My 2 hour Induced Labour :) A very positive experience!
While it is still fresh in my mind, I would love to share the birth of our precious baby daughter!
My DD who is 7, was induced at 42 wks, and weighed 9lbs. It was a long drawn out affair over 4 days, and I ended up having an epidural, but quite a good birth in the end, with a 2nd degree tear, that healed beautifully.
My DS, who is 2, was also induced at 42 wks (they love my belly!) and was over 11lbs....his birth was very easy, and I only needed to have my waters ruptured, with no synto or gels to kickstart labour. Labour was a total of 6 hours, a small tear, with no drugs. I did suffer a big bleed after (PPH) due to his big size.
Because of DS's size, and the PPH last time, my GP and I closely monitored my size this time, and although my belly was smaller this time, we mutually agreed that it would be best to be induced on my due date, as it seems my babies like being in there as long as possible, and we really didn't want to put my body through birthing such a large baby again, which was still a possibility should I go to 42 wks again...
So, on my due date, we left the kids at home early in the morning at 7.30am with my Mum, and headed off to our public hospital of choice. (Which is small, does not offer epidurals, but it means you get your own room as a public patient, AND your OWN GP to deliver :) )
It took my GP three attempts to rupture my membranes. On the second failed attempt she suggested maybe waiting another day or so before trying again....I politely asked her to get back in and try again please!! The third attempt was succesful, and it was all very painless, and not even uncomfortable to be honest.
With that, she told us to go for a big walk, so DH and I headed off to the botanical gardens next door to the Hospital, and spent an hour or so walking around. DH made me do step ups on a tree trunk, and we had a good giggle at the looks we were getting, as I could only walk as slow as a turtle due to the consistent gushing of fluids!
Anyway, I had not one niggle or pain or even a BH in that time!
We made our way back to the hospital at around 11am. As nothing was happening, we headed off to the hospital Cafe for some lunch.
It was really yummy too! (Foccacia's!).
It was the day before our wedding anniversary, and at this point we honestly felt like we were having a day out together, which doesn't happen often without the kids, so we were lapping it up, and enjoying each other company!
We bought some mags, papers and chocolate, and headed back to my room, and spent a couple of hours reading & napping.
I still did not have even one niggle in this time!! NOT ONE!
At around 2pm my GP came back, and said it was maybe time for the drip of synto....I had resigned myself to this fact, and told her let's go for it!
They started me on a really low dose of 12, and it would be increased by 12 every half an hour. By the time they got it in, it was around 3pm already....
My GP advised the Midwife and student on duty that I wished to be upright and standing, despite the constant monitoring, and that they would need to attach the CTG with me standing. They spent ages trying to do this without success, so in the end I suggested I get up on the bed propped up high on a bean bag.
This worked well, and I sat there feeling like a Queen on a throne!
After about half an hour or so of still not even a niggle, I started having BH like contractions every 5 minutes, that were not even painful.
This lasted around 40 minutes. It was still pleasant, and no different from the BH I had been having in bed every night for the last week!
After 40 minutes, they ramped up and finally became painful. Over the next half an hour I was able to breath through them laying on my side, before finally they became so close together I had to stand up....
As soon as I stood up I had 4 big contractions in 6 minutes, which my MW said was too many, and with that she took me off the Synto and I made a run for the shower!
I continued to labour in the shower for the next 45 minutes, using the shower head on my belly during the contractions, and DH using it on my back in between.
The contractions intensified on their own, without the drip.
I did start to panic at this stage, because I assumed I still had hours to go, as at this point I had only had about an hour and a half of painful contractions, and they were now at "end of labour" pain level, and I had no idea how I could continue for hours like this.....silly me, I should have realised the end was soooo near :)
The contractions suddenly became less painful, but there was no break in between, and I started getting that pressure in my bottom, which made me think that just "maybe" I actually needed to push.....but I kept telling myself that there was no way I was ready, as I had hardly been in labour at all yet!
As I was starting to panic, the MW, also assuming I still had hours to go, called my GP in, who was on her way in anyway, and she turned up in less than 5 minutes.
I was getting out of the shower just as she arrived, and I promptly made for the bed and got on all fours rocking.
She came over and asked me how I was....I kind of yelled back and said I have no idea, and I don't want to do this any more!!!:redface:
They all stood back for about 30 seconds to let me gain control (DH was by my side the whole time though), and with that I lay on my side and yelled "I NEED TO PUSH...NOW!" and with that I gave an almighty big push, and half of Bubby's head came out in that first push, before sliding back in.
I remember hearing my GP saying in a very amused voice "Yes, you are very right, you DO need to push".
Once she said that I just started pushing whenever I felt like it, and within 2 minutes our beautiful baby arrived out at lightening speed! It was a wonderful feeling to finally feel her body come sliding out!
She was placed on my chest, and after initially wanting to go right back to sleep (we had obviously interrupted her afternoon nap!) she found my nipples straight away!
Amongst all the tears of joy from DH & I and the speed of bubs arrival, we had forgotten to even look and see what we had....so we took a peek and were ecstatic to see we had a beautiful baby girl!!!
We cuddled for ages, before DH cut the cord after it stopped pulsating.
My GP had a bit of a look down there, and declared there was NO TEARING and no need for stitches at all!:clap:
I handed bub to DH, got up and had a shower, and came back just in time for my Mum to arrive with DD and DS, and we enjoyed some lovely family time.
We finally weighed bub a bit later that night, and she was 8lb 2oz!
After expecting a long labour, I had less than 2 hours of painful contractions, and less than 5 minutes of pushing, with GP arriving just in the nick of time......:p
We spent the rest of the evening marvelling at our baby, and remembering that we had thought we would still be in labour at this stage of the night.....instead we had a brand new family member!!
I just wanted to post this to reassure anyone about to be induced, that it is possible to have a positive experience. Just make sure your wishes are heard loud and clear by your Ob and Midwives, and don't be afraid to stick to your guns and ask for what you want. I am so thankful my GP is very anti-intervention, and even though we decided on induction, she still gave me the chance to see if rupturing my membranes was enough to kickstart things, and gave us permission to go off walking around town! She also backed up my decision to try and remain upright and moving, despite having the CTG on. :)
Thanks for reading! I am so in love with my new baby girl.
