okay here goes - i hope it is not to much of an epic - i have been through 2 different inductions

#1
*Your story (can be short but would love some detail)
first prg - waters break at home 1 day after due date, can't remember alot but i do know that i wasn't having contractions when i got to hospital, i was induced with the drip and it was awful, the contractions were very close and intense i also had quite a bit of a problem pushing my daughter out, after around 2 - 3 hrs of pushing she was born with the help of forceps.

*Why were you induced?
induction was offered as my waters had broken and i was not progressing naturally. ob advised that because my waters had broken that the baby really needed to be born within the next 24 - 48hrs, and my body did not look like it was going to do that.

*Did you want to be induced?
once ob explained that the baby would be at risk if she wasn't born within the above time, being a first prg i was scared and just went with the flow on what the ob said and didn't really think about anything else

*Which method of induction was used? drip (OUCH)

*How did you feel the induction & birth went? Was it what you expected?
i think for a first time birth it was probably better than expected time wise - my waters broke at 3am, drips inserted at 8am and baby born at 5pm however the continuous and intense contractions that go along with the drip induction really wore me out not to mention how long it took me to push her out - i was just about to be wheeled down for an emergency c-section when the ob advised me to try forceps - so in that sense i am glad i didn't have a c-section (have always been scared of one dunno why)

*Do you think the induction had any effect on your birth experience or after the birth?
after the birth i was fine, however i do remember during the birth the extreme exhaustion and i really think this had to do with the induction. on a positive note i was able to walk around and shower whilst on the drip and i wasn't confined to a bed which was great.

*Would you accept an induction again if it were offered in a non-serious condition? yes i have done lol (will get to that)

*Would you accept an induction again if it were offered in a more serious condition? yes anything to keep mum and bubs safe

*Were you told / were you aware of what effects induction medication has on you as the mother? If so, what?
NO

*Were you told / were you aware of what effects induction medication has on the baby? If so what?
NO


#2
*Your story (can be short but would love some detail)

with prg #3 i was induced as i was overdue and the lovely lani was born very quickly. i was admitted at 3pm on wednesday 15th september 2004 given 1ml of gel at 4pm (first examination showed 1cm dilated) ate dinner etc 8pm my dh and ds rang to say goodnight, my dh was going to come back to hospital at 7am the next day when ob was to break my waters and insert the drip (which i told him i didn't want) everything was fine, around 8.30pm i mentioned to the midwives i was having pain at irregular intervals but down really low not from the top of my bump going down as contractions are meant to feel - they advised me it would just be prostin pains, i did a couple of laps around the maternity ward as i couldn't sleep then thought i would get back to my room at 9pm as i was to be having more ctg monitoring before the next 2ml of gel was to be inserted at 10pm - monitor on midwife leaves, comes back around 9.45pm and she notices (obviously from the concentration on my face lol) that i am indeed having contractions (although they were not painful i did have to concentrate) she examined me 3cms rang ob he said not to put the next lot of gel and he would see me at 7am and to get a good nights sleep - little miss lani had other plans lol. i settled in to watch the panel and at 10pm i turned off the light when i felt a "pop" waters had broken, i noticed there was some meconium (sp?) and i was a little frightened, they rang dh to advise him i was to be taken down to labour ward he needed to ring my mum to look after my son - got to labour ward at 10.15pm when they started to fill the bath, i told midwife i needed to do a poo and she asked me to lay down on the bed first, examination 5cm and that is where i stayed in the room all alone whilst she was busily getting things prepared for a quick arrival and ringing the ob to get out of bed and come down - my dh was still not there, ob got there at 10.30pm and he was great encouraging me and even giving me water to drink finally at 10.45pm my dh arrived expecting me to just be laying there going through early labour, what a shock he got - lani was born at 11.03pm.

*Why were you induced?
10 days over and i was getting a bit tired and frustrated - i think ob was concerned about bubs movement has he had me monitored alot in the last few weeks - however this has happened with all 3 pregnancies, i think becuase my placenta has been at the front and movement is quite hard for me to detect.

*Did you want to be induced?
by that stage in my prg yes

*Which method of induction was used?
gel

*How did you feel the induction & birth went? Was it what you expected?
initially i was very nervous about being induced again, but i believe the gel was far better than the drip - i was actually adamant i would never have that drip again , i hated it. i felt the gel was for me a lot more gentle. and really after such a quick birth and drug free i really could not complain - i actually mentioned i couldn't wait to do it all again 8-[

*Do you think the induction had any effect on your birth experience or after the birth? Not at all, in fact i am glad i was in the hospital being induced as i think lani was in such a hurry to come out had i not been in hospital she may have been born in the car. i had a strange feeling all through my prg i would do a "nicky buckley" and have my baby on the laundry floor.

*Would you accept an induction again if it were offered in a non-serious condition? Yes for reasons stated in the #1 story

*Were you told / were you aware of what effects induction medication has on you as the mother? If so, what? No

*Were you told / were you aware of what effects induction medication has on the baby? If so what? No

sorry for the epic