Let's talk about induction

[Kiyentai]

I'm currently 36 weeks and 3 days. I am currently dilated 2 cm, which I guess is normal. Baby's head is down and in position, and she can feel his head resting on my cervix. My OB is saying she wants to induce me at 39 weeks, and while I was originally okay with this, after talking to some people now I am not so sure I want to be induced..as I have been told it often leads to a C section anyway. I really don't want to be that mom that goes into labor for 20 hours, don't progress, and then have a C section after all of that. She is hoping I go into labor on my own.

I am planning to speak to my OB next Monday on her reasoning as to why she wants to induce me at 39 weeks. I am guessing it is because I have recently expressed my concern on previous hip/lower back injuries and not wanting to injure myself further as I'm already having some pretty significant discomfort, but I'm not sure if this is the reason.

For those that have been induced, I would like to hear your experience. Would you prefer it? It is something you would do again? Good, bad? Pros, cons?

Hi. So I had an induction due to my waters leaking.
Was given a pessary at 10pm and then they had lack of staff to start the drip so didn't start that until 7am. I was on the drip from 7am and baby arrived at 6pm.

Certainly prefer that to a csection only reason my recovery was difficult was because I had a 3rd degree tear. But that was nothing to do with the induction.

I do know that being induced is a more painful labour than natural. But that's it.

All three of mine were inductions
They were fine if the last one a little too fast meaning readmission and monitoring

But labours and deliveries all fine
Not assisted
No emergencies and I managed without epidurals

Good luck!

I was "that mum" but I was unlucky, so don't want to scare you. Had an induction at 42 weeks with the gel stuff. I went in Friday night and eventually had baby in the small hours of Monday morning by EMCS.

I did find the contractions extremely painful and was throwing up a lot but have nothing to compare to.

2nd day taken down to labour ward, had epidural, but by the end of the day I was only 4cm!!! then off to surgery. Luck of the draw, maybe it would have gone the same way with a natural labour too...

I was induced at 39 weeks (planned from the beginning). Had the pessary at 9.30am. Waters broke at 10.45pm. Had one lot of paracetamol and dihydrocodeine and went and had a bath. Felt pretty grotty by about midnight, at which point it turned out I was 9cm dilated! Taken up to labour ward, had some gas and air, started pushing at 2.20am, baby arrived around 4. Honestly, it was fine - I know you hear lots of horror stories about inductions but mine was a really good experience.

I was also that mum. Induced at 42 weeks ending in emergency c sec due to failure to progress and drop in baby's heart rate. I don't feel my overall induction experience was awful and I was well looked after, but I think if you can avoid induction then that is preferable. I think inductions, especially with a first baby, often lead to increased need for pain relief, assisted births and c-sections.

I was induced with my first, it was a horrible experience. I refused it on my second - there was actually no medical need for it. I’m currently almost 37 weeks and it has been suggested to me to be induced, again for no medical need, again I have refused. I will not go down the road again unless there is a strong medical necessity for it.

Don’t be railroaded by the medical professionals. Do your own research.

I was induced at 38 weeks as I'd lost my amniotic fluid and the placenta was slowing down. It was very painful but very fast and I didn't need any pain relief.

I would say if there's a medical need then 100% go for it, but from what you've said it doesn't really sound like there's any need to be induced right now.

Back pain is very common in pregnancy and that shouldn't really impact your labour, and even if it did, it would be the same if you were induced anyway. I think definitely question her reasoning.

I was induced with my daughter and I'm hoping I dont have to be induced again. They gave me the 24 hour pessary as I was a week overdue and literally nothing happened. Had an uncomfortable nights sleep but no progression in 24 hours. Then they did the pessary again and about 3 hours after that the contractions started. But there was no build up or gradual increase of pain, they were really painful and every few minutes without a break. Started contracting at 6pm and by 1am I was still only 2cm dialated, so I ended up having an epidural because they said there was no way I was going to be ready to push till 9am the next day.

Also actually being induced was the worst pain I've ever experienced in my life. I'm really not trying to scare you and it could be totally different for you but no one warned me that it can actually be painful and I wish they had of done. Everyone else just said it was a "slight discomfort" "like having a smear" - it absolutely was not, I had to have a lot of gas and air whilst they were doing it and will be 100% trying to avoid it this time x

I was induced at 39 weeks, First pessary 3pm Saturday, second Sunday morning, no pain at all until 10am then it hit me like a tonne of bricks but I had her by 2pm on the Sunday so not a long labour

Our eldest was an induction. Started off with pessaries 39+3 (2 lots of those), contracted for a while then tailed of each time. Taken to delivery 39+6, given hormone drip which really ramps up the pain. Ended up off my head on G&A so they convinced me to have epidural. Once that was in they put hormones to max and then things happened much faster but she ended up in distress so they used vontouse to get her out quick, she had cord round neck. 7hr 38mins from waters breaking, pushing stage only 5 mins. Was much more tended after the vontouse than with our 2nd & 3rd which had no assistance and they were both much bigger. Personally wouldn't volunteer for an induction again.
I highly recommend sex to kick labor up a gear, worked a treat with our 3rd. I had slow labor of 6 days with our 2nd which was rubbish.

2 amazing inductions.

1st I was 40+1 and 2cm dilated when I had the pessary inserted about midday. Cramps started but could sleep through them. Midwife did checks every 4 hours. At the 4am check they sent me up to the labour ward to have my waters broken. That happened at 5am and he was born at 7am!

2nd I was 39 weeks exactly, 2cm dilated and had the gel instead, at 1.30pm. Cramps came on muuuch heavier/quicker but not too unbearable until about 10pm. Sent up to labour ward at midnight and babe arrived 2am.

I had to be induced because of gestational diabetes (although both my babies were small!). I didn't need any interventions thankfully and my recoverys were absolutely fine. Mentally it can be a long wait, but I personally like being able to pack everything I need and there's some kind of nice control element knowing you are going in to have a baby instead of waiting about at home wondering when to go in. I think it helps if your body has started dilating, which yours has! Granted, I don't have anything to compare to, but both experiences were amazing, positive and empowering - at different hospitals as well - and I would happily have an induction again if offered. All the best. xxx

Induced at 38 weeks with my first, planned. Really positive experience. Induction started on Thurs AM, DS was born early hours of Saturday. Short actual labour. I had a preplanned epidural to prevent me becoming ill from my illness which was cited once my waters broke (he arrived not long after tbh!). No other intervention needed, just a few stitches.

I’m assuming plan will be the same this time (consultant in a few weeks) and I have no reservations.

My first was an induction because I went past my due date.

I was admitted to hospital at 41+6, given three pessaries, three membrane sweeps and was 2 cm dilated 24 hours after being admitted. I then had to wait 16 hours for there to be room on the labour ward to have my waters broken and a drip started. Son was born 52 hours after I was admitted.

My actual labour was fairly quick (less than 12 hours from when my waters were broken), though I needed an episiotomy and forceps for delivery. There was talk of a c-section if that failed.

However, I was not 2 cm dilated at 36 weeks, nor was my son engaged or even facing the right way. It is unlikely I would have gone into labour naturally, which doesn’t sound like the case with you.

Overall induction wasn’t terrible, the waiting was a bit boring but the worst part was being woken up at night to have the baby monitored/by other goings on in the ward. Necessary of course but I didn’t rest well at all while in hospital.

Thank you ladies for your input! I am going to have a chat with my doc on Monday to see why she wants to do the epidural. For the mentioning of back pain, I have bulging discs on my L5/S1 and previous nerve/ligament damage from dislocating my spine in 2014 (non fracture, my chiro was able to fix through compression, stem therapy, massage and manipulation).. which I have expressed to my OB that it scares the crap out of me thinking, what happens if those nerves get agitated again. So that is my only reason thinking my back could be driving the induction.

Can someone explain to me what a pessary is? I looked it up but is it just a way to distribute medication?

Sorry.. start the induction, not epidural lol

I had an induction at 37 weeks due to complications.
It was my first baby.
Pessary went in 11am Tuesday morning and DS was pushed out at 5pm the Wednesday afternoon.
I wasn’t dilated at all when I went in but his head was engaged and very low.

I too was worried by induction stories and risk of c section but I think those risks are increased by other factors too. As a healthy mid twenties lady no one seemed too worried about me being induced.

I would do it again.

Can someone explain to me what a pessary is? I looked it up but is it just a way to distribute medication?
Exactly that. It gets inserted to sit up by your cervix - think of it a bit like a small medicated tampon!

I had an induction due to potentially being overdue (no LMP as came off the pill) and several incidents of reduced foetal movements

My belief, which may not be backed my medical opinion, is that if your body isn't ready or you haven't been through labour before then an induction will end in an emergency c section. I wouldn't recommend them for a first time mother unless there was no other option, you may as well go straight to a planned c section.

DD had the monitor attached to her head and I was strapped to a machine. her heart rate was all over the place and I spent the first few months endlessly doing little tests on her to make sure she wasn't going to have additional needs due to the oxygen deficiency.

I really don't say that to scare you but I hope it will help you make an informed decision for you.

I was induced at 36+6 with my dd2 (3rd baby)

Pessary put in at 6 then I slept till 8. Walked miles round and round the ward, up and down stairs, and at 1pm I was 1cm - very frustrating. They said they'd start the drip later in the afternoon but things progressed and I was 4cm at 4pm then 9cm at 5pm. Went to delivery, she was born at 6. 12 hours start to finish. Lots of gas & air for the last bit but no other painkillers. Had a long tear and was stitched in theatre but it turned out not to be 3rd degree which was good. She was my smallest at 7lb15oz.