Induction without the drip?

[Starbuck24]

Hi all,

I am currently 38+4 with DC2 and it is looking likely doctor will recommend induction at 39 weeks due to slow growth. Baby is not estimated to be tiny, but has dropped from 80th to below the 40th which I appreciate could mean there’s a problem (or one of the scans was just way off). I have another appointment this week when I will find out for sure what they recommend.

DC1 was spontaneous labour that went fairly fast. Wasn’t completely straightforward but I did avoid an epidural and any interventions which I am very keen to repeat. I have only ever heard horror stories about inductions so I’m a bit nervous. It seems from most people I’ve spoken to that things tend to go wrong when you get the drip.

Has anyone had a successful induction without having the drip? Do you know if I could consent to pessaries but no drip? I’m just wondering how much say I would actually have if I agree to the induction.

Induction here with no drip - two pessaries, second one worked.

I was induced at 39 weeks due to polyhydraminos on 28th dec. checked and 2cm one lot of gel in, 6 hours later was 3cm just waited for a bed to be free on delivery suite to have my waters broken but they ended up breaking themselves, 1hr 40 minutes later baby arrived with only use of gas and air for about 30 minutes. Much better than my first induction that took 3 days to get going. Good luck. I had nearly 6 years gap between births so was worried my body would've 'forgotten' what it was doing but it didn't

Having had the drip for my first induction, I didn't go on to have an epidural. The most painful part came as I was about to push - so too late to have an epidural.

So there is no garauntee that drip = further intervention.

Second induction was just pessary and for various reasons was more painful (she didn't put the first one high enough so that hurt/when labour started we had to then slow it right down)

But again, no epidural. For the same reason, the main pain came too late.

Hi, with DD I had two pesseries and the hormones in them kicked me into labour. Didn't need a drip and didn't have my waters broken either. I had gas and air and pethidine for pain relief and though my subsequent natural labours were easier it wasn't horrendous.

Iv had 2 inductions at 37 weeks.

1. 3 pessaries, ARM baby born 2 hours of active labour.
2. ARM and the drip baby born 1 hour of active labour.

IMO the 2nd induction with the drip was much better, Easier and controlled.

I've had 2 inductions.
1st was pessary and no drip needed. I needed 2 pessaries I think. I had my waters broken at 8am and DS was born 3 hours later.

2nd was balloon and I needed the drip. They broke my waters but because nothing had progressed within 3 hours they put up the drip. They discussed it with me and I get the impression I could have said no but obviously I consented so I don't know what they would have done if I refused.

2nd labour contractions were definitely more painful than the 1st. However overall I preferred the 2nd. I felt the pessary was more painful from insertion to dilation than the balloon.

I had the pessary and my contractions were quickly 2-3 mins apart an hour after having it inserted, within seven hours I was getting some back to back, the midwife removed the pessary as was hyperstimulated. My contractions stopped five hours after the pessary was removed, and I was induced by drip five days later. Other people in my bay were successfully induced just with the pessary though, I felt like Rachael from friends, they kept getting wheeled in and going into labour then going off to the labour ward, whilst I sat waiting lol