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

Hi. I just wanted to share my experience following the recent birth of my second son where I was induced at 38 weeks for medical reasons.

My first labour was 15 and a half hours, augmented, lying flat on my back with CTG monitors. I felt strapped to the bed, and quite simply didn't cope. I still have nightmares about it.

Going into my second pregnancy and knowing from the outset that I would have to be induced was terribly scary. More than anything I wanted to avoid the CTG, and being strapped to the bed. I wanted to be upright, and able to labour on the birth ball, but I had no idea how I could achieve this with a synto induction where continuous monitoring is mandatory.

I hit the web and eventually found a site that suggested that a scalp monitor would allow more freedom of movement than a CTG machine. I had had a scalp monitor with my first labour, which had been scary at the time it was suggested, but the mark it had left on the baby's head was so small I had felt silly about being scared after the baby was born. For me it was easy to decide between a small scab on the baby vs hours of labour on my back.

So I spoke with my OB who was happy to use the scalp monitor (actually, he would have been happy with intermittent monitoring but hospital policy insisted on continuous) and so I went in for induction on December 1st feeling confident that it would be OK.

My waters were broken and it was found that I was already 3 - 4 cm dilated, which certainly helped for a good labour. The drip was started and we used the scalp monitor. The lead was taped to my leg and then I could get up and move around with the drip on a stand. I laboured on the birth ball for 2 and a half hours, at which point the contractions were feeling very strong. I used the gas and felt a bit dizzy so moved to the bed. A few contractions later we were pushing and after a 3 hour labour we had a baby!

Whilst being dilated from the start certainly helped, I am convinced being upright and on the ball helped the labour progress and also helped with management of the pain. I could rock between contractions, my birth partners could massage my back, and it kept me from feeling trapped and frightened as I had during my first labour where I couldn't move at all.

For me, the scalp monitor was a great alternative to the CTG and helped us have a great birth experience.

Thanks for sharing that positive story. So glad it went well for you.

It's nice to hear of a positive induction story, I too was induced and I had a very quick 2 hour labour. Yes, it was pretty full on, but I feel positive about it and don't have any regrets!
Congratulations!

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.