Positive stories of induction at 37 weeks please!

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I’m going in for an induction tomorrow at 37 weeks (medical reasons). It’s my second baby and my first was a quick and easy labour at home. I’m dreading being there for days! Can anyone share their positive induction stories to help boost my morale?!

I've had 4.

Induction is a very step by step medical process with a schedule. You can't speed up the timings between gels, drips, etc. At first, I didn't realise it.

The first one I was very stressed and anxious for many, many reasons, and I didn't know what to expect. It was not great

The second one, I was very anxious as progress wasn't as quick as I hoped and ended up taking 3 days. Medically, I was fine. Baby and I were well monitored, I was stressed maybe because my circumstances were different, and this process was so out of my control. I think I may have felt the same if it was a regular delivery.

Third, I had a bit of a mindset change. I went in prepared for the long haul and brought magazines, books, food, snacks, and headphones in a separate bag. It was during covid, so I was on my own until delivery, but I had everything to hand and just went with the flow rather than getting stressed and trying to speed things up. I ate, slept, listened to podcasts, read, did my nails, did a mini facial and basically tried to enjoy me time and peace and quiet. It was great and I had a great delivery. I had learned I was a bit sensitive to the drip, so the midwives took it really slowly, and it was great.

Fourth, I was quite relaxed. I was actually looking forward to the me time in the hospital. This one was quite a quick induction even with a super slow drip. I actually didn't need much at all. I think I was there a day and had a great delivery even though baby got a bit stuck. I think, because I was relaxed and didn't try to fight the process it was great. It was a lovely induction and birth.

Although I got off to a rocky start with inductions, overall, I don't think I could have had better deliveries

Best of luck of OP! Enjoy!

Thank you for sharing! It sounds like it can be totally different each time even if you’ve had them before then! I was hoping that as it’s my second baby it might be a bit quicker than some of the horror stories you hear about.

I’m definitely going in with an open mind and will just take each step as it comes.

Induced at 38w with DC3 (after 2 spontaneous vaginal deliveries. One long and one fast)

As PP says it is a process and it can't be rushed. I had a pessary and began with niggles immediately. However it was 22 hours before labour "proper" (I'd have had a second pessary at the 24h mark). Labour itself was very quick. Went from niggles to delivery in less than 90 minutes.

DC3 was unexpectedly in neonatal for a few weeks [the induction was due to my health not the babies so that was a surprise] but I was discharged after about 36 hours. Would have been sooner but I had baby at 1am.

The upside was I knew it could take a while so left the older DC having a fun few nights with grandparents. In the end I didn't see the older kids for almost 3 days but it was fine.

I’ve had two, also for medical reasons.

First one I needed 2 pessaries and it felt like nothing was happening, infact I don’t think anything did happen between the first & second. A few hours after the second I went from 4cm to baby out within 2hours. It was quick but fine. No time for an epidural, the midwife had to tell the anaesthetist to leave because I was involuntarily pushing with the needle in my back, but gas and air get me really high so I didn’t really care about the epidural in the end!

With my second it was much quicker, contractions started quickly after the first epidural at 6pm. Had my waters broken a few hours later and baby was out within the hour. Again, no epidural but I didn’t even try to get one second time around because I knew I could do it.

Good luck OP, mumsnet likes the horror stories but both of my labours were great experiences, if I had another baby (which I won’t, as tempting as the gas and air is, wonderful stuff) I would have no worries about being induced

I was induced at 37 weeks too for GD. Pessary inserted at 8am. I do lots of walking round, went for coffee etc.... it was a bit boring but dh was with me so just pottered round the hospital and did a lot of stairs.

I had a few twinges but nothing major. My cervix was checked the next morning and was open enough for them to break my waters.
Waters broke at 9. Contractions started soon after. After a couple of hours they said they weren't strong enough and they put me on the drip. I waiting to see how I coped with the pain with just gas and air. After a couple of hours I get like was at my limit so asked for an epidural. They didn't increase the drip until it was in place.

I gave birth at 7 that evening. It was a really really positive experience. She was back to back but I didn't really notice much difference form my first birth. I had a "natural" delivery with my first and I actually preferred my induction i felt much more in control. I didn't have any stitches and felt really well.

I had my first baby at home and was really gutted when I had to go in for an induction with number 2 at 37 weeks.

It was fine! The initial stages took ages. Pessary 1 and 2 didn't do much and took 48 hours.

BUT, when they decided my cervix was favourable enough to break my waters, it was all stations go.

7am, moved to delivery suite. Met the midwife that would be with me the whole time.

8am, waters broken.

9am drip.

1 pm midwife went for lunch, new midwife covered her. The drip was being steadily turned up.

2pm Midwife 1 came back. I asked for some pain relief. Active labour established. Drip turned up to the max.

4pm baby born. No interventions. Bit of a question over an episiotomy, but not needed in the end. No stitches or anything needed.

On the ward by 6pm.

Home by 11am.

The post natal ward was shit and the induction ward wasn't great. That's the worst I can report.

Induced at 37+4 with DS2. They inserted pessary at 10am. Nothing happened at all for a few hours , I just wandered the ward and watched tv. At 3pm I began to get some cramping, they examined me and moved me to labour ward at about 4pm, when they broke my waters and DS was born at 5.15pm. There was no time for an epidural and the contractions were nonstop on top of each other, but it was so quick!

I think you only tend to hear the horror stories , there are plenty of positive experiences too. I certainly would be happy to be induced again. Good luck!

My DS was 3 weeks late so I was induced twice. The first time I had pain but he wouldn't budge so I had to wait 24 hours to do it again. That one worked.

I went in thinking I'd be induced, have him and out in a day!

But I couldn't do it anymore so I had no choice.

I hope it goes well.

I was induced for both my DC at 37/38 weeks. Both started with breaking the waters, then the drip. The first one took about 13 hours and the second one about 7

These are all fantastically encouraging stories! Thank you all! Fingers crossed I’m one of the lucky ones and baby makes their entrance speedily!

I personally think inductions go quite smoothly if you've already given birth before.
Most of the horror stories you hear are about first births inductions. I have one of those horror stories.
However my second birth was an induction and totally different. I feel like my body knew what to do because it had done it before and the induction just prompted it a bit. It was fine and over in a few hours. No time for an epidural even. No tearing and home same night.
Whereas my first it was like my body was fighting it every step of the way.
If you had an uncomplicated first birth I do not see any reason why your induction with your second would be difficult in any way. Your body has already given birth and won't be resisting. You probably will not even need the hormone drip, the pessary will probably just start off the contractions for you.

Thank you for the words of encouragement! Im hopeful that because I’ve had a straightforward birth before it won’t be too hideous, just a little nervous that it’s early!

Any updates, I am booked for an induction at 37 weeks aswel, due to gd and baby being small, it's in 10 days time, just wondering how things went for you sending love to you and your baby x

First and only birth was an induction for medical reasons.
Went in on Friday and got the pessary. Walked for miles around the hospital and climbed every staircase multiple times and no changes. So DH went home and I had a bath and a good night's sleep.

On Saturday morning we went to the canteen for a fry and then to the delivery suite for 12pm where they put the drip up. It was grand and I read a book until 5pm.

They checked then and said I was in for a long night. By 5.30 it was beginning to feel very painful so I asked for an epidural. It was put in by 6pm. Then the nurse told my DH to go for dinner as we had hours left.

I asker just as he left for another check as surely it shouldn't be this painful. Turns out I'd been crowning for the last 40 mins and holding the baby in as I'd been told he was nowhere near coming yet. Nurses run to get DH and hit the red button for more hands on deck. DS was born 5 mins later.

So I was only in real pain for about 40 mins and a bit of gas and air for milder contractions..but I was able to concentrate on reading throughout these.

Waste of an epidural though....but it helped when it came to the stitches!