Positive induction experiences

[Snorlax86]

Hi all

I’m likely to have an induction. I know everyone’s induction/labour is completely different but I was wondering if there are any positive induction stories out there to calm my nerves, as well as the time it took from being admitted into hospital for the induction to meeting baby.

Thank you!

My induction wasn't terrible but I wouldn't volunteer for one again.
Our 1st. Went in to hospital at 39+2 with high bp and they decided best to induce. Started off 39+3 with pessary, contractions started but fizzled out so was given another pessary. Was dilated enough to go to delivery at 39+6, I was given hormone drip and things were slow. Was sick and ended up off my head on G&A, they talked me in to epidural. Once that was in the cranked hormone drip up to max, was pretty chilled from then until they spotted babies heart rate dropping. They wanted her out fast so used vontouse and gave me an episiotomy, she had cord round neck and was blue. They sorted her out and then brought her to me while they stitched me up. I was given a bed bath in delivery suite (not had that with younger ones) but was able to walk pretty quickly, I did get told off for getting out of bed. Birth was late in the day so I stayed in that night and the next. 6 days total, each birth I've spent less time in hospital.

Oh delivery was 7hr 38 mins from them breaking waters

I remember being in your position 9 weeks ago, looking for positive induction stories on mumsnet as I was nervous. Everything went well for me, I actually kind of enjoyed it a bit, in a weird way!

I went in at Nov 30th for my 2nd induction (DD2). Pessary didn't do much (it didn't last time either). Went to have waters broken on Dec 1st in the evening, that didn't do much either. I started on the syntocinon drip that evening, active labour started 3am Dec 2nd, and baby arrived at 5:35 Dec 2nd. All in all it was a very positive experience Good luck! You can do this

I was induced at 40+6 just incase as I had low Papp-a. If given the option this time, I would choose to be induced again. I liked how we calmly went to the hospital with everything prepared and then once you're there, you can't be sent home.

Pessary at 11pm Thurs, started mild contractions Friday lunch time which gradually became less mild but not bad. Then it really ramped up suddenly at 10.30pm. Midwife said I was only 3cm at 12.30am (now technically Saturday) but I had her at 2.12am. It was all pretty intense at the end but glad to have got through it quickly.

Normal delivery with gas and air :) my biggest fear was tearing - I did tear but didn't even realise at the time and they stitched me up and all was good

Good luck! I actually look back on it all fondly

This was me 10 weeks ago too but please don't be scared! As someone else said it is nice how controlled and calm it is going into hospital.
I had the pessary inserted on the Wednesday at 10pm and then tried to get some sleep. I felt a few twinges but my bishop's score was a 2 so I wasn't expecting much (I was 38 weeks). 10.30am the next morning (Thurs) my waters broke spontaneously everywhere and my contractions pretty much started straight away. I was moved straight to the delivery suite. I did have the hormone drip but I managed on gas and air and some diamorphine. Baby was born 3.26am Friday.
You'll be amazing and nothing beats that moment when you hold your baby in your arms! It will all be worth it :) Good luck!! Xx

I was induced at 40+3 after reduced movements the evening before. Everything was okay but I was already high risk, they were having a quiet evening/morning and I was due to be induced a few days later anyway so they went ahead. They could see baby was ready anyway. I think back and it was a great experience to be honest. My husband was allowed to be there throughout (this was September in Scotland so things were slightly calmer) but a nurse stayed with me throughout. They broke my waters and put me on the drip. A midwife and student midwife were with me for the first 6 or 7 hours. They were lovely and we just chatted rubbish between contractions. I had a failed epidural so was given diamorphine to take the edge off which was great. When that started to wear off, they tried the epidural again and it worked. I much preferred the epidural as I was mentally sounds with it, whereas the diamorphine I was just high as a kite! They had a shift swap over a few hours before my boy was born, they were very thorough and explained everything. The student nurse even stuck around for an extra half hour of her own time as she wanted to be there and I was so close!

I ended up having a major bleed and my boy was born with a condition which we were unaware of during pregnancy, which resulted in an NICU stay, but these were both unrelated to being induced.

We're not planning anymore babies, but if we were I wouldn't bat an eye at another induction

Thank you so much to you all for taking the time to respond. I really do appreciate the positive stories as often all you hear are the horrors which can make something unknown (FTM) seem even more daunting!

May I ask what you're likely to be induced for? And at what gestation? It's not important, but others who were induced for similar reasons/similar gestation might have more targeted advice.

As for me, I was induced at 37 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. I'd already been in the hospital for a week prior to the induction, but from the time the induction started to meeting baby was about 32 hours, of which 11.5 was actual labour. I consider it a very positive induction. It did take the drip running at the penultimate max dose to get labour started, but once things got going, everything was pretty much textbook. No interventions and a minor second degree tear. Thanks to the diamorphine, I was even quite well rested as I was sound asleep between contractions.

Good luck with everything. ❤️

I've got 3 dd and 2 of them needed an induction. Dd1 was as happy as Larry in there so was induced. I went in on a Tuesday at 2. Needed two pessaries to get things going. Tuesday and Wednesday were fine but boring (bring things to do). The worst bit was when they asked dh to leave on Tuesday night. They broke my waters at 7:00pm on Wednesday and dd1 was born at 1:16pm on Thursday. I did have an epidural. Yes it hurt before the epidural but I felt like the midwives were in control and knew what was happening every step of the way. On the paperwork they said that I was in labour for 37 hours and active labour for 1 1/2 hours. Sounds a lot of pushing but the epidural meant I didn't feel much. My sister (who was childless at the time) asked me if I would do it again quite soon afterwards and I remember saying yes.

Dd2 was completely natural, very quick, no drugs (not out of choice she was too quick) Hurt like hell and I felt like the midwives were out of control. Although my body did know what it was doing. It was a bizarre experience.

Dd3 was a complete surprise and when I found out I was pregnant I remember crying because I didn't want to give birth again like dd2. Fortunately dd3 had reduced movement so they induced her at 41 weeks. I had a balloon thing, was uncomfortable but didn't hurt as such. That didn't work so they gave me the gel I think. I preferred it to dd2 as everything was slower and more controlled. I went in on Thursday, came home Thursday night. Went it Friday and stayed in. Dd3 was born Saturday morning at 7:44. I didn't have an epidural but did have other drugs. Active birth was 4 minutes.

If you've got this far I'm impressed. Basically if I was going to do it again I'd rather an inducement. I felt the midwives were in control and everything felt slower.
Good luck. It's completely worth it!

I was induced a few months ago with my first as I was two weeks overdue. Although it didn't go to plan (ended in emergency c-sec) and it was the opposite of what I wanted, I would still say it was a positive experience. I felt really well cared for, and in some ways I quite like that I didn't have to struggle with contractions at home with no help or pain relief.

I was induced at 37+3 with pregnancy 2 because of concerns. I had 24 hours with pessary, which gave contractions but didn't trigger dilation, waters broken, then two hours after that I went on the drip. Ten hours after that, I had baby. It was a straightforward birth with no complications, and I'd previously had a spontaneous vaginal birth, which I knew increased the chances of the induction being successful. 36 hours from pessary insertion to baby out.

While I would rather have had the chance for a spontaneous labour so I could water birth again, my induction was overall a good experience and I wouldn't have any fears if I ever had to have another. I'd go for balloon induction over drip if I ever had the chance.

I had a bit of a rough time but not so much over the induction, I was in very ill health with pre eclampsia at the time and a issue with my heart. But I will say, I had the pessary didn’t do much but when they put the gel in I flew along. I literally gave birth within hours. Got the epidural it worked beautifully but did have a forceps delivery. Please keep in mind though my heart also played a part in this decision and they wanted baby out fast as because I was unwell it was making baby unwell too. I am due to be induced again and it’s much less scary knowing the actual process inside out. Personally I will be insisting on an epidural early as I was eight or nine cm last time and the relief it gave I would have enjoyed the birth a ton more if I had it sooner!

I was induced at 42 weeks - I made the decision to leave it as long as possible to try and allow myself to go into labour naturally but it wasn’t to be.
Went in at 11am on a Thursday - this was in Covid times so no partner allowed yet - put on the monitors for a bit and then pessary in at 12. Bounced on a ball all afternoon and then started having mild contractions at about 430pm. Waters broke themselves an hour later, pessary taken out and as soon as that happened contractions were 3 in 10. Left to contract away for the evening and then moved to labour ward about 11pm where partner could join me. Examined and was only 1cm - the pessary had made me contract a lot but hadn’t done much by way of dilation. Second pessary put in over night - that was the worst bit in my opinion. The contractions were pretty intense. Examined again at 7am - 1.5cm!!! After that they said I needed the drip - no problem but I wanted an epidural. Best. Decision. Ever.
After that I managed to sleep and chat, such a relief. Baby arrived at 5pm on the Friday. Had quite a few examinations over the day - my heart rate shot up and so did baby’s. Ended up with an infection but just meant antibiotics for us both and as extra few days in the hospital. Whilst there, I got loads of support with feeding so I’m actually really glad I was able to stay.

I was induced with DS, went in at 38+2 for IUGR, pessary put in that night for 24 hours, started mild contractions but did nothing, refused the gel that night as hadn't slept then 38+4 had gel in the morning, hadn't dilated but waters could be broken, had a sweep and sent to labour ward 4pm that day where everything really picked up, epidural in and then the hormone drip started as wasn't dilating, realised his heart rate was dropping, had the cord double wrapped round his neck so I had to get him out quick, pushed in 20 minutes baby born 38+5 3.15am. With only a few labial tears. Went home that day at 6pm. So all in all 4 days in hospital, wasn't a bad experience xx

I was induced at 38 weeks as they found I'd lost my amniotic fluid. I was given the pessary then allowed to go home to collect some bits. Got home, had some food, got in the shower and went into labour. Baby was born 5 hours later. The speed of it all did mean that the contractions were very strong and painful but I didn't need any interventions or pain relief so for me it was a really positive experience.

Everyone's experience is completely different but the midwifes and doctors will be doing everything to ensure that you and baby are safe throughout. Good luck!

I was induced at 41 weeks, took 12 hours for anything to start happening but when it did DD was born within 2 hours no pain relief needed just gas and air. All a positive experience for me. Good luck

Thank you everyone for taking the time to share your experiences. It has definitely helped calm my nerves and manage my expectations that everyone is completely different!