Induction - how was it for you?

[Teapig]

I'm 39+6 and baby isn't engaged yet. MW told me today that most babies are engaged by now so we could be looking at induction. I'm booked in for a sweep next week and if needed induction would be the following week.

I really wanted a water birth and understand that induction can be more painful or more of a shock as yoh don't have the build up in contractions. Any experiences of induction would be really welcome so I have more of an idea what to expect.
What pain relief did you have, how long was your labour and if you've delivered without being induced how do the two compare? If anyone has any tips on how to encourage baby to engage they'd be much appreciated. Currently bouncing on my birthing ball like a mad thing.

Oh my gosh bitbot, that sounds like a horrible experience I'm shocked they induced you when the delivery suite was full. Glad you and baby are ok. Hope you're resting and have recovered from the blood loss and experience.

I was induced with dc2 in 2008 and again 2weeks ago with dc3.

Have to say it was easier and less traumatic than dc1. I only had gas and air with all three and with the inductions didn't need anything else - dc1 is a whole other story!

The last one they broke my waters and nothing happened and they put me on the drip. Contractions started not long after but started doing something 2 hours later. 2 hours 10 mins later there was a baby!!

Pessary in at 3.30, partner sent home at 7! Labour started around 3am, went down to delivery in extreme pain and was given pethidine or something like that, in an injection, which was awful and everything went downhill from there.

Emergency section at 5.30pm. Cervix never opened more than 5cm. Had to have epidural as pain was unbearable.

Baby was back to back and head in funny position, so it wouldn't have been a great birth anyway. However, I wasn't ready for the extra pain of an induction by a drip. They just wanted me to get going so they turned it up, there was no respite in between contractions.

I didn't need a pessary as I was 2cm dilated. They broke my waters and agreed to wait to see if labour would start.... It didn't so I was put on the drip. I stayed on the birthing ball with G&A for most of my labour but had an epidural in the end (which didn't work). In hindsight I wish I'd gone for the epidural earlier as it got extremely painful very quickly as the drip was turned up and I panicked. Ended up,with legs in stirrups pushing like crazy as DS's heart rate was dipping. He is my first DC and although id rather not be induced again, it was over in 5 hours.