Positive induction stories please?

[mum2bin2021]

Hi all.

I'm 40 weeks today and due to blood pressure and stagnant growth, will be being induced tomorrow.

I have practised hypnobirthing throughout and was really not looking to be induced but here we are. I feel like all I have seen is how inductions are more painful etc and increase the likelihood of having an epidural.

If anyone has had a lovely induction experience, please let me know. Any tips or things to pack etc would also be really helpful.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I practiced hypnobirthing, was induced, had an epidural and ended up with a section.
Sounds like a shit show, right?
The whole experience was incredible, the hypnobirthing kept me calm and relaxed throughout. I only had an epidural due to exhaustion (about 10/11 hours into contractions), then spent the rest of the day snoozing.
The contractions were manageable throughout because in my head I was on a beach, even though I hate sand!
I was also able to apply hypnobirthing techniques during the section, I was calm through the whole surgery, and this is coming from a person with a needle, blood and vomit phobias.

Concentrate on your breathing, keep your eyes closed if you don't want to see what's happening and focus on the visualisations.
Good luck!

Also take snacks galore, download a series from Netflix, make a music playlist and get an audio book. I downloaded Harry Potter and the goblet of fire because it was narrated by Stephen fry and was 27 hours long.

@Pinchawinch

I practiced hypnobirthing, was induced, had an epidural and ended up with a section. Sounds like a shit show, right? The whole experience was incredible, the hypnobirthing kept me calm and relaxed throughout. I only had an epidural due to exhaustion (about 10/11 hours into contractions), then spent the rest of the day snoozing. The contractions were manageable throughout because in my head I was on a beach, even though I hate sand! I was also able to apply hypnobirthing techniques during the section, I was calm through the whole surgery, and this is coming from a person with a needle, blood and vomit phobias.

Concentrate on your breathing, keep your eyes closed if you don't want to see what's happening and focus on the visualisations.
Good luck!

Thanks for the response. I think hypnobirthing is a great tool and I have to just accept that what will be, will be. If I don't get the water birth I wanted, it wasn't meant to be and at the end of the day, the baby will be here whatever happens. Time to focus on the end goal and just try and suck the positives from whatever happens. God I'm bloody nervous though.

That's exactly what I did, focus on the end goal, it helped me massively.
For me it was the fear of the unknown, so I read up on what the induction entails and that eased my mind a bit, although I know that knowing everything isn't for everyone.

Is it your first baby? Do you know how far you are dilated?

I was induced on 2 of my 3 children. Before you are given the sytocin drip make sure you have an epidural. The drip makes the contractions come on hard and fast. It is very tough going without the epidural - I learned this the first time I was induced. The second time I was induced I had the epidural in place and it really made a huge difference. The birth was by far the best and easiest out of my 3 children.

Completely agree with @Jelly4444 insist on epi before drip. I went from 2 to 9 in under an hour and there was no break between contractions.
Saying that I had two inductions and had really lovely experiences. Was very calm.and relaxed

This! The epidural isn’t the enemy.

Before you are given the sytocin drip make sure you have an epidural. The drip makes the contractions come on hard and fast.

I was also induced with 2 of my 3 - once for size and once for reduced movements. First one went from nothing to baby in 50 minutes - very easy!! Didn't even make it to the labour suite. Second one was 3 hours from first contraction to birth. Both times took around 7 hours for the pessary to work but no need for drip or waters breaking. You hear bad stories, but induction doesn't always been prolonged and painful. Good luck!

I was induced with DC 1 and 2, both post dates. DC2 was back to back too, both almost 10lb.

I did hypnobirthing both times. Was absolutely fine!

DC1 was ARM, then straight to drip. No pain relief at all during labour, manageable with 'labour Hopscotch' (google it but basically keep moving). After 6 hours I was getting tired and was checked to be 6cm. Went to loo then something changed. 5 min after check I was 10cm and pushing! No tears.

DC2 started with ARM and drip again. Lots of strong contractions and I kept active and moving (labour Hopscotch). I stalled at 2cm after 6 hours despite this and they confirmed he was B2B. Was close to a section but midwife asked me to lie on one side, 15 min later to switch. I didn't like not being able to choose my position so after only 20 min in total I asked to get onto all fours leaning on back of bed. Just for a minute! I was 10cm, he was born 9 min later, no tears.

I had DC4 4 days ago via section due to previa, and used hypnobirthing to stay calm. Was still a lovely birth!

You can this!

I was induced with both my pregnancies with no issues whatsoever. Both pretty straightforward and quick births with no need for an epidural. I had a drip put in at around 10am and both times had the baby before 4pm. I have nothing to compare to but although it was painful it wasn't unbearable and I only used gas and air plus a tens machine. Obviously I can't promise it will be straightforward for you and everyone's bodies and pain thresholds are different but thought it might help to her a positive experience 😊 hope everything goes well for you. Good luck and congratulations x

Just from my own circle of friends, I think most found inductions to be quite good and pretty quick (provided that you just need your waters broken and don't need the cervical gel stuff).

Best of luck tomorrow @mum2bin2021. Let us know how you get on.

I was induced with DC1. Had pessaries at 6pm and midnight then was put on the drip at 7am. Drip was ramped up to the max but managed with just Tens machine and gas and air. Had her at 4:45pm. Was a really positive experience and in many ways an easier birth than my second, spontaneous birth. I'm booked for an induction with DC3 next Sunday when I'm 40 weeks due to my age. Hoping they may be able to do a balloon induction this time but really not worried if they can't. I've never looked into hypnobirthing but know that focusing totally on my breathing through each contraction really helped me.

I had an induction with my first at 40+1 and I was so upset beforehand. I too had heard many horror stories about them not working and being super painful. I've now also had a second baby, spontaneous labour at 39+1.

The induction was longer than the spontaneous birth (12h from pessary to baby vs 4.5h from waters breaking to baby), but that's certainly because second babies are usually quicker. I found peak pain to be about the same with both. For both, I had pretty much nothing but gas and air. I just had the pessary and while it took a few hours to really get going, it worked well and I needed no further intervention. I think like any birth, you get what you get and you have no idea how it'll go!

Having an epidural is really fine, though. I had to have a spinal (like a mini-epidural) after my first because I had some minor but complicated tearing that they wanted to take their time stitching up, and I can confirm that it felt bloody weird and that I like being able to feel and move my legs. However, it's really not a measure of your worth as a mother.

Oh wow, didn't check the app for a while and it's been lovely and reassuring to read all of your experiences. I had a sweep at 39+4 and was 1cm with a 'thin' cervix but nothing has happened since, so I'm 'hoping' that they can just break my waters and baby will make his entrance but you have all shown that no matter what happens, you can make it positive. Thank you all, this first time mum is feeling a lot more confident/reassured. I will update with my own (hopefully) positive induction experience when I can

I’m having an induction today with my third baby and very worried. I’m not mentally prepared at all!
I’m hoping at 40+8 my body will be ready and they will just be able to break my waters but we shall see.
How are you getting on?

I was induced with my first. Hypnobirthing really helped with the early stage contractions. I later had an epidural and an emergency section BUT it was manageable and ok. Take the pain relief - there are no medals for not doing so. You will be fine!

Ive had two inductions. Both were very fast births. To second one id been doing hypnobirthing and had downloaded a hypno induce labour track, i found that really helpful and used it in labour.

I couldnt use a bath/pool with my second induction but spent ages in the shower at the hospital. I had two shower heads so the second one i turned on hot at the start of a contraction and held it to my body. It was brilliant. So evenif you cant get in a pool the shower is worth a go.

I

Once again, thank you all for sharing your stories. An unexpected update - I turned up to the hospital this morning for my induction and was told that the previous doctor had made a mistake and that the baby's growth didn't warrant an induction at this stage as he'd put on more than 20g per day.

We were then given the option of just going ahead with the induction anyway or going to 40 + 12 and having a sweep today and some essential oil treatment. After much frustration and a few tears, I decided to let baby have a chance to come by himself so I can labour on the midwife led unit and not the labour ward. I was way too worked up to have relaxed for birth by the time our options were made clear and so - baby has 11 days to do his thing!

There were women labouring in the waiting room and it sounds so ridiculous but I was jealous of them. Jealous that their babies had decided now was time and jealous that I may have to wait another 11 days to meet mine. Now I have to try and find a way to relax to get him out of there.

If/when baby arrives I will update again. Unfortunately (after mentally getting myself prepared for an induction) it may take a while. Thanks for all of the support and you taking the time to share your stories x

DC1 was induced. My tip is to ask for your Bishop's score before consenting to anything. If it's below 5 then be aware the chances of success are quite reduced and you may wish to discuss alternatives/make a plan for if it isn't going the way you want.