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Original poster

Induction pain

24 replies

Daffodil87 · 14/03/2021 14:47

Hi all - I'm going to be induced in 2 week's time and have tried researching about induction as it seems induction is often refused which I believe is because of labour being more painful and more likely to require intervention (which is fine with me because baby arriving safely is more important than a painful labour).
What I'm keen to understand is if the actual act of then putting the pessary/tablet/gel in etc is painful? Is it like having a smear test done? Sorry if this is a stupid question but this is my first baby and I am clueless plus very anxious x

OP posts:
Dyra · 14/03/2021 14:52

I had gel pessaries. I found having them placed was uncomfortable, but not painful. I think smear discomfort is worse.

Teakind · 14/03/2021 15:22

I was induced and found having the pessaries uncomfortable at first. However by the time I was having my fourth one they became really painful, probably because things were getting irritated. They gave me gas and air and I still couldn't tolerate it. A really lovely midwife then came along with some numbing lube and I didn't feel a thing! My advice would be to ask for them to use that if you want to.

Teakind · 14/03/2021 15:24

Also, I think induction is often thought of as more painful but only if you need the drip. Hopefully the pessaries alone will work for you (they did me)

SnooperTrooper12345 · 14/03/2021 15:48

I don't even remember feeling them out the pessary in tbh 😂

SnooperTrooper12345 · 14/03/2021 15:48

And as PP said, the induction is more painful when on the drip. Not if it's just the pessary ect

Alakasam · 14/03/2021 16:01

If just the pessary/breaking waters works, labour shouldn't be any more painful than normal labour I would imagine. The hormone drip is a synthetic version of oxytocin which I remember ramped up the pain quite fast when they kept increasing it. Apparently some hospitals advise you to get an epidural if you are going on the drip. Wish they'd told me to at the start instead of me having to try to get one put in several hours down the line in between very painful contractions.....

Ummm21 · 14/03/2021 20:09

PP are correct re the pain being very intense with the drip. I would definitely recommend having the epidural before they start it as there's a good chance it will ramp up very quickly. Good luck x

Original poster
Daffodil87 · 14/03/2021 21:51

Thanks everyone. I will definitely be asking for the epidural before they start the drip.
The pessary itself - how large is this? Tampon size? Sorry for asking, just have no idea and I scream when I have my smear tests so am terrible with things like this. Do they use a speculum when inserting the pessary?

OP posts:
SnooperTrooper12345 · 14/03/2021 22:06

@Daffodil87

Thanks everyone. I will definitely be asking for the epidural before they start the drip. The pessary itself - how large is this? Tampon size? Sorry for asking, just have no idea and I scream when I have my smear tests so am terrible with things like this. Do they use a speculum when inserting the pessary?
They don't use a speculum no, they do exactly the same as when they check how dilated you are, just use your fingers. They don't tend to show you the size of the pessary. I believe it is just a tablet but can sometimes be a gel
Chelyanne · 14/03/2021 22:19

Well I had a doctor put her whole hand up there but she only had small hands so not painful.
It is more painful than natural labor if they give the hormone drip as the contractions are more intense much quicker than with natural onset. I was much more comfortable once they talked me in to an epidural.

Original poster
Daffodil87 · 14/03/2021 22:26

Thanks, that's the part im most scared of. Them putting their hands /other things up there. Plus tearing, episiotomy and stitches. It's not even the contractions I'm worried about. Which I know sounds daft considering I've never been in labour before.

OP posts:
BL89 · 14/03/2021 23:04

Hi @Daffodil87, I had the pessary which failed then the drip. I would definitely recommend getting an epidural if you're having the drip. The doctor advised me to have an epidural I wanted to see how it goes but it was really intense and opted for an epidural midway through. I let this wear off a bit before i needed to push so I had the sensation and didn't need any other intervention. Good luck x

Heyha · 14/03/2021 23:17

If you struggle with smears then inserting the pessary is likely to be uncomfortable for you. You can have gas and air for it, but don't wait for them to offer. The pessary itself is like a wafer-thin tampon so once it's in it's fine but I found internal exams quite challenging. Until the gas and air came out then all was well 🤣

Heyha · 14/03/2021 23:21

I had an epidural, episiotomy, forceps and a minor tear (and a bleed, and beginnings of sepsis) so sounds like a catalogue of nightmares but tbh the epidural made all these things feel achievable and I had no problems with recovery. DD had a superficial scratch on her face and I sat on a donut cushion for a week or so but that side of things was honestly loads better than I had imagined.

Spaghettiamaretti · 15/03/2021 09:57

During my induction I don’t remember the pessary being inserted as being painful but it was definitely uncomfortable. I went into labour after a few hours and needed no further interventions. Labour progressed quickly, this was my second child and labour was a million times better than my first who was back to back and born at 36 weeks. The contractions after the pessary did come thick and fast, unsure whether it was because of the pessary or just a quick labour with it being my second child.

With my first although I laboured naturally at 10cm I had to be placed on the drip as contractions stopped (due to baby being back to back). The drip was extremely painful and brought on very very intense contractions.

When I was induced with my second I did tell them I wanted an epidural before the drip which I feel is the best option due to the intensity, though I didn’t get the drip in the end.

Original poster
Daffodil87 · 19/03/2021 13:51

Thanks everyone, this has really helped. I will 100 percent be going for an epidural and will just have to grin and bear the pessary insertion bit

OP posts:
YawnyOwl · 19/03/2021 13:55

Good luck @Daffodil87 Daffodil

Do you know why they want to induce you?

Original poster
Daffodil87 · 19/03/2021 14:22

Thanks @YawnyOwl - it's because of gestational diabetes. Date brought forward to tomorrow!

OP posts:
YawnyOwl · 19/03/2021 20:25

OMG, good luck OP! I'll be thinking of you. A few things that might be useful:

  • it can ages to get going so bring food/entertainment
  • ask for your bishop's score when they examine you. This is basically how ready your cervix is. If you Google it you'll find more info, but under a certain number induction is unlikely to be successful with just a pessary or even with drip, leading to c section. Just might be useful for you to know what the road ahead looks like on the day, I certainly found it helped me mentally.

Hope all goes well Flowers

Original poster
Daffodil87 · 27/03/2021 05:44

Thanks @YawnyOwl - baby boy arrived earlier this week and we are home now. Induction was horrendous, still quite traumatised and don't know how I will go through that again for next one. But I'll worry about that when the time comes. Thanks for all the advice, it really helped me feel prepared x

OP posts:
CloudFormations · 27/03/2021 05:50

I found it painful having the pessary inserted - needed gas and air. But my cervix was very unripe! It only took few minutes.

CloudFormations · 27/03/2021 05:52

Sorry, idiot me not reading the update. Congratulations on your baby! I’m sorry the induction wasn’t a good experience. I found mine quite bad as well. Hope you’re recovering well and enjoying your beautiful baby Flowers

Fireweeds · 27/03/2021 06:52

Congratulations! I was just coming to post about pressure insertion, but now nit required.
I will say, I was totally traumatised by my induction experience ending with emcs. By the time I had the second, they mentioned induction & I broke down. My lovely consultant referred me to the perinatal mental health team, who were fantastic & helped me isolate the issues and come up with a plan for the next birth (which ended up as elcs, but could have been vbac). And the next team were absolutely great.
Take your time and watch out for pnd. I think the extra hormones they give you lead to a bigger hormone crash and worse baby blues - no one tells you! I hope you’re surrounded by love & support.

YawnyOwl · 27/03/2021 07:41

I'm sorry to hear it was awful Flowers congratulations on your lovely little boy, hope you two are enjoying the spring sunshine together Daffodil x

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