Induction - does it make labour harder?

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Looks like I will be induced in two days. Had a sweep - done everything necessary to help baby along. I am 41 + 4. There are no medical issues and pregnancy has been ok.

First baby - what are people's experiences ?

I was induced at 42 weeks with my first. I was having irregular contractions anyway and soon after the first pessary they became very strong and a lot more frequent. Entire labour was 11hours from pessary to delivery. I had an epidural, which helped a lot with the pain, and my baby was born vaginally.
Since having had a second baby who wasn't induced, I think the main difference between the labours was that the contractions after being induced were much closer together. Not sure if being induced made labour harder, think it was more painful than the second, but saying that I had an idea about what to expect the second time. I was glad to have a shorter first labour than I was expecting, I know a lot of people who went a lot longer than 11 hour with their first, so I think the induction definitely helped speed things along.
All the best with your birth

don't know as I was induced with both of mine at 41+4. BUT the first labour was quick at 6 hours, which included him getting stuck and nearly having a EMCS. Ended up with all the pain relief I could have inc a spinal block and a normal ventouse delivery. The second was quicker at 2 hours and was a Kiwi ventouse with just G&A.

TBH it was quite full on (the first delivery) because I didn't know how to deal with it, but on the whole fine and relatively quick. Good Luck, you will be fine and the baby is soooooo worth it

BTW without wishing to freak you out, labour is the sort of pain you have never encountered before. Just try to keep a level head and REMEMBER THE BABY!

I was induced with dd2, found it a much easier labour than dd1. Apart from 2 gel packs had no further interventions, keep mobile if possible. Good luck

cheers - I feel more relieved and more relaxed.Will post once baby comes

Did not need induction = labour started and off to hospital = one word = thank God for a Tens machine.

Ooooooooooooo good luck

I'm afraid my labour was induced at 40 +12 and was a 42 hour marathon of hideousness because my baby was nowhere near being ready to come out - midwife couldn't even get through my cervix to sweep properly on 40 +6 and 40 + 9 so I think that was the issue. He would probably still be in there now!

Are you at all dilated? The fact you've actually had a sweep rather than an attempt at a sweep suggests that you are. If that's so, then your body at least is getting there and probably induction won't be so bad for you.

Curiously three people I know have gone into spontaneous labour on the day of their induction......

Ah, just read the rest of the thread - nice one OP, hope you are very close to having your baby now!

That makes you number four in the space of six weeks who have gone into labour on day of induction. V odd!

Had a lovely baby girl - hmm had the full works on the delivery. It started off great - then the baby turned in the delivery so I had an emergency C section. It was Wednesday from 6.00 am when I first called the hospital to Thursday morning 12.31 delivery. It was painful Funny in the garden said but when you have the baby you do not care.

Thanks for all your advice and help.