Induction stories - always bad?

[Shanners123]

Baby is 5 days overdue and induction is looming. From most of what I've read the pattern seems to be: pessary > drip > epidural > forceps / ventouse (> emcs) with waters broken somewhere along the way, and trauma / tearing + stitches for mum.

I have massively simplified here, but for reference i was hoping for water birth and gas & air. Obvs this is looking less and less likely, so I'd love to hear other induction experiences, both positive and negative. Of course no birth will be the same as mine, but I'd like to hear how others went and the path their induction took.

TIA ladies!

My waters broke on their own with my induction, I got to fully dilated and the only reason I ended up with a section is because my daughter was back to back and the position she was in she just wouldn't come out.

The pessary was fine imo it just made me have lots of pressure down below, my contractions were very strong on my back and during the night I was given anti sickness meds and diamorphine to help me sleep - but again they were really bad because baby was back to back. The drip contractions were worse but I manage with just a TENS machine and Gas and air for four hours before I had an epidural.

For me the induction process was great and if it hadn't have been for my daughters position it would have been a straight forward birth!

Oh yes definitely get a TENS machine, I loved it. Felt like ants stamping all over my lower back, it was wonderful.

As you've seen, a huge variety of experiences. My two inductions were fine and in the unlikely event I have another baby, I'd probably panic at the thought of spontaneous labour!

Baby 1, an episode of reduced foetal movements meant we decided to induce so I was admitted at 40+5. First gel in the morning, nothing seemed to happen. Second gel at 6pm. Nothing. Sent my husband home at 11pm and I got ready to bed down for the night, with the promise of a drip in the morning. At the stroke of midnight, my water spontaneous broke and contractions began of their own accord very shortly afterward. They were right away strong and coming just minutes apart. I asked for and got an epidural around 3am, fully dilated a little while later. While pushing, the baby's heartrate indicated distress and so as it was very close to birth, was delivered by ventouse and episiomoty. Born a little after 4.30 am, so a short labour by first-time standards.The cord was wrapped multiple times round the neck. Thankfully Apgar scores were 9 and 9, so all good. We did have some side effects - early-onset jaundice, which was treated with blue lights and early supplementation with formula.

My second needed prompt delivery due to IUGR and my suddenly soaring blood pressure. Straight to the drip at 37w0days. My birth plan firmly included epidural. My drip began around 9am, I felt nothing as they ramped up the drip, had my waters broken at midday when I was 3cm. Started to feel some mildly painful contractions shortly after that, asked for epidural and got it around 2pm even though I was barely in any pain yet but I knew I definitely wanted it. Fully dilated when I was examined a little after 3pm. Began pushing and my baby was born within three contractions by half past three. Nice health Apgar scored again. I had a second degree tear, along the site of my previous episiotomy.

All in all, I am very grateful for my two inductions that gave me two beautifully healthy babies. I am quite certain that the outcomes would definitely be no better without indications and would likely have been quite a bit worse.

Best wishes.

I was induced last week as I was 13 days overdue. The experience was much more positive than my first birth. I had the gel which took about 6 hours to kick in. The whole labour and birth then took around 90 mins, which was very intense and only had time to use gas and air. Pushing for only 20 mins and was discharged from hospital 4 hours after she was born. I was not happy about having to be induced, but now it’s done it really was a better experience for me than my first labour.

I was induced 7 weeks ago, I was expecting it to be a long process from what everyone else told me. I had the pessary put in for 24 hours, after the 24 hours they took me down to the labour suite to start the hormone drip and break my waters. My contractions started at 12am and my DD was here by 4am. I'm very lucky to have had a short 4 hour labour. Good luck! 😊

I think it depends on what number baby it is.

I had the pessary, niggles for 20 hours (bearable and I was fine). 80 minutes of actual labour. G&A. No tears or grazes.

Was DC3 though and my other labours were ok (first was long but natural delivery, second was short and natural delivery)

Dd1 pessary at 2pm, examined after 24hrs, just about ok to proceed, down to delivery suite, waters broken at around 6pm, drip, baby born at 1:30am.
No tears, a little bit of grazing overall very positive
With dd2 I only needed waters breaking (38 + 3), no pessary but otherwise pretty much same story. In fact midwife wouldn't believe dd1 was on her way out - told me at 4:20 am she's be born before 5 and in fact it was 4:27!!
Take lots of books for hospital - it's boring waiting around and I got very cross with the overnight monitoring every 2hrs recommendation, stay mobile as much as possible and think about having your baby in your arms.