Induction stories please??

[ThirdTimeLucky27]

I have just seen my consultant this morning who has recommend a sweep at 38 weeks followed by an induction at 39 weeks, due to a few ongoing issues.

The consultant has said as I’ve laboured well twice previously an induction should be straight forward for me.

I am very interested to hear others experiences? Anything I should know or be prepared for?

Thanks in advance for any replies x

I had a sweep at 38 weeks (all it did was give me terrible back pain) then induced at 39 weeks, which led to an emcs at 39+2. However, this was my first and had no medical reasons for it (scare mongered having a big baby - she was 8lb 5oz) so your experience could be entirely different! 25+2 with my 2nd and seriously considering an elcs as i will not be induced again

Hi @PeeBeee was your induction booked solely on the fact your baby was measuring big or were there other reasons too?

X

Two previous inductions, both were fine. Had the pessary in about 10am both times and had delivered within 24 hours. Epidural with first, not with second. Just been booked in for induction number 3!

Thank you. Sorry you had a rubbish experience. My consultant isn’t keen on me having a elective section as I’ve had 2 normal births and she explained afterwards would be a lot more difficult but if I needed one I would be happy with that

That sounds positive 😊 Thank you!

@user2466 that was the only reason and as an anxious ftm i went along with it. doing alot of research this time and soo annoyed I didn’t do it first time round! X

I was induced at 39 weeks. I had the pessary in on Friday afternoon. Thought nothing was happening, awoke at 5 am to mild back pain and she was out by 7. No issues.

Thank you. Sounds like a good experience, glad all went well for you 😊

I had one at almost two weeks overdue after multiple sweeps. Technically it all went well, I had a pessary at about 2pm and dd was born 9am. During the induction I ended up with that drip thing which I found horrendously painful and then an assisted ventouse birth and episiotomy. Healing was fine for us both (dd had a stonking bump on her noggin!).

In hindsight I wish I’d looked more carefully into it. I can’t remember the exact figures but for my age group (then mid 30’s), first birth, the chances of me delivering naturally without requiring intervention were really low. I think I would have pushed harder CS. That said I had no idea what birth would be like for me at all so might’ve attempted it but afterwards it seemed that even with recovery taken into consideration, an induced vaginal birth was a longer ‘trauma’ than a CS might’ve been.

I had an induction with baby 2 after a spontaneous delivery with baby 1. Was induced at 40+1. Induction was solely because I was 41. Pessary in at 3 and baby born less than 12 hours later. It was a much easier delivery than my first

I was induced for 2nd baby at 42 weeks, it took 48 hours, 2 pessaries and I had the drip. Ended up in theatre as a forceps birth (she also had a massive lump on her head like pp). I would have had planned C-section if I I'd have know how it would go, but I didn't know she was going to refuse to come out. Had planned a home birth up to then. Good luck, hopefully it will go smoothly. Every birth is different really.

I had an induction at 41 weeks for DC3 after fairly straightforward vaginal birth for DC1 and a really bad elcs experience for breech DC2. It all went very smoothly despite DC3 being almost 10lb. By far the most positive birth of my 3.

That's great to hear 😊

Sorry to here your experience wasn't the best. As you say you never really know every labour is so different!

Sorry but for me it was the worse thing in the world. For some obscure reason, they are pushing inductions over the past few years.

I had a sweep at 38 weeks, within 16 hours I had contractions. I then got checked, only 1cm so sent home for a few hours. Went back, they 'stretched' to 2cm.

Nothing progressed so I was on a hormone drip and epidural for 16 hours. Hated the fact I couldn't walk around. After 34 hours (from first contractions), I was told I needed an emergency c section.

I wish I had let nature take it's cause. They scare you but they never back it up with the statistics.

Went great for me at 39+6 (first baby). 2 rounds of the gel and he was on his way without any further intervention!

I was quite anxious having only really heard negative experiences.

In your shoes with previous deliveries, it's definitely worth a go.

I really wanted to avoid induction but ended up with the drip induction, I struggled initially as contractions came with no build up and close together, but ultimately baby was born after a 20 min pushing stage no interventions and smooth recovery so I still class it as positive. I also wanted to move around and found that difficult between the drip in one hand, antibiotics in the other and the stomach monitoring at all times

1st labour, spontaneous, straight forward and fairly quick at 5hours from start to finish. Second baby, induced at 39.weeks, had two sweeps and was only 1-2 cm. I was induced with the pessary which bought on contractions, they were regular and then back to back for 12 hours, they took the pessary out thinking that my body would just carry on, but all came to a halt. I then spent a further four days waiting for a bed on labour ward to have my waters broken. Got whipped around there in the end because of issues with her heart rate, think I'd have been waiting longer otherwise, although would have preferred not to have that worry.

Anyway, waters were broken, was still only 2cm, put on the syntocin drip, definitely didn't feel as in control with the contractions this time as they were far more intense. Asked for an epidural at 3cm, but five mins after asking I dilated to 10cm and was pushing, it was stressful, heart rate was an issue throughout, but five hours from waters being broken to DD being born.

So, not positive for many reasons, but I did avoid instrumental delivery. Other women that came in to be induced with their second or third babies progressed very quickly with the pessary and were whisked off to labour ward the same day, mine was just very comfy apparently :)

I was advised to go for induction in week 39, really didn't want to as induction with DC1 was horrible (no time for epidural/forceps delivery). The induction process itself took a few days, presumably because my cervix/baby weren't really ready yet, but once they were able to break my waters I went on the drip and she was out a few hours later with only a few pushes. She came very quickly, I was 6cm at first check and then 20 minutes later she was out. Very positive experience, nowhere near as bad as I expected. Midwives said induction of labour with second or subsequent babies often goes well particularly if you've delivered vaginally before. I hope everything goes well for you!

Waters broken at 9am which was awful as had to have 2 of them giving it a go as the first couldn’t do it past my baby’s already really low head 🙈.

Had a lovely but boring day of no pain as nothing really happened until right before she was born, just mild cramping. They did keep mentioning the drip to me but listened when I said I didn’t want it (and I think they were more keen to listen to me as I’d had a spontaneous labour with our first). Had maybe 3 rounds of contractions of ‘nippiness’ and baby was born within 6 minutes of pushing just after 5pm. No pain relief or other interventions 😊. Would absolutely do it again.

Honestly, I hated my induction. Would absolutely love to go naturally this time around but I'm currently 4 days overdue and it's feeling less and less likely every day.

I was induced for my third (suspected very big baby) and knowing what I know now, I'm not sure I would choose an induction again as it was totally unnecessary.

I was however 3cm dilated when I went in at 40+ 3 weeks (after 3 x sweeps) and they were able to break my waters. After hours of walking around the park outside the hospital, my baby was born 80 minutes after contractions began, and it was the most amazing birth. So, my induction felt like a natural birth, and breastfeeding etc. was straightforward so he must have been nearly cooked.

@ThirdTimeLucky27 at what gestation did your previous two arrive? I think I'd go for the sweeps and see how dilated you are. If not at all, an induction could take days when you might have gone into labour naturally.

Similarly, my total labour time from the start of the contractions till I gave birth was 33 long excruciating hours. I vomitted loads, couldn't sleep one whole night, contractions started but didn't intensify, was put on morphine as it got unbearable, had to be induced with a drip, given epidural, went numb, drowsy, high on painkillers and eventually gave birth. It was a long ordeal and was unfortunately kept under observation for 2-3 days due to suspected infection as 24 hours had transpired since my waters broke. I had unfortunately opted for a sweep too.

I'd let nature take it's course, I'm either going for a natural birth or a planned c section next. I can't deal with induction and sweeps ever again, it's the worst.

My other babies arrived at 39+6 and 40+4.. I have a few reasons for the induction the main one for me personally is my last birth was 1 hour 54 minutes for the first pain to him arriving. We didn't make it to the hospital and I lost a lot of blood. I just personally feel my anxiety levels are getting out of hand and being in the hospital when it all starts will help with this.

I also have high blood pressure and unexplained tachycardia in this pregnancy. Along with severe SPD which is becoming more and more unbearable.

Got induced at 38 weeks. Had pessary at 10, nothing happened, had second at 6. Went into labour at 9.30. Was full on labour, son was born at 12.07. So was quick for an induction.
Daughter, waters broke at 11.10.I was 37 weeks. Went straight to the hospital. Got there at 11.30. Went into full labour, no mild pains to start with. Had the urge to push and she was born 12.10. So super quick. She came out purple as it was so fast. She was fine.