Apologies for the length of the thread but I wanted to record as much detail as possible about the experience of my labour to remind myself and to possibly help others facing induction.
I was induced at 40+9 on Friday 5th December due to reduced fetal movement.
On examination, my cervix was posterior, completely closed, 1cm thick but soft. The pessary was inserted at around 7.30pm, and I was monitored for around an hour after its insertion. The pessary looked a bit like a small tampon with a string for ease of removal. It was slightly uncomfortable but no worse than an examination.
I'd been told that unless I was showing signs of contractions I wouldn't be examined for 24 hours as the pessary is slow release. I knew that I would be put on the monitor every 4 hours to check on baby. I settled down to get some sleep at around 10pm.
I was woken at 11.30pm to be put on the monitor. By then I was having some bh's, and they weren't painful. At around 1pm the tightenings were coming more regularly and becoming painful. I went for a walk around the birth centre, and had to start breathing through the contractions.
At around 2am I asked if I could get in the bath to try and relax and help with the pain. The mw decided to examine me at that point whilst filling the birth pool. I was 3-4 cm so the mw removed the pessary.
In the pool at around 2.45am I felt a strong popping sensation which I believe was my waters. By 3am the contractions were coming thick and fast and increasingly painful so I started using gas and air in the pool. Hubby arrived at around 3.15am.
At around 3.45am I started feeling the sensation that I needed to push, but I didn't quite believe my own body seeing as I'd been examined only just over an hour before and was 3-4 cm. Midwife told me to do what my body was telling me to, so I began to push. The pain increased with each contraction and I remember shouting that I couldn't do it and that I needed an epidural. Mw and dh encouraged me to continue, and suddenly babys head was crowning. That was the most uncomfortable and bizarre part, and the 'ring of fire' was very unpleasant! I could feel tiny tears appearing in my vagina, but then as soon as the head was born the relief was unbelievable. Another few pushes and my daughters body was born. Mw scooped her out of the water and placed her on my chest. She told me to check between her legs as we didn't know the sex. I was so convinced the baby was a boy it came as a surprise that we had another girl. Beautiful Cora Niamh was born at 4.21am weighing 8lb 7.5oz. She is just perfection. I had a natural 3rd stage and delivered the placenta in the pool. Had a tiny tear and some grazes but nothing requiring stitches.
Overall it was a fantastic experience, particularly in comparison with my first labour (also induction but ending in forcep delivery).
I am over the moon with the arrival of our daughter.
Well done if you made it to the end, thanks for reading!
Xxxx
I was induced at 40+9 on Friday 5th December due to reduced fetal movement.
On examination, my cervix was posterior, completely closed, 1cm thick but soft. The pessary was inserted at around 7.30pm, and I was monitored for around an hour after its insertion. The pessary looked a bit like a small tampon with a string for ease of removal. It was slightly uncomfortable but no worse than an examination.
I'd been told that unless I was showing signs of contractions I wouldn't be examined for 24 hours as the pessary is slow release. I knew that I would be put on the monitor every 4 hours to check on baby. I settled down to get some sleep at around 10pm.
I was woken at 11.30pm to be put on the monitor. By then I was having some bh's, and they weren't painful. At around 1pm the tightenings were coming more regularly and becoming painful. I went for a walk around the birth centre, and had to start breathing through the contractions.
At around 2am I asked if I could get in the bath to try and relax and help with the pain. The mw decided to examine me at that point whilst filling the birth pool. I was 3-4 cm so the mw removed the pessary.
In the pool at around 2.45am I felt a strong popping sensation which I believe was my waters. By 3am the contractions were coming thick and fast and increasingly painful so I started using gas and air in the pool. Hubby arrived at around 3.15am.
At around 3.45am I started feeling the sensation that I needed to push, but I didn't quite believe my own body seeing as I'd been examined only just over an hour before and was 3-4 cm. Midwife told me to do what my body was telling me to, so I began to push. The pain increased with each contraction and I remember shouting that I couldn't do it and that I needed an epidural. Mw and dh encouraged me to continue, and suddenly babys head was crowning. That was the most uncomfortable and bizarre part, and the 'ring of fire' was very unpleasant! I could feel tiny tears appearing in my vagina, but then as soon as the head was born the relief was unbelievable. Another few pushes and my daughters body was born. Mw scooped her out of the water and placed her on my chest. She told me to check between her legs as we didn't know the sex. I was so convinced the baby was a boy it came as a surprise that we had another girl. Beautiful Cora Niamh was born at 4.21am weighing 8lb 7.5oz. She is just perfection. I had a natural 3rd stage and delivered the placenta in the pool. Had a tiny tear and some grazes but nothing requiring stitches.
Overall it was a fantastic experience, particularly in comparison with my first labour (also induction but ending in forcep delivery).
I am over the moon with the arrival of our daughter.
Well done if you made it to the end, thanks for reading!
Xxxx
Lovely name - Cora Niamh!
