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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

How quickly can a pessary work when inducing labour?

32 replies

NoRoomForALittleOne · 05/04/2015 20:49

I'm being induced on Wednesday at 37 weeks. I know that it may take a while and also that they would prefer to just break my waters of they can. I've heard lots of stories about the pessary not working or it taking several attempts but I've no idea how quickly it can work if it's going to work quickly.

Can it bring on contractions almost immediately or, say, within an hour? Or does it always take a while to work?

OP posts:
FernGullysWoollyPully · 05/04/2015 20:51

I had the pessary to be induced with my third. The first dose did give me some twinges but I still had to have a second dose 5 hours later which definitely did the job! She was born 3 hours later.

AuntieDee · 05/04/2015 20:52

Not quite the same but when I had a pessary to deal with a MMC it worked in 10 minutes! They told me 1-3 hours...

Redtractorwontsleep · 05/04/2015 20:55

I had the pessary at 1pm contractions began at 6pm, I was 4cm dilated by 1am and baby born by 6am following morning! Good luck!

ISpyPlumPie · 05/04/2015 20:55

1st lot worked within 4 hours for me and didn't need anything else. Was 40+12 though so think DS only needed a little nudge.

Good luck Smile

ThursdayLast · 05/04/2015 20:58

I had the pessary at 10am.
At 10pm after nothing but braxton hicks all day my waters broke and labour started.

cosytoaster · 05/04/2015 21:00

I was induced with both of mine. It was a while ago so details are a bit hazy
DC1 - was in hospital 4 days until birth - two full round of pessaries (think it may have been 3 in a 24 hour period) before anything started, then waters had to be broken - gave birth 17 hours after that (but had an epidural which may have slowed things)
DC2 - first contraction about an hour and a half after first pessary, gave birth 5 hours later (no pain relief)

Good luck!

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 05/04/2015 21:03

I should add that this is DC5 and my last labour was only 25 mins but I've never been induced before. I'd like a less overwhelmingly quick labour this time!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 05/04/2015 21:06

I've had 4 inductions and what seemed to make the difference was how overdue I was. The actual labours got quicker and quicker but actually getting me into labour was far more dependent on whether I was overdue (or not).

OddBoots · 05/04/2015 21:10

My first birth I had an induction, the pessaries didn't work. I expected the same with my second but the time from pessary to birth was 19 minutes!

TondelayoSchwarzkopf · 05/04/2015 21:12

It makes a big difference if it's your first or not.

DS2 - pessary at 11am, contractions after lunch, established labour by dinner time, born at 11.15pm

RandomMess · 05/04/2015 21:47

DC1 - 41 weeks, took 3 pessaries & ARM - 24 hours to get into labour
DC2 - 42 +3 weeks, took 1 pessary - about 7 hours to get into labour
DC3 - 40 weeks, 2 pessaries & ARM - 24 hours to get into labour
DC4 - 42 weeks, 2 pessaries - 9 hours to get into labour (actual labour was recorded as 2 minutes)

Being positive the pessaries do cause pain even though you're not in labour and that does help your body gear up for what's about to happen. I would be keen to go straight to ARM personally. With my last the first pessary didn't even get my Bishops score past 1 - I was incensed, the 2nd one certainly kicked off things though Grin

MrsCakesPrecognitionisSwitched · 05/04/2015 21:52

When I went in to be induced, there were two other women in the same situation. We all had our first pessary at about the same time. Two hours later the lady in the next bed was whizzed away to the labour ward screaming and vomiting. I took another 3.5 days to get going but I quite enjoyed pottering around feeling serene.

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 06/04/2015 11:07

I'm not sure that I fancy pottering around for days with 4DC at home and a DH looking at me like I just need to get on with it instead of wasting his paternity leave!

OP posts:
MrsCakesPrecognitionisSwitched · 06/04/2015 11:14

Well it was my first DC, I'm sure your body will crack on with things once it has a little reminder of what it's meant to be doing.

fattybumbum33 · 06/04/2015 11:18

1st preg, induced at 37+3days. Gave me pessary....immediate contractions (puking and pooping sorry Blush then hind waters broke within hour they found meconium, asked for epidural Grin hour later was 4cm dilated, had waters broken fully and given my lovely jubbly epidural and gave birth less than 4 hours later, 2pushes no straining. Was fabbo not everyone has horror stories. Dc 2. Due to go into be induced ended up natural labour day before, no time for drugs had baby within hour of arriving at hospital (found that more traumatic then the hosp led one tbh)

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 06/04/2015 13:49

Thanks for the honesty! At least if I'm induced then I'll be in the hospital rather than trying to not give birth during the 20 minute drive in...

OP posts:
fattybumbum33 · 06/04/2015 15:52

Exactly noRoom. I had to keep me gob shut as had dc1 who was only 20mths sat in back seat, all I could think was not in the car not in the car. U will be fine, just go with it, hugs and prayers for easy delivery x

moomoob · 07/04/2015 04:37

Been induced twice 1st time I felt contractions straight away 2nd time it was the 2nd gel that started something. If you are already 3cm they'll go ahead and break waters and set you up on a drip if not you'll need the pessary to dilate 1st

Original poster
NoRoomForALittleOne · 07/04/2015 04:50

I'll just have to wait and see, won't I? I hope it doesn't take long as my dmum is coming to look after the 4DC and two of them are unwell tonight Sad I think DH needs to get home ASAP to hold the fort at home.

OP posts:
Anotheronesoon · 07/04/2015 05:35

I was induced with ds2. Pessary in at 1300. Contreactions started at 1500 and baby born at 1800! It was brilliant! Far better than my first labour which was not induced! Good luck!

weeblueberry · 07/04/2015 08:17

I suspect if this is your fifth labour it won't take too long!!

Good luck :)

Piffpaffpoff · 07/04/2015 08:24

First time with me I got the pessary at 4pm, twinges started around 4am, broke my waters at 9am, some kind of drip to 'speed things up' at noon, baby born 6pm, so 26 hrs in total.

Second time, pessary in at 4pm, twinges at 4am, massive contractions at 5am, baby at 7am. 15 hours in total.

Good luck!

TittyBojangles · 07/04/2015 08:26

I had the pessary at 10am, contractions started about 1045, baby born at 12! So very fast, I was nearly 37 weeks and my waters had gone on their own the day before so that probably helped.

westcountrywoman · 07/04/2015 08:28

It took about an hour after the first was inserted for me to start contracting. That was after the midwife examined me, shook her head and said my cervix was firmly closed and it would probably take a few days before we saw any action. I was T +12.

Pessary in at 6:30pm, twinges at around 7:30pm. Stronger and regular contractions by 9pm, waters went at 11pm, fully dilated at 6am, started pushing at 7am (had to wait for midwives' shift change!), DD born by ventouse at 9am.

Groovee · 07/04/2015 08:35

I was induced at 37 weeks with dd who is 15. I got started at 2.30pm by 9.30pm I was in labour ward and she was born at 7.10am. Only needed one gel.