Has anyone had experience of an outpatient induction of labour?

[Hiphopopotamus]

No AIBU - shamelessly posting here for traffic!

Has anyone had experience of an outpatient induction? I’m due to go in for one at the end of the week when I’ll be 41+5 (unless things kickstart before then) Apparently it means they can get things started and insert the pessary, monitor you for half an hour or so to check for no adverse reactions, then send you home until you (hopefully) go into active labour. Has anyone had experience of this? In some ways I’m happy to be able to have early labour at home as I would if things started naturally, but at the same time I’m nervous about being sent home after an intervention. It’s my first baby so I have no concept of what will feel like ‘normal’ labour and I’m just quite anxious generally about the whole thing. Obviously there’s a chance this could all be moot if labour starts naturally before then, but so far I’ve had absolutely no signs that will be the case! Happy to hear all experiences both good and bad!

Not personal experience but a close family member had this. Went to hospital, had the pessary and was monitored for an hour to make sure all was going well. It worked and she was sent home and was able to labour at home for a while, had a bath and be comfortable and went to hospital only once labour was very established and baby was born within the hour. From her experience it sounds much nicer than being induced and staying in hospital. Good luck!

I had the pessary but I was kept in hospital for it all. I had it about 7pm and labour started about 11:30pm. I’ve read, and it did happen to me, where the initial labour was more intense than it would have been starting naturally. My contractions started every 3-4 minutes, rather than a gradual build up so I was grateful to already be in hospital for that. Less grateful for the unhelpful midwife, who didn’t believe I was in labour yet...!

I was told that from the moment I had the Induction, I wouldn't be able to leave the hospital. I could walk around, go to the cafe in the hospital grounds but couldn't leave. It took 3 days and 4 pessaries before my cervix was thin enough for them to break my waters. TBH, even if I was allowed to leave, I don't think I'd be happy to for me and baby's safety. I was high risk though due to illness

Have no personal experience of this but they seem to be doing this quite a lot just now due to Covid and not wanting you in hospital for longer than necessary. Apparently they insert a balloon type thing then you can go home and it should dilate you enough to then have waters broke the next day. Good luck.

I wasn’t allowed to leave the hospital once they started induction. Also, it seems high risk if you’re 41+5. They should be monitoring you, the baby’s movements, how the placenta/umbilical code are performing, but my view is tainted by a colleague’a devastating experience of a late induction. Hope it all goes smoothly OP

I had this. Pessary induction at 11 days overdue. I went to the hospital in the afternoon, had the pessary inserted and after an hour or so of monitoring was sent home.

All fine for a few hours then my waters broke at about 10pm, i went straight to hospital and my daughter was born at 7am the next morning. No need for the drip.

So no issues for me whatsoever, I did have a very straightforward pregnancy though, not high risk or anything like that.

See I think that’s what I’m worried about - that everything I’ve heard about inductions seems to involve a lot of monitoring and being able to just go home feels totally against that. But then my logic says they wouldn’t do it unless it was deemed safe. I just don’t know what to think but I’m definitely in two minds about it.

Also is 41+5 late for an induction? I thought under 42 weeks was fairly standard

Cross posted with you @ItsmineAllmine! That sounds perfect and exactly what I’d like in a best case induction scenario

Yes when I knew a pessary induction was on the cards and I was a bit apprehensive too but honestly it went smoothly and if I ever found myself in that situation again (which is NOT going to happen, 2 children down the line...!) I would have it again.

@Hiphopopotamus tbh, it is what you feel most comfortable with and they won't want to make you overly anxious. As you say, would they do it if they didn't think it was safe?

This is different from the Pessary/gel inductions this is a Foley bulb induction think it's very low risk so don't worry.

How far from the hospital are you? Consider that if you went into spontaneous labour at home you are only a phone call and a drive back to the hospital.

I started naturally and at 5 min apart I was really struggling and we called the hospital and went back.

I’m about 30 minutes in the car so not far.

I had an outpatient induction at 41+4 with my first child. They put the pessary in and sent me home but it fell out when I went for a wee! Returned. They did it again. Went home and it fell out again! Returned. Again. They decided to keep me in. I was having very mild contractions but not much was happening. They broke my waters and after slow progress put me on the drip. However at a certain point my baby’s heart rate was fluctuating. In the end I had an emergency section. But honestly it was not as bad as it sounds! I’d do it again though if in that position. Hopefully you can start labour in the comfort of your own home and as you’ll be in the system having had the procedure it means if you need to come back in they should see to you straight away. Good luck however labour starts and progresses.

Thanks everyone - really helpful to hear thoughts.

Still no baby so looks like this induction is happening

@UserFriendly14 I could have written your post myself, sounds exactly like my labour right down the the unhelpful midwife.

OP hope all goes well, I'm sure they won't let you go home unless they're confident all is well but if you're not comfortable leaving I'd have thought they'd let you stay in.

Hope all goes well.
sounds a good plan.