Collecting Positive Induction Stories

[GeorginaA]

Hoping for some good induction anecdotes please

I'm 32 weeks pregnant and I will be induced at 38 weeks due to obstetric choleostasis. Have read loads of horror induction stories, so I'd really like that balanced out please with wonderful tales about how there were no problems at all and how easy it was

A bit more background: my first labour with ds was around 12 hours long with epidural, episiotomy and ventouse, however I did go into labour "naturally" that time around.

I'm very nervous, and don't really know what to expect.

[mears]

I was induced 3 times and I think because I had laboured once before it really wasn't any harder than labouring naturally. As you know I do not agree with unnecessary inductions but in your case (and mine) the baby's health warrants it.
With number 2 labour actually started after a sweep by the consultant. Very sore but did the trick. Had water broken with no.3 and then started a drip. I didn't find the contractions any harder than the other labours. No.4 I had prostin gel in the morning, didn't feel anything had happened. Got waters broken at 9.30am cervix 2cm dilated. Delivered at 12.08pm. Used gas and air for all inductions. See, it doesn't need to be all bad

[lailag]

my sister was electively induced with her 3rd one and did not feel it was any worse than other two (no epidural but don't know much more).(won't tell my induction story as only positive experiences wanted...)

[lailag]

make sure to ask (well in advance)what exactly they are planning, like what they are going to do when one thing doesn't work, and how soon they would consider other things like caesarian.

[coppertop]

I've only ever had induced labours so I have nothing to compare it to really.

No1: Induced at 41 wks because of high BP and a large baby. The labour was long but well-managed so I had no real problems there. In fact the pain relief was so good that I probably slep through most of the contractions.

No2: Induced at 38 wks because ds2 was a large baby and it was thought best to avoid a c/s. I had one pessary and my waters broken and that was it. I didn't even need the extra drips to help things along. The labour was fairly short and again pain-free thanks to the epidural. Ds2 arrived after just 6hrs weighing 9lb. We left the hospital the following day after the results of his blood group came through (I'm Rh Neg and dh is Rh pos).

I would have no problem with being induced a 3rd time if we had more children. It was also nice not to have to worry about things like not knowing if I was in labour or whether my waters would break in public etc.

[meanmum]

I had a labour very similar to yours for my first child and then with second (7 weeks old now) I was induced. I didn't really know what to expect as the leaflet they gave me to read didn't actually explain things that well. I had first lot of gel at midday. Nothing happened and didn't feel a thing. Second lot of gel was given around 6.00 that night. Started to feel a few light pains towards end of six hour period and was given third lot of gel around midnight. When they give you the gel it is quite uncomfortable but not the end of the world. It hurts but only while they are putting it in or giving you a sweep.

When I had the third lot of gel I sent hubby home as we didn't think anything would happen until the next day. I had more pains but I didn't think they were labour pains as they were so different to with my ds. Spoke to the midwives a few times but they didn't think they were labour pains either just my womb getting ready. Anyway, I started to feel sick so called husband back. Pains were getting worse so I went to have a bath and luckily hubby came with me as my waters broke and baby was born all in the space of 5 minutes. They'd checked me about 50 minutes earlier due to pains getting worse but I wasn't dilated basically so we still didn't think anything was happening.

The birth itself was really quite pain free which surprised me as I had epidural, episiotomy and ventouse with number 1.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that your birth is as painless as mine was. Dd was so quick I didn't even have time for gas and air. Had stitches afterwards but went home same day as I felt really well.

Good luck with it. Hope to hear about some good news on the birth announcements in the next few weeks.

[sar7]

Georgina

I too was induced at 38 wks due to obstetric choleostasis - I only had a couple of hours notice fortunately so I couldn't get worried about it! For me, it was wonderful! I had what I consider to be a 'dream birth'. I was given a pessary about 10pm and went to bed on the ward. I woke about 7am and I was having contractions all morning but I felt well able to manage them, walking around, watching Fern and Phil when I could and leaning on the bed when I needed too. I rang my DH at 12 to say to come in as I felt I needed support. I also asked to go to a delivery room at that time as things were really kicking in. There wasn't one free until 12.30 and I was in serious labour by then. My beautiful DD was born at 1pm - DH was only with me for 30 mins. I won't pretend that that half hour was fun - it was incredibly intense, I was begging for drugs, epidurals etc which the midwives were telling were not available right at that moment (obviously knowing I was going to deliver quickly). After she was born I was up and around quickly getting showered etc.

My first birth was the opposite. Epidural, episiotomy, 19 hours etc. A horrible experience.

I really feel that the experience I had with DD helped me bond quickly with her.

So I have to say please don't worry, you know that you will be able to cope with whatever happens. Best of luck!

[Slinky]

I had a fabulous induction at 39 weeks with DS1 (my 2nd child). Labour was incredibly easy and speedy - had gel inserted, then niggly pains for a while -total time in proper labour was 1 hr 15 mins and DS1 was born in a birthing pool - this wasn't planned, had backache and midwife thought I'd like to relax in a pool but DS1 decided to make an appearance

My other 2 births were both spontaneous - DD1 was a long drawn-out affair resulting in forceps, and although DD2 was slightly quicker than DS1, I still preferred my induced waterbirth

Like you, I had read lots of horror inductions and people didn't hesitate to tell me their stories - but have to say mine was a fabulous experience.

[popsycal]

I had a most wonderful induction - in fact, i would rather be induced next time than go through normal labour. i am aware that many people have bad experiences, but mine was brilliant.

Was induced at 38 weeks with pre-eclampsia. Gel stuff put on at 9pm on a friday evening. watched Friends and that Dom JOly program. Chilled out, DH went home as first induction don't tend to work very quickly. put tens machine on at about 11:30 as I started feeling twinges......
Fell asleep. Woke up at 2am as waters broke. %cm dilated. tried to ring dh but no one could get hold of him as he was dead to the world.
Straight to delivery room - gas and air, swaying to the dulcet tones of Barru White (still not sure why? how? etc)
Dh eventually arrived at 3:30am as I was getting a shot of diamorphine. At 4:45 I started pushing and DS popped out 25 minutes later.

My second sentence was ' i will have another og those, no problem'!!

Now I fear having to go through all those first stages of labour at home next time without being in hospital. For me, being induced was a very positive experience.

Good luck!!

[popsycal]

%cm dilated should be 5cm dliated!

[popsycal]

sorry for typos!

[suedonim]

I had two inductions for being overdue. First one, my waters were broken and I was given prostaglandin tablets. Baby born 4hrs later. Next time, I was given pessaries and labour began about 8hrs later, with baby born 9 hrs after that. I've also had two labours where I started off on my own and I honestly can't say the induced labours were any worse at all. Good luck!

[Eulalia]

My 2nd labour was induced (first spontaneous). I was 2 weeks overdue. Just needed one dose of gel and the rest came naturally. Had the gel about 11am and contractions started at teatime which gradually increased over the evening. dd was born at 4.21 after only being in the delivery room for an hour.

As far as I know the gel is great as it is much more 'natural' - I think it is proglastin (?) which stimulates the cervix. If that doesn't work then you get an injection which can make contractions faster and I've heard that this can be difficult as they aren't easy to control.

So there really is differnet kinds of inductions anyway. sounds like it will be a lot better than your first labour anyway.

Also with it being your 2nd labour everything should be easier as your body has already been through it so should 'remember' what to do . Good luck.

[lucysmum]

A friend was induced at 37 weeks also - due to OC. She only needed one dose of gel and then had a 3 hour labour (first baby, only 4lb so that may have been why she had such a fast birth - he's fine now. I was induced with DD1 - 2 weeks o'due - gel then drip thingy - had a very effective epidural and managed to push her out myself as it had worn off a bit (she was 8 lb and a bit). 24 hours from induction but I thought it was fine.

[lydialemon]

DS2 was an induction (10 days overdue) MW broke my waters at 9am, had a few contractions but nothing really happened until 12 when I was put on the drip.Every thing got going then and I had DS after a four hour labour.I wouldn't say that it was more painful, you just don't get the build up to it so it's more intense. I had gas and air up to the end. They gave me pethadin and DS popped out (literally!) 20 minutes later before the stuff had even had a chance to kick in!

I'll admit I tend to be a bit negative about my induction ( and tried everything to avoid one with DD) but it wasn't because of the actual birth, it is more because it wasn't really what I'd wanted to do. If I'd been posting on here I'd probably have been more confident about saying 'no, I'm going to wait'

SO, no there were no problems, it was very easy and I got to go home the same day!

Hope everything goes OK for you

[marthamoo]

I was induced with ds1 for pre-eclampsia (10 days early).

I was given a pessary at 2pm and told that it categorically "would not work" (inductions never work first time with first time Mums, I would need another one, but they would not do that til two days later, I would get "period type" pains which I was not to mistake for labour pains)

Well, by dinner time I was having pretty intense pains - I could tell the Midwife thought I was a complete wuss. I had a bath and I said to dh "I don't think I can do labour - these are not even labour pains and they are really bad."

At 8pm, they decided to send me up to the delivery suite to be checked over - I think because by now I was leaning over the bed grimacing. I think the Midwife just wanted to get rid of me for a bit 'cos she thought I was being so wimpy at my "period pains"!

Got up there, was examined, and ....I was 8cms dilated. I said "so I'm in labour?" and the MW said "yes you are, you have been for some time" and I just went "can I have some gas and air then puhleeease!?"

The rest of the labour was pretty intense, but mercifully short - ds1 was born just before midnight. I had pethidine too when they broke my waters, but he was born less than 20 minutes later and really I could have done without it.

So, other than being told I wasn't in labour, it really wasn't bad. Like lydial I think it's more a case of skipping the earlier stages of labour and getting straight into the tough stuff - but that's not neccessarily a bad thing, as that first bit can be very tiring.

And as you've had a baby before you won't be fobbed off with being told it ain't the real thing! The MW on the ward apologised profusely to me the next day, btw She said if I had made more noise she would have known I was in labour!

[Northerner]

I was induced with my ds (again 10 days overdue). My overall experience was very positive, I relly enjoyed the hospital experience and I too fear what it would be like to experience the 1st stage at home. I had 2 lots of gel which failed, so they broke my waters. In established labour at 2pm and ds was born at 9.15pm. Had ventouse and forceps but taht was because he was OP.

[frogs]

Induced wiith baby 3 after waters partly gone and still no contractions after 48 hours.

Gel pessary at 8am, strong contractions all day -- goody, I thought, this is easy.

Teatime, midwife examines and states that not dilated at all. Self and dh curse loudly. Drip put up. More contractions. Convinced that I was in labour, birth imminent.

11pm examination, still no dilation. Plans to crank drip up to serious level, recommend epidural. Well, that's the natural birth down the pan, I think and pootle off to the loo, before they insert epidural.

In bathroom seized by urge to do a poo. 15 seconds later realise what is happening, brace self against end of bath. Midwives arrive at a run, trying to persuade me to get into wheelchair for ride back to labour room. Dimly remember making quite a lot of noise. Midwives still trying to persuade me to get into wheelchair, baby's head crowns. Apparently I was less than entirely co-operative at this point. Eventually manhandled into wheelchair, pushed back to room at a sprint. Get out of wheelchair, lean forwards onto bed. Two pushes later 9lb 5oz daughter born at 11.15. Very small tear only.

Induction and natural birth -- can be done.

Good luck!

[Posey]

My 1st labour was long and fairly awful, but spontaneous onset.
My 2nd was induced as I was 2 weeks overdue. I had just one lot of gel and the whole thing took 11 hours from there to the birth. This was about half the length of my 1st labour. I found it better because the 13 extra hours with my first were all those niggly pains but nothing too drastic. But by the time I got to the real hard work I was already really tired. This time I got up in the morning after a full nights sleep, went down to the hospital and it was all over in time for "normal" bedtime. I am convinced that one of the reasons I recovered so much quicker was because I didn't miss a nights sleep.
On the pain front, I would say that the final 8 or 9 hours of both labours was very similar. If I was to ever have any more children I would happily be induced.

[Browbeaten]

I was overdue with both my pregnancies but was induced for my 2nd. I was given 2 lots of gel and after the 2nd lot gave birth within 4 hrs 20 mins with no pain relief (gas and air made me nauseous). I was able to walk to the delivery suite and 20 mins later ds was born at 0120 hours. I was home the next day at midday. Compared to the first time it was a doddle as then I had been in labour for 27 hours and had an epidural and then a ventouse delivery and lots of stitches. I would go for an induction again definitely.

[GeorginaA]

I just wanted to say thank you to you all. I expected one or two "well mine was okay" type stories but not this many really positive ones!

I feel a lot less worried about it all now, thank you.