Anyone have a good induction story

[owloak]

Hi there

I have an induction booked for next week when I will be over 41 weeks. I have had a very easy (first) pregnancy so far, lucky me! But I fear this is where my luck runs out. I am overdue now and I just can't see this baby coming naturally at all

I only ever seem to hear about how awful inductions are. Both in real life and here on mumsnet.

Please, is there anyone with positive induction stories? I'm torn about whether or not to go ahead with the induction date or if I should push it back further.

Feeling very anxious that the induction will be rough and I'll have a lot of interventions and subsequent recovery problems

2 labours and both inductions so know no different but would choose it every time. Bit of a control freak so was nice not to have to worry about should/should I not go to hospital etc. went in for 7am both times and feel slightly in control.
Put on drip, on second had to have waters broken also around 1pm as nothing happening but both born around 8pm of that evening.
All felt so controlled, so organised and while labour not easiest thing in the world - the induction part made it easier! For me anyway

I had a fantastic induction. Pessary in about 3pm and baby born about 11 hours later. Contractions ramped up quickly from about midnight. Taken from induction suite to birth centre where baby was born in about 6 pushes 5 minutes after arrival. Good luck

I'd feel much better going in for induction at 41 weeks than 38 weeks, that's for sure.

I have had an induction. It all seemed to go fine. It was my second birth, and I didn't find the actual birth very much different from when I had my first. I did not have any other interventions and the recovery process was very similar to when I had my first.

I’ve had two induction - wasn’t induced with my first early enough and my placenta had failed. So both at 41 weeks.
first - waters broken, walked around for an hour, baby born 8 hrs later.
second had a peasant, walked around again and baby both again 8 hrs later!

3 labour's, last 2 were inductions.
First induction pessary at 12pm delivered at 4.15pm
Second induction broke waters at 1pm delivered 3.30pm
No interventions just la ourrd too fast dor any meaningful pain relief

All 3 of my births have been inductions. The first one was so positive (at 42 weeks) that when it came to ds2 I really wanted one again. Fate was on my side both ds2 and dd were induced at 38 weeks due to medical reasons. Both of those were wonderful as well

I realise I must be one of the lucky statistics but I didn’t have any complications or need any assistance from forceps etc. no tearing or damage to me at all either

I’ve had 4 inductions at 41, 38,38 and 37 weeks. I never needed the IV, just 2 pessaries. No long, drawn out labour’s. From first contraction to baby they were 1h 05, 50minutes , 45 minutes and 3h 30minutes. No intervention needed, had stitches on the first one (2nd degree tear) but not on the others. The 4th had some decels and I haemorrhaged, but both of those were due to the reason for the induction rather than the induction itself. Quick and straightforward recovery each time too.

I was induced at about 41 weeks and it didn't work. I was on the highest strength of the drip for hours, contracting like billio on the trace but I couldn't feel a thing. Maybe slight cramps like mild period pain. The worst was trying to get comfy on the bed without dislodging the monitors.

Slept a few hours like the overnight and then had the world's most relaxed "emergency" c section in the morning. All very relaxed and lovely, easy recovery, exclusively breastfed with no problems.

I think before I had her, a failed induction and emergency section was my scenario of dread, so just including it as a different spin on a positive story!

I had an induction for late DC3 after a spontaneous labour then an alcs for breech baby. The induction was by far the most positive. My impression is that most of the bad induction stories are from people who need to be induced early. Two of the benefits for me were being in hospital right from the start, so I didn't need to stress about when in labour to head in to hospital, and having a midwife with me the whole time rather than being mainly left on my own as I was with my first - I found that very reassuring. Good luck!

I've had 2 inductions both at 37 weeks for intrauterine growth restriction, both babies born 5lb 3oz.
First one was 2 pessarys 6 hours apart, then they broke my waters at 3cm and my daughter was born 2 hours later, just gas and air used
.
Second was waters broken at 4.15pm, drip at 6.30pm, gas and air at 9pm and baby born at 10.18pm. Both super fast.

Similar to @JenniferBarkley story - the drip didn’t work at all on me and after 12 hours the doctors just said it’s time for a caesarean. It was totally fine.

Inductions seem to work well for many women, but keep in mind that in a minority of cases the drip has no effect at all. Caesareans are very calm and controlled, so nothing to be scared of, should they become necessary.

My induction was my favourite birth. Calm drive to hospital for an appointment, pessary in at 3pm, contractions started at 12 became harder to cope around 8am so called my DH in, moved to labour ward, baby born by lunchtime. Admittedly I did have a had tear so needed theatre aftet but that was definitely my anatomy and giant headed sons as his brother caused the same bother.

Thank you everyone for your stories! You have no idea how much reading these have calmed me down! I do like the idea of the knowing exactly when to head to the hospital! That is definitely one positive over labouring at home and not knowing when I should head in!

I have another few days before the induction so will see if baby makes any moves in the meantime! But I think the baby is very comfortable where they are to be honest

I've had spontaneous birth and an induction.
Induction was the best of the two (7 hours from induction to delivering twins).

Both my births were via induction at 38 weeks. First labour was 7hours and 2nd one was 14 but it was a bit stop start to begin with but fine. No forceps or anything needed.
I liked the fact i knew when i was going to hospital and so could prepare which massively helped my anxiety.

Fingers crossed all goes smoothly for you and you have your little in your arms very soon 🤞🙏

Hi.

I was induced with my first baby at 42 weeks.

I went in at 4pm. Had a pessary at 6pm.

No pains or anything. At midnight I felt/heard a loud pop whilst laying down to sleep. My labour started immediately. It was my waters but had no leaks as my sons head was too far down.

I laboured in the pool and he was born 8 hours later.

Very smooth!

2 great inductions that I’ve posted about here before. At 42 weeks and 40 weeks. Both times I had the gel (similar to pessary), contractions started a few hours later. Baby 1 born 2.5hrs after first contraction, baby 2 born 1.5hrs. Both amazing water births with gas and air just for the pushing stage.

I think with an overdue baby your body is ready and induction is much more likely to go well.

Almost 40wk induction. Drip at 2.30pm baby arrived at 7.30pm. 2nd degree tear. Found it absolutely fine. A friend fed me her horror story, begged me not to get induced etc. The worst was waiting a week as there was no beds

I think my induction was pretty positive!
Pessary Monday 1pm, 2cm after 24hours with some niggling pain, waiting until the Wednesday to be sent to delivery to have my waters broken but by 2am contractions had started and I had her at 1:16pm Wednesday. She was OP and came out fast so I had a bad tear but I didn't even realise I'd torn and was whisked off to theatre to have it repaired under a spinal block so didn't feel a thing
I remember how bad my nerves were the morning of, I was throwing up I was so scared but try and remember you can absolutely do this. Good luck OP x

I was put straight onto a drip for my induction and DS was born 3 hours later. The contractions were intense, but it was over quickly and I recovered v. quickly as well. I didn’t have any pain relief as it went quickly.

it was much better than my unassisted vaginal birth with DD.

Got induced with DD at 40+1 because of 2 failed stretch and sweeps and a injury to my back. Went in to hospital at 9am, obs checked, pessary inserted by 9.30. Went for a walk around the hospital and went for some breakfast in canteen. Went for checks on ward, no change. Had a takeout on ward for our tea. About 5ish started to feel sick, went for a bath. 7.15ish just before midwives swapped I got put on a monitor and was told I was having contractions so they checked me. I was 3cm, around 10pm husband was going to leave around then but he'd fallen asleep. I felt the need to go on the bouncy ball and my waters broke. Slept most of the rest of the night with pethidine. Didn't get moved to labour till 8am when I was 9cm dilated and had only had paracetamol. They gave me more pethidine just before and I started to fall asleep in labour 😅 DD was born 9.15am next day. Only needed gas and air + the pethidine. Was really chilled induction and lots of naps, only issue I had was the woman in the other induction suite screaming when her water broke. Other than that whole day was actually pretty chilled out. Good luck

Was induced with DS1. Went in the Wednesday, 24 hour pessary, no effect. 6 hour gel on the Thursday evening. Still nothing. 2nd through the night. Nothing. 3rd 6 hour gel placed Friday morning and cramps straight away. Nothing too bad. Had a nap. By lunchtime, full blown labour. Had waters broken, no need for drip, baby in arms a few hours later. 20 minutes pushing, showered by 8pm and left DS with DP for 10 mins to have a little walk outside to let them have a moment and get some fresh air for myself! Small tear that I never noticed during or after. Epidural failed but it was all too quick to really matter. DS2 was a section. I'd repeat the experience I had with my induction, but not my section. Good luck!

I was really scared going in for my induction after reading all the horror stories on here too@owloak 😊

It was my first child and it was at the height of covid restrictions etc. Mine took quite a while as I needed 3 pessaries and then the drip so I was 39 hours all together (38 with contractions 😅). But baby was born healthy with no interventions and I used gas and air for pain relief. I had a very small internal tear that required 2 dissolving stitches.
Baby was born at 3am and I was home cuddled up with DH and baby by 3pm.

The only negative parts of my experience were the fact that it took so long - I was in a room on my own for the first 27 hours and DH wasn’t allowed in 😬 and the first midwife I was assigned when I finally went to labour ward. She was unbelievably pushy and judgemental and I just didn’t like her at all so I asked for a new midwife and had an absolute angel come in who was just incredible 😊

Just remember that it’s still your labour and birth and you still get to have your preferences listened to 😊 Best of luck! Come back and let us know how you get on!

Two babies, and two inductions started at 37 weeks. Both needed drips to kick-start labour. First ended in an unassisted vaginal birth, second in a C-section after minimal progress. Baby was stuck and it (probably) would have happened if I'd laboured naturally. Both were positive experiences, and my favourite labour was my second. Even though it didn't end in the type of birth I wanted.

If I had a third and needed an induction, I would go for it over an elective anyday of the week.