Talk to me about inductions!

[RedPandaMama]

I'm now 6 days overdue, booked in for an induction this weekend. I know the baby could come spontaneously sometime this week but it's really not seeming that way - no mucus plug, no real 'signs', midwife said cervix isn't seeming ready yet.

Anyway, I was just wondering what to expect! She said Sunday they'll put some sort of tablet inside me and give it 24 hours to dissolve and hopefully bring on contractions, and if not then they'll 'go ahead with the induction' but that's all I've really been told and it makes me nervous!

I was dreaming of a gas and air relaxing water birth. I struggle with anxiety and the idea of lots of medical intervention and drugs makes me nervous.

Can you tell me your induction stories, good or bad, including pain relief and how long it took? I feel like knowing more about it might reduce my nerves!

Why don't you wait it out a bit longer? Upto 42 weeks is considered full term. Inductions aren't pleasant and I'm pretty certain you won't be in the water on gas and air unfortunately.

Oh op - I wish I had a nicer story to share!

I went in to hospital for pessary at 9am on a Friday morning. Contractions started, but I didn't dilate. I had 24 hours of contractions, but was only 1cm dilated.

At 9am the following morning (Saturday) I had a faster acting gel inserted. Again, contractions started up, but no dilation.

On Sunday morning, after a pretty horrible night of contractions and no sleep, I was 3cms dilated and moved to delivery where I had pethedine. It didn't work.

Mid-afternoon, totally exhausted, I asked for an epidural. At around 4pm, I was hooked up to the drip.

My daughter finally put in an appearance at 9pm after an episiotomy

I was so, so tired.

I was induced at 37 weeks due to pre eclampsia.

They started with two pessaries with 12 hours in between each one. That did nothing and they used a prostin (?) tablet then. That started the contractions, and then once they had a bed free on the labour ward, they broke my waters and put me on a drip. Once the drip got going, labour was nice and quick and DD was out in three pushes.

It was a great experience. I had scare stories from some of the second-time mums on the ward about how terrifying it would be and to demand an epidural before they even break your waters. I had one diamorphine injection at some point as the contractions ramped up but once that wore off, I just used gas and air.

You're supposed to have constant monitoring with the bands around your bump if you're being induced but they don't work on me (previous surgery so they sit funny on my scar and don't register contractions) so they put a clip on DD's head and monitored her that way, so I was able to keep moving throughout the process. If you can request that, it really does help.

I'd gladly have an induction again. The only reason it took so long to get going was because DD was 3 weeks early, and once it was properly started with the waters breaking, it felt like no time until she was in my arms :) I wouldn't even have said the contractions were hugely intense - people said they'd be much more intense on the drip but they were totally bearable. It was a happy, fun experience and I'd have that birth again a million times over.

Best of luck! Fingers crossed baby arrives before then but if not, try not to panic - they can be amazing birth experiences :)

Hi, slightly less traumatic story to share -
At 39 weeks I was induced for medical reasons, Weds 4pm pessary, by the early hours of the morning i had strong period pain. Had a whole day of contractions but was 5cm by 7pm. Took me into delivery, gas and air, pethedine (not a big fan of that) Was all going well but baby got stuck and contractions stopped so ended up in surgery with a spinal and forceps but born at 3am on the Friday. Don't think the drama at the end had anything to do with being induced..
wasn't any more a complicated birth than is possible without induction.
Good luck! X

I was induced with all 4 of mine as overdue. Only needed pessaries and 2 x ARM - no drips, had epidural with first three though. No rips no tears no forceps unassisted deliveries.

It is tedious waiting for them to work and it hurts without the contractions being particularly effective. Found tens machine really effective.

Thank you for your honest experiences. Some of them sound bad but at least I know a bit more what it's possible to expect!

MissBax I would wait a bit longer but my hospital induces at 40+10 and Sunday will make me 40+11. I'm also so uncomfortable - not sleeping, painful stomach, constant back pain and hormonal to the point where I'm crying about 8 times a day - I just want her out now. I would rather it be naturally but to be honest I feel like I've been waiting forever already.

I have a positive induction story! Was also peeved cos was eyeing up the midwife led unit and wanted a water birth. Was induced at 40+4 after waters broke but nothing happened after that.
Went in in the morning, pessary didn't start contractions so was put on the drip in the evening. Was on the labour ward but they kept the lights low etc, had a lovely midwife and was able to walk about around the bed and found it most comfy in a sort of semi- squatting position over the bed with dp on back rubbing duty and playing lovely music via his phone! I declined epidural at the beginning because I did want a natural birth if possible and had heard it can be harder to go with the contractions if I had an epidural and also it might lead to further medical interventions.
Anyway the contractions were manageable, for some reason I didn't feel the effects of gas and air so abandoned that and dd arrived after only 2.5 hrs of labour and 2 codeine, and I have an overall good memory of her birth! I tried some hypnobirthing techniques beforehand and that helped keep me relaxed.
You can still customise the experience to an extent on the labour ward and don't worry about all the scare stories people are so keen to tell you for some reason when you're pregnant! All the best

Ahh I'm sorry you're having such a hard time OP - I'm due in 2 weeks and already struggling myself. Would also love for it to be a natural occurrence, but know that it may well not be. Keep us posted with how everything goes please! And good luck

I had to be induced for my second at 37 weeks due to OC. I'd got myself in such a state that I had managed to convince myself I would die in child birth! What I actually experienced was a calm, controlled and beautiful birth. Don't get me wrong, some parts weren't exactly pleasant but I look back on it with joy. With my first I was 40 +4 with absolutely no sign and then all of a sudden I had a massive unmistakable contraction across my back and away I went. I hope it all goes well for you, you may not need to be induced it can sneak up on you in minutes, but if you are take one step at a time.

No induction story but don't lose hope. Nothing at all was happening to me and I was all set to go in and be induced at 40+11 but actually went into spontaneous labour very quickly at 40+9, he came very early on 40+10.

You definitely can refuse induction, though they would need to keep a close eye on you in this case.