Induction questions......

[Avearage]

So have been told I won't be allowed to go past my due day and expect to be booked a induction at next appointment,

Can anyone give experience of inductions they have had good or bad,

How long??
What methods??
How many weeks we're you?
Are partners allowed there the whole time?
Can I go home ASAP?

Are they more painful than normal births?

I was induced at 37+1 with my daughter, it first started with a pessary for 24 hours, which didn't really start anything, after the 24 hours I was 2cm and could have had either a gel put on for 6 hours or my waters broken, I chose waters.

After having my waters broken, contractions ramped up loads, they waited 4 hours and checked me again, I hadn't dilated but I had thinned out so they needing to start a hormone drip, at the same time I opted for an epidural as I'd been awake for nearly 36 hours by this time. That was 10pm, both were started.

At 2am I had so much pressure but all at the front, when checked I was 8cm, half hour later I was 10cm. Because of the epidural they told me I had to wait an hour before pushing, I then pushed for an hour and my daughter was born at 4:52am.

1pm that same day I was in Tesco buying more clothes for her because she was smaller than expected! 😂

My partner and mum were there the whole time but this was pre covid

I was induced at 38weeks. It began with a pessary on the Wednesday night and baby was born Sunday evening.
It was a very calm, serene time. I walked a lot, talked a lot, napped and watch the Rugby World Cup.
Waters broke on Friday morning, syntocin started Sunday lunchtime. The syntocin contractions were hard, so I had lots of pain relief but I quietly enjoyed having a calm, baby focused time between Wed and Sun lunchtime.
Good luck.

I was induced at 40+12 (because I was overdue). Had the gel at about 10am and was allowed to go home. Contractions started at 2.30pm, thick and fast so straight back to hospital. Gave birth in the pool at 5.31pm, 3 hours later. It was fantastic.

I was induced at 38+2 and baby was born at 38+4. Pessery for 24hrs. Took about 16hr before I started getting backache and pains. Had waters broken and the drip, but also had an epidural at the same time so didnt experience any pain from then on. Actually managed to have a nice nap. Ended up needing an episiotomy and forceps delivery, but was kind of expecting that anyway. But the pain relief meant I didnt feel the stitching, and all healed fine. Ended up staying in a few days as DD had some issues, but if it wasnt for that I think I would have been out the next day (after having her at 1400) once the epidural wore off and I was fine to move freely xx

I so didn't want a section because of staying in hospital.... But it seems a induction could see me in hospital for much longer than some sections 😳 @HarrietM87 did you ask to go home in between or did they suggest? I'm desperate not to be staying any longer than needed 🙄

@Avearage it’s standard practice at our hospital for post dates inductions to be done on an “outpatient” basis - I think because, especially with first babies, they don’t think the first dose of the gel will do much so they send you home. I had an appointment booked for 10am the next day to get the second round of gel, but was getting discharged from the delivery suite with my baby by then.

You could always ask them, but if you’re being induced for medical reasons they’re probably unlikely to allow it so they can keep monitoring you.

Pessary in about 2.30pm, started getting back ache and period pains within 10 minutes. They said they weren’t going to check me for 24 hours. Pain kept ramping up, about 2am I was making a lot of fuss. Finally someone agreed to check me and I was 6cm! The first words out of my mouth were “can I have an epidural!” 😆 Husbsnd rushed to hospital (he’d been sent home at 8pm because they didn’t consider I was in active labour). Epidural was amazing but slowed things down so I had a little sleep which waiting to dilate. Got to 10cm and they left me another 2 hours before I started pushing. Pushed for 2 hours, which was the max allowed, but couldn’t get him over the coccyx bump so had an episiotomy and he popped right out at 11.15am. So nearly 24 hrs with an overnight stay. If I hadn’t had the epidural, I suspect he’d have been out in the early hours of the morning as she was telling me to get DH to rush! But I’m glad I had the epidural.

Oh and yeah, I had to stay in overnight after birth because of the epidural.