Dissapointed by negative information offered on Induction

[Babushka Doll]

Hi Everyone,

Well as some of you know, I am booked in for a induction tomorrow evening. This decision was made by both myself/ husband and my Obstetrician (of who I have complete faith).

I will be induced with gel at this stage.

Well as you can imagine I am a little nervous, so I went to the Belly Belly information pages on Induction - and what did I find? a whole lot of negativity, which I must admit has made me feel worse than what I did to begin. From the very first paragraph there is a subtle hint that anyone who has inductions are doing it for the wrong reasons. I read through the whole page and got down to the "Side Effects" , then to the part where there are horror stories of women who have had inductions and suffered tremendous pain, problems and every other thing that could have possibly gone wrong.

Maybe a suggestion would be to add a few stories from women who have had a positive experience from inducement. Just for those of us who ARE NOT doing it for social reasons and anyother reason that is deemed innappropriate by members of this forum.

I love the BB forums and am upset that the information seems to be so bias at times.

Well.... wish me luck for tomorrow night!




https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/...-or-not-induce

[Pandora]

Hi Beck!

I was induced at 9 days overdue with DS, and he was born about 16 hours after the gel was inserted.
While it was not something I'd have chosen if I knew I had a choice, it was nonetheless a very positive experience, for the most part.

I had a stretch and sweep done at 41 weeks, without warning, consent etc by a stand in ob. that was the negative part.

After finding another OB I was told I would have to go to be induced 2 days later.

I arrived at the hospital at 10am to have gel put in, and 1/2 hour of monitoring later they asked me if I wanted to go home for a while, which I said yes. They had admitted me by that stage, so I had to be back by a certain time etc.

Well I started having period type pain almost immediately, and had contractions on-off through the afternoon, certainly still manageablt by the time I had to go back to hospital at 5pm. They progressed and got closer and more painful until about 9:30 when I had a proper show, blood everywhere etc, and they asked me if I wanted to go in the bath which I jumped at!

Becuase the OB was only going to be there if I needed stitches etc, and my waters had not broken I stayed in there until 1am. At whici point they hurt again and I decided I wanted gas. By the time they'd turned it to the max level, I wanted to push. Somewhere there they ruptured my membranes and DS was born 90 mins later.

No drip, no immediate painful contractions, the gas was something I had always been open to, and the ARM well by that stage I just wanted DS out. No c/s, and for a 10lb 4oz baby with a 38cm HC the midwives were all a bit excited.

I was really pleased with my birthing experience from the induction onward. As I said I probably would not have chosen it but it was a really great outcome for all of us.

[*Rae*]

Beck! I am with you completely. As you know i'm booked in for induction on Thursday (i'll be 10 days overdue) and have also received a lot of pressure to try and avoid it. This is just not an option in my case cause it's actually a danger to the life of my baby and myself to continue much further as i had a placenta abruption with my last preg. The longer the baby stays inside the weaker the placenta becomes...and i just can't take that chance again. I desperately want a VBAC this time around and i know that having an induction may ruin that chance but having my little girl out safe in the world, what ever way that ends up being, is my priority.

People have their own personal reasons for an induction and think it'd be nice to be supported in those. Being overdue is tough enough as it is and such an emotional time for us - positive feedback and information would be appreciated.

[becmc]

I was induced with gel and had a terrible experience. I think it is really important for women to know of the risks, there are quite a few induction stories on the home page, did you read those?
The article did say that the benefit of induction is to save the life of mum and bub in dangerous circumstances.
Have you googled the topic on the net?? I doubt the info would be any different.
I too had complete faith in my ob when he told me I would not go into labour on my own. Women need to be made aware of the reasons for having induction, some of which are definately necessary!
Maybe it could include some info about what situations really do require an induction, but then that comes down to personal opinion really anyway.
I feel sorry that you are now worried because of the info, but if it was risks you didn't know about I would be questioning your ob as to why he didn't tell you about them in the first place?
Good Luck for tomorrow, if you know you have made the right decision then don't worry about anything you read, because labour and birth always takes unexpected turns anyway.

[christy]

I can understand that you would want something that has a positive side. Inductions are scary. I only have my experience which was awful so I won't share, but I guess the other thing was when I was being talking into induction (actually... it wasn't like that I was being told that I would have an induction...) I wasn't told anything about side effects an difficulties. I wasn't even told about their hospital policies and the fact that my birth plan was compromised with induction.

I went in for induction at 14 days post EDD with Matilda and was rebooked in because she was no where near the cervix. So I didn't go in to be induced because I wanted too, or was being eager... I was being told that my babies life was at risk.

[BellyBelly]

The reason why I wrote the article was because lots of people having inductions these days, but you wont find much info on the side effects and problems that can arise - not many doctors will tell you all of the risks, especially as far as bub's side is concerned. It was moreso aimed at those thinking of a convenience induction as per the introduction. I also don't believe in telling people what they want to hear but what they need to hear, so it doesn't come as a shock later should something happen and they can't figure out what the heck happened... something that happened at a birth I was at last night, in fact.

I am happy to add in positive stories where an induction was warranted, however I still believe in presenting the potential complications. Those side-effects were taken from the drug info leaflets which come with the drugs, just like when you get medication from the chemist, you get that info, so why not induction drugs. I also reiterated many times that you have to make sure the risks outweigh the benefits and if so, then of course it's the best thing to do.

Feel free to send me your induction stories, and I will add one or two in. info@bellybelly.com.au

[Rouge]

I think the thing to remember too is that if there is information available and you do need/choose to have an induction you can work best with that information. Its easier to prepare yourself and your body if you know what could or what will happen. I am sure there are also techniques on dealing with pain and so forth for inductions too.

Whilst not all inductions go pear shaped, I think no matter the type of birth its great to have information to work with whether its positive or negative.

Goodluck!

*hugs*
Cailin

[RhiChiChi]

Beck,

It sounds like all three of you made an informed decision, which I believe is the most important thing. You are going to get positive and negative stories/experiences on just about everything from falling pg, being pg, labour and when bubs is born etc.... Empower yourself with information and make the 'right' choice for you and bubs.
I am in agreeance with Rae 'The longer the baby stays inside the weaker the placenta becomes...' This is my fear of going past my due date and will be bringing this up with my OBS on Wednesday (I will be nearly 38 wks). I will seek his advice and opinion of being induced (I have previously spoken to him earlier on in my pg about it) if and when I need to.
Good luck for tommorrow, we'll be waiting for your birth announcement post!

[BellyBelly]

When you go past your 'due date' most Obs will do a placenta function scan / water level scan and some will do a fetal stress test. So they have things to monitor you with. Full term is classed up to 42 weeks.

[Firstkid]

Best of luck for the birth, Babushka Doll!!

I had to be induced via a drip because my waters broke, but there was no sign of labour. Although I really wanted a natural birth, I took the view that induction was in the baby's best interests, as risk of infection was increased. I was worried that inducing the baby would mean I'd have to have pethidine or an epidural as I'd heard that induced births are more painful. But we managed without either, and I was incredibly proud of myself, and very happy with the birth experience.

In the end, we've all got to make a decision based upon what we believe is best for ourselves and our baby. Sounds like that's exactly what you've done. All the best for the exciting time ahead!

[Tobily]

I do understand what you mean.
I've had two inductions and before the last one in particular I did feel pretty cagey about discussing it here because there is a very "anti" feeling and I also had a couple of medical issues going on which was why induction was on the table for me.
HOWEVER, I very much agree that the information that kelly has provided in those articles - while appearing to take a fairly anti-slant - is not freely available, and I was not told any of it by my obstetricians before either of my inductions.
So I do consider that it's a good thing that it's there even if it does make some of us squirmy.
Unfortunately there does seem to be a lot more women unhappy with their induction experiences than not, and I don't think we do eachother or any future mums who are being induced (for whatever reason) any favours by glossing over the facts. It's a tough call
All the best for birth and I hope everything goes well for you.

[Yael]

Good luck for tomorrow!

Like you, i had to have an induction (at 41+3) as my scan showed very low fluid levels, and there was a concern about placenta function... I had to have it for the safety of my child, and I in no way regret it, as it was medically not convience indicated!

As i did plan for a more natural birth, i wanted the gentlest induction possible. As i started having some regular contractions (about every 15 mins) the night before, i choose to refuse the drip and just have my waters broken... I did feel my body could do it, it just needed some help along. 4 days before (on my scan day), i was already 3cm, so i didn't need gels either.

It did take some work (luckily i had Kelly there to help me get active), a lot of walking, hip rocking etc, but i really got the contractions to pick up after about 2 hours of the waters being broken, so i didn't need to go on the drip. If i had spent a numbers of hours doing it without getting strong contractions closer together, i would have had the drip with no hestitations, because again, i knew this was in the best interests of my child.

The things that went more pear shaped for me later on i felt were more a response to pain relief (morphine as baby was posterior), not really induction related, so in terms of that part of my labour, i don't have negative feelings or memories...

I believe Relle had a really positive experience from her induction, hopefully she will come in here and tell her story.

My advice is to go in there happy and confident with yourself, you are doing the best thing for you and the baby. Depending on what your aims are, you might like to try and do things gradually and see if that is just the kick start that you needed, or you might want to go the full deal. It is important to know that there are side effects to each and every induction method, but it is also what you make of it.

Hope that helps in some way? can't wait to hear some good news

[Trillian]

Beck, good luck for tomorrow hun. Not sure if you would have saw these when you found the article, but here is a heap of induction birth stories from the main site too https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-...-birth-stories

[Tracey]

Good Luck Babushka doll, I was induced after my waters had broken 72hours earlier & there was lot's of meconium on the pad I was wearing!
I was 41wks 1st preg & had no idea what to expect..
I was given 2 lot's of IV electrolytes & then given syntocin drip as my contractions were all over the place! I had a wonderful birthing experience, it may not be the ideal type of birth from others on this site but I was happy with my birthing experience with DD#1, I know when push comes to shove & your holding your gorgeous baby in your arm tomorrow it really wont matter... Your body created & birthed you a beautiful baby!!

Best wishes!!!

[DoulaRelle]

Hi Babushka Doll,

Yael is spot on, I had a wonderful and beautiful experience with my induction, and whilst I completely 100% agree that you need to be fully informed about the pros and the cons for inductions, it is really what is best for you as an indivdual, but with careful consideration to the possible complications, which clearly you, your DH and you OB have already covered.

I CHOSE to have an induction, it was MY REQUEST and not my Obs recommendation, and I had my own reasons, none of which were related to health, but rather the mental health of me at the time.

It was categorically the BEST THING FOR ME at that time with the experiences that I had had with my first birth, and I would not change a thing.

My Ob went straight to breaking my waters ( I was already 2cm) and I went for a walk for an hour, but not a contraction in site, so I chose to have the drip started and the contractions started off really slowly and merely as pressure. The midwife turned the drip up every half hour so my body could adjust to the increasing intensity of the contractions, but I got through them with just the gas and focused breathing.

At some point in transition I actually snapped the bung in my hand so the syntocin was stopped and I finished dilating and then was pushing of my own accord.

This is after a sponateous first birth that I would classify as much more painful and ended up with every drug under the sun. My induction was my healing, and I am now ready to have a spontaneous again.

Kelly has made a very valid point in previous posts though that every womans body and uterus can react differently to the syntocin, hence the reason some people find the induction so much more unbearable than spontaneous labours. If you do go onto the drip, you do have the right to ask for it to be turned down, or even off if it is getting to unbearable.

[Lucy]

Beck........please feel free to read my birth story with Charlie HERE. I was induced with him. It was still a fantastic birthing experience..........

Very best of luck.

[Kirsty77]

Goodluck Beck!! Not all inductions are horrible and go wrong hun, just like vaginal births and c/s births and breech briths. II was induced and it was not horrible and for the record my doc took the time when I booked in for the induction to go through EVERYTHING with me like most docs do thes days as they have to to cover themselves.Everything has its pros and cons and don't be swayed by what you read. Go in positive and happy hun. Take care xx

[KarlaO]

Hi there, I've had 3 inductions with no problems.

Isobel was 10 days overdue, so at 4 p.m. on a Sunday I was given the gel, at 8.30 the next morning I went into labour & she was born at 11.45 a.m., and I'd had period pain that felt worse than the contractions.

William was also 10 days overdue, so I had the gel again, but this time it didn't work, so I had the drip. Labour started at 1.30 p.m and he was born at 3 p.m. Contractions were more intense, but very bearable.

Induction no. 3 was with the twins, & because one of them was breech I had an epidural as the OB had to reach in & pull him out. I didn't feel anything because of the epidural which was a shame, but I had to think what was best for me & the babies.

I hope these stories are of some help to you, & I can't wait to read about your birth announcement. Good luck!