Inductions - your stories please!

[TwinkleStars15]

So I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that I'm going to be induced, I'm only 29 weeks so have a while to get my head around it. My initial reactions was "no way" and the consultant actually said "I don't blame you, it is more painful that a normal labour, hence why most people have an epidural" but went on to say it would be safer! I've not had the chance to speak to anyone about it yet but have been reading up as much as I can (not always a good thing). Can any of you ladies share your stories of induction? No covering up the bad bits, an honest account is needed please! xx

Induced both times.

First time because my waters went and no contractions followed. Second time because of reduced movements at 40+10.

Both times they didn't do the pessary and I went straight onto the drip. And both times within an hour of being hooked up I went straight into fairly harsh contractions. It was all pretty quick.

First labour was 4 hours from first contraction to birth. Second was 3 hours from start to finish.

Both were very intense. No real build up for my body to get used to the pain but the upside was they were seriously fast. So I managed both with TENS only. With my first labour when we got to three hours and 45 it progressed VERY quickly. I went from 3cm to 10 in about fifteen minutes? After they'd just checked me at 3cm I asked about getting an epidural and, because we thought it would be hours at that point, they looked into getting me one. But DD1 was born 15 minutes later when DH commented that 'he could see an awful lot of the cable attached to the monitor on her head'. Yeah she'd pretty much shot down the birth canal at that point haha.

Oh I used G&A as well as TENS....

I was induced as soon as waters broke so perhaps a bit different, was given paracetamol, and gas and air, had lovely trainee midwife and senior midwife.

It was obviously painful, but I found much more relaxed and less painful than my first natural birth previous, with previous I had injection of pain relief that didn't feel like it did a thing lol.

That's my story, it was not scary and was less painful xx

Induced with first DD at 42 weeks. Pessary first did sweet f+++ all. And they kept waking me up through the night to go and have monitors on to see if I was having contractions. So was already knackered the next day. It fell out during the night. Then waters broken and drip. Totally lost my shit when the full on contractions started after the drip, literally 0 to 10 on the pain scale in minutes. Had an epidural. Then sickness meds cos I kept throwing up. Way more drugs than food or water in my body at this point. Strapped to monitors, stuck on the bed with a needle in back and needle in arm wondering why the fuck I didn't stay away... slept on and off most of the day all drug high, kept getting turned over for monitoring. When it was time to push it didn't take long and was straight forward. Time from drip going in til birth; 9h. Plus the pessary 24h more. Sorry if thats not a nice read but its my honest experience. I WANTED an induction because my overdue cousin had a pessary and her son in arms 4h later so just presumed mine would be the same...

Horrific. 2 pessaries. Forced waters to break. Hooked up to drip. Baby's hear rate kept dropping. Talk of c-section. I asked for epidural when I was 3cm as pain in back excruciating. Just as I was sitting up to have the epidural I felt the urge to push so I has gone from 3cm to fully dilated in minutes! Pushed for 20mins and out he came-back to back hence the back pain. So awful compared to water birth first time around. Never again!

My waters went in the afternoon but labour hadn't started at all. They kept me in for the night with a drip and some antibiotics to prevent infections while I waited and still nothing, perhaps one or two contractions, so in the morning I got oxytocin. I went in at around 8 AM and DD was born at 6 PM. I got an epidural and had what the midwifes called a textbook delivery.

Yes, I had to have an episiotomy as the head wasn't getting out but I barely noticed it after the first night, and all in all it was a positive experience, it hurt at the end but otherwise was bearable and my DD got out healthy and without distress. One piece of advice, as other posters have already said, don't try to be all brave and "natural", request an epidural in advance and make sure that you get it as early as possible. There are no medals for suffering and you will remember the day in a more positive light.

Hmm my experience isn't great, was induced at 40 weeks + 3 days after a stretch and sweep and my waters broke but then nothing else happened.

Had the pessary late evening which was uncomfortable but not unbearable. Then was monitored however despite the fact I was having regular pains that were getting progressively worse, was told I wasn't in labour for all the following day. My husband repeatedly asked that I be examined but they said there was no evidence of contractions on the monitors and I wasn't in enough pain (seriously what?).

Someone finally took us seriously and looked at DDs heart rate etc and said there was still no evidence of contractions and then all of a sudden looked at me and asked if I was having a pain and I just nodded as I wasn't capable of much else at this point, she noticed the heart rate was dropping slightly every now and again like it would if I was having a contraction. She did an internal exam and informed me she had no idea how dilated I was (she was down there for a good 15 minutes which was great fun as all my pain was in my back) so she would just say 1cm and check again in an hour. I asked for pain relief and was told I couldn't have gas and air as I was on the induction ward and gave me some Co codamol.

40 minutes later I waddle off to the toilet between excruciating contractions and discover upon exiting that I really REALLY need to push. I make it back to my bed and scream that I REALLY NEED TO PUSH NOW! To which a mid wife runs over (evidently in the middle of examining another Lady if the gloves and lube was anything to go by) and says in horror to me "you can't push! You're not on the delivery ward!" Looks at DH and says "don't you dare let her push!".

Finally, after discovering I am 10am dilated they wheel my bed to the delivery suite with me pushing the whole way there, and after they finally gave the gas and air, which at this point was only useful to chomp on while pushing, an hour and a half later DD arrived safe and sound.

I also had a post birth haemorrhage but that's a horror story for another time .

What I learnt? Be assertive, you know your body, so don't be afraid to tell someone if you think hey are wrong!

Have an epidural ffs.

Induced by drip at 41+3 after waters broke but no contractions. Had an epidural and baby was delivered by forceps about 12 hours later.
I had an episiotomy, a manual placenta removal so was in theatre for 90 mins and I lost 3 litres of blood. No idea if any if that was related to the induction
Was still home 36 hours later though

I was induced with both my second (due to being two weeks overdue) and my third (due to being over 40). With the first induction, I was put straight on the drip. It was incredibly intense and quick and very very painful. There wasn't really enough time for any decent pain relief, as DD arrived within only an hour or two of the drip being put in. She was fine and all was well, but in hindsight I wish I'd had an epidural as the pain was like nothing else and I don't have good memories of the birth (unlike with my first - he was born in a birthing pool after going in to labour naturally - still painful, but nothing like a drip induction).

With my third, I had the pessary induction. This was marginally better (i.e. less painful, although much longer drawn out). However, I had a similar experience to Fioniac in that the midwives on the antenatal ward didn't believe how far gone I was and kept fobbing me off, despite not examining me or even asking me how far apart my contractions were.

I was begging them for some proper pain relief and to be examined, but all I got was some paracetamol and the offer of a bath (I knew if I got in the bath in that state, I'd be having the baby in it). Finally, after literally screaming in pain on the ward (which was extremely embarrassing as it was visiting time and so lots of partners / parents / children around), they agreed to examine me and I was 9cm. All hell then breaks loose, I'm rushed down to the delivery suite (wanted to push on the way there), but just about made it in to the room and DS2 arrived 10 mins later.

So I would definitely second the advice that you need to be very assertive and stand up for yourself. I have heard of quite a few similar stories to mine so i would say sod being polite... you need to really make a song and dance about it if you're not happy. And also avoid the drip if you possibly can.

DC1- ARM at 9am, he was born just over 3 hours later. Perfect, textbook labour and birth no pain relief.

DC3- ARM at 6am, baby in arms less than 90 minutes later. Again, textbook and no pain relief.

DC4- ARM at 1pm, unfortunately it did literally nothing so started the drip at 7pm and he was born just before 9pm. Again everything went perfectly and I just had a some gas & air because the drip really made the contractions close together.

I know there's lots of scary stuff about induction, but it can be (and usually is) safe, intervention-free and just as much of a lovely experience as spontaneous labour.

Good luck

I was induced with both my DC

DD - the induction wasn't too bad as i had two of the pessaries but it is unpleasant experiencing the pain whilst still on the ward and you are waiting for a bed on the delivery suite. I got offered paracetamol...oh how we laughed at that! Once on the delivery suite I had gas and air and diamorphine and it was manageable.

DS - Completely different story. Induced at 37 weeks due to slow growth. Two pessaries, two hormone gels, about three sweeps, waters then artificially broken and then the infamous syntocynin drip. All over three days this was. That drip i found was absolute hell on earth. The midwife even turned it off for a bit to give me a break. It was hard contraction after contraction with no break or build up. I had two diamorphine shots but couldn't take it any longer and had an epidural. The anesthetist was my favourite person in the whole world at that point! After that, no issues and DS came out in one push. All that effort to get him out and he was only 5lb 12 after all that

Try and get lots of rest and sleep if possible the day before your induction as it's really hard to sleep on the ward. And if you are able to depending on your medical condition, keep an open mind regarding having an epidural if you have to have the drip.

Like i say induction with DD was fine, induction with DS was horrendous but i imagine that can be said with any natural birth. Some will be easier or more difficult than others. As soon as they are out, all is good with the world!

Good luck x

I've had 3 babies & was induced on the last one because she was a much bigger baby than my other two! It was the worst experience EVER! I had the tampon thing which fell out overnight then the pessary. My contractions came on so strong that my body couldn't cope! They were giving me strong pain relief but it didn't work & then eventually an epidural. The labour was so stressful then the baby got stuck on her way out but luckily was born healthy. I would never ever recommend getting induced. It was unnatural for my body.

They tried about 6 times and it didn't work- very common for first time mother's apparently. Ended up with an EMCS about a week after the first try. Never again. They talked me into it and I was sceptical, then after a few rounds I just told them to give up and I went home and told them I'd come back for check up the next day.
It's crap. It hurts. It feels unnatural. It often doesn't even work. I wish I'd never bothered with it.

Induced at 40 weeks here with high blood pressure. I will say now baby was nowhere near ready to come out!

Had pessary, didn't do anything but I was already at 3cm. They took me up to labour ward and broke my waters which was completely hideous. My blood pressure was spiking so they hooked me up and took it every 15 minutes, they stuck a monitor on babies head too so I was completely immobile.

Then they hooked me up to a drip, still nothing happened and she cranked it right up. Within minutes I was contracting, I didn't have any gentle ones to start with I just went into full blown established labour, with no break I might add. I had about ten-thirty seconds between contractions.

I was screaming at my midwife to turn the fucking thing off and she said she couldn't (lol). I got pethidine at this point which was more irritating than anything else because passing out for ten seconds and being woken up again is super irritating.

I asked for an epidural but at this point I wanted to push, I didn't have much to do with it by now my body was pushing whether I liked it or not. He wasn't in the right position and coming out at a diagonal, so they rushed me off to theatre, stuck an epidural in and pulled him out with forceps.

If there is a hell, it is induction.

I have nothing new to add really. I was induced at 40+4 die to GD.
I had the drip and he was born 3 hours later. I much preferred it to my natural labour (with absolutely no pain relief) but I think that's because it was so quick)
I had the drip and wasn't allowed in the pool (not that I wanted to). I'm not sure I could have managed without the epidural. The contractions went from 0-100 in about half an hour. The epidural definitely made it more manageable. I think with a natural birth, the contractions increase grandually so your body sort of gets used to it and it's easier to cope with.
If I was to have another drip induction, I would insist on the epidural earlier (as previously said). If they said I couldn't have an epidural, I don't think I would agree to it

I had an amazing induction experience (if you don't include the bit where they assumed I would take over 24 hours to progress and shipped me out onto the antenatal ward next to this poor woman who was 20 weeks pregnant and no doubt traumatised when I almost gave birth -9cm- in the bed next to her because they filled all the rooms on the labour suite). Pessary in at 2pm, monitored at 6pm was having strong, regular contractions (every 2-3 mins and 1cm), they removed the pessary because it was "overstimulating" to see if I could go it alone... contractions continued, had a nice bath about 8pm, about 9pm still only 1cm, waters broke at 11pm then progressed very very quickly. Managed on the portable gas and air whilst begging for pain relief but couldn't have anything else because I wasn't on the labour suite, got wheeled round when a room was finally available at 2.30am, promptly delivered a shot of diamorphine, started pushing at about 3, my daughter born at 3:27. Absolutely amazing experience. I had been warned the induction could take around 5 days. I spent a lot of time bouncing on my ball from about 26 weeks as well as when I was being induced. Stay active honestly I'm sure it helped. Good luck!

Induced at 38+6 after waters broke followed by no contractions. Baby was fine so they tried the pessary with me twice with minimal or no effect and I ended up on the drip. Then things speeded up considerably. I had contractions every two minutes. When I was told that I was only 4 cm dilated and to expect for this to carry on through the night, I asked for an epidural. Was able to doze off and on after that. DS was born just before noon the following day. He was big and turned back to back so I ended up needing an episiotomy and ventouse delivery but he was strong and healthy and we were both well looked after.
I had worried about being railroaded into an interventionist delivery (my two best friends had both managed to deliver 3 babies each on gas and air only. I wanted to do the same.) The doctors and midwives were great. Although they were quite insistent in what they wanted to do, I felt they respected my opinions and concerns. They discussed the options with DH and I and explained their reasons for discarding them but we felt listened to and that we were in control despite the rapidly escalating interventions. All in all, although not the delivery I had envisioned, it was a positive experience.

allchildren Didn't believe me either!! Was 9cm on first examination and had to do it all without pain relief as "that's for people in established labour." 😳

Twinkle I was allowed the pool because I'd refused to have waters broken and the drip but no issues with it following pessary.

OP I'm also on blood thinners, and due my second. I'm in another country. They absolutely will not do an epidural with a patient on blood thinners here. So I'd be taking that part seriously and going nowhere near one.

I was induced with my first. Pessary. Baby born in 1 hour 10 mins with terrible PPH. No pain relief (don't even have gas and air here). I will be avoiding induction if at all possible this time.

On the plus side my midwives believed my DH when he said I needed help.

Allchildrengrowup, I'm glad to hear it didn't just happen with me!! Haha! Yes I agree be assertive!

Thank you all so much! You've given me a lot to think about but it has reinforced my view that I want to avoid an induction if at all possible. I have an appointment on Thursday with the Supervisor of Midwives' to discuss my options, fingers crossed. Some of you have had not nice experiences but you've all had lovely babies at the end, congrats xx