Experiences on being induced??

[bgcexx]

So, please no horror stories as I’m petrified as is!!!
I’m being induced on my due date due to severe PGP (to the point where the maternity ward sent me an ambulance because my hips locked up completely and i was stuck alone on the sofa for half hour..not fun!!!)

They’ve offered either, pessary or gel/tablet which I decide on the day.
I’ve looked into what I could and it seems the gel/tablet has a higher success rate but most people seem to go for pessary?? Just wondered what people’s experiences were, or if maybe anyone had experienced both and found one better off???

From what i’ve been told, and what i’ve read pessary and tablet/gel are the best types of induction because it’s the closest to natural and they don’t make the birth anymore of a risk not the contractions anymore painful. Is that right?

Please don’t scare me with horror stories, just your experiences so i know what to expect with either/or Thanks !! Xx

I was induced last time. I wasn't given the option but they used gel and did a 'good' (painful) sweep at the same time. That kicked everything off pretty quickly and I had a normal delivery about 6 hours later. It was my second baby though and I was 40+5 which made things easier. I didn't think it was bad at all although I think if you need the drip it can get intense. You do have the option of an epidural though.

Hi @bgcexx
I was induced with my baby 17 weeks ago, she is my first. I had pessary put in about 5.30pm, had pain like period pain start around 9.30pm ish. The midwifes gave me some pain killers and told me get some sleep. My waters broke about 2.30am, I went to the delivery suite at about 5am and my baby was born about 1.30pm.
I just had gas and air, was painful as you woukd expect child birth to be but not horrific.

Hi,

I was induced two weeks ago, I had the pessery at about 5pm. By 11pm strong contractions, baby born at 05.30.
They offered me the pessery or the drip, as my cervix was closed they went for pessery first, with the plan to then use the drip after 6 hours, but it wasn't needed .

I was induced with the pessary. About 6pm labour started a few hours later. Baby born early hours of morning. Just gas and air. I'd heard horror stories but it was no different in intensity from previous labours.

I’ve had a pessary induction for dc2 and a pessary then drip with dc1. Both births were fine, no c sections, no ventouse/forceps/4th degree tears. I was worried both times and felt a bit like a failure for not going into labour but it was fine and no worse than a lot of other births. Remember the hospitals have been down all the permutations millions of times, it will be ok.

Out of my family, my DM, DSister and SIL have had multiple inductions and no csections etc.

I had a pessary with DS (first baby). They inserted it at 9pm, everything ramped up very quickly, DS was born just before 8am the following morning.

DMum and DSis both had pessary inductions at 40+1 (5th baby) and 42 weeks (1st baby) respectively. Both went into labour after the second pessary, and both delivered just fine with no interventions.

I was also induced (37 weeks - 1st baby). Unfortunately the gel (only option) didn't work for me, so I needed the drip. Labour was far from a horror story though. No interventions required, but I did need a higher level of painkiller (diamorphine) to cope than I thought I would. However, if I had to do it again, I would do it all exactly the same way.

I had pessary with DS1 - it's standard for all first-time mums at my hospital (or was at the time). Went in about 1:30am, started getting crampy pains almost immediately, but they'd told me this was normal "Propess pains." They ramped up overnight and were really frequent, and by ~7am I was feeling really quite unwell, vomited a couple of times. They put me on the monitor and I was contracting 6-7 times in 10 minutes so they took it out, but the contractions continued. Then got examined and I was 6cm so they took me to labour ward and DS was born about 1:30pm, so about 12 hours start to finish. Managed fine with just gas and air.

With DS2 I had the gel, as it was the 2nd time. Again, started having crampy pains fairly soon, also pretty frequent, but maybe a bit less intense than with the pessary. They took me to LW for assessment but I hadn't made much progress so they gave me a terbutaline injection to slow the contractions down, as they were concerned DS might get stressed from the frequency. This made them stop almost completely, so I went back to the ward for the night. Got re-examined and had a sweep in the morning, then back to LW to have my waters broken about lunchtime. This got contractions going but not frequently enough, so then went on the drip (and had an epidural beforehand). DS2 was born just before 7pm. So that one was longer but not necessarily worse. Don't know which I'd choose if I did it again!

I got induced at 37 weeks 10 months ago. I was given a prostin pessary at 5am then 2pm I had another one inserted. Few mild pains from 6pm Onwards but nothing to shout about at all. Spent the whole time on a ball or doing laps of the hospital. At 9.30pm I was 3cm and they broke my waters. My daughter was born at 11.50pm! It was fast and there was no breaks between contractions it was crazy as soon as my waters were broken she was desperate to come out. I only had gas and air which I hated it made me so Sick and dizzy. Would of loved more pain relief but there was no time! Good luck!

I was induced 8 weeks ago. Positive experience for me. Pessary in at 11am. Lots of bouncing on ball and watching Netflix. 6pm mould sort of cramping period pain style. 11pm cramping bit more intense. Two
Paracetamol and a bath helped. 1am waters broke in epic fashion. Called DH to come to labour ward. 3am contractions coming thick and fast had diamorphine. 5.30am asked for epidural as was struggling but when midwife checked I was 10cm dilated and time to push. Baby was born at 6.30am.

Good luck!

I was induced by waters being broken and then drip. It was quick but I recommend considering the pain relief and getting it in!

I had an induction via gel 2 yrs ago - second baby. It was fast but fine. Baby delivered after just 25 - 30 minutes active labour. Gas and air was an absolute godsend. My top tip is breathe it really really deeply. Big lungfuls! Worked a treat. I essentially hallucinated my way through..... Had an amazing "dream" full of colours and music - don't ask! And came round to find a baby on my chest. Unbelievable. I was terrified about induction but it was absolutely fine. Very best of luck!

So friday was the day. was induced 12pm by pessary, contractions started 1hr 30mins afterwards every 20 minutes, 10 minutes, then 5. this went on for 14 hours. I only felt them in my back and weren’t really showing on the machine. Midwives at this point didn’t quite believe me when i said i think it’s happening and told me I seem to have a low pain threshold. 1hour after they sent me to the labour ward to have pethidine to help me sleep. at which 15 minutes later i told them I needed to push but kept passing out between contractions. they rushed me to the birthing ward, and less than 30 minutes later he half came out sunny side up in the bag, waters burst and he swum out weighing 8lb 7

So glad to hear it went well, congratulations!