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

Induced at 1300, contractions started at threeish. Had tens machine on- examined at 1815 - 4 cm yay! Baby born 16 minutes later. Had planned on epidural but only just got to labour ward- no time for gas and air even but was brilliant experience - and I was really dreading being induced as had heard horror stories about the pain!

For my first I was induced at 40+12 after two sweeps - cervix was tightly closed and posterior. Had the pessary for 24 hours, waters broken but was only 3cm dilated so they started the syntocin. Managed with paracetamol and gas and air but my active labour was only 4 hours with 20 mins pushing. I found being stitched up after was the worst bit. Had a great midwife who positioned the drip so I could sit on my birth ball and stayed upright for the labour - essential as baby was sitting on a nerve and I couldn't lie down without being in agony. Good luck!

I was induced with my 2nd baby (also being 12days overdue). It's a bit uncomfortable whilst they're inserting the gel but I felt something happening almost straight away. As for it being more painful I think in my case it just cut out the early slow labour my contractions started off every 5 -6 minutes. The whole process for me from the insertion of the gel to delivery was 8hrs. Good luck hope everything goes well for you x

Tiny - I did have a doula, thanks very much. No epidural until day 3 of induction. I managed to cope fine on gas and air until then. None of that prevented my having an EMCS.

I was induced at 38 weeks for medical reasons. I had a really good experience, from start to birth the whole process was only 12 hours and my contractions started very quickly after I had the gel inserted. I didn't want an epidural, I had gas and air and later on some pethidine. I had no other birth experience to compare it to, but the pain was no worse than I had been expecting. Good luck!

I was induced twice due to gestational diabetes. I have no 'normal' birth to compare it to but both times were fine, totally manageable. Both times were on my due date and started after the first gel thingy, despite being told it would probably take 2or 3 attempts.

First time I was 26 hours from start to finish with contractions starting after about 12hours and labour taking 14 hours. I had my waters broken on that one and got a syntocin drip after about 8 hours. I caved in and got pethedine after 13 hrs and baby arrived with no interventions an hour later.

Second time round was similar, took about 12 hours for contractions to start but then labour was just about 1.5 hours, 3 pushes and then baby No2 arrived.

I think I had continuous monitoring but I was able to move around, spent a lot of the first time on a bouncy ball as it was a back to back labour and they told me it would help.

My induction was fairly quick given I was expecting much worse.

I was 37+3 and went in (having had 3 unsuccessful sweeps). Was already 2cm dilated and somewhat effaced and engaged (dc2). Had pessary at 1. Around 4 started getting twinges, at 5 I had to stop walking due to twinges. Asked for paracetemol but they gave me co-codamol as "I looked like I was in pain". Its all a bit of a blur but waters were broken around 11pm (I made them give me an epidural so this took a bit longer). DD was born at 5am. So 6 hours from waters breaking but over 12 from pessary. Only needed one pessary though and never needed syntocin or anything more.

I was induced 11 days early due to obstetric cholestasis. The pessary didn't work so they hooked me up to the drip and broke my waters. The midwife asked if I wanted an epidural at the beginning as most induced women do but I decided to try without. The pain went from 0-10 in no time at all. I soon begged for the epidural but the anaesthetist was then unavailable for several hours dealing with back to back c-secs. Gas and air didn't touch it and made me feel sick, pethidine just made me talk nonsense.

I finally got the epidural which was instant relief but the baby was in the wrong position and when it came to pushing, wouldn't budge. I was taken into theatre where they gave me an episiotomy, turned DS and pulled him out using ventouse and forceps. He was battered and bruised, I got a 3rd degree tear. A really awful experience. I'm highly likely to get obstetric cholestasis again during my current pregnancy which would mean an induction again. No way. Due to my severe tearing I think I can elect for a csection which I will be doing.

I had my waters broken first but nothing happened (was not dilated and it was very painful but needed DD out due to a bleed). Went straight onto a drip and DD was born within four hours. It quickly progressed to intense, later stage of labour which I was happy about as I knew I was nearly there. I felt less restricted by sitting on a birthing ball as I was used to unmonitored labours (3 natural births). I missed the surprise of a natural start to labour but was thankful for a healthy baby and a quick and less tiring labour overall. I had gas and air for pushing and as I was progressing quickly I didn't feel need for an epidural though I was open to the idea.

i was induced with the drip the contractions are more painful than with natural labour but it is manageable if you gut it out i had pethidine and gas and air it was nasty not the fastest labour ever but we made it with no forceps or suction cups or anything

the only warning is that the drip increases the chances of a retained placenta and you have surgery to remove it (done under local usually) ive had it twice now (i had the drip at the end of labour one because my contractions stalled was fine with two three was the induction retained placenta with one and three) the last operation left me swollen to hell it looked like a clenched fist down below i had to sit on a rubber glove with ice in it (heaven!)

good luck xx

I have been induced twice at 37 weeks and both were really positive experiences.

I was given the gel to induce me and left for six hours for things to get started. During these 6 hours I had no pain at all, I just got very bored.

At the six hour check, I had dilated enough for my waters to be broken. That's when it got painful.....extremely painful.

The first time I was induced the midwife didn't believe that I went from no pain to extreme pain in about 5 minutes so gave me a strong paracetamol for the pain, but as I was only in active labour for 2 hours the pain didn't last long, and DH still jokes about her running out the room for a delivery pack shouting "It's a delivery!" and only just making it back in time to deliver DD1

The second time, I warned them I wanted the gas and air on tap before my waters were broken, and again it was very painful, but active labour was only 90 minutes that time.

Both my inductions were just with gas and air, I had asked for an epidural both times, but at the time I asked I was fully dilated so it was too late.

To be fair I don't think that induction is more painful that normal labour, but you don't have the gradual build up, but then the only "normal labour" I have to compare it with is DS's who was born at 35 weeks (after a 4 hour labour)

I was induced with DD2 due to being 42. DD1 was born with gas and air. I expected it all to be hideously awful. However, was induced at 10pm via pessary. The contractions started about 2 hours later, managed with a TENS machine for a few hours. It did all happen very fast when it really got going and was painful but that was mostly because I didn't get any gas and air until I was beginning to go into the transition phase. DH only made it by 20 minutes. DD2 came out fast and so I did have a small tear. Apart from that was all very positive.

induced at 33 weeks due to PPROM, i'm sure i wasn't "ready" in any way shape or form at that gestation! no pessary, drip in at noon, first contraction at 2pm, pushed for 19 minutes for a birth at 9pm same day. no stitches. went shopping next day.

was painful as hell, was lying there thinking i should beg for a section but was too "inside myself" to even say the words. had an epidural placed but it didn't take properly (i was devastated by that!).

but really, it wasn't as bad as the horror stories make out. thing is, you know it's not going to be painful forever. it ends eventually. it'll all work out fine.

I was induced for my first, and would request one when we have our second!

I was induced Tuesday am , dilated enough to have waters broken but no space on labour ward until Friday! Waters broken and drip Friday am, epidural about an hour later and son born at 7 pm. He was delivered by ventouse because he was a bit distressed.

Once the epidural kicked it we had a calm day. I sat knitting while my dh played chess, you have a mw with you all the time too so we felt really safe and looked after.

Try to stay open minded about your labour, the experts do this everyday and will do their darnedest to deliver you and you baby as you want. I kept reminding myself whatever happened I would have a baby at the end of it all. And I do, and he's smashing!!

Good luck,k

My waters went on the Saturday afternoon (at 38 weeks), I went in for induction on the Sunday morning. They examined me to do the pessary at about midday and found I was 3-4cm so got sent straight to delivery ward.
For me, drip in at 4pm, first contraction 5.35pm, baby arrived 6.41pm. Only a few puffs of gas and air as it was all so quick.
Personally, it wasn't anywhere near as scary as I thought it would be but that was probably helped by waters breaking naturally.

The worst bit for me was the thought of being tied down by monitors once the drip was started. If this is likely to be of concern to you, ask if they have wireless monitors. That meant I had the bands around my belly but could move around as long as I took the drip stand with me (Dhs job)

Mine was bad. You don't need details, other than to know midwives/GP/gynae all agreed wholeheartedly with my choice to go for ELCS for the next DC.

I personally would second the advice that if they suggest any additional procedure such as forceps, etc, then for some people the right option might be to refuse them and insist on a CS. It's what I'd advise my best friend to do if she were in that situation. That doesn't necessarily mean its the right thing to do.

It was fine for me though I would say the later you leave it the better. My DD was only 40+0 and not ready at all, so it was a bit of a three day marathon.

I think its true to say that in general you are more likely to need intervention with an induction. I've had one induction and one "natural" birth, I felt I couldn't cope in the former and had an epi. Its all to do with positioning etc.

Its a long time till thursday anyway .... a lot can happen in four days!

I was induced at 12 days over and it was fine. I think the marathon horror stories tend to be when baby just isn't ready. In all, my labour took 5.5hr. The first hour or so wasn't too bad and the mw kept cranking the dosage up. I managed on gas and air and a TENS (oh and don't let me forget the paracetamol and lavender pack the mw kindly provided...?!). After about 4 hours it was getting intense and I was only 4cm dilated but started involuntary pushing so requested an epidural as I didn't think I could cope with the pushing for hours. Anaesthetist arrived but the pushing had got really strong very quickly so mw checked me again and I was fully dilated. No time for the epi and baby arrived shortly afterwards.

Being hooked up to the monitors is a bit of a hassle but a good mw will do everything she can to help you stay in the position you feel you need to be in. All my pain was in my back so I needed to crouch down and lean on the bed. I was resting back on my heels btw contractions and this kept dislodging things so she had to hang around to make sure everything was in place. And the flip side of it is that it's very reassuring to know baby is doing fine.

My waters went on the Friday night and I went in to be checked because contractions didn't start right away. They said I could either be booked for an induction on the Saturday morning or Sunday at the latest if nothing had happened naturally. I opted for the Sunday in the hopes that going a massive long walk would kickstart it. On the Saturday night I felt really uncomfortable but didn't wake DP because I didn't want to disturb him (he's still pissed about this to this day...). Went into the hospital on the Sunday late morning and it turned out I'd be contracting in the night and was 4cm dilated.

They gave me the drip that they'd normally give as an induction to hurry things along and whoa did it ever. It literally went from totally fine and easy to manage to 100mph in the space of twenty minutes. DD was born 4 hours after the drip was put in. It just was ridiculous how quickly it all happened after the drug was popped in...

I was induced at 7 am and by 7:30am I was having contractions that lasted 60 seconds and were coming every 2 minutes - and I was not dilated at all at that stage. I coped with this for about 10 hours until I was a few cm and had to have an epidural - the contractions were extremely painful and frequent and I was told that I still had a looooong way to go. Gas and air did nothing for me except make me feel like vomiting. My daughter was born about 30 hours later. They had to let the epidural wear off for the pushing as I wasn't able to feel what I was doing and wasn't managing to push very well. She was born without forceps but i had an episiotomy AND a nasty tear. I was completely exhausted and pretty out of it for about a week (to the point that i had to be reminded to feed the baby). If I could do it over again I would question the need for induction much more - it was a very difficult experience for me. Personally there was no way I could have gone without an epidural as I had hoped to. Now pregnant with my second and feel strongly that I would demand a Caesarian over induction - though I am hoping this time that I can have a natural birth.

I was induced at 39+4 with my second child as they were concerned she was not growing properly and there was low amniotic fluid.

As a result I had a very rapid labour. I had one lot of prostin gel at about 3pm. This resulted in some discomfort, but not actual contractions. I then had some more gel at about 9pm. I was starting to feel like something was happening by this stage. At about 10.30pm I was advised to have a hot bath. It took me ages to try and get dressed again as I felt like I was just having one long contraction. Suddenly I felt I needed to push, and it was all a panic (this was in the dead of night at New Year) to get me to the labour ward. My daughter came out in about two pushes and she needed some oxygen (she was fine soon afterwards). This was all quite scary and I wonder if I would have just had a more normal, less rapid labour if I hadn't been induced.

Sorry if that is scary! I know other women who have had really straightforward inductions.

I was induced on trip first time. 3 hours and 2 pushes. Only needed pethidine.

Second time had my waters broken to get things going. Took 45 minutes on gas and air.

So my experience is that its pretty good :)

I was stuck on the bed with number 1 though. I had lots of unexplained bleeding so they wanted to have to monitor on constantly and everytime I moved they lost the heartbeat. It was very annoying and I reckon it would have been faster if I'd been able to move! Hated lying on my back

I had and induced birth due to pre-eclampsia. I also had an epidural, which they said reduced my blood pressure immediately. My labour was 14 hours from the first contraction. The epidural only worked on the right hand side of my body. Eventually when I was fully dilated and I started to push they got the epidural going on both sides of my body, but really I had not found the contractions bad at all, it was just a bit strange feeling them on only one side. They said my daughter's heart rate kept going down and she was becoming distressed. She was born with the help of forceps and I had two doctors there, one for me and one for her. We made it fine though. I am small, under five feet, she was small only 5lbs 9oz, but if she had been any bigger I would have needed a CS. 6 weeks later I discovered she had a heart murmur, which turned out to be an innocent one. So her heart rate going down is just an abnormal heart rhythm. She's grown up now and when she was at Uni, the medical students all wanted to listen her heart, it really does sound like it's about to stop, then it suddenly goes faster again, but it's all perfectly normal for her and she is perfectly healthy. Good luck with your baby.

So many experiences. Thanks ladies.
Does anyone know if the fact my mum needed c-sections will have any bearing on my birth? I see no reason why that should run in families, and i haven't been asked about family history, but wondered if i should mention it before they induce me x