Did you have to be induced??

[VIX1980]

Im due today, yey, and yet no signs of the child coming out whatsoever, it obviously has his dads lazy genes!

talking to mil at the weekend though she said i really dont want to be induced (shes very caring and has delighted in telling me every horror story she has ever heard about pregnancy all the way through since finding out we were expecting). anyway she went on and on about the horrors so i asked if she had ever been induced, "me oh no, not me". I didnt even get into it that she should shut up then and leave me alone, just walked away instead!

so have you ever been induced and is it anything to be scared of, i know the baby can still come on its own but the damage has been done, shes put the fear into me now!

Hi VIX1980.
I was induced at ten days over with both DSs. It was quite civilised really. No mad dash in the middle of the night. Just arrive at the ward on date given. Have bloods etc done. Then that evening/night get pessary, which was fine. With DS1 I think I had two pessaries, one evening and night, then waters went and contractions started. Delivered him at ten am, normal delivery. DS2 had one pessary, and went straight into labour! Three hours later he was here! They were big boys, 9lbs 7oz and 10lbs 11oz. Both natural, no interventions or stitches. I had pethedine at 8cms with DS1 and just before he came out with DS2!
Due DC3 in 7 weeks. Won't mind being induced. I think the drip used for inducing is supposed to be more painful...many seem to get an epidural for this.
But I'm sure all will be fine. Good luck!

Was induced early in both pregnancies (failure to grow). Nothing scary happened in my case.

One vaginal delivery on gas and TENS, and one emcs which was actually quite relaxed. The emcs was because ds was slightly prem and didn't cope well with labour- not because I couldn't have kept going.

Hi im having twins so due to be induced at 36 weeks, what i have found out is that different hospitals induce in slightly different ways, i was admitted a couple of weeks ago and was scared witless at how the induction process was managed at the hospital i was in, so much so that i spoke with consultant about csection!!! The mw at the hospital im due to give birth at does it in a completely different way which alayed all my fears, maybe speak to your mw so you have an understanding of how things work, just to give you an idea i have been advised i Will call on the day at 730 to check they can still proceed based on how busy they have been overnight and staffing levels, when i arrive i Will be monitored for half hour and then examined if cervix is open and they can break my waters they Will, if not a paper pessary Will be inserted for up.to 24hours, i Will be monitored again and then left to ripen!! If this does not work then another 6 hour pessary is inserted, or if has worked waters broken, obviously there is a chance it won't go to plan but this is how they expect it to work, the mw did say induction hurts more, but if this is your first you won't know any difference :)

You don't have to consent to induction if you don't want to be. You can opt for expectant management instead.

I had a very medicalised induction at 40 weeks for medical reasons. It was fine. Long labour as he was not ready to come out yet, the pessary alone was not enough so had to have waters broken and spend ages on the syntocinon drip. As a result any idea of active labour went out the window as I was attached to the drip and the monitor for the rest of the day. Also needed extra pain relief on top of gas and air. Should have had the epidural but left it too late to demand it as they were "encouraging" me to get by with pethidine.
Anyway, despite not being the spontaneous natural birth I had hoped for, it all went fine, came fairly close to ending in C-section but he came out the right way in the end, no assistance required, baby 100% healthy and no damage to me at all. If I had to do it again I would have asked for the epi earlier, because when I was in a lot of pain they told me I would not be able to sit still for it!

Induced at term +10 with Dc4 last year.
Had heard many a horror story but it was plain sailing and quick.

A very positive experience and I liked the fact that it took all the childcare uncertainty away with my other DC's

I went a day over and resigned myself to induction. Dragged myself on a night out at 40+1 and danced to a bit of Mika anf Dolly Parton and boom, contractions.

I ended up having to be induced with DD1 3 weeks ago. Had really wanted a natural birth but started bleeding heavily with my first contractions... so they decided to speed things up. They broke my waters, and then put me on the drip. I did end up having an epidural, but that was more to do with the fact I'd been in early labour for 30 hours and didn't want to get too tired to push. Had a normal delivery with no forceps or anything.. only pushed for 15mins!

I'm sure if you do end up being induced you will be fine xx

I was given the choice of induction at 39wks or to be allowed to continue to 41wks naturally with my twin pregnancy.

I chose induction at 39wks and there was nothing horrible or scary about the actual process. I had 1 pessary to stimulate contractions and 15 mins later the process started.

The only down-side for me was the lack of build-up probably reduced the natural endorphins that you get with a slower labour and so the gas and air only took the edge off the pain. It was a pretty quick labour: 4.5 hours and there was no time to think- very full on. However no complications and well managed so I have no reason to complain. I do think getting the right pain relief is important with induced labours so make sure you know your options.

Good luck.

Was induced at 38w due to gestational diabetes and as a result large baby. Went in on the Friday morning, 4 (very comfortable boring days) 6 perssaries, 1cm dialation later and he still didn't want to budge!
As I'd had so many perssaries the didn't want to send me home so on the Monday I went straight to labour ward, given an epidural so they could pull the cervix down and break my waters and my ds arrived 6.30 on the Tuesday morning.

Although it was a long process it was very relaxed and boring! Xx

I was induced at 40+15 with DD.

Was 2cm on arrival at 40+14. No pessary given, had to wait 24 hours for a room to become free to start induction. Sat about doing nothing all day, crap night's sleep on AN ward.

Waters broken 9am following day. Nothing happened. Syntocinon drip started at 1pm. G&A at 3pm. MW suggested epidural at 6.30pm as I'd made no progress and was likely to be another 12 hours with the syntocinon drip on full strength. I took it.

10pm, if I'd made no progress would have had EMCS but was now 6cm.

2am was 10cm, waited an hour before pushing. Epidural wearing off but pain wasn't coming in waves, was constant, and no urge to push.

Pushed for 2 hours, DD not budging. Had forceps, episiotomy extended into a 3a tear, had PPH and retained placenta which was removed in theatre. The chance of any of these things happening are known to be increased by induction. I really struggled mentally to deal with DDs birth.

I was very clear that I was declining induction for DS. Got to 40+1 by my dates (40+10 by theirs) and went into labour spontaneously - infinitely better for me!

You just don't know if you'll get a smooth induction or one with lots of intervention, you have to weigh up the risks of each option for yourself.