induction / active birth : can the 2 go together?

[ouchwithNo.2]

Morning everyone
I am 8 days overdue now, MW appointment today.
Had a sweep tuesday and after a promising start and losing even more plug nothing came of it.
Tried everything under the sun and she still wants to stay put.
Im now coming to terms with the probability of being induced again. I really didnt enjoy it last time,was induced twice over 3 days,waters broken,strapped up to monitor in bed for hours and then when pain kicked in had an epidural which meant laying on my back some more. Son was back to back, I was shattered, they kept losing his heartbeat (v close to emergency section) and eventually he was pulled free by forceps after ventouse failed twice. That was 17hrs of chaos.
This time I decided no drowsy drugs, mobile, no induction WATERBIRTH. That is looking like a distant dream now but I just wondered, you ladies who have been induced did you manage to be active? If so, in what way? Everyone I speak to says the same thing,hours being connected to the monitor...

 

[bky]

It's probably up to the hospital policy unfortunately.
I know if I end up being induced I don't get a waterbirth, but I think I may still be allowed to wander around my room. I'm also going for a Foley Catheter induction as my first induction choice, then moving onto drugs if that doesn't work or I'm not favourable for it. They don't offer them everywhere though.

 

[milkmachine]

i was semi active, when i finally got a decent midwife. there were hours of me throwing total tantrums and being stuck on a monitor

 

[holywoodmum]

the first day i was encouraged to be up and walking around etc as much as possible, but as soon as they decided they needed to start the drip that was a no go any more and I didn't get off the bed until after DD was born...

 

[Windmills]

I was stuck on a monitor I really wanted a natural waterbirth, but ended up with an induction and was stuck on a monitor the whole time. I know CactusGirl had a really positive induction though, she posted her birth story quite recently so you'd probably be able to find it easily!

 

[LesleyP]

I really really want a waterbirth but I'm being induced on Friday and bubs is showing NO signs of wanting out - so I guess I'll probably just be strapped to the bed

xx

 

[ouchwithNo.2]

Thank you for all your replies. Not many people have anything good to say about an induction do they!
Had my MW appointment, she gave me another sweep. Could tell by her face it wasn't good, she said I was no further dilated and although she could feel babys head it 'bobbed' back up so not ready yet! MW broke the news that if nothing happens overnight I must book an induction for tuesday/wednesday in the morning.
Out of curiosity I asked if induction still meant bed-bound, strapped up to bulky,itchy monitor or if things had changed in 6yrs. Sadly, no.
Im gutted that my waterbirth/no drugs/midwife led unit experience wont happen and I have to go down that c****y route again. Right from the start I have been determined to do all I can to get what I want, my pregnancy has been perfect. Until now. Again.
I was so looking forward to spending 24-48hrs at the unit after to grasp B.F, which I struggled with last time even though they try to ram down your throat that breast is best but no one helps in hospital.
Really upset by it.
On top of that the 2nd sweep given me back ache, tummy ache and lots of false contractions. Not that it will lead to anything, just mean a rubbish nights sleep..

 

[LesleyP]

Thank you for all your replies. Not many people have anything good to say about an induction do they!
Had my MW appointment, she gave me another sweep. Could tell by her face it wasn't good, she said I was no further dilated and although she could feel babys head it 'bobbed' back up so not ready yet! MW broke the news that if nothing happens overnight I must book an induction for tuesday/wednesday in the morning.
Out of curiosity I asked if induction still meant bed-bound, strapped up to bulky,itchy monitor or if things had changed in 6yrs. Sadly, no.
Im gutted that my waterbirth/no drugs/midwife led unit experience wont happen and I have to go down that c****y route again. Right from the start I have been determined to do all I can to get what I want, my pregnancy has been perfect. Until now. Again.
I was so looking forward to spending 24-48hrs at the unit after to grasp B.F, which I struggled with last time even though they try to ram down your throat that breast is best but no one helps in hospital.
Really upset by it.
On top of that the 2nd sweep given me back ache, tummy ache and lots of false contractions. Not that it will lead to anything, just mean a rubbish nights sleep..

Massive

I really hope bubs decides to come before your induction. Sending you bucket loads of labour dust & I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you sweetie! xx

 

[littlelady]

I was stuck on a monitor I really wanted a natural waterbirth, but ended up with an induction and was stuck on a monitor the whole time. I know CactusGirl had a really positive induction though, she posted her birth story quite recently so you'd probably be able to find it easily!

excactly how mine went too was desperate for a natural waterbirth too ended up with an induction stuck on monitors on the bed dont think i actually left the bed once! xx

 

[luv2jig]

I'm almost in this exact situation and I am getting really really depressed about the possibility of an induction. I know it's silly but I feel like such a failure.

 

[Kacie]

I just posted to ask about positive induction experiences.. judging by this I doubt I'll get many replies

The one thing my friend said to me is, if I can possibly avoid it, don't get induced But I am booked in for tomorrow and there is very VERY little hope of this little one making an appearance tonight, despite numerous talkings to. I'm guessing this one definitely wants to be a cancerian and is playing stubborn already!

Th one thing I am praying for is that my body is half way to preparing itself for labour (I am getting strong BHs every night and just an achy feeling down below that makes me think things are preparing themselves - plus midwife said i was 1-2cms on Friday).

If that is true then I hope the induction will just start off the process and I'm hoping nature will take over for the rest of it...

(Yes, I know I am kidding myself... pelase don't spoil the dream )

xxx

 

[pachamama]

I'm sure that when I'm overdue I'll be champing at the bit to be induced! but you ladies do realise that you don't HAVE to have this done don't you?

Hospitals offer inductions, just as they offer all sorts of procedures and facilities but it is up to you as to whether you take them up on their offer or not. Many women do and some don't. Some women simply cook their babies for a bit longer than the norm and have normal labours at 41+, 42+ weeks... One of my neighbours recently had a 6 hour first labour at 16 days past her due date.

The worry that doctors have is that the placenta will start to deteriorate at 12 days or so past your due date. However, placentas don't always read the text books and this is not inevitable. Hospitals have to offer expectant management as an alternative to inductions, which involves CTG monitoring of the baby and can also involve measuring fluid volumes around the baby and blood flow into and out from the placenta to ensure it's still functioning correctly. If any problems are found, then of course you'd want to get things going.

The other thing about being induced before your body is ready is that the baby is often in a less than optimal position (i.e. back to back) and starting the labour off with baby in this position generally leads to a more challenging labour (althought there are exceptions to the rules).

The other thing is that if you go into labour following prostin pessary or gel, or after having your waters broken (and there's no meconium) then there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have a waterbirth. It is only once they have started the hormone drip that you would require continuous monitoring - and they only have to start that if your body hasn't already responded to previous interventions.

Hope this makes sense and good luck to you all with whatever you decide.

x

 

[ljo1984]

first hand experience, NO!!! i was gutted! the contractions were so strong i dont think i'd of been able to have been active anyway! and when they induce you they need to contstantly monitor the baby. i had the band round my belly for a while but they kept slipping so ended up with the clip which i much prefered. they said i could move about still but looking at the length of it i wouldnt of got very far!!ha ha. up until they gave me the drip i was been active but it all, and im praying that next time round everything will be natural so i can finally have my active birth.

 

[milkmachine]

I'm sure that when I'm overdue I'll be champing at the bit to be induced! but you ladies do realise that you don't HAVE to have this done don't you?

Hospitals offer inductions, just as they offer all sorts of procedures and facilities but it is up to you as to whether you take them up on their offer or not. Many women do and some don't. Some women simply cook their babies for a bit longer than the norm and have normal labours at 41+, 42+ weeks... One of my neighbours recently had a 6 hour first labour at 16 days past her due date.

The worry that doctors have is that the placenta will start to deteriorate at 12 days or so past your due date. However, placentas don't always read the text books and this is not inevitable. Hospitals have to offer expectant management as an alternative to inductions, which involves CTG monitoring of the baby and can also involve measuring fluid volumes around the baby and blood flow into and out from the placenta to ensure it's still functioning correctly. If any problems are found, then of course you'd want to get things going.

The other thing about being induced before your body is ready is that the baby is often in a less than optimal position (i.e. back to back) and starting the labour off with baby in this position generally leads to a more challenging labour (althought there are exceptions to the rules).

The other thing is that if you go into labour following prostin pessary or gel, or after having your waters broken (and there's no meconium) then there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have a waterbirth. It is only once they have started the hormone drip that you would require continuous monitoring - and they only have to start that if your body hasn't already responded to previous interventions.

Hope this makes sense and good luck to you all with whatever you decide.

x

this is pretty much what i was about to say....

i only agreed to an induction last time because i was bullied badly and they used the dead baby card (having a still birth in history not good!!!) i will never go thru that again....

 

[Kacie]

I'm sure that when I'm overdue I'll be champing at the bit to be induced! but you ladies do realise that you don't HAVE to have this done don't you?

Hospitals offer inductions, just as they offer all sorts of procedures and facilities but it is up to you as to whether you take them up on their offer or not. Many women do and some don't. Some women simply cook their babies for a bit longer than the norm and have normal labours at 41+, 42+ weeks... One of my neighbours recently had a 6 hour first labour at 16 days past her due date.

The worry that doctors have is that the placenta will start to deteriorate at 12 days or so past your due date. However, placentas don't always read the text books and this is not inevitable. Hospitals have to offer expectant management as an alternative to inductions, which involves CTG monitoring of the baby and can also involve measuring fluid volumes around the baby and blood flow into and out from the placenta to ensure it's still functioning correctly. If any problems are found, then of course you'd want to get things going.

The other thing about being induced before your body is ready is that the baby is often in a less than optimal position (i.e. back to back) and starting the labour off with baby in this position generally leads to a more challenging labour (althought there are exceptions to the rules).

The other thing is that if you go into labour following prostin pessary or gel, or after having your waters broken (and there's no meconium) then there's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have a waterbirth. It is only once they have started the hormone drip that you would require continuous monitoring - and they only have to start that if your body hasn't already responded to previous interventions.

Hope this makes sense and good luck to you all with whatever you decide.

x

Thank you,

I am just curious, if the pessary doesn't work and they want to then put you on the drip.. can you refuse this and go home to wait a little longer? or is it a case of, once they have tried one thing they will just keep you in and try everything until baby is here?

I am happy to try the pessaries and keep active but the thought of being strapped to a bed/monitor when there are no indications that baby needs to be here so soon, is worrying me.

As I already said, I am sure my body is preparing itself quite naturally at the moment from all the BHs I've been having this week (as I never got them throughout the rest of pregnancy).. I would even have preferred to try a second sweep first before induction but that wasn't an option either (I think my midwives try to ration appointments as they're too busy).

But when they booked my appointment the midwives basically said that they had left it too late and the only date I could have was tomorrow (9 days overdue). The next one was 1st July (17 days overdue so that wasn't an option).

xx

 

[milkmachine]

from what i remember its three lots of pesserys/gels, then a drip and if that fails its a section... i had a sweep each time i had a pessery and when they checked if i was suitable for induction.... three sweeps two gels

 

[pachamama]

Normal procedure is that once you've started an induction they want to continue with it, so what milkmachine has said is invariably true.

Therefore, it's pessaries or gel, then breaking your waters, then hormone drip in that order. If at any point, any of it works then they leave you to it at that point. It's just the hormone drip that requires continuous monitoring - and of course, if it doesn't work, then all they can offer you is a c-section.

However, that said. One woman I know of locally had the pessaries - they did n't work so she decided to go home and leave it a couple of days, as her cervix was clearly not ready. She did spontaneously labour a few days later... don't remember if she had a good labour or not. This was against advice but as she so rightly said, no-one can make you do anything. It's your body and your birth experience. I think it's so important that the risks and benefits of all procedures are explained clearly to you (this is where alot of hospitals fall down - they present procedures to you as if you have to do them and don't always have good enough information for you to base an informed choice on) and then you decide on what you want to do. But it should be you telling the hospital your preferred course of action having weighed up the pro's and cons, not them telling you what you will be doing.

Induction can work out well but it is not without its risks and I think I would consider it very carefully and have to be convinced there was a very good reason before I agreed to it.

x

 

[pachamama]

Forgot to say, the earlier they try to induce you - generally the harder it will be, as your cervix will not have had the chance to do all the changes it needs to. I don't want to scare you - that is not my intention but you should know the facts. Induction also generally works more quickly and easily if you've had a baby before.

When midwives do an internal examination for induction they give your cervix a score (bit wierd I know). They will give a score for how far back the cervix is, how long it is, how open it is, whether it has started to soften or not and how low the baby's head is. So.... the lower the head, the softer it is, the more open it is, the shorter it is and the further forward it is, the better!! The higher the score the better...

If you go in for induction and the head is still high, the cervix still far back, long, hard and closed you know you're in for a long haul and may decide to wait another day or two with expectant management.

Can you tell this is one of my pet subjects!!?

Sorry to go on, I just think this is useful information...

xx

 

[Delilah]

Thanks I came across this thread after asking for positive induction stories myself. I am so scared from what friends have told me about inductions - I have four days to hope he makes an appearance before Saturday. They said my inner cervix was closed, outer open 1cm and it was soft but I have had no signs of anything happening.

Good luck to all of you who are going in before me xxxxx

And thanks for your honest replies ladies xxx

 

[mrsraggle]

I was induced. I was active whilst the pessaries were given and I was told I would've been able to labour in the pool if that had worked. But it didn't for me. I was stood up and on the birthing ball whilst I had the drip though even though I was on the monitors. I just couldn't move away from the bed because of the wires.