Induction... any advice??

[dani07]

I'm getting induced on Monday with my 5th child. I've never been induced before and I'm not sure what to expect, how long it takes, will it hurt etc.
I would really appreciate anyone who has had one to give me their dvice or tell me their story.
thanks

[DuggeeHugs]

Before they start, ask them for your Bishop's score. If it's below five, the chances of success are quite low. You might want to talk through options with them at that point.

Remember that you don't have to consent to procedures, if you've reached the point you've had enough then say so.

About 1:10 inductions fail, so it's worth preparing for any eventuality.

Read up about inductions and success rates/risks on the RCOG website to give a clearer idea of potential outcomes.

Don't be put off pain relief - however long it's taking you are allowed it.

Be prepared for a long stay. For a lot of women inductions are quick, but they can take days, so go prepared for a long stay then you're covered either way.

Mine failed, hence my post of things I learnt

[Blossomorange]

I was induced with Baby 1. Was a week late and had two sweeps. After second one, water broke but no contractions. 24 hours later, had two attempts at the gel in hospital. Neither worked. Had the drip and epidural. Contractions came on strongly (you feel pressure but absolutely no pain). Baby got a bit stressed towards end of labour, which was just a few hours, and was born quickly after with some very strong pushes.

If you get to drip stage, I recommend epi.

[Hall84]

Have an epidural before the drip goes in! Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Good luck

[TildaTurnip]

I would advise to be ready to request pain relief. I only had gas and air and once the drip kicked in it really was not enough. I gave birth before with no pain relief so thought gas and air would be ok on its own and didn’t even know what options there were.

[Piixxiiee]

Same as @TildaTurnip . The drip ramps the pain up. But saying that I did it with no pain relief. 3 hours active labour. The thing i found hard was the drip in my hand and it stopping me moving around as much as i wanted.

I'm sure you will be fine. Good luck!

[areallthenamesusedup]

good luck...had 3 inductions all fine....drugs, as many as they give then ask for more

[India999]

Don't expect things to happen quickly... Mine took a good few days to get going X

[Nannylp]

I was induced at 38 weeks as my waters went early. Had a pessary at 2am, mild contractions from midday, on the drip at 5pm and baby arrived at 6pm after 1hr of active labour. I found the contractions incredibly intense after being put on the drip, to the point that i couldn't speak in order to ask for pain relief. At a birth review I was told I probably hadn't needed the drip as the pessary was doing the trick on its own....
Interestingly an nct friend was induced the same day as she was overdue, pessary did nothing and she was in for 3 days!
I would imagine the effectiveness of it all largely depends on how ready your baby is to come out. Apparently I am also very sensitive to whatever is in the drip!
If I were induced again I would ask for an epidural to be in place before being put on a drip. 100%! Perhaps also have a hand signal system in place with your midwife just incase!

[mintich]

I had sweeps, the pessary and had my waters broken and nothing. So I was put on the drip. My midwife advised to have the epidural so I only had 20 mins with the drip and no epidural. That was enough! I was on the drip for 23 hours before given birth. I ended up in a forceps delivery. They gave me a spinal for that as she got stuck. I kept asking whose knees were by my face not believing they were mine!

[mumoftwoinNI]

I was induced with my second at 41 weeks. Induced with propess which is inserted through the vagina. I had it inserted at 10:30pm and I felt contractions on and off throughout the night but was able to sleep through them without pain relief as they weren’t too intense. Next morning they were getting a bit stronger but I kept very active walking around the hospital and then got a bath at 12pm and that’s when the contractions really started to become active labour - baby born an hour later still in sac! No pain relief at all and i recovered much quicker than my first labour where I’d had pain relief. I think what helped most was staying active. Just because they monitor you doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck to the bed get up and circle your hips and keep moving gravity will help baby down! X

[EssElsiee]

If you need the drip I’d go with epidural before hand x

[Charlottejade89]

if you need to have the drip, definatly have an epidural. I didnt have one at all and I regret it now. I didnt get a prize for doing it without

[Bluebell9]

I was induced at 39+3 due to gestational diabetes.
I was told as it was my first it woke be a long process.
I was in at 7am, already 1cm dilated. They put the pessary in at 9am and then spent the morning watching TV.
I met my parents for lunch in the hospital cafe and I was having a few period pains. We even made plans to have lunch the next day!
At 2pm my partner came to see me, if sent him to work as its been told it was a long process. I stood up to say hello and my waters broke.
I was taken to the delivery suite just before 4pm and put on the drop and DD arrived at 7.30pm.
I had gas and air and 1 injection of diamorpine.

Whilst still in the delivery room, I said to my partner 'that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be'.

I think it helped me that I was really relaxed about everything. Good luck

[uglyface]

Do not allow them to put the drip in before an epidural is in place.

[Needingsupportplease]

I didn't actually think the drip was that bad but my induction didn't work regardless. Was in hospital for 11 days waiting around/in labour/afterwards I had an emcs after 25hrs of labour and 2 hours pushing. But my friend was induced and had a baby 3 hours later so it really can go either way! I defo wouldn't have another induction though.

[EarlGreywithLemon]

I was induced with a pessary at 41 weeks. I wasn’t told my bishops score, but my cervix was high and closed when it was inserted. The pessary was inserted at noon, and I was sent home with some period pains but not much else. Contractions started around 6pm, at first manageable and then more and more intense, until I went in around 4am. I was less than 1cm at that point, but they kept me in, as I was having 3 contractions in 10 minutes. Had paracetamol, codeine, then pethidine and was finally moved to the labour ward, given an epidural, and waters broken around 1pm. I was told to expect another 24 hours from there, but I was 10cm
and pushing by 6pm. It was as if my body relaxed with the epidural and could finally do its job. So it can be slow, but it can also be much quicker than expected. And an epidural doesn’t have to slow things down!