Being induced in 2 days, terrified.

[TLH0307]

Just got back from hospital and they’ve said baby isn’t growing as fast as they’d like so they’re inducing me in two days when i’ll be 39+3. I’ve never heard a positive story about induction, and the leaflet they’ve given me says a woman is more likely to need epidural/forceps/ventouse if she’s induced...I obviously want to do all I can to avoid this! I’m expecting a hell of a lot more pain, but does anybody have any “ok” experiences of induction??? And has anybody ever been induced and been able to go in the pool? I know I won’t be able to go in the pool if I’m hooked up to the drip, but the midwife said it wasn’t completely impossible for me to go in the pool providing I wasn’t hooked up to the drip at the time. This is my first birth and I’m unbelievably disheartened BUT staying positive!

[Pennywhistle]

I was induced with my twins.

It was fine. I did end up with a section because labour didn’t progress but it was also fine.

None of it was scary and the medical staff kept us well informed.

I found my Tens machine very helpful.

Best wishes

[loulou82]

I was induced and it was fine. Just longer but I took the epidural (on friends advice, thank god). I had friends to come visit to me and chat whilst labouring which kept me occupied. I also read Marie Mongon Hypnobirthing which allowed me to keep calm and controlled through the whole process, highly recommend this book.

I ended up having ventouse and episiotomy too but honestly it really isn't as bad as you think. At the end I just wanted my baby out safely and that's exactly what happened.

Would do it again in a heartbeat!

Good luck!

[PurplePotatoes]

I was induced at 40+12 and it was ok. It was over start to finish in 3 hours for me (waters broken and drip at same time) so it wasn't a long drawn out process and I didn't need any intervention e.g. forceps or anything. 2nd degree tear and a few stitches but it was fine honestly. The unknown is the scary part but you will be well looked after

[muffmuff]

I was induced my baby is 1 today . Once my waters were broken he was here in 20 minutes . No pain relief as it happened so fast . Never need and intervention or stitches. Was a better experience imo that when my other ds came when nature decided.
Good luck op you'll be fine

[TheCaptainsCat]

I was induced at 41 weeks, it was a positive experience!

Managed the whole thing with tens and a tiny bit of gas and air at the pushing stage. Either I have a very impressive pain threshold (unlikely) or the extra pain of induction is exaggerated, at least some of the time. There was no episiotomy, forceps, ventouse etc etc and no elcs. The main downside I found if you are induced via the drip like I was, is that it reduces your mobility, but the midwives should help keep you active - mine did. Also, I was having continuous monitoring and the bands round my bump kept slipping because I was moving around too much, so they kept losing the heartbeat, and ended up with the monitoring attached to the baby's scalp. Sounds bad, but I barely remember it! It was fine!

[RandomMess]

All 4 of mine were induced, never needed the drip, all were unassisted deliveries.

[user1488622199]

I was induced at 42 weeks, first baby. I was dreading it too having read all the horror stories. Suppository for 24 hrs followed by waters broken and drip - it was 7 hours from waters breaking to my son being born.

Yes it was painful but I don’t know if it was any more so than a “natural” delivery. I did ask for an epidural but there was no time in the end. I didn’t get on with the gas and air and managed with no pain relief. At one point they thought I might need a ventouse as my son’s heart rate dropped but it picked up - I had to have an episiotomy but even that wasn’t too bad.

At the time I was devastated to be induced, I wanted a water birth which wasn’t an option because of the monitoring and drip. My nct course leader was also particularly opposed to induction and talked a lot about the increased likelihood of interventions which was not at all helpful. It really made the days leading up to the birth incredibly emotional and looking back I wish I was more been more pragmatic about it. As a pp has said, I would do it again if I had to and the end result is more than worth it.

The only thing I wish I had done differently is to not lie down during the pushing part (it all happened v quickly from this point and I just ended up on the bed and stayed there!) - I think this more than anything contributed to the need for an episiotomy. Definitely agree with pp about monitoring affecting mobility but try and make sure you move around as much as possible, particularly after your waters are broken.

Hope all goes well OP, this time next week you’ll be cuddling your beautiful baby!

[AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight]

Induced at 10 days past term with no sign whatsoever of anything happening and getting fed up. It was fine. Nothing much happened for a few hours after the gel went in (didn't have a drip), then I started getting regular but weak contractions. Had just been told I was 2cm, unhooked from monitoring and sent off for a walk when extremely powerful contractions suddenly hit and I had her 20 minutes later I do think the induction contributed to the precipitate labour, but she was my third and my second was also fastish, although not to that extent, so that won't necessarily happen to you. I had a first-degree tear that didn't need stitches (having had an episiotomy and second-degree tear with stitches respectively in my first and second births).

Some outcomes or interventions are statistically, at population levle, more likely with induction, but at individual level experiences are as variable as non-induced births. I agree with others re keeping moving and active (dh and I sneaked out of the hospital and walked the ten minutes home for a bit during the nothing-happening phase and then came back).

[elishacatt]

I was induced at 40+12. This was my first Labour also and had exactly the same feelings but I think it's normal. I won't lie, It was very intense very quickly. It didn't go the way I wanted (what births do?!) and ended up with forceps and having episiotomy.
I wanted a water birth and my midwife said I would be able to as I had the pessary inserted. If you do have that my only advise to you is to walk, walk, walk. Get things moving!! I did over 14,000 steps to get mine moving.
Hope it goes okay, don't be frightened by the horror stories as everyone is different. Concentrate on your own body and your baby x

[Howmanysleepstilchristmas]

I’ve had 4 inductions, the first because he was overdue, the other 3 electively at 39,39 and 37 weeks (brought forward from the planned 39 weeks as he wasn’t growing as quickly). I never needed the drip, just 2 pessaries each time. No forceps/ venteuse needed. All very quick deliveries (55 minutes with my eldest, hence the elective inductions afterwards so I could get to the hospital/ not give birth alone with a toddler, 40 minutes with the next, 35 with the next, 3 hours with my youngest). It got intense really quickly each time, but was over quickly too!

[Newnaim]

I was induced at 40+8 and DD was born within about 7 hours. I was nowhere near labour or dilating or my cervix even being within reach for a sweep before induction and she came that quick! No stitches, she was fine, I was fine. Tbh having nothing to compare to I think I'd rather being induced than not! I couldn't cope being in a long, slow progressing labour! Good luck x

[Mybabystolemysanity]

39 weeks with rupture of membranes so no pessaries or drip. First baby.

Was terrified at first but honestly the worst bit was the big fuck off cannula in your wrist they make you have in case they have to do a crash section (which they won't, I'm sure but you never see the bloody thing mentioned and it hurt).

Contractions ramped up after the first hour and had a quick labour - 6 hours start to finish. Was intense but managed on gas and air and one shot of Diamorphine. Just had to lie there mooing and hoovering up the entonox. Couldn't have been mobile even if I'd wanted as contractions were so strong.

It was a good birth, albeit not the one I'd planned and I'm hoping for another induced labour for DC2 in July because I would be glad of the predictability. Try not to panic!

[00alwaysbusymum]

I was induced on number 3 and it was all fine - a natural birth apart from being induced and waters were broken.

[BadTasteFlump]

I was induced at 36 weeks due to medical issues with DC number 3 - it was by far the easiest, fastest and least painful of all 3!

[youcantalwaysgetwhatyouwantt]

I've been induced twice with baby no.2and no.3.

First time for being overdue, went very well. It was a quick, drug free back to back labour.

Second was not that long ago, I was induced early. It took 2 pessarys to get my contractions going, 2nd inserted at 6.30pm and baby arrived 6 /12 hours later. Again drug free, I coped better first time but I think I had in my head that baby no.3 would be quicker.

Good luck op, inductions are not always that bad, keep calm. If you are able to I recommend a walk around the hospital.

[TLH0307]

Thank you so much for all your replies! Why the hell do I hear nothing but negativity?! That seems to be standard for all birth stories though - very rarely does anyone have anything positive to say about childbirth 😂 Eeeek I’m quite excited now rather than filled with dread! X

[wheresmyphone]

3 inductions here. all fine. all smooth. No stitches.

I promise!

I took every drug offered to me (and some that weren't and had to be wrestled off me :) )

They did sweeps, and pessaries and drips with all three. My midwife did say to take pain relief as things may happen fast (though with me it didn't).

Good luck! I was sick with nerves before the first time as like you I had heard horror stories.

[Mumof3cheeky]

I was induced with 2nd and 3rd and no interventions needed(no drip either) was fast and intense but still would do it again compared to slow gradual births! Good luck x

[SandysMam]

I had a lovely induction (epidural!). Dozed through the contractions to 10cm then pushed for 30 mins. A few grazes, really calm birth. Good luck, keep us updated!

[RandomMess]

I found a tens really good, didn't realise how much until the batteries ran out!!

My experience was that once the contractions started there wasn't much time off in between them which is I think why people find them painful?

[Starlight2345]

I was induced at 39 weeks . Had pessary labour quick and intense . No forceps or stitches . Just used gas and air

[HeyThatsNotMyName]

I was induced at 40 weeks and all was fine. Took a while for anything to happen but once it did, was very quick! No forceps etc. But did need some stitches. When I was booked in for induction, I was terrified as there was very little advice out there and I wasn't given an option (or didn't feel I had one) but I wouldn't change anything now.

[ZigZagIntoTheBlue]

I was induced dead on 40 weeks, it was fine. Lots of hanging around then labour happened super quick, twenty mins in total. If I was doing it again I'd be more vocal and less stoic - ensure I was in a delivery suite to give birth 🙈

[Ihatemarmite123]

Induction at 36 weeks. I was only on the drip for an hour and baby was born. No pain relief required and pushed for about a minute or 2.

You'll be fine, good luck

[Mellifera]

I was induced with drip with my second child, it was the easiest birth of the 3.