28/01/2023
Here’s a reminder from (who runs a fab company called ) that inductions can be positive when they are right choice for you.
My positive induction story!
This was my second birth 17 months after my first.
I’d planned to have as natural a birth as possible, as a ‘high risk’ pregnancy my birth was arranged to be on the labour ward with continuous monitoring during but still to use the birth pool (if possible!) and hypnobirthing. My waters broke spontaneously at 38+5 but labour slowed and I was informed procedure was to start induction once 24 hours had passed. I felt informed and consented to this.
After going home and reading the information, I felt calm knowing it could still be the birth I wanted (minus the pool). I had a pessary over night with little change and was then moved onto a drip induction.
Based on my birth plan, I was matched with a midwife who was also a hypnobirthing instructor. She was supportive and facilitating of my practice during labour. We dimmed the lights, played my tracks, used essential oils and talked about my older daughter. My partner and I looked through her photos while we told our midwife funny stories of her as a baby.
It felt like a really safe, relaxed place and as the drip speed increased my contractions became very intense. Both my partner and midwife helped ground me through them. I was encouraged to move around on the bed to allow for movement and better positioning.
Even though I was strapped up for monitoring my midwife made sure they were in place while I was in a birthing headspace. The bed was made upright into a chair and I kneeled, leaning on the headrest for support when I gave birth, 3 hours after the drip induction started.
Baby was born healthy and happy and I didn’t need stitches this time too!
It felt like a very powerful, natural birth with me in control despite the intervention. It felt more like a helping hand and although the contractions were intense it was manageable with focus and gas & air. I’d been able to use all the affirmations, relaxation tracks and visualisations I’d prepared. Overall I felt very safe and cared for throughout.
