Induction stories

[Xyzzzzz]

So been told today I’ll be induced at 39 weeks due to GD. I’m currently 36+6 weeks. I’ve been quite anxious about giving birth and I’ve had a difficult pregnancy anyway and this has resulted in peri natal depression.

I’m seeing a counsellor anyway to help with anxiety.

I was just wondering if anyone felt the same and had positive induction stories. I understand it’s more controlled but can be longer as you’re forcing your body to do something it’s not necessarily ready to do so. So feeling quite anxious and wondered if anyone could share a positive story?

My induction was very positive :-) I had no pain, my waters then broke, I got an epidural and began drip to start contractions. I felt no pain and everything would have been smooth sailing but unfortunately I had an infection and baby got stuck in my pelvis (nothing to do with the induction) so I had forcep delivery.

Either way the induction was fine and I'd happily have another :) I felt very in control and well managed!

Oh and I also dilated very quickly so not necessarily a long labour! And I had no pain due to the epidural! So I'd recommend that 😂

I didn't mind my induction except that I had to be put on the drip very early on in the process because my baby became distressed and they wanted to speed up the process (would have happened if I had gone into labour naturally because of a few unavoidable complications - nothing to do with induction).

Anyway after three hours on the drip I had an epidural. After that it was absolutely fine and the drip did its work. So my advice would be, if you have to go on the drip early on in the process, if you are only a few cm dilated, then have an epidural in place first.

If they put you on the drip when you are 6-8 cm dilated then I would still consider an epidural! But you might want to see if it goes quickly enough to be bearable.

The way I think of induction is - ok yes its not as nice as going into labour naturally at home would be, but you are very well looked after and induction saved my baby's life - had I gone into labour naturally at home I might not have got to hospital until he was seriously distressed. So thank goodness I was induced.

Mine was only 12 days ago. Induced due to small baby at 37+4. 1st pessary 5am nothing happened. 2nd pessary 1pm and some mild pain started around 5.30pm waters broken at 9pm. Baby born at 11.50pm!

Forgot to say when they broke my waters I was 3cm.

Thanks for the responses. I hope the pessary works!

Mine was 2 weeks ago. Went in on the 3/7 had my little boy on 6/7. I got induced at 38 weeks due to GD. I had 3 pessarys with 6hrs in-between each tablet. Had on and off pains but after 3rd pessary my cervix still wasn't opening. I then had to wait 24hrs before I could start again which brought me to the Friday 5/7 had a pessary again 6hrs later had my 2nd pessary and the midwife told me I was 1cm dilated (phew!). 6hrs later examined thought I'd need another pessary but was 3cm dilated so they broke my waters. After my waters were broken I dilated from 3-10cm in 1-2 hrs. I had gas and air when they were examining me for my 6hr checks as I found them a bit painful, the gas and air was lovely though! 😂. I'm glad I went for the second round of pessarys otherwise I would have had to opt for c section. Midwife's reassured me that with FT mothers like myself that is the 1st round is unsuccessful then the 2nd round of pessarys usually do it, and it did! 😊
You hear absolute horror stories about inductions but I'd honestly do it again my experience really wasn't that bad just tedious as I'm in patient ☺️

My induction was done on the Friday nothing happened Saturday I started to get pains like period pain they ramped up 45 minutes later I'd delivered it was painful but over so quickly I had no stitches or tears baby was 7lb9. My second I was induced again at 38 weeks induction again with oesssry nothing happened next day I started to get period pains labour lasted all of 15 minutes my son was fine 6lb9 I think he was and again no stitches or tears was up in the shower within 15 minutes. Induction is good in my books

Thank you so much for sharing. So it might not be as bad as I think. Still nervous though terrified actually

Mine was a couple of weeks ago and great! Less than 6 hours of labour, happy with just the gas and air, had a 2nd degree tear but was in no pain from it (discomfort for about 2-3 days) and discharged same day.

Really happy with how it went. I did find it was quite intense because it was so fast though.

I was booked in for induction on the Tuesday (slightly different reasons than yours as my waters kept reducing so they wanted her out), had a sweep Thursday afternoon as they said that makes induction more favourable. My plug went Friday night, my waters went Sunday afternoon but contractions didn’t start. I had a pessary the next day (24hrs after waters breaking) at 12pm, went for something to eat and a walk round the hospital, contractions started at 2ish and she was out by half 5. No other interventions and just gas and air and a tens machine.

Mine was 8 months ago. Just had the gel which caused mild pains overnight, 2nd gel got things going better, more pains but no real dilation followed by lots of dilation during shift change (typical of my luck), checked again, 7cm, transferred upstairs to delivery, 9cm ish, waters went, ages pushing as baby back to back and bit stuck, eventually turned and ventouse to finish off. Pretty well the same as my first but the bit where it hurt like hell but no dilation happening was sat/kneeling/lying in a bed rather than in a car because with my first they sent me home as not in established labour while with the induction you're in anyway!

@Xyzzzzz You'll be fine one thing I'll say though is take in some magazines or your phone charger to go on your phone as there is a lot of just sitting around doing nothing until it starts off, and walk walk everywhere, when I had my peassary in nothing happened but soon as the niggles started I think I did about two laps around the hospital stopped for lunch in the cafe and then I started to go into labour, so maybe the peassary did help a little but the midwives will encourage you to walk or you can use the birthing ball to bounce on. I've never tried it though good luck x

Yeah I’ve packed my charger and power bank in my bag! I’m fully prepared to be sat their waiting!

I remember being induced with my first I was so bored one night my partner left me some change as I only had my bank card with me, to get some snacks from the vending machine and I put my last £1 in for some crisps and it took my money and the crisps got stuck coming out I was in tears and cried myself to sleep I was that hormonal, the next morning he brought me the crisps and said you'll never believe this another packet came out too for free!. The time I spent waiting around did produce some now funny moments

I was 16 days late with dd3 because an induction was my biggest fear. I wish I'd given in earlier because it was great!! Breaking my waters did nothing so I went straight on the drip. 1 hour and a bit later she was here!! I went home 6 hours later.

Wow an hour!!? That’s really quick

@anitagreen I’d have cried too!

I'm getting induced at the weekend for a big baby (had my membrane sweep yesterday at 39+0 and nothing's happened yet aside from some cramping and a very active baby) and am dreading it so it's great to read all these positive induction stories.

I had an induction with my first baby due to concerns over him being too small (he was born 8lbs 1oz). I had the pessary and was told it could be up to 48 hours until things start to happen.
I started getting pains half an hour after the pessary was put in, so the midwife examined me and I was 2cm dilated and could therefore have my waters broken.
Immediately after this, contractions started thick and fast and the midwives couldn't believe it was happening so fast. I was monitored and it was confirmed I was contracting.
I was then put on a drip to speed up my labour (which was not needed) and from pessary to delivery it was 10 hours in total.
I only had gas and air and begged for an epidural but there wasn't time. I think induced labours are considered more painful as the contractions can often come on thick and fast. If you can then I would recommend getting an epidural. I really wished I could have had one.

But I was told to pack loads of things and to expect to stay at least two days before anything happened and probably need a second pessary. Absolutely not the case. Be prepared for it being very quick as well as very long!