UK FTM SUCCESSFUL INDUCTION STORY

First Time UK MUM -

I’m from the UK & always saw lots of birth stories from the USA and whilst I LOVED reading them when pregnant- I know things are a little bit different here - one being the success rate of inductions and vaginal deliveries in the UK (a lot end in C Sections) - and i was always looking for close to home relatable stories.

So hopefully I can share my story and help some of you ladies with the same problem. Here Goes!

I am 25, and a FTM. My due date was 16th January 2019. However, i got diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 28 weeks, so the doctor always wanted me to deliver by 41 weeks regardless to monitor babies blood sugars (which has been perfect and so was her weight).

I had a sweep carried out on Monday the 13th at 39+4 weeks. I was 1cm dilated at that time and it did help me begin to pass my mucus plug and making me more favourable for induction, which they had set Monday 20th January should nothing have happened by then.

Monday 20th rolls around and my boyfriend and I attend at the hospital at 3pm. The plan was to insert a cervix softener (I had prostin) every 6 hours, and then to hopefully break my waters the following day after mid day, although my body had other ideas.

I had 1 prostin placed at 4:30pm. My cervix was still at a 1cm and prosterior. I didn’t feel crampy or much contractions after number 1. Number 2 was placed around 10:30, and this is when I began to get contractions. They were sore but bearable to begin with and i just tried to block them out. My boyfriend and I went to sleep spooning on the bed around 12 midnight and at 1:40 my partner had his hand on my stomach, we both heard a ‘POP’ i had a feeling I should get up so i stood up and my waters went EVERYWHERE lol. I asked my boyfriend to go and get a midwife who confirmed yip it was my water.

We stayed at the hospital and we were watching TV and eating lol. My contractions began picking up, becoming consistent and increasingly painful. I tried to go back to sleep but there was no possible way. I showered, tried to eat and laboured in our hospital room until around 06:45 am when i was then transferred to a labour suite. By this point my contractions were so painful i could not speak to anyone other than to articulate my requests or by one word answers. I began taking gas and air almost immediately and it took the edge off - i was acting like i was drunk but trying to appear sober 🤣! It was not enough but it certainly helped.. I had only 2 paracetamol so far. I requested an epidural and this was organised super quick and was placed around 8:30-9am ish. BEST DECISION EVER!!!

I immediately became a better person, laughing and joking and relaxing.. it was the perfect epidural. no pain being placed, i could still feel my legs and move them but could not feel any pain, just pressure when contractions came. It was great and my boyfriend loved it even more as i was no longer threatening to break his legs 😊 We both napped on and off for a few hours and chatted etc. They waited until the epidural took full affect and administered some hormone drip to help me along.

Thereafter I had a pretty good labour and birth. We had a very experienced midwife who stayed the whole time with us. She rarely checked for me being dilated etc saying there’s very little point and we would know when the time was right.

I was sleeping when she woke me up around half 1 to say that babies heart rate was dipping and sometimes that can mean they’re low down and just about ready to be born. She had a look and confirmed I was 10cm and ready. She said we won’t push yet as she didn’t want me to become tired quickly so she left me to labour naturally a bit longer, perhaps around 45 mins. at 2:30pm we did 2 practice pushes...

At 3 o’clock, I began pushing for real and after only 12 minutes our beautiful daughter came into the world. On my

last pushes, she wasn’t happy and her heart rate dipped low, and the midwife asked if she could do an episiotomy to help her out, which I agreed to. It wasn’t as bad as you might think! I was in labour around 13 hours in total and it was a very very successful induction !! She was immediately placed on my chest and my boyfriend and I both did skin to skin 💘

Immediately post partum, my legs felt back to normal and i still not feel any pain, just aware of my stitches. if anyone is considering their pain relief i would definitely recommend it.

I feel that i was conditioned to believe that I would end up having a section, as most of the women both in my family and in my life have had to have C sections both planned and emergency including my mum sisters grandmother etc (all amazing women to do this!) so I think some part of me expected that to be the case for me too. Having a vaginal delivery was important to me and I feel so empowered and happy with how it all unfolded.

Georgia Grace - 15:12 - 7lbs 8 Oz - 21-01-20: We love you!!!! ❤️💘❤️💘