They decided today that I am being induced in the coombe next week, I have had my maternity bag packed for a while, now I am worried that I do not have enough for a longer stay. Anyone who has been induced before is there any advice on what to bring?
I’m currently on day 4 of being induced in the Coombe, you don’t really need anything additional that isn’t on a standard maternity hospital bag list. It’s a long process so your partner will be coming and going from home and can bring you anything additional you may need so overall I’d say don’t worry too much about it! There’s also shops around and you’ll likely have time to kill and will want an excuse to go out and pick up something you might need. Outside of that the pillows aren’t great so you may want to bring your own for a longer stay you might not have considered before. You may want a hair dyer as you will likely want to have a shower. Good comfy runners to try get out an about and go up and downstairs to get things moving will also be helpful. Bring extra underwear or panty liners as with the pessaries and gels it will give you discharge. But then again everything could hopefully move fast for you 🤞 or those things might not be important for you
Can I ask if this is your first baby? It's mine and I know it can take longer.
Yeah it’s my first. The length isn’t really because the induction isn’t working — it’s mostly been delays getting a bed on the labour ward. I was initially told 24 hours and I’m now at 26+ and still waiting.
There were also some delays earlier on seeing doctors because they were tied up with emergency sections. I’ve had the propess pessary (left in for 24 hours) and then two rounds of gel that take 6 hours each. After each one there was a wait to be assessed. I’ve been told my cervix is favourable now, but I’m just stuck waiting for a labour ward bed.
That's so frustrating, hopefully you are not waiting much longer. Can't understand why they book people in when they have no space
I was induced. What type of induction are you going to have. If you dont know id look into all the different types now so you have more of an idea. For your bag, as many things as possible to distract you. You may want to go for a walk outside, nice smells that chill you out, your own fairy lights if you feel like they chill you out, nice comfy sliders you can walk around in and use in the shower. Id drop a few essential oils when you do shower and breath all that. Protein snacks, I brought in my own pillow. If youre booked in next week then I might have just asked for a sweep now (if youre full term). Sunglasses to help the room feel darker, eyemask too, winner flow breathing device. Pick out a good few guided breathing videos on YouTube now. And ANC headphones.
I know inductions can take a while but just to say my experience as mine didn't take days and it was my first baby
I had a sweep I want to say on a Tuesday and then a week later on the Tuesday (40weeks) I went in for an induction. Sweep progressed things and when I went in on the Tuesday (told for 10am) they went for the gel instead of the pessary (got at 2/3pm). I wore my own comfy clothes up until the evening/night time where I had a shower for pain relief and changed into pjs. I was in the labour ward just before 7am on Wednesday after my waters broke and then I changed into a labour gown yoke I had. Baby born at 16.16pm that day.
On the induction ward you can get food when they are going around. Personally, my partner got us rolls, and we had protein bars, and snacks and some sweets etc.
I would say to bring stuff to distract you, whatever you think will work, and to move a lot, bounce on the balls (they have). And as others have said, your partner can always bring things in/leave in the car ready to go. I didn't know what to expect, and didn't have a car at the time so I had my labour bag and my hospital stay bag with me and no questions were asked they were just shoved to the side of the bed.
Any questions feel free to ask!
I was told I'd be getting the pessary but had the sweep the previous day and they figured my cervix was open enough to break my waters so that's what they did and I had my baby on the same day I was booked for an induction.
As for what to bring (in case you're not as quick as I was), I brought a tablet for something to watch and a massive bag of snacks. I am not overstating it when I say the food is fucking atrocious.
Thank you they did a sweep today, I will be doing the pessary first. So good, you can leave the hospital and walk around?
Well, you are not really meant to leave the hospital itself. They encourage you to walk around the hospital/car park, but lots walk to the shop across the road or the Lidl
I was induced at the Coombe with my first and had the baby within 7 hours. Didn't have half the things I needed, including colostrum, cos everyone said I'd have loads of time. I hardly had time to take off my leggings in the end.