Is induction with your second child different to with your first? [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[agentmichaelscarn]

Hi just wondering if anyone can share their experiences?

I've gone in today for reduced foetal movements (37wks) and they've said they'd like to start induction at 38 weeks. I was induced with my first, took 4 days, not v pleasant.

Is induction second time round much different in anyone's experience? A part of me is hoping it'll somehow be faster or easier but not sure f this is just wishful thinking...

It’ll most probably be much easier. You may even find they don’t need to do the pessaries and just break your waters as you may be dilated enough to do that by 38 weeks. Good luck!

I was induced with both. First due to concerns about reduced growth and the second because I apparently “look like a woman who has had enough”. It was a long pregnancy with lots of monitoring for various reasons.

First time I had gel. I had a long, lonely night with “just effacement pains” which made me sob but I got no pain relief. Actual birth was fine. Gas and air.

Second time I had my waters broken as I was already 3cm dilated. I needed the drip eventually though as nothing was happening. It went: nothing, nothing, nothing, a wee niggle, a wee niggle, HOLY SHIT WHATS HAPPENING!!!!!”

I went from nothing whatsoever happening to her being born in about 50 minutes after several hours of nothing.

Given the choice my second was MUCH more painful but a much more positive experience. I felt calm and controlled once I realised she was descending. I have a vivid recollection of actually feeling her moving down and visualising what I needed to do.

So there is no easy answer but from my experience it was totally different but weirdly better.

Best of luck!

I was induced with my second and third. Took roughly the same amount of time. Both times i was already 2-3cm dilated. Iwas 38weeks with both. Waters were broken, started the drip and had baby 5 and 7 hours later. Only had gas and air with both, I didnt find it was any harder second time round. I hope you have a speedy labour next week.

Thanks so much, this is really helpful to hear!

Just wondering if anyone else could add in?

I'm waiting for a date for induction now and mildly terrified. Last induction was at 39 weeks and was tough, looking like this one will be a week earlier, so I'm scared it won't work etc.

Last time (over the course of 4 days) I had pessaries x2 and gel, then my waters broke - started the drip at 1am, DD was born at 7pm. I'm hopeful it won't be as drawn out this time but nervous as it's happening even earlier.

From my experience it was quicker, but more painful the second time. So I’m not sure which one I preferred!

Do you feel that an induction is the right choice? I went in three times for reduced foetal movements but I think the problem as me feeling them, not that they weren’t happening. I would always tell everyone to go if movements feel reduced (and would go again myself) but left every time feeling confident that baby’s heart rate and movement was fine. But they mentioned that they think about inducing after three times.

My point is, if you’re happy baby is ok you could request monitoring rather than induction.

From what I've been told if you've gone through labour before your body already knows what it's doing, so therefore inductions should be in theory quicker like labour. I know there will always be exceptions and I'm due any day with number 2. However I had emcs with 1st and hoping for vbac this time. Limited induction options as I'm high risk but I've been told by consultant and midwife because last time I went through a full labour before emcs (was pushing but lots of problems after a good 26 hours of established labour ) that this time should be a quicker labour as my body will know.