Non-hormonal induction stories please!

[dancingmice]

Eight days overdue and miserable so booked for induction next week. Second baby and already 1-2cm dilated so wouldn't need a pessary/gel etc and instead straight to dilapan rods and then waters breaking, so hoping to avoid the drip. I'm very interested in any stories about your experience please, and particularly whether you did manage to avoid the drip. Thank you

Hopeful bump

I had the dilapan rods but after a good 24 hours in situ, it transpired they weren't working for me. Managed to get dislodged... Consultant was convinced that he would able to break my waters anyway as it was second pregnancy and already a few cms dilated. Was wheeled into delivery suite and waters were broken within seconds. I had gas and air and genuinely didn't feel a thing. Labour was slow to progress, irregular contractions and they were keen to put me on a drip. I reluctantly agreed but only if I was given an epidural first. Anaesthetist had a bit of trouble, would only work down one side so he had to return to try again but then he was called away into theatre. It was a good few hours of faffing. Eventually my contractions got more regular and drip was no longer necessary. And nor was anaesthetist as managed to get to 10cm on just the gas and air (and half an epidural). They had only just started using dilapan when I had it, I think they're much better trained at putting them in now. Good luck to you.

I was 12 days overdue on induction day with my second baby and it was decided to just break my water. I was told that I should walk around the hospital and return in 2 hours when I would be put on the drip if there had been no progress. We returned after an hour because my contractions were ramping up so much. DD was born 90 minutes later. It was fast and furious! I hope your experience is as straightforward. Good luck!!!

I was a week overdue with my second baby and was induced with the cooks balloon, I was 2cm when they put it in and I had a few contractions and it popped out after an hour. I was 4cm so they decided to break my waters but nothing much happened for the following 2h so unfortunately I did end up with the drip but like previous poster I agreed on the condition an epidural was in place first. I was very firm about this and they listened. After that they used the minimum dose of hormone drip and he was born about 30mins later.

Thanks, all helpful to see. I'm really apprehensive about it leading to a cascade of more intervention (like my first, although that wasn't an induction) so I'm not sure if I'll go ahead tomorrow. I don't know what to do :(

Possibly too late, but I've had 3 inductions started by my waters being broken. (My first was induced by pessary initially followed by drip)

DC3 and DC5 were 42 and 41wks respectively. Waters were broken, both girls born within 2 hours. Gas and air.

DC4 was induced at 40wks due to large size. This was on the early side for me as the others were at least 10days over. Nothing happened. Had epidural and drip. He was born after a 4hr labour. No further interventions. Very chilled.

All 3 inductions were straightforward.

Wishing you all the best.

Thank you @BurningBenches ! I've moved in to Friday (41+4) to give baby a few more days so your experience is really helpful. Fingers crossed it is as positive for me :)

Good luck today @dancingmice

I had a good experience with a non- hormonal induction, I had the balloon catheter which didn’t do a whole lot then waters were broken the next day. Was sent off for a walk, got back and in the pool just in time for baby to be born less than 2 hours after waters broke, it was great. Good luck today @dancingmice

Just revisiting this thread as I'm due to have dialapan rods inserted this evening, I'm 41+4 and it's my first baby.

Do others think it's possible to go on to labour naturally without the drip once waters break?