Induction with second DC - experiences?

[Sarahlouise86]

I'm currently overdue (40+1) with my second DC and my midwife has asked if I would consider induction at 41 weeks (apparently this is now standard for my trust, not sure elsewhere in the NHS). No medical necessity currently just they don't want me to go overdue. Feeling relatively comfortable myself, sleeping well (apart from a million trips to toilet) and staying active so don't feel the need to get the baby out but equally don't want to be holding out at 42 weeks.

I'm hoping to have a couple of sweeps before we get to that point but I'm feeling uncertain about whether induction is the right way to go for me. My first DC was premature and my waters just went, had a straightforward labour so never even got round to these conversations. I was really hoping for a similar birth but its looking less likely unless I say no to the induction but then I think that limits my options in terms of a water birth etc. I had a quick labour with my first as well (under 4 hours total).

I was wondering what peoples experiences with induction for second DC were? I've spoken to friends about it but majority had induction for first and not second. Thanks! X

There was a thread here from sometime ago, if you look for it you’ll find it. It had mixed experiences, from what I remember.

I was induced the first time, second pregnancy now.

starting with some sweeps first seems like a good idea.

my sil walked like 20000steps to nudge the baby and it worked 2 times (2nd time the next day! First time can’t remember). My sister walked a lot too. They also walked a lot in general during the last trimester especially. I didn’t take their advice the first time but you bet I will now.

Thanks for the reply. I'll take a look and see if I can find the thread.

Not sure I can manage 20,000 steps!! But I'm doing 10,000 a day on average so will keep that up and hope for the best 🤞🤞

I was induced with my 3rd due to living so far from hospital (fast labours) and having low papp a. I liked it in the sense I could organise childcare for other kids. it wasn't too bad. Only and hour and no complications.

I was induced with number 2. First birth was a home birth, so couldn't have been more different.

The actual induction was fine. Started the drip at 10 am (broke my waters first at about 9) and baby was born at 4:30 pm. There was a hairy moment when I though they were egoing to get the forceps out, but they didn't. Normal vaginal birth, no injuries.

What was not so fine was the 3 days of pessaries before hand and the night on post natal afterwards.

The three days of pessaries was boring, I missed my older son, there was a woman on the induction ward who was a night mare (takeaways delivered at all hours, shouting on her phone, TV on as loud as possible type stuff) and the post natal because I just wanted to be at home with my new baby, and this was where I really preferred the home birth!

If I had to do it again though, I would, it wasn't horrible or awful at all. Don't be massively put off by it, it was controlled and calm and the staff were fab. And the issues I had were unique to my circumstances, I told you about then to show how completely fine the actual induction was!

Good luck!

My friend and I both had very similar stories very quick inductions with our second child. Ton of period type backache and a babies delivered.

Definitely get some sweeps first. With my first I had two sweeps from around 41 weeks and DD arrived bang on 42 weeks. Sweeps are fine and I don’t really consider them a proper induction as you can go home afterwards. I also had a sweep at 38 weeks second time around but ended up with an ELCS (for totally different reasons so don’t let that worry you! Just telling you this as you can have sweeps from quite an early stage).

That's good to hear. It definitely would make it easier to organise childcare!

Having to stay in hospital for a few days definitely wouldn't be ideal but I'm very lucky that my local hospital doesn't have any wards and it's all individual rooms. But I was in for 10 days with my first DC and was really hoping for a quick in and out with this one 🙈

Thanks for run through of your induction though, I think I'm building it up to be worse in my head and I guess ultimately I won't know what happens unless I do it! Did you have any sweeps beforehand?

@Dinoteeth yours sounds exactly what I'm hoping for. Fingers crossed!!

@MummyJ36 I was resisting the sweeps at first but now that I'm over 40 weeks and induction is being discussed, they definitely sound like the better option. I've got one booked for today and then I'm hoping midwife will offer another one early next week when im 41 weeks. If they don't work then I think I may agree to book at induction for the end of the next week.

Thanks for your help 😊

I was induced with my second at 37 weeks after my waters leaked at 35 weeks. I just had the gel which started off the contractions right away (but very manageable), they broke my waters a few hours later and she was born 11 hours after the gel was applied. Much better than my first labour.

I was induced with 1, 3, 4 and 5.

3 & 5 they broke my waters and my babies were born after 2hr labours. Just gas and air.

4, was induced at 40wks so took longer to get going and needed drip plus epidural. Actual established labour was 4hrs.

With 4 and 5 I was home within hours of giving birth. 4 I had to wait 6hrs and 5, I gave birth at 5.30pm and was home by 9.30pm.

How many weeks were you for the other 4?

Induced with #2 at 41+5. Pessary inserted in the afternoon, then sent home. Contractions started that evening so went back in and baby born just after midnight. Delivered on a birth unit, could have had a water birth but didn't 😊 so I would ask about your options.

I was induced with #2 at 41+5. Had a good experience because the pessary worked quickly (about 6 hours). Baby was born 5 hours after that in the early hours, with just gas and air. Home by lunchtime.

41 weeks seems early though. I thought 40+10 or 12 was quite standard?

@CristinaNov182
1 - 42wks induced (pessary, drip)
2 - 41 + 3 spontaneous
3 - 42wks induced (ARM)
4 - 40wks induced for large size (arm and drip)
5 - 41wks induced (arm)

5 was 41wks because I was over 40 rather than 42.

I think 5 "may" have well come with in a couple of days of 41wks as I was contracting the morning of my induction, but number 3 did that on my due date then not a peep until induction.

@WowStarsWow the National guidelines have changed after a massive report from October 2021 that showed an increase in stillbirth with induction at 42 weeks as opposed to 41 weeks.

I was told, that if labour started during an induction at any point prior to the drip, then you could have a water birth. That was 3 years ago now, so things could have changed.

I've had early inductions for both my DC. First ended in a vaginal birth. Second in a C-section. Baby was stuck, and needed a sun roof extraction. Sucked at the time, but it was what it was.

The induction itself was just fine. A single gel was all that was needed to dilate to 2cm. Waters were broken, then drip put up as I don't seem able to go into labour without it. Drip cranked up to max, but I was plodding around the room and trying different positions to help for a few hours. It was actually quite nice. Unfortunately progress was very slow due to baby's position and eventually the towel was thrown in once baby was starting to show signs of distress. It was just one of those things.

Hopefully you'll go into labour yourself before long!

Thank you, that’s very interesting to know. I had my baby after this but I guess these things take time to take effect.

Thanks everyone it's been very helpful to hear the different experiences.

I saw my midwife today and she attempted a sweep. She said she would be very surprised if I needed an induction as bishop score was high and spontaneous labour looks likely. I couldn't manage a full sweep due to pain but apparently she stretched my cervix to 4cm very easily so her opinion was if I did get to induction it would only be a case of breaking my water before labour starts. And I could still have a water birth if no drip was used.

I have booked an induction in for a weeks time but hopefully this little one will make an appearance before then. Either way I'm feeling a lot happier about it now. Thank you.

Was induced with 1 and 2. I’d actually tried to put my induction off for number 2 until 42 weeks but due to my health was induced at 41 weeks. Glad I didn’t go to 42 weeks though, baby extremely distressed at the end of labour and was born with cord around his neck multiple times which was tightening with every contraction. I hate to think if I’d left it to 42 weeks and gone into labour naturally without the monitoring received with an induction. It was because of the monitoring his distress was discovered and he was helped.

Mine was a second by induction and it was hard and fast... 2hrs from drip to baby, even the midwives were surprised!! The pain was very intense and fast but I managed on gas and air and cannot remember some bits 😂 My friend had fun telling me I had kicked the not so nice midwife as she put my legs in the stirrups!

Just to update incase anyone looks in the future...I didn't make it to induction after a vigorous sweep the evening before my induction was booked. DD arrived 6 hours after I left the midwife and I had my water birth 😊

I had been watching this thread as I was booked in for an induction for my second baby tomorrow on what would be 40+4. I wanted to avoid it if possible.

I had a sweep at 2pm Friday (40weeks) and was 2cm dilated. Started to feel tightenings in the car on the way home. Got stronger as the afternoon/evening went on. Arrived at hospital at about 10pm with strong regular contractions but stayed at 2cm till about just after 1am they said 4cm so I was off to the labour ward.

Everything happened in a big rush after that, I started transitioning to pushing as they were wheeling me on the bed down to the labour ward and had only been in the room for about 20mims before she was born.

Quite traumatic but at least it was all over with quickly

Congratulations both, looks like sweeps are good to try before induction. I think your bodies were almost there anyway, Happy for you.