Getting Started Tomorrow and Scared...

caroline78

My baby is overdue and on Friday the doctor tried a stretch and sweep which didn't work as I wasn't dilated. They have booked me in tomorrow to get started. The doctor said I have to be at the hospital for 2pm and I will be given gel at 4pm and then again 6 hours later if the first lot doesn't work.

Has anyone any experience of this, and does it have a high success rate.

Really scared as baby was weighing at 9 pound on Friday...:eek:

todolistsocd

Hi,

I don't have experience of a sweep but just wanted to say congrats on pending baby, and hope you and Baby are Ok!
Good Luck!

I know it's easy to say, but don't worry.
The more apprehensive you are, the worse you feel. Just try to relax and be calm!

shellsuit

When I was induced, I had 2 lots of the gel which didn't do a thing apart from give me tummy ache.

I was left till the next day and had my waters broke instead to get me going properly.

That was back in 1996 though!

Good luck with the birth, I'm sure you will be fine x

msb5262

Hi Caroline,

Don't worry, all will be well.

I had an induction like this with my third child, and it wasn't very quick to get started but did work fine after the second lot of gel.

Also don't take too much notice of assessments of your baby's weight/size - they are notoriously inaccurate. My induced baby weighed 9lb 3oz and that was an induction at 38 weeks for sound medical reasons but I'd been assured he would be around 7lb so it can be an inexact science.

Don't get anxious about this; if you are desperate not to be induced, you can withhold your consent but it's in your baby's best interests to be born by 42 weeks at the absolute latest as the placenta becomes less efficient.

Just think - it's not long until you finally meet your baby!

Very best wishes

MsB

caroline78

I'm happy enough to be induced as I can't wait any longer, just a bit anxious as I really hadn't wanted to stay in hospital for any length of time....only ever been admitted for 6 hours, 10 years ago, to get my tonsils out...lol

no-oneknowsme

With all 3 of my Babies I was over due. I was admitted to hospital on my 9th day of being overdue with each baby. This was a long time ago though as my youngest child is now almost 13 years old.

In my case they admitted me the night before they planned to induce me and on each and every occasion (3 babies) the "fear" of what was to happen the next day knocked me into natural labour.

Maybe this will happent to you too

msb5262

Hello again Caroline,

Induction isn't always that quick so you might be in a couple of days.
One bit of advice - take your own pillow with you.
Hospital pillows are encased in plastic under the outer pillowcase...very sweaty in this weather. Put your pillow in an easily identified pillowcase and clutch it to you, explaining you need it to support your neck. Always works for me!
Also take something to use as a laundry bag so you can send pyjamas, undies etc home for washing. I had my waters broken by the midwife each time I gave birth and it was like having a bucket of warm water poured over me - clean dry garments definitely required.
I hope you're starting to feel excited. Everything starts very soon now...

happy35

i am sure you will be fine, take a few magazines or a book to read to fill in the time

I didnt find giving birth anywhere near as bad as I imagined, like you I had never been in for anything other than having my tonsils out

I had my son on the monday morning and came home on Wednesday dinner time as he was born 5 weeks early and they needed to make sure he was feeding properly so your stay may not be very long at all.

onlyroz

I was induced with my second-born. Had the gel at 2pm and had given birth by 5pm. I understand that it can take a lot longer though...

jackieglasgow

I was the in the same situation as you with my first. He was estimated at 8 - 9 pounds, and 10 days late. I got the gel at 4pm, then again at 11pm that night, I was uncomfortable most of the night, but not in labour, then had my waters broken at 10am the next day. My labour was drawn out and exhausting because I hadn't slept much the night before either, and my son was finally delivered by foreceps at 10pm weighing 11lb 4oz. On the other hand, my second son was nine days late, I went into labour myself, he was estimated to be about 14 or 15lbs, and I ended up with an emergency section after 38 hours in hospital as again I was exhausted. He was 11lb31/2oz, so they got that one wrong too.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that you can't be prepared for how it will be, but you can be prepared to be exhausted, so get plenty of rest and sleep tonight, and if you don't go in to labour, and they are leaving you overnight, and you are struggling to sleep, and for a sedative so that you have had plenty of rest before the labour starts. I was terrified, I have never been so scared in my life, and that probably never helped me, but once my baby was born, I didn't care, I just wanted to hold him and see his wee face. Good luck and honestly, don't worry otherwise you'll make yourself worse, that's definitely what I would tell myself if I could go back in time.

Loulou2010

i was booked in to be induced with my ds but didnt need it as he decided start things off himself. only 13 days late.....:mad::rotfl: