To expect my induction on Friday to be horrific

[MrsSeanBean1]

I was 7 days overdue with my 2nd baby on Sunday. My 1st baby was 12 days overdue, went into labour naturally, back to back, ventouse, traumatic delivery etc. etc. I went to the hospital today for a sweep but it could not be done as my cervix was posterior. I have polyhydramnias (too much fluid) with this pregnancy so baby has only just dropped head down into my pelvis after being breech throughout.

I have been talking into getting booked in for an induction on Friday at 12 days only. I am petrified as I have never known anyone who has had a good induction - all have tales of days in hospital, excruciating pain and often a c section anyway.

I am starting to think I should just kick up a fuss and try to just go straight for a c section even though it's not something I would want.

I had an epidural with my 1st baby and cannot image going though all the interventions I did without one so am really scared of having to have painful procedures without adequate pain relief. I even find vaginal exams excruciating when in labour.

Any advice? I cannot sleep due to this worry. I just want it all to be over now.

[AnythingNotEverything]

I had a good experience of both polyhydramnios AND induction!

With DC2 I had a sweep at 40+5. Failed due to baby being head down but not properly engaged, and therefore the consultant couldn't get the pressure he needed. I went in for induction the next day to find I was 4cm dilated. They broke my waters (ie caused a flood in the delivery suite!), contractions started and progressed well. Baby born five hours later.

Don't panic. But take a book just in case! Oh, and take extra knickers. If they break your waters you'll leak a lot and may soak through a few pairs while in labour.

[mrsjay]

I was induced with one of mine I went straight onto the drip (cant remember what it was called) but it was sore of course it is sore but it can't be any worse than what you went through my first labour was horrific I can still remember it when i talk about it 2nd was fine was very quick and i felt more in control maybe because i knew what was happening or i was expecting the contractions , the only thing is the pain was quite intense very quickly but apart from that imo it was a doddle,

[TSSDNCOP]

I was induced on request.

No sweat.

[lottieandmia]

I had an induction for my third baby. It was the least painful labour of them all. But I only needed the first stage of the induction - no nasty syntocinon drip. A couple of hours after they put the gel in, baby was out.

I was very upset about having to be induced as I had wanted a home birth. But I decided to relax as much as possible when I got to the hospital so that my body will comply with the induction. If you've had a baby before then there's a better chance you won't need the drip.

[CrazyOldCatLady]

I was induced twice and actually found it a pleasant and relaxing experience

I had a low dose epidural put in before the drip started because I was high risk and they wanted to be able to get me prepped for a section quickly if things went wrong. So I didn't feel much pain.

Everything was done in the delivery room so it was always just me, DH and a midwife. We chatted, laughed and generally had a good time. There was a student midwife brought in to observe my labour with DS because she had seen a very natural birth the previous day and they wanted to show her that a highly medicalised birth could be just as positive an experience - and it was.

Admittedly there were huge issues with DS once he was born but it was nothing to do with the induction.

All in all I'd have no concerns about being induced again; honestly, it can be a really relaxed experience. Try not to worry.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Two post dates inductions here and heading for another on the 6th at 39 weeks.
Both straight forward pessary inductions, first 10.5 hrs, with pethidine, knocked me out completely and I slept through most of it, second 3.5 hours with just gas and air.
I'm nervous ill admit for the next one, but optimistic too. I have ideas about what I want and what baby can cope with and im going to play it by ear.
Not all inductions are horrific. Every birth is different.
Good luck. x

[schokolade]

Mine was short - 6 hours from moment of induction until I had DD in my arms. 1 hour 15 mins from first contraction. It was intense, but short. Good luck!

[TooSweetToBeWholesome]

Mine was fine. A bit boring waiting for everything to kick off. Had earphones and watched some comedy on my phone and listened to some hypnotism apps and relaxed.

[Reiltin]

I had an induction at 10 days overdue. It was really sore putting in the second pessary and the first 2hrs after they started the drip was excruciating. I went from 2cm to 3cm dilated in those first 2 hours and then got the epidural. By the end of the next two hours, I was at 10cm and started pushing. I got the first pessary at 10pm Saturday night, the second at 10am Sunday, was 2cms at 4pm so was brought to the labour suite to have my waters broken. Baby arrived at 1:57am Monday morning. All in all, not too bad. I'm told. Though I was very pleased to get the epidural

[crazykat]

My induction wasn't pleasant but not awful. The worst part was the sweep and pessary being put in. Apart from that it was pretty much the same as with my other three spontaneous labours.

It was 12 hours from induction starting to ds being born. The contractions were about 3 minutes apart from about 3 hours after the induction was started and stayed that way until he was born. I had gas and air and pethedin and could move about until the last couple of hours when they had to monitor the heartbeat which was purely procedure not because there as anything wrong.

I had to stay in overnight as I was induced early due to gestational diabetes but ds blood sugar was fine and we went home the next day.

I can see why you're worried but I think we tend to hear more about the awful inductions resulting in c-section just like we tend to hear more about awful labours with bad tearing, rather than the relatively easy labours which all went smoothly with a quick recovery.

Try not to worry too much as it will make you tense. Yes there's the possibility you'll have to have a c-section, but there's just as much possibility that you'll have no complications that goes well.

[canyourearme]

I had sn induction with no4. It was fine, honestly. I only needed the pessaries but would of had an epi if i had the drip.

[cobaltcow]

Both my inductions weren't good. Both babies were back to back and in the first I wouldn't fully dilate.

Ended with an EMCS for first and forceps and ventuese for the second. Had epidurals though so not much pain and two healthy babies.

I have heard of folk who had no problems.

Often wondered if I'm just crap at giving birth or if the inductions had anything to do with it.

[cobaltcow]

Oh and both mine were syntocin drip after breaking the waters failed.

[ShatzePage]

I was induced with my first at 37 weeks-went from 3cm dilated to 9 cms in just over an hour! Whole labour was only an hour and 45 mins. I then had 2 csections and honestly would choose natural labour any day. All the best!

[everythinghippie29]

I had a positive induction as well and I was terrified, very upset and expecting the worst going in.

With regards to the questions you are going to ask, I asked pretty similar ones and they told me DP would have to go home if I wasn't in established labour (at least 4cm dilated) I was in pain but was only 2 cm and they let him stay the whole time and I went through to a private labour room as soon as I needed gas and air, so although they might have rules in place that might sound bad, I think that they are pretty flexible with inductions!

I was also able to move fairly freely despite the monitoring so don't worry too much. One of my funniest memories is DP watching the contraction monitor go up each time and declaring 'ooh, that was the biggest yet!' (Like I hadn't noticed!)

Good Luck and congratulations!

[everythinghippie29]

Oh, I should add that I ended up having a spinal and forceps delivery with an episiotomy but the stitching again, everything I didn't want but got a healthy baby and circumstances mean that the surgeon did my stitches and they were amazing and I felt fine less than 2 weeks after the birth.

[MrsSeanBean1]

Well, they've just phoned to say that they can't fit me in on Friday for an induction. There's no way I'm having an induction at the weekend as you hear all these horror stories about lack of staff so that's that. When they

[MrsSeanBean1]

Phone back I'm telling them I've changed my mind. Not sure what to do now :-(

[Pigsmummy]

Have sex and walk a lot. I danced to Will I Am and gyrated. It brought on labour the day before induction appointment.

If induced remember these lovely ladies and if you can stay in your feet for as long as possible. Little baby will be amazing!!

[stopgap]

I had a great induction experience four weeks ago. My first birth was natural and easy at 41 weeks, but this time I was induced at 39+5 because of GD.

The midwife tried a sweep at 39 weeks. That didn't work. The midwife tried to break my waters at 39+5. That didn't work. So many hours after breaking my waters, they started me on the lowest dose of Pitocin. It got things moving, they raised the dose once, and four hours later DS2 was born, no tearing, no stitches etc. I opted for no pain medication, as I wanted the experience to be as straightforward as possible, and avoid the slowing down of labour that so often ends in an emergency c-section, particularly as a. I'm in America and b. I naturally have really low blood pressure, and didn't want an epi to cause a further drop. The contractions were more painful than my natural labour, but the labour was shorter and things were definitely bearable.

[Clutterbugsmum]

My second induction was on saturday and was the sames as the first (except pesseries had drip 1st time) went from nothing to having baby with in 3 1/2 - 4 hrs. Plenty of staff around.

[everythinghippie29]

Oh no. Tell them you want to leave it until Monday. As long as there is no major risk to you or baby it shouldn't make a difference and you might pop naturally before then!

[Focusingkingqueen]

I had an induction. It was 3.5 hours from start to finish with no years and no stitches. Can't complain a bit

[lottieandmia]

My induction was Friday to Saturday (very early hours) and I remember them telling me the anaesthetist was around if I wanted an epidural.

[lylasmam2012]

I was induced at 14 days over. Gel applied at 10.30 and had her at 18.48, was a pretty great experience apart from the aftermath but that was down to her being 11lbs and had nothing to do with the induction!