Tell me your tales of induction

[CatRash]

Currently being induced due to pre-eclampsia at 38 weeks and to be honest I don't know a lot about induction. Obviously the midwife has gone through what's going to happen but I'd love to hear some real stories of induction from real people!!

So please share your induction stories with me while I'm sat here waiting for something to happen - short ones, long ones, scary ones, nice ones - I'm not fussed just interested.

Mine is not a great one but with a happy ending.

Induced 36 weeks for pre eclampsia- went wrong - baby's heartbeat v slow - GA in middle of night - couldn't wait for dh to arrive- v scary - AGPAR score of 1 and SCBU.

14 years later he's a healthy strapping lad who likes to tell people he lived in a box (incubator) when born

Had pre eclampsia with next pregnancy and neither doctors or I wanted to risk induction so had elective section.

Hope your birth is trouble free and you're cuddling your baby v soon.

I was induced at 38 weeks because I had to go into labour in a controlled way. Ha!

It started on the Wednesday night with the first of several pessaries. Waters broke on Friday morning. Steady contractions on Saturday night (but mild enough to have a paracetamol and mostly sleep through them). Contractions had stopped by the time I woke on Sunday morning (boo!) but I had got to 3cm dilated (hurrah!). Went down to the labour ward Sunday lunch time and was put on a syntocinon drip. By 3pm it was all a bit intense so I had an epidural. DC1 was born vaginally at 8pm.

I rather enjoyed myself on the antenatal ward. I walked a lot. Talked to lots of interesting people. Walked some more. Read. Talked. Watched TV. It was all very serene and calm, I felt very separate from the world and that time didn't really matter - all I needed to know was that I wasn't going home until baby had arrived and it was only going to be a few days more. The pessaries were not an issue in any way - no pain or discomfort. The bed wasn't too comfy and I could have done with some earplugs for night time. The contractions on the drip were hard to cope with and I wasn't impressed with the epidural.

But I was soooo proud of myself for pushing my baby out of my body. I didn't care about being induced or using pain relief. It was as close to a "natural" birth as makes no odds and I did it myself!. I was on such an adrenalin and hormone high for days afterwards.

It was a very special experience.

Hurt like pushing a donkey out of a cat flap... epidural all the way

Induced at 41+5.

Went in on Wednesday morning and started hormone pessaries. Walked around the hospital for miles to try and start something. When I was examined I was 2cm dilated, everything was very positive and I opted to wait until the next morning for waters to be broken to see if I could start myself....nothing.

Went to labour suite and had my waters broken, Pitocin started, laboured for 12 hours or so. Gas and air was wonderful, I helped me. Although I didn't think the labour pains were the worst part of the experience, they were manageable. The examinations were pretty painful, but little did I know I'd developed an infection, which probably made me more tender. I blame the sweeps I had days before.

In the end I failed to progress further than about 6cm and my waters were getting mirky so I had an EMCS during the night.

I wouldn't choose induction again. I didn't enjoy being restricted to the bed, I was desperate to move around. Next time round I would love a natural birth but if I'm overdue I will be skipping the induction for an ELCS instead.

They started induction with me at 38 weeks due to OC, this was on the 23rd of Dec . The 24hr pessery didn't really do anything. So late on the 24th they put me on the hormone drip and 6 hours later on Christmas day I had to go for an emergency c section because of my son's heart rate.

He's now 2 and half and currently jumping all over daddy.

Induced at 38+6 due to waters breaking 24 hours earlier and labour not starting. Was also due to be induced for low waters the next day but my waters decided to go prematurely after a sweep a couple of days before.

Pessary at 1pm, went off for a walk around. Contractions started an hour later, baby out at half 5.

Very very painful but not due to induction I don't think, I dialate very quickly and painfully, went from 2cm to pushing in less than a minute. Managed with tens and gas and air.

Oh and good luck!

I was induced at 40+4 due to waters going and meconium in them. They gave me the drip and 1 hour 54 minutes later ds was born! It was a lovely quick birth! He was in a good position and came out easily (unlike dd but she wasn't induced although was augmented with the drip)

Induced twice.

Ds1 at 40+16! (Hospital was full and had to wait for a bed!)
For some reason no pessary (maybe I was already dilated or because I was so overdue?) but straight on the drip and waters broken. Has an epidural at some point. Ds1 born 12 hours later, now complications, home within 12 hours of delivery

Ds2 at 40+14, I was given pessary at lunch time, 6 hrs later I started to get mild contractions, A bed became available in the midwife unit, which meant no epidural, but I was so fed up with being pregnant, I couldn't bare to wait any longer for a clinical bed. Ds2 was born within 45 mins of arriving in the room, he flew out after 4 pushes, in less than 15 mins! I had 2nd degree tearing due to him being born so quickly and weighing 10 pounds! Only used gas and air. I bit on the mouth piece so hard, that it hurt to chew food for about 2 weeks after! He was born at 830pm so I chose to stay in overnight, we went home the following morning.

38+2, big baby shooting up centiles.

Pessary, walk lots. periodic cramps. 24 hours and cervix had at least softened, but not labour, midwife said 1-2cm but she couldn't break waters. Registrar came and rummaged and did. 2pm

Labour started, cont monitoring but not done enough so drip from 8pm.

Contractions ramped up. Gas and air, sick, so antiemetic. Tired so a bit of diamorphine just to take edge off. Was v resistant to opiates beforehand.

Pushing sometime after midnight (vague), some signs of distress, so episiotomy and out he popped (literally) at 1:20 with cord round neck, but fine. I bled quite a bit. Stitched up, managed third stage, wheeled to mat ward around 4am sat morning.

Went home 3pm sun once feeding sorted as he and i both so tired on the sat. Plus they needed to do bloods and decide whether to give me a transfusion or not, decided not so stuck on iron tablets and feeling like I'd been through a mangle plus 10days of clexane jabs.

He's 3weeks tomorrow. Stitches healing well and finally starting to feel human, at least on nights where i get a bit of sleep

38 weeks because of gestational diabetes. Went in to be induced Mon morning. 3 failed pesseries. Had mild labour pains for about an hour on Mon night and then nothing. Didn't dialate a mm so they couldn't break my waters. Consultant gave up on me and I had a section Thurs pm. Despite being told DD was going to be huuuuge she was 6lb 13!

Induced at 41+12. Had pessary at 2pm, my waters spontaneously broke at 8pm, contractions started at 4am and delivered just before 5am. Was pretty lucky I guess.

Induced at 37 weeks due to lack of movement. I hyper stimulated to the pessary so only had 1 as baby was in distress. Waters broken and hooked up to syntocin drip which they increased very slowly in case of any more hyper stimulation. 24 hours of contractions, 3 hours of pushing, an episiotomy and forceps my DD was born.

My advice would be: take ear plugs and extra pillows in case you are in hospital for days before labour actually kicks off properly; likewise take books, films, music etc in case you're in for the long haul and also clothes you are comfortable to walk around in, as pp say you end up walking miles to try and bring on labour and an easy access nightie is not really ideal for this.

Good luck!!

With dd2 (dc3) I was induced at 36+6 due to kidney problems (mine). They did their best to keep her in until term and that was as far as we got, not bad!

I was induced with a pessary at 6am (went back to sleep until 8), was 1cm at 1pm and very dissolutioned! At 5pm I was fairly sure I was getting there and was 6cm - by the time I walked to delivery (2mins!) I was pushing! Dd2 was born at 6.01pm. My cervix had been really unfavourable in the morning but lots and LOTS of walking about seemed to help and it was 12 hours start to finish. I literally didn't sit down all day which I'm sure helped. Dh was more tired than me at the end!!

I'm not sure what made it work, bit tempted to say sheer desperation!

I have had 2 inductions both at 39 wks due to gestational diabetes

Ds1

Took in and first gel given at 9pm on the Thursday night. After few hours felt a little cramping however took paracetamol and managed to sleep until midwife came again at 6am and checked me. Cervix had softened but given another gel. Then went a walk later in day with my partner around hospital. About 3pm was checked again and 3rd gel given. More contractions after that. At 9pm they checked again and decided that they would take me to labour suite and break waters. Didn't get taken to labour suite until midnight. Was taken around examined and they could feel babies head but i was only 3cm dilated so they burst my waters and put me on hormone drip. After about 30/45 mins i said i needed to push but midwife didn't believe me as mine was on her break. She came back and examined me and i was fully dilated on gas and air only. Decided i needed to try and push however baby was getting distressed. Had to get a snipe and within 20 mins baby was born naturally with only gas and air. So from waters broke to baby born was only 2 hrs. I got stitched up and had some tea and toast then a wee bath and actually managed to walk with baby to the ward. That was at 6am the sat morning And i was home for 2pm the Sunday

2nd baby

Took in on the Wednesday night. Didn't get first gel till 1am. Nothing really happened. They examined me again at 9am and gave me
2nd gel. Some mild contractions and they decided i didn't need anymore gels and had to wait for labour suite space. Didn't get taken until 11am on the Friday. Took down to labour suite. Waters broken at 11:30am and contractions started. Started gas and air with hormone drip. After 5 hrs the doctor examined me and realised the baby had his hand sticking down and i had to have an emergency c section. Took straight through and my 2nd son was born at 5:58pm and was perfect. Was in ward for 8pm that night. Baby was looked after by midwifes that night due to me still being numb from section. Got up at 7am on the Saturday showered and walking about not in much pain at all from section. Was home by 12pm on the Sunday.

Currently 34 wks pregnant at moment and due to c section with 2nd baby and him only going to be 16 months when baby here i have decided on a c section again as have gestational diabetes again and also group b strep. Also as this is my 3rd baby i have decided to get sterilised so both done in one operation. I will be taken in on 17 august and cant wait till over with this time as this pregnancy has been the worst.

Hopefully contractions start soon and baby will be with you quickly xx

I was inducec at 39 weeks, I had the pessary put in at midnight and had niggly cramps just like period pains. I was checked at 6am and had waters broken and four hours later I was holding my dc! My experience was nice and easy so hopefully yours is similar, good luck!

Thank you all for your stories and taking the time to write them - they've been really interesting to read!! It seems like the drip seems to be the magic ingredient in a lot of them!

I had the pessary inserted just before midday and found it really painful!! I actually broke out in a sweat!! Since then I've had period type pains but nothing too intense. Also feels like someone's punched me in the fanjo.

I've sent DH home for the night as don't think anything's going to happen tonight and I'd like to try and get some sleep as slept so badly last night.

Keep the stories coming as reading with interest!!

Good luck. I hope the pessary works for you. Contractions on the drip are so painful! Took me 5 hours of gas and air and then I caved for the epidural after the midwives suggestion.

I was induced at 40 + 4 due to cholestasis (sp?)

Got the gel at about 2/3pm and started contracting immediately after. As in within minutes I was pressing the buzzer asking for a midwife as I was about to deliver. First baby was all hippie chic in a water pool with gas and air. With this one I was asking to be hooked up to a remifentanyl drip immediately! Just because it all moved so quickly really. Was in active labour for about 2.5 hours before he was born. More painful than my first but super fast so all in all a great success!

Good luck (ps the remi was AMAZING) ;-)

Haven't had one but my SIL did. Doctor recommended an epidural upfront, she declined, several hours later, she took the epidural. She says if she needs to be induced this time, she'll take the epidural from the start.

Just to clarify, I'm fairly sure that was the drip. Take the epidural at the same time you start the drip (contracts ramp up to be strong very fast)

Good luck

Was induced on Tuesday afternoon - had a pessary, nothing after 24 hrs. Was not prepared for how invasive that process was... had another type (gel maybe?) put in on Wednesday ... nothing.

They said to keep moving as much as possible, and next step would have been to inflate my cervix with a balloon (terrifying thought) but fortunately on a walk round the hospital my waters broke (Thursday afternoon)

We thought that meant I could try for a natural birth from then on, but was sent up to the labour ward at about 1am on Friday and put on a drip. Was v much on the back foot, hadn't realised that 95% of first time mothers who are induced end up on the drip (as doctor told us).

Managed with gas and air for about 6 hours, was fine (aside from crushing exhaustion thanks to the bitches on the ante natal ward who chatted all night/quarrelled with midwives/stopped everyone from getting much sleep).

I asked the amazing, no nonsense midwife what I should do about pain relief. She explained there was potentially a long time to go still and there are no prizes for being in pain - so I took the epidural - best advice ever.

All was fine until I came to push. Baby's heart rate wasn't dropping so was rushed into theatre - forceps delivery. The NHS are amazing and I'm extremely grateful to all the people that helped bring DD into the world.

At the time, DH and I found it all quite hard to deal with as we just didn't really know what was going on/were a step behind. But now it's just memory. Wish you all the best for the safe delivery of your little one!

Just realised that reads as if it were last Tuesday - this was several months ago!

I was induced at 37+2 due to pre eclampsia which turned into HELLP. On admission I was told not to expect baby to be here for about 24 hours. I was given pessary about 17.15 and contractions started not long after and waters broke.

Due to low platelets I wasn't allowed an epidural, that was fun as was the catheter. Midwives told me my condition was getting worse so it was looking likely I'd be taken for c-section under general but luckily DD had ideas and came shooting out at 1.07am. Her fast delivery caused her to come out in shock so she had to be given oxygen. That's a moment that will stay with me forever .

My midwife ended up being sent across to A&E as when she cut the cord the blood shot out straight into her eye .

Good luck