Balloon induction

[FizzingWhizzbee123]

Just that really..... Anyone had a balloon induction? How did it go?

Bump. Anyone?

Can't really offer you any insight as I've not had it yet, but I've provisionally booked in for one next month! The reason being they said that if they are able to insert it (they need the cervix to be open a small amount to get the balloon in) that I can return home for the first part rather than stay in hospital.
I've been told if it won't go in they will then move to the pessary (which would involve staying in hospital).
The consultant said it's quite a quick procedure but if it's painful they can give me gas and air.

I’m potentially having one next week so I will watch this thread with interest. Unfortunately though no help at the moment!

I had one! I don’t think many trusts use it, it’s more pessaries, so can be hard to find out experiences. Is this your first baby? Insertion can be uncomfortable but they can offer gas and air while it’s being done - it’s manageable. Once it’s in and you feel up to it, they recommend a good walk around the hospital (May be different in covid times) and up and down stairs to try and get things going. I was induced early with my first baby so less ‘ready’ but after a few hours it still got some contractions going and I got to 2cm dilated - then I had to go through the rest of the induction process but for some women, it was all they needed to get them on their way! Good luck!

Thanks for the replies. I hadn’t heard of balloon induction before but apparently Covid has massively increased the popularity of it as an option because they can send women home instead of having to keep them in for monitoring.

It’s my second baby. I was induced by pessary with my first and hyperstimulated but was also mostly ignored until I begged a midwife to check me and I was already gone 6cm. Utter agony and I’ve point blank refused to accept prostaglandins in any form again. Discussed an ELCS, but have been persuaded to try the balloon induction as it’s apparently pretty unlikely to cause painful contractions during dilation (unlike the pessary ).

Oh that’s interesting - I guess that is a good option for low risk inductions. And based on your previous experience with the pessary this sounds like it may be a better option for you. I think the idea is it’s more natural as it encourages the cervix to dilate - I think it’s in two parts and they fill it with saline once it’s in. I found it quite uncomfortable but reckon second time around it won’t phase you! I’m pregnant with my second and would have it again if I need to be induced this time. The contractions I had with it seemed quite manageable but they were quite early stage ones, and I ended up on the drip which was something else!

I had one. It kicked things off good and proper for a few hours but then it all slowed down. Husband sent home and I was on a ward overnight - uncomfortable to be honest but it got me to 5cm by the morning. For me the balloon was used as it was deemed safer than the pessary for a VBAC.

Hi, I had one ( had to be induced at 37 weeks).

In terms on experience, it was mildly awkward and uncomfortable getting it inserted (as you would expect), but not painful at all. Then I just had it in for 24 hours. It got me to a point where they could break my waters and start the induction drip.

I ended up having a c section but that was unrelated and the balloon definitely worked.

I had one and it worked really well. As others said it was uncomfortable but not painful to be put in. I actually only had it in for 3 hours because it worked so well that it fell out after 3 hours as I had dilated to over 4cm in that time so I needed no further intervention. I actually only had a few hours of contractions then an hour of pushing after that - and it was a remarkably easy straightforward birth. I would 100% have one again without any hesitation. I much prefer the idea because it just kickstarts your body to start the natural process rather than lots of synthetic drugs.

Thanks all, really helpful to read. Did you find it was uncomfortable enough to take paracetamol or something stronger? Or was it just like period type cramps?

The pessary was utter agony. I’m hoping the balloon will work with minimal pain to allow my waters to be broken and hopefully kick everything off. If I need the drip, I’ll be having an epidural placed before it’s started, I’m not even attempting that without pain relief.

I had one. It wasn’t the most comfortable experience having it inserted - for me or my husband who had to take on the roll of the second midwife at times (legs in stirrups was his job 🤣)

I hated the feeling the gas and air gave me so instantly it changed my mind on having an epidural. After it was in, I didn’t really notice it - other than the tubes hanging down! As I was having my blood pressure monitored I couldn’t go home but if you’re low risk you can go home whilst it does it’s thing. Mine came out after about 16 hours - I think it would have been reviewed after 24 hours but obviously I never got that far. I was taken to have my waters broken 10 hours later.

Having read all the horror stories regarding pessaries the balloon was pretty straight forward and I wouldn’t hesitate to have another in the future (not that I’m planning anymore children)

I had a failed one & an awful experience. Had it in 24hrs & didn’t work, didn’t get past 1cm. No one to remove it so had it in 36hrs and only got removed due to demanding. Then a lot of drama & complications. From having it in to baby arriving was 4 days of hell.

I should have had the panned c section instead.