what they don't tell you (Birth Induction)

Member Name: sandra_dee

Product:	Birth Induction
Date:	19/06/03 (1113 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: you know when it's going to be over

Disadvantages: see op

It was Thursday 20th February 1992 at 8am in the morning when I entered the maternity ward to be induced with my first and as yet only child. I was almost two weeks late and because of this they decided to induce me.

I was taken in to a delivery room and after an hour's wait a doctor (a tiny Chinese guy, the significance will become obvious later in the day) arrived to break my water and start labour. They then put me on a drug, which thanks to my amnesia (see previous review) I cant remember what it was called but it was something like syntometrin.

As in the title what they don't tell you is that an inducted labour is totally different from a 'normal' delivery. I began contracting, which were every other minute lasting a minute, non of this have a minor contraction, watch Tv, read book make lunch and in about 15 minutes you will have another and as they get stronger and closer together you can make your way to the hospital.

I had made a birth plan, I suggest you don't be too stringent with this as things cannot always be possible. I would have like a water birth but because I was on a drip this was not possible as it was plugged in on one wall and the bath was at the other side of the room. But the one thing I had insisted on was that I did not want pethidine as once it is in your system you can't get it out and can give you the feeling of being drunk and can affect the baby.

So I asked for gas and air (entonox) as I had been in labour for 4hrs and was not getting anywhere fast. I had dilated 2cms. They refused, stating that at the rate I was dilating I would be in labour for another 16hrs and I would go through that much gas and air they would have to pull me off the ceiling to delivery the baby.

I then asked for Tens and was told there were only two, one was in use and the other was not working.

By this time I was tired, in pain and thinking this would never end.

I then as
ked for what was my last option, an epidural. Which I had at 7.30pm. As I lay on my side I kept getting the shakes and the doctor kept telling me to keep still but I couldn't, it must have been the needle in my spine stimulating my nerves. After it was completed they spray something on both legs and they ask you what you can feel. My right I felt nothing but my left felt cold. They then topped up the epidural and had me lie on my left side to see if would drain across which it didn't, but the pain was reduced enough for me to cope and in the end it helped as I knew when to push. That is one of the biggest disadvantages, if you don't know when to push you can end up having a forceps delivery.

As to what happened next no-one is sure but by 9.00pm I was ready to delivery, they think that after the epidural I relaxed and dilated very fast.

My son was delivered at 9.15pm and was fine.

It then came to the delivery of the placenta. When it came out it was torn and they couldn't decide if the tear joined or if a piece was missing. So they decided to do an evacuation. Which is where they go in manually (with hands) while I'm still fully dilated. So the doctor was sent for. When to door opened all light from the corridor was blocked out and the biggest man I have ever seen with the biggest hands. My first comment was "where is that little Chinese guy"?, but obviously being 13 hrs later he had gone home. They did find another piece and removed it.

I have to say that looking back now I don't think I had to bad a labour but that is not what the nurses thought they said it was bad, but being my first child I hadn't experienced it before.
It just that they don't tell you that an induced labour is very different.

If there are any advantages, they are that you can plan. i knew that if i didn't go into labour before i would have my child on Thursday and could get things sorted. <
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I also have to say for anyone reading this that has not delivered a child if it was THAT bad would we not all be only children.
No-one would be daft enough to do it twice.

thanks for reading

Summary: