Synto induction and options for continuous monitoring - a good induction story.

[Tathagres]

Thanks.

I guess I really just wanted to share the idea of the scalp monitor as it wasn't something that I saw mentioned often, and certainly my doctor didn't offer it, although he was very quick to agree to do it when I asked. I am convinced it was helpful as it gave me the mobility I wouldn't have had with a CTG.

[Pandora]

Im surprised that the hospital insisted on continuous monitoring - is that for inductions in general, for due to the circumstances surrounding yours?

[BellyBelly]

Yup with synt you need it, to pick up if it's stressing the baby out.

[Pandora]

ah ok- hence why i didnt have it with just gel induction.
Thanks Kel

[BellyBelly]

Yup gel is to ripen the cervix and get things going, synt is designed to make contractions establish as well as longer, stronger and closer together, which is what can stress bubby out as they can be abnormally strong and long - meaning baby gets less oxygen than normal which is where the fetal distress comes in.

[Bun]

Thanks for sharing your story - it's great to hear such a positive induction story. I was induced with DD and had to have continuous monitoring which made my labour very difficult. I was stuck on the bed, monitors hooked up to one side and synto drip attached to the other - I couldn't even roll over let alone get up and move around! Because I wasn't allowed to move I had no way of handling the pain (and I had read Birth Skills and tried so hard to learn techniques to handle the pain, none of which were possible when strapped to a bed!). I ended up having an epidural. It's nice to know of another option I can investigate next time should I need to be induced and monitored again.

[jgal]

I too was terrified of another synto induction as my first was long and very painful for the entire duration (as opposed to a natural build up of contractions)and with the drip and monitoring I too felt confined to the bed. I just gave birth to my daughter (induced at 40 +5 as my son was induced at 40 +10 and got stuck and had cord issues as well - thius bub was looking to be the same size wise so they decided induction was neccessary). I had the gels overnight, waters broken at 8am then left to labour on my own to see if nature would take over. It seemed to be working as I had a show an hour after waters were broken and the contractions were strong and regular with me staying upright on the swiss ball throughout contractions and walking around between them. However by 2:30 I was told I still had only 2cm dilation and bubs was still "floating", cevix was long etc. so synto was introduced. I burst into tears thinking I had been doing well on my own, only to be told I hadn't and I was terrified of it heading down the same path. They ended up trying out a new cordless and waterproof monitor so the pads are held on but you are not "wired" to anything. I was able to labour in the shower, swiss ball etc. just as I had been, and my ob even suggested I stand up to push (posterior bub) rather than lay on the bed as I couldn't handle being even slightly leant back due to sciatic pain with each contraction. After just an hour of synto at a low dose (last time I had the synto for several hours and was told I had to have the epi as it was getting turned up to the maximum to budge ds), I started feeling sick, unable to cope etc. Remembering that with DS I thought that was transition, only to be told that it was the synto and still no progress, I decided to go straight for the epi as contractions were no closer together and I was sure the ob would order the dosage to be increased. However much to my surprise when she checked me at 3:30 it WAS transition, no time for an epi and bub was out by 5pm. I credit it to being able to stay upright the whole time as I pretty much was stuck to laying down last time.