Induction experiences please

[freakedmum]

I've just had my second sweep, which is apparently as unfavorable for success as my first, so been told I'm likely looking at having an induction (already booked for Thursday when I'll be 12 days overdue).
Just wanted to hear some experiences, as apparently its supposed to be harder to deal with the pain/more likely to need pain relief etc. Any advice appreciated xx

[ohthegoats]

I don't have any experience, but there are a few really detailed threads about induction either on here or on the childbirth section of the board - do a quick search. They've been active over the last week or so - lots of them have positive stories - seems to me that there is just as much chance of a tough time with induction as their is with non induced child birth!!

[freakedmum]

Oh, thanks, I'll look :-) x

[Taura]

My DP is a consultant anaesthetist, and although he would only see women who wanted pain relief, his general advice to friends of mine who have been induced is to get an epidural. So far they have acted on his advice and said they were grateful for it. However this is a small sample and obviously there could be many more women who were induced but he was never called to.
Now I am pregnant and because of my age would be induced on my due date if DC hasn't shown up by then, I'm in the position of having to consider his advice myself... And I don't know what I would do. Sorry!

[ohthegoats]

Yes, the reason I've been reading about them is due to my age and a blood thing that would mean it would be 'heavily advised' that I should be induced on my due date.

A friend of mine who is a consultant anaesthetist told me that if I was going to be induced, to get an epidural then refuse all other instrumental intervention apart from CS, since 'all doctors' would do that - CS easier to recover from than a messy forceps birth. So, that's what I decided I'd do.

Then I read a lot on here of more positive stories about induction, and I've slightly changed my mind again.

[Cernabbas]

I was induced for both of mine - both due to pre-eclampsia. 1st time round the contractions came on very fast and very painful and I had an epidural. I was ready to do the same second time round but everything happened quickly (although I wasn't put on the syntocin (sp?) 2nd time round so the pain was more manageable) and there wasn't time for anything other than gas and air. Was still very painful and I was pissed off not to have my epidural.
I would say that all births are different. Your experience could be very different to mine, so keep an open mind. Read up lots about the options that are available and be prepared to change your mind about what you might want during labour/birth.
Good luck x

[petalsandstars]

No time for epidural once my contractions started after induction. DH almost missed the birth and my labour time is recorded as 17minutes. More like a couple of hours really though from start to finish

[Gen35]

My induction was slow (44 hours from start to birth) but pushing part was only 20 mins, I did have an epidural as after about 12 hours I was exhausted from contractions, but it was fine and I'd do it again without undue concern.

[Nyborg]

I had the classic 'messy forceps' birth after induction on a syntocinon drip at 41+6 and the epidural failed. That was not quite 3months ago and, honestly, it's all ok. I felt really well looked after and though I have a few remaining after-effects, they're clearing up and if I had my time again, I think I'd still do the same.

[tertle]

My induction was at 4pm. Contractions started slowly at about 10:30pm. I managed to get a couple of hours of sleep though. They ramped up at about 7am which was I called DH and told him to hurry up and come to the clinic!

Contractions got steadily worse and were very painful (sorry to state the obvious !). I'm not in the uk so no gas and air is offered, all I had was some paracetamol until about 1pm when they (finally!) gave me the epidural. Felt much more relaxed then but unfortunately dd didn't react too well so I ended up being rushed off for an EMCS at 3pm.

I have no other experiences to compare with but it wasn't too bad. I was stressed when being wheeled off to theatre at what felt like super high speed but it was ok. I was very well looked after though which definitely helps.

I sometimes wonder when dd would have arrived if I hadn't been induced (only 3 days overdue) and I feel a bit bad that she was 'forced out' when she wasn't ready (they induced me as dd was apparently a v big baby but actually weighed 3.7kg when born). The induction wasn't really necessary but I was just overjoyed to have dd safe and sound once she arrived.

I hope all goes ok for you. Before you know it you'll be cuddling your lovely new baby!

[FelixFelix]

My induction wasn't bad at all. I was induced at 37 weeks for medical reasons.

Went in at 9am on the Friday. I had a sweep a couple of days earlier which hadn't done anything much, but I was 1cm dilated (not enough to break waters). Pessary inserted at 10.30am. Literally nothing happened until around 4pm when I started getting very slight contractions. They got quite painful at 10pm and I was examined and was 2-3cm and told they could break my waters. Then there was a massive influx of ladies in labour so I was stuck at the bottom of the list and had to wait until 3pm the next day for waters to be broken. They left me to walk around for a couple of hours but still nothing happened so I was put on the drip at 5ish.

I was quite set on not having an epidural but the contractions got extremely painful very quickly and the lovely midwife talked me round to it. I'm so glad she did! I requested it at just the right time I think. I had gas and air when they were putting it in (hated g&a) and as soon as the epidural started working, I was so calm and relaxed and it was great. I definitely wouldn't have coped without it and I think I would have been put off childbirth forever. I'm in awe of those who do without!

Anyway, I was examined again at 11pm and was fully dilated. Dd was being monitored the whole time and was doing very well so the midwife left me to contract more for a couple of hours so she could move down further. Started pushing at around 1.30am, and 3 pushes later dd shot out like a cannon Even though I had the epidural, I could still feel the contractions so knew when to push but couldn't feel the pain.

It wasnt anywhere near as bad as I imagined and I actually quite enjoyed it. The worst thing was the waiting around for stuff to happen. It was very boring. Id definitely request any pain relief you want to have as soon as possible if you end up on the drip as it does work very fast.

Good luck!

[frazzledbutcalm]

I agree with a pp. All labours are different and I think induced or not won't make any difference. I was induced with 3 out of 4 labours ... all 4 were pretty much the same - quick and full on and lovely! No difference to me with induced labours versus starting natural.

[Oriunda]

My induction started 10pm on a Friday night. Finished 2pm on Monday afternoon with EMCS. So not a great experience for me, as spent 6 nights in hospital and was exhausted by time we left hospital. Long, painful contractions. No progression. ARM on Monday, onto Syntocinon drip (if you get this ask for epidural to be sited/started beforehand, as makes the contractions come quicker/more painful, plus if you end up needing an EMCS like me the epidural is already in).

Some people are lucky and have a quick, pain free experience.

[Oriunda]

Oh, and I was induced on due date purely because of my age. I really regret not being better informed and less accepting of this because clearly DS was not ready to come out. Tbh I think your consultant friend has given you good advice.

[freakedmum]

Thanks ladies for all the advice.
I've always been reluctant on the idea of epidurals, but thanks for your experiences, if the pain comes on that quickly after the drip, i may well need to give in and have the epidural! xx

[BetsyBell]

My first induction was at 40 weeks and due to pre-eclampsia. I was already in labour but progression was extremely slow. It still took a 24 hours (or so - I can't remember) after being induced so I ended up with a 2+ day labour. However, if I hadn't have been induced I think I would have had at least double that time.

I had an epidural. I was strapped to machines a lot of the time anyway so it made no difference. And I was in a lot of pain and exhausted.

Second birth I was booked in for having waters broken and induction at 40 weeks due to excessive placental fluid (danger of cord prolapse when the waters break). Again, a long labour and it turned out I had been having contractions but couldn't feel them with all the excess fluid. Once I started feeling them I immediately asked for an epidural as I knew the pain would be too much for me and everyone agreed it was the right thing to do. Again, I think it was around 24 hours before my incredibly slow cervix dilated enough.

I haven't had a non-induced baby so can't compare, but due to the fact that I'd already started contractions before being induced and my slow dilation time, my feeling is that natural labour would have been extremely long both times.

[yestheyhavethesamedad]

I was induced with 5 out of my 6 children, my longest labour was 6hrs and shortest an hr and 15mins.
I didn't have an epidural with any as the thought terrified me, but over all I had a brilliant experience.

[Sapat]

My first was spontaneous at 38 weeks. After 12 hours of labour on G&A & fully dilated I failed to progress and getting very tired so had epidural (bliss, but it meant my legs were not functional for 24 hours, had to have a catheter which ultimately gave me a UTI) and forceps and she came out. Suffered from episiotomy for a good month and recovery was slow, but still better than the EMCS ladies.
Second I had a sweep where it turned out I was already 4 cm dilated, went into labour immediately and he was born in 6 hours. I managed solely on G&A. He had shoulder dystocia but although I tore along the episiotomy and tore my ligaments, recovery was very good.
Third (this May) I was induced at 39 weeks due to diabetes and concerns over a large baby. I showed all the signs of pre-labour from 37 weeks. I had a sweep at 38 weeks which did nothing, though I was 2 cm dilated and cervix soft and favourable. Morning of my induction I had another sweep, then I had the pessary. I reacted immediately and within an hour was in established labour. I contracted like crazy on just G&A for 7 hours. I was away with the fairies half of the time, sobbed uncontrollably at times and verbally abused my husband. Then the labour all but stopped and to everyone's disbelief, I was still only 2 cm dilated. Basically I had reacted very strongly to the gel and once it had been absorbed by my body it all petered out. At that point the midwife broke my waters, and all hell broke loose. I contracted like crazy, the pain was unbelievable and I reached the limits of my pain threshold. I screamed I needed pain relief but there was no time. I went from 2 cm dilated to the baby out in 11 minutes. I screamed and screamed, and only once the placenta was out did the pain subside. Once again, I tore along the original episiotomy line but my recovery was excellent.
So, of all three, my induced birth was the most painful but I still managed on just G&A and I had the best recovery. In the postnatal ward I was surrounded by induced women who had ended with csections. Their stories were diverse, they had all reacted differently to the drugs. I heard one consultant say that each woman reacts differently to the hormones, even in subsequent labours and a dose that does nothing for one makes another go like crazy.
In my birth plan I wrote no pain relief apart from G&A, unless I was induced, in which case I was open to everything. I stand by that, because the 2 births without an epidural had the best recovery, I mean I was walking and having a shower an hour after birth, but equally, the pain I felt during induction was stronger than the other two. Like most women, induction is not really a choice, you do it because at the time it is the safest option. Just keep an open mind and try not to worry!

[Meerka]

ìnduced the first time, was horrible. 2 failed sweeps the 2nd time and induction planned the day that I went into labour naturally. They wouldnt give epidural either time, the Netherlands are primitively backwards in dealing with preg, birth and medicatoins.

I'll never go through preg and childbirth again. But if a miracle happened I'd move back to england so I could get an ELCS and an epidural. No question, no argument.

Ok everyone's experience is different, but in your shoes I'd go for an epidural.

[elliejjtiny]

I had an induction (drip) and I didn't find it any more painful than a natural labour. I hated the monitoring, made me feel very restricted and I was nil by mouth apart from water too which I struggled with. I was a VBAC too though so not sure how much of the monitoring/nil by mouth was because of that. I ended up needing a CS but I'm glad I tried induction first.

[dsteinway]

I had 2 sweeps that didn't work and was induced with gel. Did really well and coped with just gas and air until 7cm when my body just seemed to stall out. I was exhausted and they put me on a drip. The contractions then were incredibly painful but because of other friends/family who had been induced I knew they would be and demanded major drugs before the drip was even in. They wouldn't do an epidural but I got something injected via IV. Can't remember what it was called. I was in control and had to press a button to get it to work when I felt a contraction coming. I basically just pushed it constantly and hallucinated/slept between contractions. I basically gave up and was sure I'd end up with a c section but it did eventually work and got DD out by myself. I agree with Ellie, the monitoring is intensely annoying and you have more drips etc afterward and have to be monitored for hours. I also ended up with a crushed urethra for being I labor so long and had to be catheterised for 24 hours. fun! But I'd take a hard labor via induction over emergency c section any day.

[ScienceRocks]

Two inductions here, one at 42 weeks and the other at 39 weeks (for SPD). Both kicked in after the second pessary, both were very painful, both ended up with instrumental deliveries.

Sorry, not what you want to hear probably. I had an epidural the first time, which was a huge relief, especially as I ended up on a drip because my contractions disappeared and I was at second stage for eight hours. The second time I went from 4cm to 10cm in 20 minutes due to a stupid reaction to the pethidine I didn't want anyway so they said they couldn't do one but still left me for over two hours before doing the delivery.

Take it as it comes and don't beat yourself up over any choices that you have to make that you might not have previously wanted. Just remember that the birth is simply a means to an end, and do whatever you need to do to keep yourself and your baby as well as possible.

[ScienceRocks]

Oh, and good luck OP!

[cherrylola]

My labor is recorded as 1 hour following induction! Very very very fast! I went in after my waters broke just to be checked but wasn't having contractions so expected 100% to be sent home. Bubs heart rate was regularly dipping so quick decision was made to induce. The first part (I think it was a gel smeared inside) was very manageable, light contractions which I managed with a TENs, paracetamol and bouncing on a yoga ball taking deep breaths for a few hours. Then the second stage (when they put me on the drip) happened. The MW told me it usually takes about 6 hours to kick in. Good god I swear the second she opened the tap on that drip the baby came! In reality the contractions went from zero to a million in minutes and baby arrived within the hour. No time for an epidural, but also no time to fret too much just had to get on with it and puuuuush!
Good luck

[cherrylola]

I was pushing for 14 minutes

[AuntieMaggie]

I had an induction 3 weeks ago and ended up with an epidural and forceps delivery but I think the recovery must depend on the doctor that does the delivery rather than the forceps themselves because apart from my small tear I was mostly ok down there by the end of the first week and now tear is healing well.