How does an induction work??

Boomerslady · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:14 AM

So as you all know by now I'm going in later to be induced.

All I know about it is what I was told at my antenatal, which is that they put some sort of capsule up there (I guess that softens the cervix)

But when it was booked in for the induction I was told as I was already 1cm they'd attempt to break my waters straight away.

Can anyone give me any idea as to how it'll work?? As if they do break my waters then surely my cervix will be soft already.... Also will contractions start straight away? I hate being clueless as it'll make me feel more scared.

Any wisdom/knowledge you can impart would be great.

PieMistress · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:22 AM

Hi B,

I can't speak from experience so don't know but just wanted to say that I hope it all goes well (and we have the same due date - today!). I might very well be coming back to check this thread if bubs hangs in there!

Will be thinking of you!

x

Boomerslady · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:30 AM

Thanks piemistress

I hope your LO is here in time for Christmas

Your buba could be here before mine as god knows how long an induction will take!!

I'll keep an eye out for your birth story

anothersquish · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:30 AM

Normally they will wait til 3/4cm to break your waters but if they can get at them to do it its about the easiest and quickest way to kickstart contractions. If you are already dilating they may do one 'capsule' (or none!) then break your waters and see if that does the trick. If your contractions dont get going in a timely fashion they will want to put you on a drip which will help speed things along, its this bit that people generally say makes labour more painful.

Snoopy · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:31 AM

The usual methods are a prostaglandin gel or pessary inserted to soften the cervix, artificial rupturing of the membranes (ARoM) and artificial oxytocin (syntocinon in the UK, pitocin in the US) given by drip to start or strengthen contractions. There's no point in starting contractions if the cervix is still unfavourable, and ARoM is done to speed up contractions and make them more effective.

HTH

Boomerslady · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:36 AM

Thanks very much ladies

So if they can break my waters straight away they will. If not they'll insert a pessery and check again in the morning, then keep giving me more pesseries until they can be broken?

Do they only put you on a drip once they've broken your waters??

I'm still hoping it'll be quick so I can be home for Christmas. Thanks very much for the info as now I'll know roughly how far along I am.

Snoopy · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:44 AM

Pretty much. If your cervix is already favourable, they can either choose ARoM first before putting you on syntocinon to see if that does the job adequately, or they can just go for the drip straight away and do ARoM to make it more effective afterwards.

Have you had any internals recently? D'you know how favourable your cervix is already?

Beltane · Dec 20th, 2009, 10:48 AM

I was induced with my last child and it was fabulous! It all depends on your hospital but with me, they hooked me to an IV and gave me pitocin around 8 am. I sat and waited and watched tv with my husband all day. Was able to see the contractions on a screen but couldn't feel them. They broke my water in the afternoon and then I got an epidural. I gave birth at 4:30 p.m. It was just wonderful! Good luck!

PieMistress · Dec 20th, 2009, 11:31 AM

What would happen if your induction date came around and your cervix was still 'unfavourable' - can they still induce?

Boomerslady · Dec 20th, 2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snoopy

Pretty much. If your cervix is already favourable, they can either choose ARoM first before putting you on syntocinon to see if that does the job adequately, or they can just go for the drip straight away and do ARoM to make it more effective afterwards.

Have you had any internals recently? D'you know how favourable your cervix is already?

Snoopy you're a star!!!! I had an internal on Tuesday and she said my cervix was 1cm and favourable. That's about all she told me!!

I'm sooo nervous it's silly. I'm more worried as I'm pretty sure my OH will be sent home when I go onto the ward, I'm secretly hoping I'll be 3-4cms already and they let me stay in the labour suite, but I know that's very unlikely!!!

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:14 AM	#1
Boomerslady Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bromley, London Posts: 3,618	How does an induction work?? So as you all know by now I'm going in later to be induced. All I know about it is what I was told at my antenatal, which is that they put some sort of capsule up there (I guess that softens the cervix) But when it was booked in for the induction I was told as I was already 1cm they'd attempt to break my waters straight away. Can anyone give me any idea as to how it'll work?? As if they do break my waters then surely my cervix will be soft already.... Also will contractions start straight away? I hate being clueless as it'll make me feel more scared. Any wisdom/knowledge you can impart would be great.

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:22 AM	#2
PieMistress Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 852	Hi B, I can't speak from experience so don't know but just wanted to say that I hope it all goes well (and we have the same due date - today!). I might very well be coming back to check this thread if bubs hangs in there! Will be thinking of you! x

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:30 AM	#3
Boomerslady Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bromley, London Posts: 3,618	Thanks piemistress I hope your LO is here in time for Christmas Your buba could be here before mine as god knows how long an induction will take!! I'll keep an eye out for your birth story

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:30 AM	#4
anothersquish Mum (Mom) Inactive Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,415	Normally they will wait til 3/4cm to break your waters but if they can get at them to do it its about the easiest and quickest way to kickstart contractions. If you are already dilating they may do one 'capsule' (or none!) then break your waters and see if that does the trick. If your contractions dont get going in a timely fashion they will want to put you on a drip which will help speed things along, its this bit that people generally say makes labour more painful.

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:31 AM	#5
Snoopy Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 335	The usual methods are a prostaglandin gel or pessary inserted to soften the cervix, artificial rupturing of the membranes (ARoM) and artificial oxytocin (syntocinon in the UK, pitocin in the US) given by drip to start or strengthen contractions. There's no point in starting contractions if the cervix is still unfavourable, and ARoM is done to speed up contractions and make them more effective. HTH

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:36 AM	#6
Boomerslady Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bromley, London Posts: 3,618	Thanks very much ladies So if they can break my waters straight away they will. If not they'll insert a pessery and check again in the morning, then keep giving me more pesseries until they can be broken? Do they only put you on a drip once they've broken your waters?? I'm still hoping it'll be quick so I can be home for Christmas. Thanks very much for the info as now I'll know roughly how far along I am.

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:44 AM	#7
Snoopy Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 335	Pretty much. If your cervix is already favourable, they can either choose ARoM first before putting you on syntocinon to see if that does the job adequately, or they can just go for the drip straight away and do ARoM to make it more effective afterwards. Have you had any internals recently? D'you know how favourable your cervix is already?

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 10:48 AM	#8
Beltane Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4,384	I was induced with my last child and it was fabulous! It all depends on your hospital but with me, they hooked me to an IV and gave me pitocin around 8 am. I sat and waited and watched tv with my husband all day. Was able to see the contractions on a screen but couldn't feel them. They broke my water in the afternoon and then I got an epidural. I gave birth at 4:30 p.m. It was just wonderful! Good luck!

Status: Offline

Dec 20th, 2009, 11:31 AM	#9
PieMistress Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 852	What would happen if your induction date came around and your cervix was still 'unfavourable' - can they still induce?

Status: Offline

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