Induction experiences please

[freakedmum]

I've just had my second sweep, which is apparently as unfavorable for success as my first, so been told I'm likely looking at having an induction (already booked for Thursday when I'll be 12 days overdue).
Just wanted to hear some experiences, as apparently its supposed to be harder to deal with the pain/more likely to need pain relief etc. Any advice appreciated xx

[flappityfanjos]

I was induced at 42 weeks. Pessary went in around lunchtime, started having pre-labour pains around 8 pm. Bloody uncomfortable night on the ward but not screaming agony. Examined next morning, they reckoned I'd be nowhere near active labour i.e. that I was making a big fuss about nothing but it turned out I was over 3 cm dilated so they took me down down to the delivery room to have my waters broken.

I asked if I could avoid the drip if at all possible and I think the midwife gave me a little extra time to get going as a result - anyway, the breaking of the waters was my last intervention. Progressed well from there, DD born around 6 pm after an hour or so's pushing. Gas and air was enough pain relief for me. I was worried about the induction, but it worked out pretty well for me!

Mind you, I think my body was basically raring to go as it was, and the problem was that DD was back to back so hadn't descended quite far enough to get labour going.

[freakedmum]

Thanks again everyone for all your experiences and advice! xx

[purplejelly]

"freakedmum" you may not need the drip. I was induced for my second baby as my waters broke but no contractions. 6 hours after the pessary she arrived, no stitches needed. The last hour was pretty intense but I only had gas and air - it was a lot easier than my first baby who wasn't induced.

[coffeetofunction]

I was induced with DS & had an epidural, biggest mistake I could have made, in fact this time I have it in my notes, my CMW, DH & consultant all know that it must be a life/death situation to give me 1 this time round...

Try a tens machine, don't lay down....

Every women is different, trust your instincts & your body

Good luck

[Meerka]

That's true, trust your instincts and your body

But make sure they know that you might ask for an epidural. It would be worth noting down to check your dilation frequently and ask you if you want the epidural in time, in both my labours they said I'd gone too far. Though tbh I think they'd have found any excuse not to give an epi.

[frankietwospots]

I guess my advice is - don't assume that induction will work. I went in for induction on Boxing Day a couple of years ago and the first round (24 hours) didn't do a thing. They then did it again for another 12 hours and still nothing. I also had about 6 sweeps in the end, and still nothing! I think I really annoyed the midwives because I had read up about your Bishop's score which is basically your likelihood to succeed with induction based on whether the cervix is hard or not etc.. I basically had no chance according to my Bishop's score (which was mentioned in my notes at the end of the bed) so the whole thing was a waste of time. So at 13 days overdue I ended up with a C section. What a bloody faff!

[Solopower1]

I was induced at 37 weeks because of pre-eclampsia. It was extremely painful, but I had an epidural after 12 hours or so. Then nothing - no pain. It all happened without me really (ventouse delivery). Healthy boy, now 19.

My advice would be think about the fact that it will not last for ever and every pain means you are coming closer to holding your tiny baby. Good luck!

[lauriebear]

Induced at 41+6; I wish I'd waited it out a bit longer and been more active.
I never got the breast pump out but wish I had now!

They gave me a pessary on a post-natal ward, when the contractions came I had a TENS (thank God), as they wouldn't transfer me downstairs I was terrified of making too much noise and upsetting new borns/the 5 other women around me. They didn't believe I was advanced far and it was a nightmare trying to get them to check me. They denied me gas and air because I was on the ward not in delivery, I got to 9cm (transition) before they finally checked me and took me downstairs (one MW tried to tell me my waters hadn't broken when clearly they had!). I begged for an epidural just because I could get to delivery then, it worked but then I was stuck with an epidural I hadn't wanted originally (was put in at 9cm). they forced me to lie down and be monitored on my back, and promptly I got stuck at 9.5cm for several hours. Consultant tried to give me syntocinon (SP), MW took me off because it was upsetting LO's heart rate and I was coerced into a CS.

Horrible story, sorry! All three of my NCT group that were induced ended up with CS for one reason or another under the "failure to progress" umbrella.

If I had a do-over I would have had a doula/second birthing partner to support me and DH, I would have researched foley bulb and monitoring options instead of straight induction, I also would have used the shower/bath on the ward I was induced on had I known it existed at the time. My current Doula who has been a MW for 30years believes the vast majority of FTM (not sure if you are OP) go over due, yet no one ever discussed all my options, or what choices I might have.

[MrsAtticus]

I was induced and contractions came thick and fast. I had an epidural in the end, and wished I hadn't as that stopped the contractions, I couldn't push him out and ended up with c-section. If I could turn back time I wouldn't have had the epidural, and would have just screamed like a banshee instead. But lots of people have epidurals and are fine.

[AnarchyRules]

Induced at 41 weeks, 3 pessaries on after the other eventually got me to 2cm so they could break my waters. Used a TENS for the 6 hours the last pessary was in as was quite painful but this wore off - midwife said they can do that. Was put on the drip and contractions came quickly and they bloody hurt! My first labour so nothing to compare too but wow, ouch. Managed 3 hours on G&A then had epidural - AMAZING! Glad I did as was nearly 9 hours later I had him and could not have gone through that pain that long. Don't know if it happens to everyone on the drip but contractions weren't going down very much between peaks so were pretty constant with no breaks and it was not nice. Pushed for 2 hours :( forceps delivery with episiotomy, lost some blood but nothing too serious. Baby fine, just a little bruised. He was 10lbs so may have had to have intervention even if I hadn't been induced/had epidural so I'm very glad I had the epidural!

Overall it was quite long and required epidural and intervention BUT it was a good experience. Have the epidural though if you feel the need, if it's agony you won't get anything for being a martyr.

[dm86]

Reading these stories I must've been very lucky with mine!

Both mine were induced at 42 weeks.First DD had two pessarys and they broke my waters but with my DS just had one pessary and it happened from there. With my first they broke waters at 11am and I gave birth at 3:20pm so quick but I would say more painful as it was my first and I tensed up a lot!

I was in established labour with my son just after 11:30pm and gave birth and 1:10am so quick again but less painful as I was more relaxed and didn't tense.

I think if you go in with the mindset it's going to hurt like hell then it will! Relax and breathe and it's not really that bad. I had gas and air with both but nothing else! I'm pregnant again so can't have been that bad lol I have it in my mind already I'll probably end up being induced again!

[dm86]

Reading these stories I must've been very lucky with mine!

Both mine were induced at 42 weeks.First DD had two pessarys and they broke my waters but with my DS just had one pessary and it happened from there. With my first they broke waters at 11am and I gave birth at 3:20pm so quick but I would say more painful as it was my first and I tensed up a lot!

I was in established labour with my son just after 11:30pm and gave birth and 1:10am so quick again but less painful as I was more relaxed and didn't tense.

I think if you go in with the mindset it's going to hurt like hell then it will! Relax and breathe and it's not really that bad. I had gas and air with both but nothing else! I'm pregnant again so can't have been that bad lol I have it in my mind already I'll probably end up being induced again!

[dm86]

Reading these stories I must've been very lucky with mine!

Both mine were induced at 42 weeks.First DD had two pessarys and they broke my waters but with my DS just had one pessary and it happened from there. With my first they broke waters at 11am and I gave birth at 3:20pm so quick but I would say more painful as it was my first and I tensed up a lot!

I was in established labour with my son just after 11:30pm and gave birth and 1:10am so quick again but less painful as I was more relaxed and didn't tense.

I think if you go in with the mindset it's going to hurt like hell then it will! Relax and breathe and it's not really that bad. I had gas and air with both but nothing else! I'm pregnant again so can't have been that bad lol I have it in my mind already I'll probably end up being induced again!

[jenvic]

Hypnobirthing techniques were very helpful when dealing with my recent induction.

[Lozmatoz]

I was induced last time. They tried a pessary first, which sits behind the baby's head before trying the drip. Pessary worked for me, gas and air only, baby flew out! Hard work of course but completely manageable.

[Reastie]

I had a failed induction. Was given pessaries (forget how many) over the course of 4 days, these gave me effectively bad period pain for a number of hours after they were inserted. Bad enough to stop me from sleeping but not enough to scream in agony, they offered me paracetamol lucky me. Expect alot of poking and prodding at various intervals from mws (internal examinations to check how things are going and hooking you to a monitor to check babies heart rate etc) including through the night.

The pesseries didn't work enough for them to even attempt to break my waters, so by day 5 they decided to give me a csection. I knew by lunch I would have one and went into theatre at 5pm.

A friend had a bad experience where they tried to break her waters too early and really had to force them, and this time she had another induction and insisted on having an epidural before they broke the waters again and said she was really glad she insisted on this.

[lavenderhoney]

At 40 weeks told I needed to have the baby, Mw did sweep, fucking agony, nothing happened. Given pessaries which was also agony with Mw shouting " just relax! Its not painful" had to have oxygen as panicking by now and on a monitor.
Nothing happened, they might as well have been pushing smarties up there.
2 days of it then told " oh dear, its not working, you have to have cs"
They couldn't break my waters. More agony.
By now I am insisting everyone leave me the fuck alone. Registrar suggests different procedure, Mw looks worried and goes out of room.
Mw fetches bloke in civvies who tells me not to go through with procedure as I'll probably die. He breaks my waters with no pain in seconds and leaves.
Can hear him shouting at registrar " we don't do that in this country"

Registrar not seen again that day.

[MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom]

I was induced at 37 weeks due to high blood pressure. Honestly it was great - so relaxed and funny. I didn't find the drip induction more painful than I was expecting 'normal' labour to be, so you may not automatically need an epidural like some people like to say.

Once the drip was on and my waters were broken, I went like lightning. Got through it by playing music - the midwives and my mum and OH singing Hakuna Matata in the delivery room was a highlight -, dancing around and gas and air was great too. Active labour time was 2hrs 45minutes, and I pushed for all of 9 minutes!

[Timeisawastin]

I had leaking waters at 38 weeks so I was taken into hospital and had a further 24 hours of contractions but no progress. I went to the labour suite at 8am and had the drip up by 9am. I asked for an epidural and was told it was too early to wake the anaesthetist up. By 10am I started to push and was told I shouldn't be needing to push already. They checked me and found that I was 9.5cm.

By the time the Anaesthetist arrived at 11am it was too late and my baby was born by high forceps at 11.10am after his heart-rate dropped. The pain was horrendous and I believe I had PTSD for a long time afterwards. I think it was too quick for him and he became distressed so it became an emergency situation. I was badly torn and have had problems ever since. My son is almost 18.

I certainly wouldn't recommend having the Syntocinon drip without an epidural - you can go from 0-10 on the contractions scale very quickly and it can be a rougher than average delivery.

Sorry to give you my grim experience, I hope yours is a whole lot better, but certainly I would recommend an epidural, I had one two years later with my daughter and it was a lovely, calm experience.

[higgle]

DS2 was 10 days "late" and I was recommended to go to hospital for induction. I wanted a home birth and as he was doing fine when monitored I just decided to wait. I had a very easy birth with nothing more than discomfort ( unlike the first time) so I was pleased I refused the intervention.

[RedPony]

I was induced 12 days ago at 38+5 due to pre eclampsia. The whole experience overall wasn't too bad. I had the first pessary in at 10.30 am and was told I would have another one at 5.30 if nothing had happened yet. My contractions started at 4.30 and we're just like period pains for a few hours. They got worse at about 7.30 and I was only having a few seconds break in between contractions. At about 9.30 I started on the gas and air and later on they gave me some pethidine to hel me relax which did really work and I didn't sleep as such but got a few hours rest which was bliss (still needed gas and air though)
When I went into established labour it only took 35 mins but it was extremely painfull especially after they broke my wsters. I was begging for an epidural but my blood pressure was so high from the pre eclampsia I couldn't have one. I had also gone off the gas and air as I had been taking it for so long I didn't want it anymore and the pethidine has long worn off so I did it with no pain relief at all but I sort of zoned out and let my body get on with it. I don't really remember much of the last stage and I had a lot of people around me due to my bp being so high (198/132) and DP said he had to leave the room at one point and have a little cry but one of the midwifes went and got him and brought him back in.
I was only sort of pushing for 5 mins as Ds decided to make his appearance pretty quickly! I remember refusing to push as I wanted an epidural but he came out anyway :)
The relief when Ds was out was amazing. They put him straight onto me and the pain was instantly gone and I felt a wave of calm. I would definately do the whole thing again.
The midwifes and doctors were absolutely fab though and I can't fault them one single bit.
Good luck with everything. Everyone is different and you will be absolutely fine and as my midwife said, it's only one (or maybe two) day of your life and you will have a lovley snuggly baby at the end of it :)

[proudmama2772]

I have had two babies - induced early and 1 born naturally my first. I much my prefer my induced labors.

Sometimes they can give you too much pitossin and the contractions come quickly and more intensely- not sure how often that's the case. I had the epidural so was none the wiser of how the pain was - I'm blissfully ignorant.

My first baby with 1/2 an epidural was pretty scary experience. My last baby, with epidural before contractions and the suction thing so I didn't have to push was a truly beautiful experience. I read a novel during the labor, Kite Runner and my husband and I were on the laptop checking baby names. Thoroughly enjoyed the day and still tear up thinking about the reward I got for doing so little.

[Karoleann]

tinycassie - your stats aren't correct (much too high!)
your risk of stillbirth basically goes up 5 fold from 37 weeks to 42 weeks.

[Eyelet]

I was induced by ARM after babies trace was not great (found out later they had misread it and downgraded the severity), was already in slow labour. The registrar refused my request for a CS and told me baby was ok. Labour was just under 4 hours with ventouse to get her out.

She wasn't ok - massive brain injury, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities - sorry - but you did ask for induction stories.