Being Induced in 6 weeks :). UK ladies can OH stay thoughout? Few more Q's included

[hawalkden]

Due to Type One Diabetes and it's only 6 weeks away. Scared now! So around 24-26th November I'll be getting a call to come in. Want to know the defo date and time etc now! I know it's not that easy though!

I've been reading some stories of inducting medial labours and some hospitals tell the OH to go home after the first application of gel due to the time it takes and the time it's given so they go home after the gel and return in the morning.

When I was reading that I just had a rush of fear and was shaking. I honestly don't want to be left alone. Or be put on a ward before it all kicks off. Also due to money we can't afford a car and the hospital is 45 minutes away. So it's going to be hard to get over out the blue etc.

OH said he'll sit around in the hospital grounds over night etc but I felt sorry for what he was saying. Within the delivery rooms there is a sofa bed but can only be used if labour is established but slow etc.

Can't think of anything else I'm thinking/worried about? I just want 6 weeks to come round now and it being evening and being given the first set of gel !

 

[littleblonde]

hospital policys are all different but normally they can stay the daytime. but if your not in active labour then partners cant normally stay over night but will be called if things change. Also they cant normally stay during meal times either. but agagin depends if your on a ward or not. with any luck you will be induced and give birth on the same day and you wont have to worry

 

[sparklyjubbly]

24th November is my hubbys birthday!

I too was really worried about this - i'm being induced next tuesday due to gestational diabetes. We don't have a car and the hospital is 1 hours 20 mins away by bus or 40 or so minutes by expensive cab!

My hospital policy is that dads go home at night around 9/10pm if the woman isn't in labour and aren't supposed to be there at mealtimes HOWEVER i know my hospital are quite flexible. I was taken in at 28 weeks with a big bleed and my hubby was allowed to stay til almost 11 and come back at 8 in the morning and was allowed to stay during mealtimes too, i'm sure if i'd have asked he could have stayed later and come in earlier too - they were really relaxed.

The way we're getting around the induction thing is that they're taking me in at 7am for the first gel. They have to leave it 6 hours til the second obviously but we're hoping that between 7am and 11pm at night would be long enough to have our baby, if not then we would surely be in established labout at least by this point - enabling hubby to stay anyway as we'd be in a labour room. The hospital do it this way to maximise baby being born on the day you go in.

Talk to someone about your worries - tell them how far away your OH would have to be without a car etc and that you're scared! They're good people and will do what they can to minimise the risks and help you. Sometimes you just have to be a little vocal and stand up for yourself to get what you want, it's worked for me so far - its impractical and horrible for you for your OH to go, they should be aware of that and do everything they can to stp that happening. Also don't forget, most hospitals have one or two private non-labour rooms which, if are empty, they put people in - perhaps if you let them know how petrified of being alone or OH not getting back in time they will let you in one of those?

Best of luck - you will do great!

 

[HellBunny]

Good luck hun! Visiting hours (for 1 person) was between 11am and 8pm. (bolton hospital) I was induced at lunchtime (propess), but o/h had to go home at 8pm as nothing was happening, though i was in labour early next morning and he was allowed on the ward with me despite the visiting times.
When i was induced with J they didn't monitor me at all after 7pm, despite me having diabetes, so next time i will be going home and returning when i am in labour as it was all pointless being there (we also don't drive so was abit of a hoo-haa getting to and from hospital) though we will get a taxi this time. x

Also i know this is random but i would take some snacks with you with having diabetes, our food was rubbish, i was given a ham salad which in return gave me high amounts of ketones, (since there was zero carbohydrate..) then given chocolate pudding (40grams of sugar in it) so this is what i will be doing next time, just thought i would point out since you are diabetic too as food/diet is important xxxx

 

[cherryglitter]

my OH wasn't allowed to stay with me during my inducing stage!
he had to leave at 9pm. was devastating for me.

 

[hawalkden]

Oh crumbs.. don't want to tell OH now. He'll go a little crazy haha. Like you ladies have said it takes a while for the gel to kick in and it's a 'sleep on it' kind of thing before anything happens and before you know it OH is back in the room.

I can see once the gel is applied I'll be awake all night and day then got to cope with finding energy for labour. Great!!! Darn you diabetes. At least with spontaneous labour in most cases you relax and stuff (I know the going to and from hospital a million of times and is a pain and waiting around till 4/5cms etc and the whole start to end of contractions/twinges to full blown labour is hard work and tiring!).

I can see OH staying in the hospital grounds no matter what!

Thanks hellbunny got my mini snack bag ready . My diabetic midwife said for me to write everything down what I'm taking and she's seeing if its all good stuff e.g carb but energy base.

Got so far in the bag:

large lucozade bottle
chocolate digestives
glucose tablets
mini flapjacks
fresh orange cartons

got for OH crisps and cartons too. He'll rather go for a walk to the cafe! I hate the menu's we get like everyone when they stay in hospital (been in a few times for diagnostic, DKA then insulin pump trial) but Diabetes always get the 'low carb and calaries' section and then I wasn't aloud a pudding had to have one of them coffee/cappuccino cookies! Like you said a ham salad no carbs... er the most important time you need energy and you get basically cardboard. Some of the Consultants just want to keep their 'safety and procedure' numbers down and don't think in reality we'd need to pig out on a KFC with the correct insulin dosage of course for the source of energy needed for the pushing stage! FRUSTRATING!!!!

 

[Caroline:-)]

I'd say it depends where you are... my OH was allowed to stay with me! I went in to be induced at 9pm and had a private room. They put the gel in an hour or so later and then suggested to OH that he might like to go home as nothing would be happening any time soon, but that he was welcome to stay - and he did right until after I gave birth at 9:30 the following evening (I was lucky that the first gel worked ).
However, there were time limits when I was on the ward after giving birth. I had to stay in for 2 days and he had to go home in the nights and for an hour or two at lunch time. If I'd been in a private room after the birth he'd have been able to stay with me then too though...
But yeah, don't panic yet - everywhere is different he may be able to stay with you! My contractions started virtually immediately so I'm really glad my OH was there... And try not to worry too much about being exhausted - as I said I was in labout right through from 10pm-ish until 9:30pm the following day (and didn't sleep at all the night before with the fear of induction the next day!!!!) and tbh, I don't remember feeling tired or exhausted or anythng - I'm sure others will disagree, but for me I really didn't find it that demanding in terms of energy, etc - just bl00dy painful!!!

 

[Beaney192]

I went to have the gel but was already 2cm so was lucky that they just broke my waters instead, Oh was allowed to stay with me and was even offered the nasty meals to LO was born at 3.40 in the morning and OH was meant to go home an hour after untill visting times at 8 but luckly I dragged out having a bath etc so he could stay.