Balloon induction

[Spanz10]

Hello,

I am going to have my third induction. However, this time it is going to be a balloon not the pessary. My inductions always seem to need the full works e.g. multiple pessaries, waters breaking and the drip. What I would like to hear about is other people's experiences especially those who have had pessaries in a previous labour and then the balloon in a subsequent labour. Will it be quicker because I have had two previous births. Does it work? How long did it take from the balloon going in to delivery.

Sorry for the all the questions, just want to be prepared and do anything I can to speed things up.

Thanks

They tried with me but were unable to get into my cervix, it hurt a lot even with gas and air, but my cervix was shut, I’m sure it would be much better if the cervix was somewhat dilated.

I had a balloon induction in 2023, it was extremely painful to get the contraption actually in (regardless of gas and air.)
The ward I was on had 5 other ladies all having the same thing. All of them were crying out in pain over night, so no one was able to get any sleep.
After about 12 hours of the ballon’s being in they broke my waters, I then laboured for about 10 hours before needing an emergency c section due to babies heart rate.
I’m due to give birth again in October and the only thing on my birth plan is absolutely in no way will I be having another induction with ballon’s.
I’ve spoken to a few midwives and they have told me it’s only a trial method currently and in some places has already been phased out due to poor success rates.
I wish someone had warned me before mine.
I wish you the easiest and smoothest birth experience.

I had a great experience with my balloon induction! I haven’t had an induction before so I have nothing to compare it to, but essentially I went in, had the balloon inserted with a bit of gas and air (this was nowhere near as bad as I’d feared!), then I was allowed home with it in. While I was at home I started getting some cramping and then tightenings, and eventually these became regular contractions so I went back in to hospital and was admitted to delivery suite. That was about 24 hours after it was inserted. I never actually had my waters broken, which was going to be the next step, because by then I was in labour and they went on their own. So overall very positive!

If you’ve had vaginally deliveries before your cervix never goes back to how it was, it always stays a little bit open so the insertion of the balloon shouldn’t be too bad compared to someone who’s never had a baby before where the cervix is very tightly shut. Hope it all goes smoothly for you!

Wow this is such a mixed bag. I am hoping because this is my third my cervix will accommodate it. I am so worried about a cesarian as I have managed to avoid it with both despite going through the full induction process. The midwife did say that the balloon works best on second time mums, so they clearly know it is not successful for first time mums and therefore shouldn't use it on them. As the pessaries do work. Ahhh feeling a bit like a guinea pig having this done, when the pessaries are tried and tested on me.