What should I expect at an induction?

[Bibijayne]

Being induced at 37+3 on Monday 20 Aug. Latest date my consultant is happy with (obstetric cholestasis).

What should I expect? How long does it take?

I was told I am down for 'low theshold c-section' because I'm quite weak after being sick for most of the third trimester.

[myotherbagisgucci]

I was induced at 40 weeks with my DD last year. I was admitted at 10am, they checked and I was already 1cm dilated. They inserted a pessary, and after a few hours this turned from cramping into contractions.

They became more intense throughout the night and by the time my nurse came back on her shift at 9am, I was 5cm. They moved me into the birthing suit about 11.30am, I had an epidural (which was absolutely amazing) and baby was born around 2.30pm.

Although painful (however I'm sure natural labour is too) I found it pretty straight forward and a relatively good experience.
I hope this helps and good luck OP!! 

[Bibijayne]

Thank you! This is helpful. Doctor recommends epidural - and I'm okay with that.

Fingers crossed it all goes well. Excited to meet our little boy. But I'm also excited to feel less sick too :)

[cakesandphotos]

I was induced at 38+6. Had a 24 hour pessary at 11:30am contractions started around 5pm and continued through the night. By 6am I was 4cm. Ended up with the drip. Had an epidural at 1.30pm and lb was born by emergency c section just before 7.40pm. I only had the section because of baby’s heart rate, otherwise it was a successful induction. Definitely take the epidural though!

[Appleandmango22]

I had induction in May. 4 days of failed pessary. Booked for c section. Doctor offers to try breaking my waters even though I’m not quite 1cm cue legs in stirrups and waters are broken. (Needed lots of gas and air for this). Started on drip baby arrived 11 hours later. I was high risk of c section still so by the time I had her I’d been nil by mouth for 35 hours. I had an epidural due to being sick on the gas and air because of being so hungry and little energy. Overall a good experience just lengthy.

[Appleandmango22]

Oh also had lots of trouble with baby’s heart rate so did almost end in c section.

[Jelly67]

I was induced at 42 weeks. Got the gel at 7pm on the first night, cramping throughout the night not too bad, hadn't dialated at all by the next morning, so more gel at 9am and more intense cramping. At 3pm was brought down to labour ward. 100% get the epidural!!

[Greaterthanthesumoftheparts]

I also had 4 days of failed pessary and a balloon catheter, in the end my waters broke naturally so they started me on the drip. I dilated fully in around two hours and DS was born 2 hours after that. Was quick but generally a good experience (I will caveat that with the fact that I didn't give birth in the UK!).

[cantthinkstraighta]

I was induced at 38 weeks. Pessary for 24 hours did nothing only mild contractions but baby heart rate dropped with each contraction so they put drip up. Was painful, but I got by on gas and air and had a natural delivery with no tears. It was also my first. So good experiences can happen. Good luck.

[katonic]

I had 24hr pessary inserted at 6pm, by 10pm I was contracting every 2mins but only 1cm dilated so pessary removed. 11pm went to labour ward and had a horrible couple of hours of intense contractions, unable to breath or move during them. Checked me at 1.30am for an epidural but I was already fully dilated, so too late. Baby arrived less than an hour later with no assistance.

The whole time from insertion of pessary until I was examined at 1.30am they were telling me this could last hours or even days, but it was about 5hrs from first contraction to baby, so inductions can be over very quickly in some cases.

[Gorbie]

I was induced in my due date, we went in at 10am examined at 11am and I was already 1cm. I had 1 lot of gel then we went for a long walk around the hospital grounds, my contractions started as I was having lunch at 12.45, we went for another long walk, examined again at around 3pm was 3cm then contractions got more intense but we went for another long walk! At 6pm I was moved into the delivery suite and went on to gas and air, they broke my waters at my request at 7.45 and she was born at dead on 8pm x

[PenApple]

I had immediate contractions 3 minutes apart with the pessary, this very quickly turned into contractions with no break between them so it was removed 1.5 hours later. Baby born 8 hours after pessary was put in. Very intense contractions (2 previous dc were not induced and not quite as painful), and his heart rate was lazy on and off so I had to stay stuck to monitor. He was pretty huge though so not sure if it was more painful because of that or induction...
Had G&A almost immediately & diamorphine half way through.

[Jellyona]

I was induced at 37 weeks due to IUGR. Pessary inserted at 10am mild contractions started after around 1 hour and continued until I was checked at around 6pm. I was 5cm dilated and the midwife was about to go off shift and asked if I’d like her to break my waters as they were bulging and she said that the other staff would just leave me. I agreed, she broke my waters and the contractions immediately became intense DC was born an hour later

[butlerswharf]

Mine took 2 hours and then I was at the pushing stage. Would be induced again no problem. Good luck

[LoveRainbow02]

I was induced at 38+2 and was already 2cms dilated. Got pessary in that afternoon and removed 24 hours later. Didn't do anything for me. Got 1st round off gel late afternoon and contractions started a couple of hours later. Couldn't get a bed on birthing suite for 2 more days as they were so full so was kept on normal ward and using hot baths and paracetamol for pain relief. Got moved to birthing suite on day 4 and was 4cms dilated. Had waters broke at 8am that morning and contractions came thick and fast. Gas and air made me sick so I opted for epidural which was amazing! Had loads of complications with baby's heart rate so nearly had an emergency section but ended up not needed. Labour from waters breaking lasted 15 hours and I needed no interventions. Epidural failed 4 hours before baby was born though. Be prepared for a long wait just incase but everyone is different. Good luck.

[AmICrazyorWhat2]

DS was induced at 39 weeks as DD had been a large baby and I had to stay in hospital for a week recovering from her birth!

I was given an IV of Oxytocin about 7 a.m. Nothing happened for at least an hour (maybe more) and then contractions suddenly started. They broke my waters as well. He was born at 1:30 p.m. I opted not to have an epidural that time (I did with DD) so the pain was intense, but over quickly. No after-effects at all from the induction and I was ready to go home the next day.

Good luck!

[labyrinth]

With my 2nd I was induced at 41 weeks as my waters broke but no contractions after 24 hours.
Pessary put in at midnight. Monitored at 1am. Cramps began at 2.30am. Monitored at 3am. Checked at 6.00 and I was 3cm. Waters popped and I sprung to 4cm. Baby was born with 4 pushes at 7.57am.
It was my 2nd so obviously a little bit quicker. I must admit though that pessary pain was worse than natural contractions. Well, at least I thought it was. There was no way I was going to hang about for the hormone drip as I've heard that it can be quite painful.
Hope everything goes well for you! And just remember that no matter what, you get to meet your baby at the end so it's all with it

[Bibijayne]

Thank you all! This is really useful!

I'm trying hard not to be bewildered with everything :)

Baby has been engaged for a couple of weeks which is good. I've also been losing bits of mucus plug.

Hoping it all goes smoothly!

[WhatAnAbsolutePenis]

Waiting waiting waiting to start with.

I went in on an evening thinking I would be labouring through the night.
Nah, they put the pessary in and left it over night to do its thing. Which meant zero sleep due to excitement and anxiety.
I went into labour about 11 the next morning but the waiting was painful!
The rest was easy as pie though.

Not all hospitals do it that way, it seems it was just the way of my hospital at the time.

Best of luck!!
Nearly baby time!!

[Skittlesandbeer]

Equally, take their ‘oh nothing will happen for ages’ with a grain of salt. They tried to send DH home after administering the drugs, saying there was likely a whole uneventful night ahead. Thank god he was hungry and decided to eat at the hospital cafeteria before going home. 17 minutes after being induced, I was doubled over with contractions. Had trouble getting back up to the birthing suites!

I’m afraid I’ve heard lots of stories that parallel mine, in how quickly the drugs can kick in, and how strong contractions can be. I honestly didn’t get any of those ‘breathing breaks’ you hear about with normal labour, where the mum-to-be is chatting, eating or playing games on her phone! It was all pretty full on. I wish I’d asked on MN beforehand, so I could have prepared better mentally. Good on you.

In the end, you have your own birth, and it’s unlikely to match anyone else’s. But it’s good to ask around, and see the breadth of experience. Stop reading if it starts to freak you out. You’ll be fine.

[WhatAnAbsolutePenis]

Oh same. When my contractions finally kicked in they went from nothing to every minute.

However with my second child they went from nothing to every minute to every 30 seconds.
So it seems whether I'm induced or not, I don't deserve those breaks in between contractions either. 😭

[Bibijayne]

I just want all the info. I feel better knowing all the possibilities if that makes sense? The totally unknown is more terrifying to me.

[WhatAnAbsolutePenis]

I totally understand.
I'm the same.

When they put the pessary in, it feels a bit burny. They might want to break your waters at a certain point. I'm not sure why they do this if you're progressing well, and I questioned it during my birth but they seemed fixed on it.

I had a very smooth and easy induction so I have little to report really.

[mintich]

I had the pessary, prostin but they didn't work so had my waters broken then put on the drip! Ended in episiotomy and forceps as she still wasn't coming out All in all took 5 days from start to finish.