I had an induction with my first birth. I'll tell you what happened, but first I want to let you know that I found it a surprisingly calm and fulfilling experience - in fact the word I've used to describe myself most often is 'serene' - so don't let the gory details put you off.
I was induced 10 days before my due date, admitted to hospital on the Wednesday night when I was given my first pessary to start things off. Didn't do a lot for me, although a couple of the ladies who came in with me were moved to the labour ward within a few hours.
Thursday I was given another pessary - again didn't do much, but all the fiddling around down there must have done something as my waters broke when I got up on Friday morning.
While waiting I spent lots of time walking around the ward and hospital and chatting to every other expectant mum I came across. Met some lovely people, with interesting stories... I'm not normally that sociable.
Friday night I had a few aches and pains, but nothing much. Saturday I watched England win the Rugby World Cup (hurrah!). Saturday night I kept waking up with regular pains, so I pottered off to the MWs station to tell them I was in labour - they gave me some co-codamol and I went back to sleep.
Sunday morning the pains had subsided, but had obviously been achieving something as I was 3cm dilated. Time to go to the labour ward. Before I went down I was offered an epidural, but politely declined.
I was put on a syntocin drip at lunch time, and have to admit the contractions did come hard and fast, and I quickly escalated from TENS machine, to gas and air, to pethidine, to an epidural and finally some form of morphine. I think the fact I was continually monitored and couldn't move around was probably the hardest thing to cope with.
DD was born at 7:50pm vaginally (about 7 hours since labour really kicked in and they started me on the drip). Both she and I recovered quickly and I only needed a couple of stitches where I tore slightly (my choice to tear).
The MWs were great - stuck to my birth plan (which took into account the fact that I knew I was going to be induced and might therefore not be able to have all the accessories of a completely natural labour), for which I am eternally grateful to them as it left me feeling in control.
Sorry this is such a long post, but I wanted to let you know that an induction can still be a really positive experience, even if the headline description of my birth story might sound like a bit of a nightmare.
Try to keep calm and relax (so that your adrenalin isn't fighting against your bodies attempts to dilate your cervix). You'll be fine, you aren't going to be tortured and soon you will have a wonderful baby to cuddle and adore.
Good Luck.