Tell me about your induction experiences

[EmmaOvary]

I’ve been given a choice between C-section and induction. Having had an EMCS with my first and been horrified by the recovery, I’m tempted to go with induction, but the more I read, the less it sounds like a good experience - increased pain, not being able to move about due to monitoring, etc. What were your induction experiences?

Induction can be a really long process. It took me 5 days from starting to going into labour. Once on the drip I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything other than water and couldn't freely walk around. The contractions were intense as there was no gap in between. I'd honestly pick a C section but that's based on my personal experience. Everyone has different ones.

My induction was ok but I had a pessary only not a drip to get into labour. If you can avoid drip should be option to move around.

I don't know the reason you are being offered induction or C-section but personally I would wait for spontaneous labour as long as possible.

I was induced at 37 weeks with DD2, because my waters broke at 34 weeks. For me it was fine, I had the gel which kicked things off pretty much immediately - after about 9 hours of pretty mild contractions they broke my water (when my waters broke at 34 weeks it was just a small amount, they thought it was from behind the baby, there was still waters in front of her). She was born 2 hours after that.

It didn't hurt more than with DD1, and I had monitoring straps on but they were wireless so I could walk around and move as much as I liked. I had a cannula for IV antibiotics (because of the waters breaking early) but that was a pretty long wire. I never felt restricted in my movement.

But I know it can take a really long time, (although slightly less for second births I think?) and if you need the drip it can be really painful. I was so relieved when the gel started my contractions immediately as if I'd hadn't worked I'd have gone straight to the drip - when your waters have already broken they won't let it take days, it's gel, and then the drip a few hours later if needed. I was terrified of that and had decided they weren't coming near me with it without administering an epidural first.

Overall it was fine. Not what I'd planned obviously. But no worse than DD1's birth.

I was induced and it wasn't awful at all. I had the pessary and gave birth in the pool about 9 hours later. Gas and air for pain.

I was induced with both DS, at 39 weeks.
I have to say, despite people trying to tell me how awful it was going to be I had a smooth time with both. First, pessary went in and waters ready to be broken 24hrs later, contractions started and baby born 4 hours later - gas and air.
Second, pessary removed after 4 hours as I was 5cm, baby born two hours later again gas and air.
I obviously can't comment on it being more painful than not induction. I didn't need the hormonal drip.
Suppose helpful to hear two positive experiences of induction 😊

My induction was great. 8 hours from start to finish. Only the gel needed so no drip or anything like that. At the start I got to walk around the hospital garden which felt very relaxing and natural. When things ramped up I was on the bed but in good positions and active so not lying flat. Pushed for 20 mins with a bit of gas and air then there she was! Over 9 pounds. Got delayed cord clamping and it was magical. I realise I'm lucky though. Only downsides were I couldn't be in the pool like I was with ds and I had to have a cannula in my hand but honestly no big deal and I realise I was fortunate.

Hi @EmmaOvary i had a balloon induction as i was overdue. When they insterted it, it was not as bad as i thought it would be, i didn't need any pain relief at all, it was actually an easy process.
The contractions started and continued for 24 hours, i dialated about 4cm. The nurse had to break my waters but my DD didn't want to leave my tummy, after 18 hours we'd had enough, i got a temperature and so decided to have the emergency c section.
I would have an induction again.
All the best with the birth xx

I had a very smooth experience with my induction.

They broke my waters, labour started within a couple of hours so didn’t need gel/pessary or the drip . did it all on gas and air.

from waters breaking to birth it was 5 hours.

you will hear a lot of horror stories of inductions on forums etc but that’s because generally someone who had a good/fine experience won’t be online posting about it as much.

good luck with whatever way you choose to deliver your baby ☺️

I was induced 48 hours after my waters broke spontaneously. Was encouraged to have an epidural (including by all the screaming from next door). Was wonderful for the first few hours, was walking around and napping while contractions were happening. Got a bit over confident and stopped pressing the top up button so the epidural failed and gave birth with gas and air in a very very intense 30minutes afterwards.

My first birth was an ideal(ish) natural waterbirth so second was a bit of a shock. I won't say it was more painful, but definitely the contractions are more intense and closer much faster so it felt more overwhelming. I disassociated completely for the last 20minutes or so it was so intense.

Had four inductions.
Ist Trial of labour (small pelvis) syntocin drip after PROM at 37 weeks, epidural, 12 hours in total, unassisted delivery small tear
2nd baby ELCS due to breech
2nd VBAC, prostin gel (half dose) as term plus 9, Epidural sited first as consultant wary of VBAC, waters broken, syntocin drip, back to back baby, 9 hours in total unassisted delivery. Favourite birth didn't feel a thing. small graze
3rd VBAC syntocin drip after PROM, epidural 8 hours total unassisted delivery
4th VBAC Syntocin drip after PROM, gas and air, 6 hours total unassisted delivery
Hated the ELCS, hated the long recovery so was delighted after the VBAC as was back to normal within days.

I've had two inductions. First was in 2021 and I was 40+13w. Had the pessary put in a 1.40pm, had a bit of backache all day. My waters suddenly went at 10.30pm with immediate contractions 1 minute apart. My DS was born 1hr 27mins later. I've just had my second induction 10 days ago. I had the pessary put in at 4.00pm, contractions started at 6.30pm. Waters broke at 9.45pm and up until that point everything was fine. I was examined at 12.30am for the midwife to say she didn't think the head felt right and called a doctor in. I was scanned and baby had turned transverse, with no waters left to try and turn and concern the cord could collapse at any moment. I was immediately rushed to theatre and had an emergency c-section. Quite honestly one of the worst things I've ever gone through.

I was induced 2 weeks ago via the drip and could still be active and move around when I wanted to even with the monitors on, the only thing I couldn’t do was use the pool. I did a lot of dancing and walking about in the first few hours.

it did get more painful more quickly but it was also much quicker than it would have been so less drawn out - I used gas and air and aromatherapy but I know you can also plan to have epidural as part of the process which some friends have done.

all the best!

My first one was one of the long drawn out, drip and epidural (you can ask for the epidural to go in before the drip btw), forceps and episiotomy type of thing, was in for a week all told. Took a good couple of weeks to get over it physically.

Was dreading needing it for my second but it was totally different, I wasn't even in hospital for 24 hours, only had paracetamol and G&A, a couple of stitches on a graze but that was it. Active labour about 6 hours I think but it went by in a blur and my partner nearly didn't make it back in time (he'd left me on antenatal ward overnight with nothing happening, expecting the same as first baby) I popped to the supermarket the day after!

So although I didn't enjoy it either time the experience with my second was FAR better in most respects, so you may find the same. I think it also depends why they want to induce and at what gestation. First baby was only 40 weeks and was due to being small, second was at 41 weeks and that was hospital policy for my age & demographic etc.

Hi OP

I have to say i’m incredibly surprised you’ve been offered an induction after you’ve previously had a section. Usually, it is deemed too risky to have an induction after a previous section as it increases your risk of uterine rupture. Has your consultant been through these risks with you?

I was induced with my first pregnany with the balloon. It was fine at first, but then ran into issues as the hospital didn’t have enough staff to break my waters after removing the balloon and I was sent home again. I only ever made it to 3cm after 2 days and ended up with EMCS.

I am pregnant again and have never been offered induction again. Either elcs or vbac. I have opted for elcs.

@MariaVT65 it is due to my age (42). They did explain the risks of rupture but it did seem to be pretty minimal.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, a huge variety here but it’s reassuring to see that they’re not just awful, full stop. I am keen to avoid the long recovery and agony of a C-section again although of course there are no guarantees of anything.

I've had two inductions. Both with the drip. I had a vaginal birth with my first, and and an emergency C-section (stuck baby) with my second. If I ever had a third, I would attempt an induction (should I need one) before choosing an elective.

Yes, you need continuous monitoring with the drip, but wireless monitoring is becoming increasingly common. So other than having to pull around a drip stand, movement is still entirely possible. It's what I did with my second (my first I did NOT want to move). I paced the room as much as I wanted to, until I didn't. Then moved positions until I couldn't bear to move any more.

@MariaVT65 It's my understanding that with VBACs they don't like to use hormones in inductions. Mechanical methods are usually ok (i.e. Cook balloon, dilapan rods). It's then down to the obstetrician and patient if hormonal methods are then worth the additional risk if labour hasn't started.

Good to know, thanks. Might just be less common as I’m aware the balloon is still a relatively new thing to the UK and is not offered in all trusts.

I was induced 48 hours after my waters broke, as I was being checked in about 3 different midwives asked me what pain relief I was going to have - they kept saying induced births were more intense, so I opted for epidural. I snoozed, moved around and had a relatively pain free birth. I was on a drip which was a bit of a pain, but I'd opt for epidural and induction again.

I was induced 5 days after my due date as they said he was getting big! 1st pessary at midday, 2nd at 8pm, my waters broke at midnight. Baby delivered at 6am, home that evening. No medication other than gas and air.
This was 21 years ago.

My first baby but I was induced due to reduced movement at 38+2, my waters were broken at 10pm, measured 2cm dilated.
I asked for the epidural because i knew the drip was due to start, got given the epidural and it didn’t work for me, we tried tilting to one side and all the tricks but nothing took affect! Drip started shortly after and by 5am i was fully dilated, pushed from 6am and baby was born with the help of forceps at 7am.

I didn’t have any pain relief, just breathed through each contraction (surprised myself!).
I think my induction was positive, baby was born with forceps because i couldn’t get enough push to get her out, she was born weighing 5lbs and the doctor joked she had no weight to her to push herself further down 😂
Although i did one push with forceps and she was born.

Recovery was simple, discharged the next day and i thankfully recovered well from the stitches!
I was terrified to be induced because of all the stories but it shocked me how positive of an experience i had, i think for me if i had to be induced again i wouldn’t get the epidural because even though it didn’t help me, the midwives wouldn’t let me get up and move around just in case..
From waters breaking to baby in arms my labour was around 9 hours.

I also know of positive induction stories-
My brothers girlfriend was induced with pessary four weeks before me; she had two pessaries before the hospital broke her waters and started the drip. Her epidural worked and she had a really successful delivery, she didn’t need any interventions and only had a tiny tear which didn’t require stitching.
Her labour from start to finish was 16 hours.

I know all inductions are different but so many scary stories are out there as most people don’t post the positives 🙂
Good luck!!

I had a very positive induction. Two pressaries over the afternoon/evening, then had contractions that weren’t painful, turned out I was 5 cm dilated. Few hours later DS was born, very quick. It was on my due date so I think it was already brewing anyway.

I loved mine!

I wad terrified going in and he shot out before I was able to have pethidine, but that aside it was great!
The midwives who delivered him had been on OBEM so I felt like I was having my babies delivered by celebrities 😂

I had a gorgeous induction. They booked me and wanted to insert the balloon but I told them I didn’t want it as induction was booked for directly 41 weeks and my first had been over; wanted to give myself chance to see if I’d go.
They gave me a sweep instead and she told me I was already starting to dilate enough that I wouldn’t need a balloon induction. I did agree to have one however if I didn’t start myself by a set date. Lost lots of lovely bloody mucous between sweep and going back.

Stubborn DD decided she wasn’t coming 😂 so ended up back in on the booked date and had waters broken just past 9am. Was the worst part of the day as they struggled to do it with how low DD’s head was.
Spent the rest of the morning completely pain free, bouncing on the ball and pacing the room, eventually enough that I lost my secondary waters which started things properly.

I’d told them I didn’t want the drip; I don’t know if it was because she was my second, they told me that was fine and it was my choice. Started with low level period cramps which didn’t really hurt into the afternoon and ended up stuck on the bed hooked up as DD’s heart rate was dropping after every contraction (turned out when she was born, she had the cord wrapped and told I had a very long cord (!) but she was perfectly fine thank goodness). I was left alone mainly as they could monitor me remotely from their station.

Out of nowhere the pains quickly started to become proper labour pains but nothing breathing couldn’t get me through and very, very quickly after maybe 2/3 cycles of these contractions, I needed to push. She was born just after 5pm, no pain relief, 6 minutes of pushing and with just a second degree tear.

First labour which was spontaneous, I did with no pain relief too but spent the whole 11 hours feeling the pains whereas this was minimal and over so quickly so was my preferred one!

I had an induction. The balloon didn't do anything.

I had ARM to break my waters and it was excruciatingly painful. You probably won't be warned about this, so be prepared. I spoke to 4 other women who were induced and 3 said ARM was very painful. I was told I needed an epidural so I had one.

ARM did nothing.

My labour stalled at 6cm or 8cm (I don't remember exactly) so I was told to have a c-section.

2.5 days start to finish.