Induction in two days... excitement :)

**Kirley64** · April 19th, 2010, 06:41 PM

Hi Everyone,
sooo at first i didnt' really want an induction - but with blood pressure increasing and a risk of pre-eclampsia setting in ... i am getting induced on wednesday arvo ... and i'm actually excited cuz i finally get to meet bub!!

Didn't ask too many q's today cuz i was a bit over waiting (had a three hour wait!!

) and just wanted to go home... and i was also excited when i got told induced wednesday lol.....
so i know usually they try the gel/tape first?? was just wondering if anyone can give me any basic info about what to expect {will be at Ipswich public hospital}. I know the hospital has very good midwifery care and are all for low intervention so i don't think they'd go the drip straight away... but any info is helpful

**onthefly** · April 19th, 2010, 07:23 PM

Hi Kirley

Yep, usually you go in the night before and get the gels/tape. They will hook you up to a monitor to check bubs before and after, to ensure there's no adverse reaction.

It is possible you will go into labour from this alone.

Depending on the situation, they may give you more gel in the morning if your cervix still isn't favourable for induction. The exact protocol varies between docs and hospitals however. Mine still wasn't very ripe after the tape & catheter overnight, but the doc went straight ahead and broke my waters (very uncomfortable with a high, firm cervix!).

Next is breaking of waters. Sometimes they'll want to do the drip at the same time. Personally, I'd advise waiting as long as you can to see if you can get into active labour without the drip, or at least get a bit of a start without it. Once on the synto the contractions are very intense. Because of the risk to your uterus and baby you have to be monitored very closely, which can inhibit your movements and make it harder to cope. You could ask for remote monitoring (if they have a wireless one) so you can move around more freely.

Anyway, I hope it all goes smoothly for you! It is exciting to be finally meeting your baby

All the best~~

**Kirley64** · April 19th, 2010, 08:10 PM

do you have to have a cathater in??

hoping to avoid the drip cuz i do want an active labour including possible water birth... so i was hoping to avoid the drip and constant monitoring. *fingers crossed*

**Little Chicken** · April 19th, 2010, 09:10 PM

Sometimes they put a catheter into the cervix and blow up the (small) balloon to help it dilate, so not the cathter you were thinking about! What they do depends on how ripe your cervix is so might have to wait and see how it goes. You might still get your waterbirth! Good luck for Wednesday!

**Kirley64** · April 19th, 2010, 10:16 PM

lol glad it wasn't the cathater i was thinking of hehe... thanks

**Oorki Galoorki** · April 20th, 2010, 12:22 AM

im pretty sure they wont let you in a bath if your being induced (gels) and once synto is on they will have you monitored pretty well constantly.

perhaps call the hospital and ask what their procedures are in regards to induction, then you can decided exactly what you will and wont do..

**HotI** · April 20th, 2010, 09:46 AM

im pretty sure they wont let you in a bath if your being induced (gels) and once synto is on they will have you monitored pretty well constantly.

perhaps call the hospital and ask what their procedures are in regards to induction, then you can decided exactly what you will and wont do..

i agree. Once they begin the induction, your ability to have an active birth is limited. hospital policy is largely the limiting factor so get as much info beforehand so you are prepared. high blood pressure can mean they will want constant monitoring. depending on the shape of your tummy, it can be hard to keep the monitors on where they can read bub, whilst getting in different positions.

good luck

**onthefly** · April 20th, 2010, 10:45 AM

yes, the balloon catheter I mean

And yes, you probably won't be allowed in the bath. I was, but only as our midwife was quite new and didn't know the standard protocol. I wasn't in there for long though.

Are you goign in tonight or tomorrow night?

**Kirley64** · April 20th, 2010, 11:17 AM

going in tomorrow afternoon. I have a doula who is actually a nurse at the hospital

so she will still push for me to be able to use the shower at least if i can't use the bath

even if i have the drip - she's like... ppl have drips all the time in the shower etc...
it's ok, if i can't have the bath the shower will work just as good. i'm still really excited about baby being here soon more than anything. The slight changes in birth plan i can deal with. I'd rather have baby out and blood pressure not go up more than anything.

**Mad Scientist** · April 20th, 2010, 11:22 AM

Have you tried natural induction techniques at all? I'm sure you have, but just putting it out there. It might give you more of a chance to have the labour and birth you want. But either way, it's very exciting that you get to meet your bubba tomorrow! Good luck with it all!!

**westy** · April 20th, 2010, 11:24 AM

Hi Kirley,

Just wanted to wish you all the best for the induction tomorrow, i hope it all goes well for you. I have a 41w1d check tomorrow at Ipswich hospital and i too am facing an induction unless something happens today/tonight so i might even see you in there.

Goodluck for the impending arrival of your little one

Can i ask how long have you had the high bp and how high has it been? I have had high bp throughout the whole pregnancy and was actaully sent to the hospital last fortnight for monitoring yet they have let me go on this far...just curious thats all.

**Kirley64** · April 20th, 2010, 11:26 AM

I haven't really tried them very much....
The DTD is out the window atm as DH happened to get a rash down there and we didn't know what it was from so better to be safe than sorry we haven't had much sexy time

.... although we are pretty sure now it was just a change in laundry powder but oh well.

Have been doing lots of walking around to try and get bub to drop and i've still been keeping the house clean with frequent vaccumming hehe....

however alot of the other stuff ie. rasberry tea - doesn't interest me,
nipple stimulation is alot of work
um... atm i can't remember the other ones atm....

**Mad Scientist** · April 20th, 2010, 11:31 AM

LOL nipple stimulation doesn't really appeal to me either. If you are interested, there are a fair few different ones that are supposed to get things going. The main one I've heard that is successful is acupuncture but you don't have much time left to get that done! BB's Alan is full of great advice if you want to find out more? I'm very excited for you. You sound very relaxed with it all which will help you in labour and birth whichever way it goes. Wishing you lots of good labour vibes

xx

**onthefly** · April 20th, 2010, 12:27 PM

Do you have a fitball? Sometimes bouncing helps to get baby into a better position to help soften the cervix. Also walking up and down stairs.
As for sex... orgasm is the thing that helps most, because it releases lots of oxytocin. So even if your DH is out of action down there, he can still help... sorry if that's a bit forward

The doula sounds good! And she'll know all the ins and outs at the hospital. It's good you have a positive attitude to changes in plan

**Kirley64** · April 20th, 2010, 04:45 PM

Do you have a fitball? Sometimes bouncing helps to get baby into a better position to help soften the cervix. Also walking up and down stairs.
As for sex... orgasm is the thing that helps most, because it releases lots of oxytocin. So even if your DH is out of action down there, he can still help... sorry if that's a bit forward

The doula sounds good! And she'll know all the ins and outs at the hospital. It's good you have a positive attitude to changes in plan

I didnt' realise that it was the orgasm i thought it was the hormones in semen

will suggest it to him tonight hehe....

Yeh my doula is great and lovely so she will help out heaps

.... i figured if i stress about the fact my birth plan isn't going 'perfectly' then the whole labour probably will go worse... so i'm just going to go with the circumstances and make the best i can out of what I still have available. It could be alot worse and i couldve had to have a c-section for pre-eclampsia so i'm really glad that i'm not in a high risk catagory and can still try for labour

....
don't really have the time or funding for accupuncture... the thought of accupuncture actually really scares me hehe

think its the thought of needles being jabbed into me!! lol...
thanks for all your advice and encouragment everyone.... not long to go now

**Kirley64** · April 20th, 2010, 06:23 PM

Hi Kirley,

Just wanted to wish you all the best for the induction tomorrow, i hope it all goes well for you. I have a 41w1d check tomorrow at Ipswich hospital and i too am facing an induction unless something happens today/tonight so i might even see you in there.

Goodluck for the impending arrival of your little one

Can i ask how long have you had the high bp and how high has it been? I have had high bp throughout the whole pregnancy and was actaully sent to the hospital last fortnight for monitoring yet they have let me go on this far...just curious thats all.

Sorry i didn't see this earlier

lucky you pm'd me. We mustve replied at the same time....

As you already know my bp wasnt' as high as yours was... I think it depends on the doctor on at the time... the one i had in antenatal clinic yesterday was great {most of them have been} but he seemed to care alot more about me personally rather than just tried to get me in and out of the hospital... I can't remember his name though

i'll have to ask my DH for you. He'll remember. Hopefully you get an outcome tomorrow. xxx

**onthefly** · April 20th, 2010, 06:27 PM

There is a hormone in semen that can help ripen teh cervix... Apparently it's more effective if ingested

But orgasm is probably more effective and anyway will help you relax.

Yep, can't do much to change your cirucmstances - really hope it works out for you