Induction: if it only took the pessary to go into labour once will it be the case again?

[Whatthedoodle]

I have a 1 year old DS and with him I had high bp from around 33 weeks. It was well managed but I was induced at 39 weeks to be on the safe side. I’m under a consultant for my current pregnancy (26 weeks) and she said even if bp is fine they’re likely to not let me go over my due date. Which got me thinking..

I’ve always hated the thought of being induced because it’s such a long process. When I was induced I had the pessary at 9.30pm and wasn’t due to be checked for 24 hours. I felt fine until 4am and then started getting full blown contractions and DS was born at 7.40. I’d had a couple of sweeps that week and told my cervix was favourable but that was about it.

I’m just wondering if I need to be induced what is the likelihood of it just taking the pessary? Has anyone had 2 similar induction experiences?

I know it’s probably impossible to tell and I’m hoping to not need an induction anyway but I wanted to ask for other women’s experiences.

I had a similar experience to you with DS1 - pessary in about 1am, didn't need any further interventions and DS born at 1.41pm. I was 42 weeks though, so I think my body was ready to go.

Induced with DS2 earlier, at 39+1, and it took longer, much faff with hyperstimulation, stopping contractions and starting again the next day, needed to have my waters broken and go on the drip. But then delivered after only two hours on the drip (with an epidural) so it was still ok! I think I just wasn't as ready second time, but once my uterus remembered what it was supposed to do it got on with things properly!

When I was induced at 41 (first) and 40 (third) it took 3 pessaries at 8/12 hour intervals and ARM

When I was induced at 42+3 and 42 it just took the one and was done in 10 hours and 11 hours respectively (officially 2 minute Labour but obviously the contractions we're going on for a few hours I just don't dilate easily)

So for me the longer the gestation the easier it was.

If you are a similar gestation provided baby isn't in a different unfavourable position such as back to back I would anticipate it being similar tbh.

Just remembered I actually had 2 pessaries with the last one 6 hours apart an hour after the 2nd one I started on the gas and air!

Not for me both times induced at 39 weeks, one pessary for first Labour , second Labour 3 pessaries , waters broken and a drip to stimulate contractions , took a lot longer .

But I will add there was 10 years between my labours so this may play a factor in why my second Labour was not easier.

My first 2 were induced a week after their due date by pessary, inserted in the morning and baby born early evening.

Baby 3 induced a week before their due date took pessaries inserted two days in a row with not a twinge, then a rest day followed by induction by drip on the 4th day.

I am not sure you can ever really tell how it will go!

Thank you for sharing your experiences! This will be my third baby, first was born at 36 weeks so I didn’t need an induction however he was back to back so I opted for an epidural. It took 4 attempts and 3 different people to try it and when it eventually worked it only worked on 1 half of me, but at that point i just left it.

When I was induced with DS2 I opted again for the epidural before they could break my waters, it took 3 attempts and when they finished it was in the wrong place so didn’t work at all. My labour progressed so quickly that by the time they came back to fix it I was ready to push. I don’t think I could even attempt it again if I need the hormone drip, with my first labour because he was back to back I needed the hormone drip for the pushing stage as my contractions just disappeared.l it was so intense (for the one side of me that could feel it anyway) so I don’t think I could do the drip without.

I suppose it does depend on your gestation, my cervix had been favourable for about a week and I’d had 3 sweeps on the run up to the inductions. Hopefully IF I need to be induced again it’ll be similar but I guess we’ll just wait and see!

My cervix was never favourable, with DC 4 @ 42 weeks the 6 hour check after the first pessary my Bishops Score was 1 🙄

It was 1 before I got pregnant!!!

I was so cross 😂

Exactly the same for me, in all respects (high bp in previous pregnancy, now 26 weeks, will be induced somewhere between 36 and 39 weeks). When I asked they said that the pessary/cooks balloon is to open the cervix enough to break waters and that for some women who’ve given birth before the cervix doesn’t close completely and so they can break the waters straight away. So I’ve got my fingers crossed for that!

Would like it to be all sorted so I can get back to my toddler without spending nights and nights in hospital! I was in for a week last time.

@FudgeSundae before I was induced with my second and I had my first sweep, the midwife actually said if she was allowed she could have broke my waters then because of the way my cervix was. It was my second child so maybe that’s why! Although by the time I got to being induced, the midwife checked my cervix and said she wouldn’t break them before the pessary as I was so uncomfortable (I had so much trapped wind!!) so I had the pessary which wasn’t too bad I’m just hoping if I’m induced again I have a similar experience. Although I hope I go into labour naturally!

[quote Whatthedoodle]@FudgeSundae before I was induced with my second and I had my first sweep, the midwife actually said if she was allowed she could have broke my waters then because of the way my cervix was. It was my second child so maybe that’s why! Although by the time I got to being induced, the midwife checked my cervix and said she wouldn’t break them before the pessary as I was so uncomfortable (I had so much trapped wind!!) so I had the pessary which wasn’t too bad I’m just hoping if I’m induced again I have a similar experience. Although I hope I go into labour naturally![/quote]
Why wasn’t the midwife allowed to break your waters? Mine told me they would if they could...

@FudgeSundae I’m not sure because my SIL went to MAU with pains a few weeks before (we were due 5 weeks apart) and was told if they could have broke her waters they would. The midwife said to me they’re not allowed but she was giving me a sweep which is supposed to bring on labour anyway so I’m not sure. I was under a consultant for the high bp and apparently none of the other doctors on MAU could override his decision, he didn’t want me to be induced at 38 weeks when DS wasn’t moving (monitor had picked up no movement at all) and even the midwives were concerned but he refused induction and insisted I go in every day for monitoring. I had chosen to take part in a study into women with high BP but I found out that the study insists induction at 40 weeks with no sweeps beforehand, I pulled out because I wanted to give myself the best chance of labouring naturally (hoping the sweeps would help) but the consultant didn’t seem happy with it. I had also swelled up so much I was unrecognisable and cried a few days before 39 weeks and begged to just have it over with a week early. I think he just wanted me to get to my due date so I would be able to take part in said study.

Sorry for rambling