How long will hospital induce for?

[NAR4]

Just curious to know, how long will the hospital continue to try and induce labour, before they decide to do a C section. Can they continue pretty much indefinately, until baby becomes distressed or is there usually a protocol that gives a set time?

[newyearsday]

It depends on the circumstances nar4, if it's your 1st baby, they do everything possible to help you have a vaginal birth. In my experience, it went on until 1) there were no other induction interventions left to try, or 2) the baby gets distressed.

If there's something you feel strongly you don't want, get it on your birth plan. (My advice: don't write "I would prefer not to have x", write "I do not consent to x".)

Sounds like a good question to ask the consultant/registrar attending you, before they get started!

[ChiefOwl]

Yes in my experience they went on far too long so I could have a natural birth, however this became very traumatic (as I believe my body was not ready) and it took me far longer to recover than the elcs I had next time round.

[NAR4]

Its not for me.

A friend of mine is being induced at 38 weeks (mainly for the convenience of the hospital from what my friend says). Just curious really because it hasn't started her labour yet (after just over 24 hours) and was done after them deciding her placenta had moved enough for her to give birth naturally. She was originally booked in for a C section yesterday, but is now being induced instead. I know she really didn't want the C section and thought it would be a shame if she ended up with one anyway because the induction didn't work. Her 2nd baby by the way.

[Sirzy]

I was 48 hours before things started and there was no mention of c section at that point (not until he got distressed in labour but thankfully all was fine)

[pepperrabbitanddesultorytinsel]

With DS2 they tried for 3 full days, sent me home for the weekend, and I went back in on the monday morning.
At that point they gave me till Tue am beofre insisting on a CS.
Luckily he pitched up about 1.30am - so about a week is the answer in my case.
I would not recommend the bit where you go home again Still Pregnant, when everyone knows you went to have the baby... I was in a ferociously bad mood of the like I'd never wish to repeat .

[NAR4]

That sounds horriible pepper. I would have been in a terrible mood too.

[Hooliaaa]

It took 5 days with me. DD finally made an appearance at 40 + 19 after ARM and a drip. A C-section had been mentioned but only as a last resort. I was utterly sick of hospital and would have been delighted to go home to a dark, quiet bedroom, a big comfy bed and plenty of food in the fridge. I'm now at 40+3 with no. 2 so hoping not to have to go through all that again!

[NAR4]

Fingers crossed for you Hoolia. If induction goes on that long, maybe a C section would come as a blessing!

[strawberrypenguin]

4 days from start of induction to DS arriving for me! I was a 38 week induction to and I think they can take a bit longer because your body isn't quite 'ready'

[GemmyMummy]

In my experience the induction was pretty straight forward. You were given up to 3 doses of gel pessaries administered 6 hours apart. After each dose you would have a cervical examination 6 hours later to see if the cervix was favourable enough to have the waters broken. If after the 3rd dose the cervix was still not favourable then it would be c-section. I was lucky enough for them to be able to break my waters after the 2nd dose and then was started on the syntocin (spelling??) drip.

[NAR4]

My friend had a C section yesterday, early afternoon.

Mother and baby both well.

[pepperrabbitanddesultorytinsel]

Glad to hear all is well.