Induction at 41 weeks - Can you share your positive stories?

[ct90]

I am an FTM, currently 39+1. My mind is set on wanting a 41 week induction if baby doesn’t come earlier, for various reasons. First, I think that if I choose an induction and go into it with a positive mindset, it is more likely to be a positive experience than if I feel pressured into it either by doctors or time passing without nothing happening. Many people I know were adamant they didn’t want one and ended up getting one at 42 weeks anyway. Second, I feel that the risks even though super small are not worth it. Third, I have OCD and PGP and I really struggle mentally and physically at the moment. Everyone however, keeps telling me inductions are so awful and baby comes when they’re ready and so on.

So, I wanted to hear from those of you who can share a positive induction story, even though I’m currently quite firm in my decision, people’s unsolicited advice still gets to your head!

You shouldn’t have an induction unless there is a medical reason

Thanks @MumApril1990 but first of all, this is not true, and second I didn’t ask for more unsolicited advice, I asked for positive induction stories 😅

I was induced at 37+5 after my waters broke with no warning and contractions didn't start on their own. I could've waited a bit longer to see what happened, but I wanted to make the most of a good night's sleep (and I've never been a patient person, in any case!).

They administered a pessary and warned that as a FTM it probably wouldn't be enough and I would likely need a drip. They were wrong - my contractions started within a couple of hours and were soon coming thick and fast! It was painful but manageable with gas and air until I finally had an epidural out of choice.

Baby almost made it out with just me pushing but got stuck at the final point. I had an assisted delivery with forceps and an episiotomy (which I was dreading), and actually healed really quickly. All in all, I'd say a positive birth experience where I was given options and my decisions were respected.

Best of luck - you'll be meeting your baby soon ☺️

@muddlingthrou Thank you so much for sharing your experience! Obviously I hope baby comes on her own but I want to approach the induction option with an open and positive mindset 🥰

Most babies are born at 41 weeks (without intervention) so it’s likely your baby will come after that naturally, the NHS calculated due dates a bit earlier than other countries so people’s expectations can be a bit off x

@MumApril1990 Of course baby will come at some point haha, I’m not doubting that. What you’re saying though is just not true, I’m from Italy and due dates are calculated in the exact same way, and so are in many other countries. I’m not against medical interventions so I don’t understand why you want to convince a stranger that your opinion is more correct? 😅

I have shared this before but here was my positive induction story at 39+6 (in my case, I was induced due to GD).

Prior to induction, my cervix was low and soft ("favourable") but closed. After one round of prostaglandin gel, it had opened slightly and after the second round I went into full blown labour. There had been a plan to break my waters and put me on the drip if needed, but none of that happened, I went the rest of the way quite quickly. I had an epidural at 9cm and delivery was lovely and quick, my son was born in 7 pushes. The whole process took about 24 hours (including the 7 or so after the first gel where nothing was really happening and I just watched Netflix on my ipad with my husband and chatted to some other ladies. Labour was intense and overwheming but I feel overall giving birth was such a positive experience. I had heard so many scary stories and was terrified of a "failed" induction, but there are great outcomes too.

My TENS machine was a lifesaver before the epidural. Gas and air didn’t help me, but I know it’s great for others.

I had a minor PPH after passing the placenta but it stopped itself and I felt calm the whole time, was cuddling my baby and on cloud 9. I did have a second degree tear but it healed quickly and easily, no long term issues. I expected to be in agony when the epidural wore off but that never happened, just discomfort if I sat “wrong”.

Also you are right about the positive mindset, hynobirthing was very helpful with this.

Based on my experience with inductions, will certainly not do it again unless an absolute medical necessity.

Good luck either way.

Thanks so much @LolaJ87 , I’m sorry you had GD but it sounds like you had a really positive experience. I agree with the hypnobirthing support, I’ve been practicing it a lot!

@Outliers again, I didn’t ask for people’s opinion, I specifically asked for positive experiences. I really don’t understand why it’s so hard to refrain from giving unsolicited advice to a pregnant stranger 😂

@ct90 especially to a stranger who has said they are struggling mentally and physically. I will never understand it.

Being pregnant is so exhausting. Sorry you're having a hard time of it! I found newborn life a much nicer kind of exhausted, if that helps.

In the meantime I presume you're trying all the old wives tales? Dates, sex, curry, raspberry leaf tea? Harvesting colostrum is apparently the most proven scientifically, but while it was useful to have a stash it didn't trigger labour for me!

Wishing you a safe and positive birthing experience!

I went into hospital for induction with my first baby. Had a pessary. Labour was slow pottered about all day, had a bath etc. Husband sent home at 10.00pm . Well as soon as he left things got going. Midwife hooked my waters and sent me up to labour ward. Had baby at 4.06am . I was 10 days overdue at that point.

Second baby I begged to be induced on due date. It didn’t work. Because at this point I was very disabled with symphysis publis dysfunction I had to be kept in. Again baby arrived 10 days later when I could stand it no longer. Midwife broke my waters in the morning and I delivered at 10.56pm

so the positives despite intervention I still felt in control. I heard stories about labour being fast and strong. That did not happen for me.

Good luck with the birth OP

@LolaJ87 Exactly! Luckily I trust the scientific literature more than annoying strangers but I still don’t get it - Why would they want to share negative opinions when no one asked for them? 😅

yes, trying all the methods and honestly I’m not worried yet as I’m still “only” 39+1. But 100% yes, pregnancy - especially late pregnancy- can be draining and I just really want to meet this baby!!

@fortifiedwithtea thanks so much for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it! I love the feeling in control part!!

I had GD and was insulting controlled towards the end and my trust wouldn’t let me go past 39 weeks, I could have argued it but I made my peace with it. I had a bout of reduced movements at 37 weeks and I agreed to move the induction forward to 38 weeks. I was done by then anyway, I had PGP and I had GD and foods that had been safe previously were no longer safe and sending my blood sugars all over the place. I reached a point where I made peace with a 5 day induction ending in c-section because at least I would be monitored and it would take the unknown risk of not being able to see baby or be monitored out of the equation.

I had an attempted sweep two days before. My cervix was softer than you’d expect for 38 weeks but definitely not favourable. I had the pessary and again my cervix wasn’t favourable so settled myself in for a long process. Pessary went in about 4pm and it stays in for 24 hours. At 5am it had come out slightly (it’s a bit like a tampon) and I asked the midwives to reinsert it. At 10am (so 18 hours in) I went for a walk to the on-side coffee shop. I had a peppermint tea (which I’m definitely attributing some success too 😂) and we walked back to the ward just before 11. My contractions started in the hospital corridor and I’d had two contractions (had to stop walking and lean against the wall contractions) before I’d made it back to the ward.

On the ward my contractions continued coming. They were 3 in 10 minutes pretty much straight away and it was getting quite intense. I asked the midwives to remove the pessary at 1pm and they told me my cervix was still unfavourable. At 2pm my waters broke and they couldn’t examine me due to risk of infection. I was finding it painful and asking for more pain relief (no gas and air on antenatal) and they told me I still had a way to go. I jumped the queue for delivery ward because I “wasn’t coping” and needed an internal exam before they could give me any more pain relief. It was about 5pm that I got into delivery and got access to gas and air and when I was examined I was 8cm. I continued contracting managed with gas and air, breathing and TENS machine until about 9pm, had a textbook transition period (can’t do this, I’m going home). At 10pm I started pushing not using gas and air because I found the breathing didn’t work for pushing but I did use the mouthpiece to bite down on and would not give it up. I also swore a lot. Baby born at 22.40 so 30.5 hrs from pessary being inserted with no further interventions and a 2nd degree tear which healed without problem.

I think induction is successful if your body and baby cooperate. If you go into it with that mindset and that either one can stop cooperating at any point, so it might end with more interventions then you’re at less risk of PND and blaming yourself after. I did have a cut off point where I would ask for a c-section so I was prepared to get to the drip but ask for a c-section before the drip. My thought process was by that point you’re tired and labouring for more hours or days and being too tired to push, you end with a c-section anyway. The only thing I was concerned about on my birth plan was if I needed a c-section, I wanted to make the decision and walk into theatre rather than being rushed into theatre with little to no choice in the matter.

Unsolicited? You posted for input on a public forum, it's prudent to stomach things that don't reinforce your cognitive bias on a platform open to people across the world.

Moreover, it's not an opinion, it's just my experience. I'm suggesting what you should do as your circumstances are unique to you, it's just how I would approach.

I had an induction at 41 weeks; I wouldn't again. Maybe at 42 with non-hormonal methods and an epidural.

Definitely unsolicited @Outliers , I never asked for “would you get induced again, negative experiences or whether people who don’t know me think I should go for it, I specifically asked for positive experiences. But whatever, you do you!

@WhereIsMyLight thanks so much for sharing your experience, it sounds intense but very good overall! I totally agree with you, I think mindset does a lot here!

I was induced at 38+1 with DS as my waters had gone the day before. I had the pessary first and later the drip. I had an epidural early because I did struggle with the pain after they started the drip (highly recommended, it was a godsend)

I ended up with a c section because despite my waters going, my cervix wasn't ready for labour at all and I didn't dilate but other than that the induction itself was fine. I'd just want to know that my cervix was favourable before trying again in future

I had my waters broke at 40+6 for my first baby. It was an amazing experience, he was born 3 hours later, I didn’t need any pain relief or stitches.
My next two babies were the same but my waters broke on their own at 40+6 and 40+5.

Induced at 40+12, slightly against my will as I thought it would result in unnecessary interventions, but was also fed up of being pregnant by then.

I had one dose of gel, contractions started, less than 3 hours later baby was born in the pool. I had gas and air in the last 20 mins. 2nd degree tear which healed quickly and well. It was honestly my dream birth. I feel so lucky.

I was also induced with dc2 and it was exactly the same except labour lasted 1hr 30!

My first baby was an induction at 37 weeks. I had gels, which got me to 1cm. I would have had a second round the next day, but they were desperate for work on the labour ward that night so I was taken down. ARM, then drip as contractions didn't start. 11.5 hours later I was holding my baby girl.

My second on paper sounds negative as it ended in a C-section, but i cannot stress enough that the induction itself was positive. Baby was simply in an awkward position (which had zilch to do with the induction) and the result would have been the same if I'd gone into labour by myself. If anything, other than the mode of delivery, I felt labour actually went better with my second than my first. I was moving around and changing positions and it just felt right. Either way, I would be happy to be induced again if needed.

My sister was induced at the full 42 weeks. First pessary didn't do much. The second one started labour. Waters broke on their own, and baby was born only a few hours later. Her second came a few hours before she was due to be induced at 41+3.

I hope your induction goes splendidly.

Hey! So I was induced at 37 weeks exactly. I went in at 6pm, had a stretch and sweep done at 9am the next morning, and then the pessary at 3pm. I was then checked (which was a little uncomfortable!) and I was 2cm dilated so got sent to my labour room. The midwives were absolutely lovely and explained everything that was going to happen. I then had my waters broken which is a bizarre feeling like uncomfortable pressure and then a great sense of relief when they gush out haha! Within half an hour I was having contractions. I found the birthing ball and squatting helped with the pain of it. I asked for a epidural at 4cm, and if honestly didn't hurt at all! Unfortunately 2 hours later it failed (not too scare you, it's rare!) and when asked to be checked as felt uncomfortable again, I was at 9cm and ready to push! You know it's time when you feel like you need to push a massive poo 😂. I pushed for around half an hour with everyone encouraging me and had my beautiful girl at 12.58am. overall I look back at it so positively and would do it again on gas and air. Good luck💖

I had a good induction with DS at 39+6. I had an epidural before having the drip and then my waters broken. The epidural made me feel pretty rubbish as it sent my blood pressure all over the place but it was very effective and I only had a bit of pain a couple of hours in when it needed adjusting. I was 10cm and ready to push about 6 hours after the drip was started and pushed him out very quickly despite being totally numb. You can still feel/use your diaphragm and that's an important part of pushing, it's not like doing a poo in my experience, way more effective if you push from higher up.

I was induced at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia and GD baby is almost 6 weeks old now, mine went very well and very fast. They gave me the first gel at 11am and the 2nd 5-6 hours later my waters went on there own . I was 2cm dilated around 11pm and I gave birth at 1am it all happened very fast in the end I didn’t have time for an epidural but I’m actually glad now the gas and air did the trick honestly the worst part of the whole thing was my contractions after my water broke until I gave birth. The only thing I would change is maybe have gas and air first and save the petidine for later on in labour I had it early and then couldn’t have it again . I had a 2nd degree tear which I haven't really noticed to much to be honest. I was pretty out of it on the gas and air so I'm missing bits of time I have to keep asking my DH questions about the birth and leading up to it . But I didn't push for long and I don't actually remember any pain during the birth. If I had to do it again I wouldn't mind being induced and I actually don't think I'd have the epidural either but then I suppose it would depend on how long I was in labour for if it had if gone on longer I would of needed something other than gas and air

With my first baby I was induced at 41 weeks and with my second I was about to be induced at 42 werks but my waters broke naturally the night before the induction. First baby ended up being forceps, episiotomy and 22 stitches afterwards, very long labour with epidural, baby was 9.5lbs.

second baby was also a long labour ( I actually fell asleep partway through as had been awake over 24hrs by that point due to waters breaking at midnight, so contractions slowed right down) then baby's head got stuck but birth was fine really and not much pain relief was just very tired, baby was 11lbs.

Both are big boys, and with both I recovered very quickly after the birth but obviously more uncomfortable due to episiotomy first time round.

Both very content and relaxed babies, first one more so. Being induced with first meant i was in hospital for a couple of days beforehand (several attempts via different methods, so took a while but was fine) and it seemed to me very controlled (in a good way) and didn't have the mad rush to hospital in the early hours that i had with second so felt more prepared in a way and less flustered if that makes sense.

Same big city maternal hospital for both births and tbh the whole team of midwives were just incredible.

Good luck with your induction lass.

Induced at 40+2 with DC1 (for reduced movement... turned out she was just tired haha).
In at 12pm Saturday. Had the gel, was warned it could take a couple of applications to have an effect, as 3 sweeps had done nothing over the past week.
Contractions started around 4pm and had TENS on by 6pm. They came very thick and fast, and I had an epidural around 9pm.
This relaxed me so much I fell asleep, only to be awoken by a midwife at 1am as baby's heartbeat was dropping. They asked me to push, as it turned out I was suddenly 10cm, but no dice, so they offered forceps or EMCS. Went for CS, and beautiful healthy DD was born at 1.52am.
All in all, it was a positive experience, I think mostly because I'd done some classes and a lot of reading and felt clued up about what outcomes were likely from induction, what to expect from healing from CS etc.
Would absolutely have another induction for DC2 if the situation called for it (though tbh I lean towards ELCS as better the devil you know!)
Best of luck with your birth however it happens @ct90!

I would definitely want to be induced if I got to 41 weeks. I think that's fairly typical now.

My first was born at39+6, labour was over 24 hours. Very painful and I felt very out of control.

My second child was born at 42 weeks exactly (two days before I was due to be induced) the birth started naturally was fast (less than an hour) and very painful. Baby was 9lb.

I was induced with my third at 40+1 as there were concerns. I had a pessary , labour started about 6 hours later. Labour was a couple of hours. No issues. It was the easiest of my three births and the only one I felt completely in control.

I have heard it can be more painful if induced but that really wasn't the case for me.