41+2 weeks pregnant, and petrified about being induced next week.

[Daisy92]

Hey all! I'm over a week past my due date now and I've just been booked in for an induction next week.

I've been given a leaflet about it, and I've read a lot of info online, but I was wondering if anyone can share their personal experiences of being induced with me?

I'm excited to FINALLY meet my baby boy, but I'm still nothing short of petrified about the whole process.. Eep.

I was only induced with 1/3 dc, was dreading it as the 2 people I’d known to have experienced it told me it took 2-3 days. Pessary went in at 10.30pm on due date, baby in my arms at 6.30am. It was very intense, but I was being induced to go health issues so it could have been made worse by that, or the fact baby weighed more than most 1 month olds...

Hopefully you’ll go yourself soon but if not don’t stress, he’ll be here before you know it 😊

*due to health issues

I was induced with my first at just before 35 weeks. I was also really nervous but it was honestly ok. I had a pessary for a few hours - that was taken out and then my waters were broken and the drip put in. That took maybe 8-10 hours. It was very intense but manageable. I'm now almost 40 weeks and probably getting induced at 41 and whilst I'd prefer to go naturally, I'm ok with another induction.

Good luck - and remember you might go into labour naturally before then!

I was in your position only last year! In fact I cried all the way home when the midwife booked my induction. I had two natural labour's previously so couldn't understand what my body was doing. I used clary sage oil after that, few drops in the bath, one or two on a hanky and inhale now and then, one or two drops mixed with carrier oil and rubbed into body after bath. I went into labour naturally 3 days before I was due to be induced.
I hope you do too! Good luck!

Epidural before drip that's my advice!

I was induced at 38 weeks due to reduced movements. Had the first pessary at 11am and had DD by 4.30pm the same day! All happened so quick I didn't have time for any pain relief but everything was fine!

I would definitely advise having a bath when your pains worsen (this isn't just for being induced I just mean generally in labour) helped me loads!!

Good luck

You do know you can decline induction and have expectant management if you'd rather?

I had my waters broken and had the drip at 39+1. It was a really positive experience, mostly because labour was nothing compared to the hypertension headaches.

It got intense quicker than spontaneous labour, but was also much shorter, so it seemed like a good trade off for me. I ended up needing forceps in theatre, but that wasn't to do with the induction, it was poor positioning. But it wasn't actually scary in the end, it was weirdly fun and the recovery was much easier than my spontaneous labour. I needed an epidural in theatre to keep my blood pressure down. I didn't feel it go in and they took two attempts, so if you want one don't be nervous about them.

Induction isn't bad at all! But as so many complex cases require induction you hear a lot of horror stories. The reality is usually pretty similar to spontaneous labour, only without waiting at home for hours wondering if it's time to go in.

Good luck!!

I was recently induced 11 days overdue with DS3. Like you I was scared & really didn’t want to be induced. When the midwife examined me my cervix was hard, high & unfavourable. She wasn’t able to reach it to do a sweep. I thought I was in it for the long haul as my body wasn’t at all ready. A 24hr pessary was put in at 12.30pm, my waters broke naturally at 4.30pm & contractions soon followed. I had my baby by 9.30pm that day! For me the labour was very similar to with DS2 & was a very positive experience. Best of luck! X