Induction VS Natural Labour

[ThirdTimeLucky27]

Currently on the maternity ward with preeclampsia and a poor lady across from me has been induced today. She sounds in absolute agony and is constantly being sick, doesn't seem like she's hardly getting a break between her contractions.

Basically being completely selfish here but I've had 2 natural labours and looks like this time I will be induced due to the preeclampsia. I'm now terrified it's going to be so much worse than my natural labours 😞

Has anyone experienced both?

Yes me. Natural first (gas and air and pethidine), induced second (gas and air and epidural). I actually coped with the induced labour contractions better. With my first I fought them, went a bit like a wild ape woman, in and out of baths, running around my house…wild.

With my second, my water broke with meconium in, so they quickly wanted to induce and I also knew more what to expect, I felt more in charge of myself and the situation, which helped me to stay calm and breathe. I knew it would be more intense sensation wise, so I planned for the epidural when I could sense things were getting too challenging. They forgot to tell me you could top it up though so…keep that in mind 🤣

Thank you for your reply! That's good to hear, I've coped well with both my previous labours.. No pain relief with the first and had a couple of puffs of gas and air with the second before he arrived..

I'm quite happy to have an epidural if I need it, just super anxious this time. I think the worry of preeclampsia and being in hospital is all getting too much and hearing this poor lady I just want to do a runner 🙄

I didn't find my induction terrible by any means, but it was very intense. Baby number one was a natural labour and it was about 12hrs total, ten of those quite chilled. The second labour where I was induced was about three hours, all of them hardcore. As soon as the drip kicked in, boom, it was business time. The upside was that I hardly had to push, she shot out like a rocket.

I know what you mean. Thinking back to it now, when I was in triage and other people labouring and all that comes with that around me, I hated it too and felt really anxious and kinda stressed about what was to come! I think it’s natural.

But then once I was in a room, I felt way better. I’d kind of “accepted” what was about to go down, and kept thinking “I will have my baby by the morning”, this will all be over and that boy will be amazing, can’t wait for that newborn smell and snuggles…that really helped as well.

I've had both and they were basically the same. The induction was my second birth, I was 37 weeks, and I wasn't dilated at all when they started but I had the internal gel which started contractions immediately and then it was just like my first birth. It was quicker, but wasn't less manageable and I didn't find the contractions any more intense.

My induction was a dream come true. All I needed was the gel. Had a lovely serene walk around the hospital garden while it kicked in then back to my dimly lit room with my music. Only needed a bit of g and a towards the end. Pushed for 20 mins then there she was! 8 hour labour in total, I'd do it again tomorrow if I could.

My first was induced due to preeclampsia. It was fairly straight forward. 17 hours with 4 hours in established labour.

My second natural labour took 5 days and issues with heart rate that nearly ended in a C-section but we got him out. Established labour over 8 hours.

Lovely to hear some positive stories. I know it will all be worth it, don't know why I'm so anxious this time.

First labour was natural and lasted a few days. Second labour I was induced. They were able to quite easily break my waters and my contractions started within about an hour and I could have let it progress naturally from there but I decided to let them put me on the oxytocin drip because I knew it might be over quicker that way lol! The contractions were very intense once I'd been on the drip for a while, and very close together, but still manageable for me with the gas and air and some pethadine right near the end when finally it did feel extremely intense. They can turn the drip up or down though as needed.

Thank you. My second birth was very intense, it was less than 2 hours from the first pain to him being born. I'm not sure if it would be a similar feeling, just seemed to go from 0-100 instantly, it made me sick and was a bit of a shock to the system but to be honest I was glad it was all over and done with quickly!

As I said above my induction was fine. But I was terrified!

I think you can read some horror stories about induction, combined with just a general sense of the unknown, and it can get very scary!

Based on what I'd read, I went in with some clear boundaries for what I wanted.
I have a pretty severe phobia of vomiting so I asked for antisickness medication to be given before any induction drugs were given, which wasn't an issue and I was given those no problem.
I decided that I would outright refuse consent for the drip without having an epidural in first. I wouldn't accept it being promised, or being told "wait and see how it goes and we'll get one if you need it". I wanted it physically already administered. As it turned out I didn't need the drip, but having some parts clear in my mind helped. For various reasons both my births were completely without any pain relief, but I was absolutely not willing to have the drip without an epidural!

Yes that's something I'm definitely going to ask for, I will have the epidural before the drip if it's needed.. I have no want to experience the pain of labour 😂 been there done that!

Oh, if you get the epidural you'll be fine! I've never had a natural labour, just straight-to-drip inductions. The first one was awful, they ramped it up straight away and I thought I was going to die. The second one was much more gradual and I didn't even ask for an epidural. If you get the epidural though, who cares what they do?! You'll be blissfully numb! You might even manage a little snooze!