Positive induction labour stories

[PregnantQuestions]

I will be induced at 39 weeks. I would love to hear your positive experiences of being induced - or as positive as possible! I don't want any horror stories (I know there are risks for any type of childbirth). Thanks!

I was induced at 38 weeks. It all took a while to get going so I had an epidural once on the drip. That was awesome and I got some sleep until 10cm dilated. 15 mins pushing stage under instruction from the midwife, it was calm and peaceful as no pain due to the epidural. No tearing and the epidural wore off quickly afterwards so my physical recovery was honestly really easy. I had a really good experience once active labour started.

I had an induction 2 weeks ago after a failed pessary. Got a phone call at 3am asking if I’d like to come in and start. Turned up to labour ward had a chat with the midwife who went over my preferences had my waters broken by the dr with has and air. Unfortunately their wireless ctg monitors weren’t working so was attached to a monitor and drip but was still able to move around the room. We had low lights music and a ball was able to nap for the first couple of hours and between contractions. 10hrs later they did have to dial down the rate as was having 4 contractions in 10mins which was intense but managed with gas and air, an hour later drip was restarted and an hour after baby girl delivered with no other interventions. Was walking about and showered within 4hrs was a very positive experience.

I was induced with my 2nd and 3rd. Peasant didn’t do much but the doctor was able to break my waters and labour started very quickly.

Both babies were born less than two hours later so it was intense but quick. I used gas & air both times, roamed around the room, used a birthing ball and got onto all fours for the pushing stage.

I had minor superficial tears with both and was showered and back in a clean bed breastfeeding my newborns shortly after.

Both were really positive experiences and I felt more in control than with my first baby, which was a spontaneous labour and went on for over 14 hours.

With my inductions, I was able to set up the room (fairy lights, pulled the curtains, play list, took in my own pillow!)

So I was induced and straight to the drip due to already dilating.

It was about 7ish hours long from start of the drip to birth.

Nowhere near as painful as I expected, I managed to just breathe with my eyes closed for a good 5 hours and had gas and air for the last bit.

Thats the positive bit so I'll leave it there.

You'll be absolutely fine, just follow your body and whatever you feel you need in terms of pain relief

I was induced due to waters breaking and not getting into active labour within the 24hr window they allow.
On the drip at around 1 or 2pm and she was born at 18:30
No issues at all.
Tens machine helped as the contractions got strong pretty fast.
I seem to think i was around 4cm dilated when induced.
Not all inductions are horror stories 😊

Dd2 was induces at 38+4. It was honestly fine. They checked me when I arrived and were able to break my waters straight away. Uncomfortable but not unbearable.

They then gave me 30 minutes to see if anything happened. It didn't so I was put on a drip. Contractions were intense but no more so than my spontaneous labour with dd1. I managed with gas and air.

After just over 7 hours (though it really didnt feel that long) I was getting tired and asked how long the midwife thought it would be. She said at least 2 hours so I asked for pethidine.

She went to fetch it but whilst she was out the room my body just started pushing. Unlike with dd1 where I pushed for hours, I felt I had no control over pushing. Dh pressed the button to get the midwife back and she arrived, dd born a few minutes later.

In total it took about 7 and a half hours from arriving at the hospital. We left for home 6 hours later

Induced at 38+6 as my waters broke but labour didn’t start after 24hrs. Had the pessary at 12pm, baby born just after half 5 that evening with no other intervention needed.

I was induced for DC3 after a spontaneous labour for DC1 and elcs for breech DC2. The induction was the most positive by far, despite DC3 being 3lbs bigger than DC1. It took away the big stress of deciding when in labour to go into hospital, and the discomfort of traveling while having contractions. I was also much more relaxed because I had a lovely midwife with me the whole time (midwife just popped in every now and then for most of spontaneous labour).
Good luck!

Thanks for this @PregnantQuestions

Ive just started my own thread asking for induction stories at 38 weeks. I was induced in previous pregnancy just after 39 weeks and although fast 6/7 hours after the pessary I gave birth and felt a little dismissed by the MW, overall it was positive and would take that any day over a 24hour + natural labour. I’m hoping for the same again this time now they’ve said induction at 38 but not sure how it’ll compare!

Both my inductions have been super straightforward - probably the most positive birth stories from amongst my friends. I did have an epidural both times thought which definitely helped!

I was induced with my first, the only negative was the covid visiting restrictions!

It was exactly 48 hours from the first pessary going in to my baby being born vaginally. I had 2 pessaries, waters broken then the drip. Just make sure you have good pain relief on board before they set up the drip - I chose not to have an epidural and spoke to the anaesthetists about options instead so I could be upright which I am sure helped things a long. Couldn’t fault it really it was calm and fine! Yes it was painful but wasn’t expecting it not to be!

Go in with an open mind, be clear about any preferences and ensure your partner knows them too to advocate for you. I know there are so many horror induction stories but I think people just don’t share the good ones!

I was induced at 38+1. First time mum so was told the pessary would likely not work (I also showed no signs on being ready for labour prior to the pessary) but we could try once. If that failed, we could try a different pessary 3 times and then they'll break my waters and give me a drip (can't remember which way round)

So, I packed for like a 5 day stay including after birth (I'm high risk so couldn't leave the hospital after inductions.

I had the first pessary at 12.30. By 2pm I had mild cramping but didn't think anything of it. Went for a walk with my partner to help 4pm I phoned my mum and told her I think I'm having mild contractions but nothing major going on and I'd update her. The minute I hung up my waters broke. And I was in agony with the contractions. I went 0-100 in 2 hours. I was rushed straight down to the labour ward by 5.30 and given the epidural.

By 9.40pm I'm being told I have an hour to let gravity work and then I need to start pushing. At 11.40 my DD was born 🥰

I have 3 lovely children- all induced. All labours fine (as fine as can be!) I liked not having to worry about getting to the hospital, not knowing when I was in labour etc

I was included at 38 weeks after my waters broke. I'd already decided I wanted an epidural so just as they were putting up the drip for induction the arrived to do the epidural. DD was back to back so still a bit of pain but it wasn't horrible. They started my drip at 2am and I had her at 10am xx

Induced not included 😂

Induced at 41 weeks. Pretty straightforward with minimal pain relief and a strapping 23 year old as a result.

I was induced at 38+1 and he wasn't born until 38+6. I won't go into the details, I don't think any labour is pleasant and everyone's is different but all I can say is my little boy arrived here safely in the end, and it was all worth it!
Some women have it easier than others, but just know that if you have your baby safely in your arms after, then that's a positive induction labour story. And I will go as far to say that despite my labour being traumatic, it was a positive story. After 4 previous miscarriages, he was a blessing that arrived to me safely and every single minute of that time was worth it..
Good luck with your labour🤞🏻

Thank you so much everyone! I feel a lot more confident about being induced. I'll remember to ask for an epidural if I have to have the drip! I'm not sure if the hospital will give me the gel or pessary.

Pessary then home to rest. Then following morning in early hours contractions began quickly. Rushed to hospital and baby born in less than 2 hours. 39.5 weeks. I was terrified it would be drawn out but super speedy .....no time for pain relief though. Good luck

I was induced and had an epidural, can't say it was a positive or negative it just what it was. epidural was amazing though

I love these positive induction stories, i was induced and it was planned from around 30 weeks because of gestational diabetes and as soon as people knew i got nothing but horror stories!

I was checked internally at 37+5 to see if my body would respond well to induction; baby had slowed in growth so plan was induction at 39 weeks or c-section if my body wasn’t showing positive signs.
I was 2cm dilated and my waters were bulging, sweep done there and then and sent home!
Baby was estimated to be over 8lbs at this point.

I was in for reduced movements the following night so induction brought forward to 38+1, I was called into hospital Saturday evening and my waters were broken at 11pm, i was put on the drip and asked for an epidural which i was given- it didn’t work for me unfortunately and only numbed one leg so i felt everything but couldn’t move!
i was surprised that the contractions with the drip weren’t as horrific as id heard, i managed breathing through them with no additional pain relief (my stubborn mind, i kept saying that id just do one more contraction without any relief 😂)

Pain moved into my bum around 5am so was checked and had dilated to 10cm in 6 hours!
I started pushing at 6am after the ‘resting hour’ but at 7am baby was still coming down with a contraction and going back up slightly afterwards!
Her heart rate started to drop and she showed signs of distress so we needed forceps, two pushes with forceps and baby was born healthy but tiny weighing 5lbs!

Even though i really didn’t want forceps it didn’t take from the brilliant labour and induction, i just needed a bit of help towards the end 🙂
My recovery was brilliant also, painful for the first couple of weeks but i was in my newborn bubble so managed well and now 9 weeks PP im fully healed and back to normal.

Wishing you a really positive time and healthy birth x

oh im a first time mum too 😅

I was induced at 39 weeks. Was judged to have a very unfavourable cervix on admission. Pessary was put in Friday lunchtime. I felt nothing all day, went to bed and woke around 4 am to mild back pain and to find my waters leaking. Had a ramping up of contractions and she was out by 7 with just gas and air.

@essynemo wow predicted over 8lbs at 38 weeks but the baby was only 5lbs?! Did you have multiple growth scans or did the midwives just guess based on your bump size? I've had 3 growth scans and I'm wondering if they are accurate. I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow. I'm so glad that lots of women in this thread had successful inductions!

I was induced for DTs. Waters broken at 1pm, delivered four hours later. Went home straight from delivery. I was 38 weeks and was already 4-5 cm dilated when I came in so didn't need any pessaries etc, and never needed the drip either which helped. Lots of walking and eating dates in the run up 🤣