Induction stories for 38 weeks please!

[Nc1468]

I'm being induced on Sunday with baby number 2 at 38 weeks

I had an induction with number 1 as well at 37 weeks and it was absolutely awful, took 4 days and I'm absolutely dreading a repeat!

I'm hoping as this is my second baby and I'm a week further along things may go smoother for me but just seeing if anyone could tell me how their 38 week induction went please, good or bad! X

Good luck OP :)

I was induced for both my births - with DS2 I was 37+5 and the whole thing was much easier and much quicker than first time round (despite being a much earlier induction gives DS1 came at 42 weeks.) In fact my body just went with it no issues. Are you having a balloon catheter given you've already had one baby? The whole process was simple. I ended up on the drip but had an epidural beforehand so no pain. Baby came three hours later (I napped for most of it!)

I had an awful long induction at 42 weeks...
Followed by a harrowing normal lengthed induction at 36 weeks...
Polished off with my longest ever at 38 weeks.

I was calmest and most in control in my last one though. Having been to Hell and back before I wasn’t taking any nonsense... but having done it 3 times now I’m certain I’m quite finished. All the best OP. The mindset I had with my third got me through- don’t expect anything til the drip goes in, and expect the worst then and just stay alive.
You did ask for the bad... 😬

Oh and I’d just go for it and get an epidural when the drip goes in as suggested above!! The first I got it and slept like above poster, but I wasn’t allowed second time and third it only worked down one side... still only half the pain tho 🤣👍🏻

Apparently I'm having the pessary which is what I had the first time too.

I didn't have an epidural with my first, just gas and air and I had pethadine on the 4th day then labour went from 0-60mph 😂

To be fair once it got going it was so quick but I just can't stand another 4 days waiting around again and being stuck at like 3cm 🤦🏼‍♀️ xx

Have they offered you a sweep yet Op? I was due to be induced just under 38 weeks, I had a sweep 3 days before this, she arrived the next morning! (2nd baby) sweep was a total success!

I was induced at 38 weeks due to an issue with my placenta, started out with the pessary but after a few hours the doctors decided they didn’t want to wait too much longer so took that out and midwives broke my waters. They waited 2 hours but nothing happened so got put on the drip. After 7 hours of intense contractions I finally caved and had an epidural. Spent another 5 hours in some sort of delirious state until it was time to push, epidural had started to wear off by then so started to feel the contractions again when pushing, managed to get him out after an hour of pushing which ended with an episiotomy.

Good luck OP! I’m pregnant again so the experience obviously hasn’t put me off too much...

No they haven't offered me a sweep yet but I do have a consultant appointment on Thursday so they may offer me one then? I had a few sweeps with number one and they didn't do anything for me except hurt 😂 but would definitely accept one this time with the hopes of getting things going.

If at all possible I'd really love to not have an epidural as I really want to be able to go home as soon as possible, what with COVID and not being able to see my son at all and not seeing my husband except for 2 hours of the day but I definitely will not rule it out 😂

Id deffo approach the sweep issue, totally appreciate it didn’t do anything first time around .... but 2nd baby! Commmoon!

It was my first and only sweep in both pregnancies and did the trick. I didn’t need an epidural but had horrendous complications & a totally retained placenta (never knew this was a thing until DD came) so had to have a spinal post baby to get it removed!