To ask for your induction stories

[elm26]

Hello everyone

Some of you probably recognise me from lots of other posts, I'm 36 weeks after 13 miscarriages. Up until last week, I had a low lying placenta and consultant was convinced I'd have a planned C-section which I made peace with.

Last week, scan showed my placenta had moved up and baby head down so was cleared for a vaginal delivery.

We agreed that due to my history of miscarriages and also other gynae problems including 3 operations for endometriosis and a history of depression and anxiety that I would be induced on my due date (29th May).

I've been calm throughout the 3rd trimester about labour and delivery whether it be vaginally or C-section but now my anxiety is ramping up as I see quite a lot of negativity surrounding inductions.

I am open to pain relief and anything I've got to do to get her here safely. That's all I'm sure about right now but I'm getting nervous.

I'm praying I go into natural labour by then but if I don't, then this is what the plan is.

I'm also booked for a final scan and a sweep at 38 weeks.

Can anyone share their stories good or bad so I'm not going into it blind? Thank you 😊

As some others have said, they warn you that it can take ages, but my son was born 4 hours after the pessary went in. It was so quick I ended up with a lot of stitches and a third degree tear, but baby was perfect and had no extra help getting him out.

Pessary around 2pm, lovely chilled afternoon in our own room but free to wonder around. Contractions started 10.15, baby born 2 hours later!

I much preferred this way to my natural first.

Went in Friday 4pm, had 3 pessaries spaced out. Extremely busy on induction ward and lots of emergency's so bumped down the list. Went to labour ward Sunday night around 9pm, had waters broke once around midnight and then again around 5am as baby's head had plugged so had to be attempted a second time. Then started the drip. After the drip things moved quickly. Asked for epidural to be told I was now 10cm and it was too late! Baby born just before 11am.

Induced at 42 weeks. Pessaries given in the evening,DS born late morning the following day.
Waters broken were brown,DS given 5 APGAR points when born. Had troubles keeping temperature and sugar.
Being induced saved his life as my body didn’t want to start on its own.

Contractions are similar to period cramps.

You and your baby will be fine OP 🙂

Overdue so was induced. Went into hospital and monitored for 2 hours then given the first pessary. Midwife had trouble getting it in as "tightly closed" to the point I was scanned and checked if I was actually overdue or whether I was early. They decided I was overdue.

She then said I would be here for the full 3 days and that I would be given a second pessary after 12 hours followed by a 3rd then moved onto a drip then a c section if there was no luck. Told me to go for a walm and get food etc and do as I pleases but not to leave the hospital.

This was around midday. Went for a walm and had some food in the canteen. Went back to my bed and read my book for a bit. Watched some TV. Had an internal exam at 5.15pm. Still closed. Had a bit of a pain that felt like upset stomach. Went to the loo, had a wee.

Had another internal at 5.30 as the midwife was concerned that cervix wasn't even showing signs of softening and debated to take me straight for a section except on this internal I was 3cm.

Went to delivery room at 8pm as I needed pain relief at this point and had gas and air. Midwife said would be a long night and to expect a baby in around 15 hours.

Went to the toilet at 8.55 and had a wee. Back in the room and told the midwife I needed to push. She said it was the pain getting stronger and not to push. Asked what pain relief I wanted next I said the pool. Got back onto the bed, she went to start the pool, came back and said I needed an internal before going in. Opened my legs skin so she could look and she could see babies head so told me to start pushing. Started pushing at 902 and baby was born at 907. Waters were broke by midwife at 905.

Start to finish was 5.30pm to 907pm the same evening.

Apparently induced births are quicker and more painful but both mine were induced so can't comment.

Second induction was pretty much the same except an hour from start to finish except I pushed for 8 minutes on the second.

Both times I needed stitches after as tore but didnt know I'd torn. First was worst as pretty much tore front to back.

Both big babies

My waters broke and around 18 hours later at 12pm I was induced (I think with pessary). An hour later the contractions were bad, I went down and had an epidural (which took the pain away but I could still feel when they were coming). DS was born at 6pm, so quite quick! He had his cord round his neck but was absolutely fine.

Wishing you very good luck, OP.

Oh wow - you are nearly in the home straight. My last baby was after 2 miscarriages so I felt anxious through my pregnancy!

I had induction due to my age to minimise risk so was induced at 39 + 6.

The positive I found with the induction was once you check in - you are now in the care of the hospital. Regular monitoring and if something doesn't feel right - you are there.

My induction didn't go as planned. Never got to a proper contraction. While monitoring they were concerned about my baby - he was moving too much so they offered me a c-section. I took it and had a very unstressful birth.

Induced at 41 weeks on my first as baby was measuring big and they didn't want me to do any further over.

24 hours of pessary with minor aches and pains. Waters broken the following evening (the only bad bit really), drip started. Started having mild contractions but then DD's heart rate dropped and they had to turn the drip off and check for cord prolapse. All fine, drip restarted, but nothing happened. On the drip at its highest dose overnight, felt nothing to the extent we both slept.

So-called emergency section in the morning. All very relaxed, was just put on the morning list and bumped down that for a woman with diabetes. Very positive experience, breastfed in recovery.

"Failed induction and emergency section" sounds so negative but it wasn't at all.

I was cleared for induction from 39 weeks. I had a sweep at 39+2 (which was a Thursday) and was 2cm and was told to call the ward at 9am the next day to make a plan for induction. They didn't have any beds. I spent all Friday/Saturday phoning regularly for updates. I had a show on the Friday but nothing much else happened, couple of twinges. I was hopeful to go naturally. I got a call on the Sunday to go in for my induction - I explained about the show etc and they said I could wait and see if labour established at home or I could go in - I chose to go in so I didn't lose my bed 😂 I was checked when I got in and was still 2cm. Was left for a few hours to see if anything progressed then at 8pmish they broke my waters. I didn't need a drip or anything, the waters breaking brought on the contractions pretty quick. Baby was born in the early hours of the morning.

I was induced one day after my due date because they were worried about baby’s movement and size. I had expected a pessary when I got to the hospital but I was already 2cm dilated by then so they skipped it and went straight to breaking my waters at 11am. Contracts started soon after but didn’t become constant until about lunchtime when they had a staff changeover. I got an epidural around then too but it didn’t work. I think it did make me dilate quicker though as I jumped from 2cm to 10cm pretty fast after. Next couple of hours were pretty much a painful blur but I started pushing at 5pm and baby was born at 5:31pm. All in all, the experience wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and having a catheter the next day was great. I was also surprised how normal I felt (I didn’t have numb legs from the epidural so could still walk around).

I was already 2cm dilated when I was finally able to be induced (a week after the scheduled date due to lack of availability in the delivery suite). So no pessary or ballon, just waters broken and put on the drip. I tried to go “natural” with just gas and air, but because the contractions ramped up quickly I ended up begging for an epidural about 4 contractions in 😂
The whole process was quick, drip at 2pm baby came at 730pm. 2nd degree year but straightforward otherwise. If I had another I’d like to see if I would Labour without intervention but (apart from the week of hell hoping a bed would be free) it was a smooth process

I had an induction planned for 39 weeks but had an episode of reduced movement and was just anxious to get her here, so I took an earlier induction at 38 weeks.

I had a sweep the day before and they said my cervix was softer that they’d expect for 38 weeks but not favourable. Midwife’s warned me it would take a few days. I had the pessary in at 4pm and nothing much happened overnight. The pessary had fallen down overnight and so I asked them to reinsert it at 5am. Contractions started at 10.50am and were 3 in 10 minutes straight away. Only pain relief I could get on antenatal was paracetamol and codeine which I threw up. At 1pm I asked them to remove the pessary and the midwife said my cervix was still facing back and I wasn’t dilated at all yet. At 2pm my waters broke. I got to delivery at 5pm (so 25 hours after pessary inserted) and I was 8cm. Baby arrived with gas and air at 10.42pm and a small tear but no assistance.

Familiarise yourself with the process at your hospital and if they are going to do anything differently given your history. At our trust FTM get the pessary for 24 hours. If that hasn’t dilated your cervix then you get two sets of gels, then artificial rupture of membranes if your waters haven’t gone and contractions haven’t started. From ARM our trust give you four hours for contractions to start otherwise they give the drip. If your trust follows a similar process, I would basically ask for a scan and an examination at ARM to see how baby’s position is and whether the drip is likely to work. Things might go wrong at any point and it’s end up as a c-section but you can also ask for a c-section if you’re getting tired. Personally I didn’t see the point of going through 5 days on induction to end up with an emergency c-section and so I’d have opted for a c-section before the drip was put in.

Wow I didn't expect this many responses! Thank you everyone for sharing your stories with me. I feel a little calmer now!

I am definitely pro getting an epidural with the drip! Thanks for this tip!

I'm quite nervous about all of the internals/breaking water etc as somebody who went through CSA, it's a little bit of a trigger for me so I will chat to my midwife this week when I see her. I wonder if it could be put on my notes so they know to try and go slowly and as gently as possible.

I've loaded 3 new books on my kindle and my midwife said to pack a bag of my favourite snacks, an eye mask and ear plugs in case I have to stay on the ward due to slow progression so I'm prepared to be in the long haul although under 12 hours would be nice 🤞🏻😂

I'm open to a C-section too, if that's what the professionals advise at any point or if I'm asked to make a decision based on slow progression etc I will take it. I really don't want to end up with her in distress.

Thank you for the well wishes x

I had the balloon catheter in to start the induction at 39 weeks. They were inducing me due to real anxiety and wanting her here safely, I'd had 8 years of infertility so was very much like you, just wanting her out safe.

It was just too early, she wasn't ready, nothing happened after 24 hours, nothing after another 24, just some mild contractions. I was told that by a Sister on the induction that inductions that don't progress like mine nearly always end in EMCS, in her experience it was nearly all. I was already knackered after no sleep for 2 days and didn't fancy another 2 or 3 days of it so I requested an ELCS. The consultants tried to talk me out of it but after what the midwife said I wasn't being talked round. I was so grateful she was honest as anyone I'd spoken to who had been in a similar position ended up having an EMCS. Also the midwives to came to see me after the birth confirmed what the sister had said.

My ELCS was 2 days later, it went like a dream, recovery was super quick, no pain, it was great!

My advice is stand your ground if you need to, I'm not the most outspoken person but I really advocated for myself when it came to my daughter.

Good luck!

It’s better to prepare for a long stay and hopefully not need it.

For your hospital bag look at having several bags. I packed 3 bags - one for 2 days in the hospital before, one for labour and delivery, one for a few days after birth. I had DH recite which ones were which.

I would probably say do 4 bags. Two bags with spare clothes for you, bag 3 spare clothes for you and baby and bag 4 spare clothes for your partner. Then a small baby for labour and delivery with one to two baby outfits, nappies, what you plant to wear in labour or just after, TENs machine, water bottle for you and your partner, painkillers for your partner (DH slept in the chair overnight and whilst he didn’t complain because I was labouring without painkillers, his back was knackered). Take a bag of your clothes and your labour bag in with you, your activities to keep you entertained while labour starts can be in your bag. Your partner then goes to the car to swap dirty clothes for new ones or to get theirs or baby extra clothes and nappies. If your labour bag is separate it doesn’t matter too much which of your clothes bags they take in because your clothes pre and post natal will be quite similar. Add a carrier bag to each clothes bag so dirty stuff can be added to that if needed or if you need to take things to the car but still want the big bag on the ward with you.

Thanks for the advice regarding bags @PurpleBananaSmoothie

I'll tell you what I have, let me know if I've missed anything!

My bags for hospital:

2 button down nighties
1 button down pjs
5 x big knickers
Cheap flip flops for ward/shower
2 nursing bras
Medication
Long phone charger
Travel shampoo, conditioner, body wash, mini face and body moisturiser
Flannel
Tooth brush and travel toothpaste
1 large black towel
A pack of adult nappies
A pack of maternity pads
Some nipple pads
Light weight dressing gown
Coming home outfit (loose black knee length casual summer dress)
1 maternity leggings and loose tshirt
Kindle and charger
Handheld fan and charger
2 litre water bottle with straw
Nipple cream
Face wipes
Some spritz for bitz and cooling strips for down below
Hair bobbles and a clip
My own pillow and pregnancy pillow
Hair brush
Lip balm
Paracetamol and ibuprofen

Babies bag:

1 pack nappies
6 x ready sterilised bottles with formula in case I can't breastfeed
A dummy and a Milton cold water sterilising tablet
1 pack wipes
2 muslins
1 cellular blanket
2 swaddles
3 sleep suits
3 vests
1 hat
A mini nappy cream

Husbands bag:

Charger lead for phone and iPad
iPad with some of our favourite shows downloaded
Change of clothes and clean boxers and socks
Comfy pair of shorts and tshirt to nap in if he has to
Toothbrush

Another bag with some snacks, lucozade etc for both of us but the hosp shop is 24 hours so can always get other bits like sandwiches etc if he needs to.

Sounds so much but it's only two small weekend bags and the babies bag which is size of a weekend bag too.

I would ask some more questions, and find out if an indication is really necessary (doctors like to suggest this as its more convenient for them). Intervention leads to more intervention so I'd avoid an induction if possible and try to bring in labour the natural way. Good luck! (I was induced which went against what I wanted hence my advice)

Dd - first baby. Induced at 40 + 1.
Monday 00:00am - inserted pessary. Nothing until Tuesday :23:00 1cm dilated. Second pessary.
Nothing until Tuesday evening 21:00. Contractions came thick and fast. 3cm dilated. Was a long night of pethadine until finally 5cm dilated and took to delivery at 07:00am Wednesday morning. Had epidural. Very easy going. Pushed her out at 21:36. No pain!

Second induction.

Balloon inserted Thursday 3pm. 3cm dilated by Thursday 9pm. Long night waiting for room in delivery. Went in Friday morning had waters broken and gave birth by 11am!

I think with inductions is could be a lot of waiting while nothing is "happening" or waiting for a spot in delivery!

Good luck and congratulations!! Statistically nothing to worry about xx

Induced at 9pm Thurs, 39 weeks with Gel.

9pm Friday, pessary.

9 am Saturday, pessary (then letcout of hospital for the day).

9 pm Saturday, gel.

10 am Sunday, waters broke.

05:56 Monday, gave birth.

Worst bit for me was the fact the induction made my anus sore and sitting down was very uncomfortable. So I spent a lot of those 3.5 days lilting down, including the near 24 hours in the delivery suite.

I was induced. I felt incredibly safe because from the the absolute get go I was surrounded by doctors and nurses. It was very peaceful. I lay quietly until I started to have some contractions, they were nowhere near as painful as I’d feared! I almost enjoyed them. When it was time for baby to be born I was wheeled into the room. I loved that there wasn’t a second of spontaneity to it! Surrounded by staff constantly and well looked after.

Mine also was fairly quick. I’d say 4 hours from start to finish maximum. Very easy.

I've had three, early because of blood pressure problems each time.
First time I needed the drip then had an epidural. 28 hours from first pessary to delivery, no stitches, no drama.
Second time they were able to break my waters straight away, he was born 20 minutes later. No pain relief, intervention, stitches.
Number 3 I got a pessary, left overnight to sleep, waters broken first thing in the morning. I walked around the whole time, baby arrived 3 hours later.

So three positive induction stories from me.

Good luck!

I had the pessary inserted at 7pm on the Thursday night.
Mild contractions started around midnight and continued to have them through the night. Was given codeine around 3/4am.
I went to the toilet around 8am as I felt a leak. My pessary fell out. When the midwife checked, I had barely dilated, my waters were leaking and there was light meconium.
Contractions practically stopped throughout the day at 1am on the Sat morning I was moved to delivery to have my waters broken, they ended up having to get a consultant to do it as my cervix was so high.

After that, they put the drip in and I’d gone from having nothing to almost back to back contractions. I didn’t cope very well with the drip, I ended up vomiting all over the floor and got myself into a state. They recommended an epidural, that went in at 6am and the rest was easy. I had a lovely calm pain free birth at 3:30pm. I needed an episiotomy but the epidural was a godsend.

It wasn't clear from your post @elm26 if you are 100% on board with the induction or would prefer an ELSC? You can go back to your consultant if you feel the section will work better for you.

I had an induction with DC3 after 2 previous SVD so it was pretty quick (pessary in, niggles almost immediately, 'labour proper' 21 hours after pessary and baby within the hour)

Anecdotally I haven't heard any good experiences from anyone who was induced with their first. Everyone I know who had an induction with DC1 has ended up with forceps and or EMCS.

I was 9 days overdue with DC1 and desperately wanted to avoid induction. As it happens I had what they call an augmented labour with my first. I stalled at 7cm so I was given the drip and had my waters broken. So essentially same medication as induction. Baby arrived naturally after 51 hours all in narrowly avoiding intervention (I delivered in a room full of Dr's and MW's as I was just about to have forceps / Ventouse intervention). It was hard going and ironically my vagina was about the only thing not too badly damaged (I burst blood vessels in my eyes from pushing, pulled muscles in my arms and legs due to positions I was in etc).

FWIW I didn't have an epidural.... and FWIW I also went on to have DC2 and DC3.

You'll be grand. In fact my advice would be, don't ask for everyone else's experiences. Yours will be unique and nothing will fully prepare you. Just know you'll be well supported and there are options available.

Congratulations on finally getting your baby.

I have to say I agree with @Crunchymum on requesting a section being a possible solution?

I was induced with my eldest, first pessary given the night before which didn't really do much, second in the morning which kicked things off nicely. Very positive experience with it. Both my younger two needed a kick start to get them moving, luckily it was just a sweep both times.

4 weeks till you meet your baby, how exciting! Can't wait to hear how it all goes.