to ask for first time mum's experience of induction?

[Matiaana]

I'm due to be induced at 36+6 due to high bp in the umbilical cord. I've heard that first time mums are likely to need a c section? Would love for the induction to go smoothly but slightly worried I'm going to end up disappointed and with an emergency section.

Is it possible realistically to be induced this early with your first? AIBU to be super anxious about it?!

37 weeks due to PROM. Progressed quickly after the pessary, water birth, G&S, no damage at all. Lucky maybe.

I was induced at 37 weeks because of pre eclampsia. Took 3 goes before it worked was in labour for 48 hrs then emergency c section because my baby was in distress!

I chose to be induced at 40+5 with my first.

Prostaglandin pessary at 6pm, sleeping pills and paracetamol, waters broken at 8am, syntocinon drop at 9am, baby at 3pm.

Had a few stitches since she arrived quickly, but it was 100% fine.

I chose induction with my 2nd too. She was at 39wks, but just as straightforward. Waters broken at 8am, syntocinon drip at 11am and baby at 3pm.

For me, induction was marvellous.

I was induced. I had epidural but ended up in emergency c section. I wanted a natural birth but would definitley recommend epidural with an induction, especially if you have the drip.

3 day failed early induction due to big baby, never got going so had a section on day 4 but the section was great nothing like I was expecting

I was induced at 37 weeks as my waters had broken (infection risk) had an epidural early on and a vaginal (with forceps) delivery. It was all ok 😃

I'll be honest, it was bloody awful. 24 hours of induced contractions then nothing once the pessary came out. 12 hours with the second then nothing. Codeine for the pain. Waters broken, did the full labour, baby got stuck when crowning, pain horrific, projectile vomiting, screaming for help, panicking midwives, crash section. I wasn't even on drugs and I blacked out most of it. My husband still hates remembering it. Second time around, I did ECS.

However, we both came out fine in the end and that was my goal. No complaints; in many ways it became a positive for me.

I was induced with syntocin at 41 weeks, 4 days after waters broke (hospital policy allowed this at the time). I was in a tiny minority of women who fail to go into labour within 96 hours. It all looked very unfavourable but I gave birth 7 hours later. No assistance required but fair amount of tearing. No long term effects. This was probably due to big head (like her father).

I was induced at 40+2 and...nothing happened. They broke the waters, we waitred...nothing happened. They increased the drugs, finally some contractions, but not much dilation...DS slightly distressed...and a 5am C-section. No big emergency though, all perfectly pleasant, since I'd already had an epidural.

I feel like I missed the big painful birth experience, it was all very sedate.

Personally I’d ask for your Bishops Score - google and familiarise yourself with it. If you get a low score I’d refuse the induction.

I had 5 days of induction with DS1. Then after 5 days of having stuff shoved up my muff I got to a princely 1cm. AROM, drip, 12 hours, 4cm. Ended up with a CS which was awful as I was fatigued and I had a PPH because my uterus was knackered.

All of this was entirely predictable from my Bishops Score. Which was zero.

If I’d known before I’d have refused and gone straight to ELCS.

I had two inductions, because both times 42+ overdue. Both deliveries were with gas and air, the second was a gorgeous waterbirth, first baby was 8lb12 second was 9lb13. Induction can be quick and fierce but doesn't always end in intervention.

I was induced because I was overdue (both times). I had an epidural because of high blood pressure during the labour (the induction worked first time; they put a pessary thing up there and 12 hours later I was in the labour ward. They then broke my waters and contractions started immediately) so I didn't feel much anyway. It took another 12 hours to get to 10cm and then I was pushing like mad for over an hour but the baby was in a funny position so they had no choice but to do an emcs. It was absolutely fine. Painless op, quick recovery, no issues afterwards.

2nd induction was a vbac.

I was induced at 38 weeks for gestational diabetes (first time birth) and had a vaginal delivery using McRoberts procedure. I narrowly avoided an assisted delivery.

I spoke to some other mums beforehand who'd been induced and they advised getting the epidural in before the drip goes in, which I'm glad I did as the first epidural failed so I needed a second. Sometimes though induction happens so fast you don't have time for an epidural...

I was induced at 36 weeks with my first. It was fine. Don't expect it to be fast though. It took 2 days of pessary etc before they could break my waters and start the drip. Then it was only 6 hours, and fairly smooth going.

Was induced with my first baby 12 days overdue and ended up with a c section two days later.. it works for a lot of ladies though. Depends on how ready your body is for labour!

I was induced at 39 weeks because of high BP. They broke my waters, put the drip in shortly afterwards. Baby was unfortunately lately back to back, so that wasn't pleasant, and the epidural wouldnt take properly, but labour was pretty quick at just under 6 hours unassisted v birth.

I had an induction at 40+11. Pessary ramped contractions to 4 in 10mins for 16 hours at which point I hadn't dilated at all and all I was given was paracetamol. I then refused any further induction medication as I hadn't slept in 2 days, was exhausted and wasn't progressing. I asked for a c section which was the best decision I ever made. I had another 12 hours to wait as emergencies kept bumping me down the list and was left with just paracetamol all day. When they checked me just before my section I still hadn't dilated any further. I reckon if I had of continued I would have been days in labor! The second they put the spinal block in and I couldn't feel contractions anymore was the best feeling ever.

It's different for everyone and can work amazingly for some! Best of luck!!

Induced at 36 weeks with twins. Had epidural and everything. No section. It was fine.

Induced with first at 40 weeks. Just had a pessary & they broke my waters. All happened very quickly (active labour was 1.5 hours), no time for pain relief but no intervention & just a few stitches. Recovery was easy.
Tried induction for DC2 but my bishops score just didn’t progress so had a semi elective CS. That was much worse then I had expected, I was agog when they sent me packing the next day with paracetamol. I was kept in for days & on morphine after my appendicitis!

I asked for an induction at 40 weeks due to my age. I had 3 and a half days of pessaries (i’m In Switzerland and they’re all for slow and gentle) and a balloon pessary which got me to 3 cm dilated. My waters broke but still no contractions. Eventually got me on the oxytocin drip and DS was born 4 hours later with just a few stitches. All in all it was a great experience. The only thing which wasn’t so pleasant was that my contractions stopped when DS head was half way out, just across the bridge of his nose and the top of his ears, which is pretty wide! Midwife increased the oxytocin after 7 mins and contractions started again and he was born seconds later but it didn’t half sting at the time!

I was induced by pessary as DD was almost 2 weeks overdue. Contractions started very quickly after induction and got very painful fast. I was hysterical because of the pain as I had been expecting more of a gradual buildup - was only told afterwards that being induced tends to make everything quicker and painful. It would have been nice to have a little warning beforehand as I was a complete mess.
I recommend epidurals to everyone I speak to. I had mine at 2cm dilated around 10pm, fell asleep, and woke up at until 7am at 10cm dilated all ready to push. Ended up going down to theatre for a CS in the end, but once I got down there they decided to give the forceps a go and out she came. The pain from the stitches was much, much worse than the contractions though. It was weeks before I could sit down properly. I would do anything to avoid having stitches next time, and would much prefer a CS if possible.
Congratulations on your pregnancy, and best of luck :)

Induced then natural birth

It was bloody awful. I know there are good experiences but mine and all the mums I know had a horrific induction. I tell my overdue friends to just ask for a c section and save themselves the trauma

I was induced at 38 weeks as my waters had broken, but no labour. Contractions lasted for a bit then just stopped!! Had a ventusse (spelling??!!) delivery in the end & only a few stitches. I never got round to the epidural, just gas & air.
We're all different, it will be fine op, you will be well looked after & you'll have your baby soon xx

Thinking about it, perhaps it's just our hospital that was so awful for inductions.
The tiny room with one bathroom for four induced women sharing a room was a contributing factor in all of our horror stories!