had a scan last week everything looking perfect. I forgot to take my pessaries over the weekend but started taking them again today. Just wondered if anyone else missed a few doses and everything was fine?
Also my first and I think we're going to keep it a surprise. I'm usually an absolute control freak, but I know it's either going to be a girl or a boy and it doesn't matter much to me either way. So weirdly I feel ok not knowing and think it'll be a nice surpriseI’m 15w3d and I’m fairly sure I felt baby move last night
is anyone else not finding out the gender of their little one ? my husband and I found out at the anatomy scan for our previous two pregnancies but this time as it’s our third and we are already blessed with one of each that we might just keep it a surprise !
Getting our anatomy scan next week, that's when I've told myself I can start buying bits. Anyone recommend any UK websites which have decent lists of what we should actually get. Getting a bit overwhelmed on tiktok etc. with the giant lists and full rooms of stuff people have bought so early!