Balloon inductions - anyone had one?

[Squibble84]

I’m not eligible for the pessaries or hormone drip due to having a bad reaction to them last time and my emcs being less than 2 years ago but my midwife said that I could opt for a balloon induction as opposed to an elective c-section if it came to it (it’s been advised I don’t go past my due date so there’s a good chance!)

Anyone had a balloon induction and happy to share their experience? I’ve never heard of them before!

I had a balloon induction with DS just over two years ago. I found it a better experience than the pessary which I had had two years before that.

It was a strange sensation when they were "inflating" it (filling it with liquid). Once it was in I didn't find it uncomfortable. I had it done at about midday and it ' fell out' at about half 6 so I returned to the hospital.

I liked that I could go home and didn't have any extra time waiting around the hospital.

Thanks for sharing, I didn’t realise you could go home once it’s in, that’s good to know! Does it fall out once you’ve dilated to a certain amount?

It's worth talking it through with your midwife. I'd assume you'd be allowed home too unless they want to monitor for something.
The idea basically is that they weight/pressure of the balloon stimulates dilation. Almost immediately after having it fitted I started with very very mild labour type pains. My husband almost turned the car around halfway home!

Overall the labour progressed the same as my first with the pessary but it felt a little more relaxed and less medical if that makes sense.

I still had the drip once I was back in the hospital to make sure things progressed but there was a lot less adjustment of it needed than the first time and it seemed like it didn't ramp up as quickly as the first time. That's just my experience. If I had another baby (after I'd have some explaining to do as my husband as had the snip!) I'd have the balloon induction again if I needed to be induced.

I don't know anyone else who had a balloon induction, I think it is being rolled out across more trusts. I had the balloon in Doncaster and one of the midwife's that did it had never seen/done one before.

Don’t judge me (it’s a guilty pleasure 😀) but the influencer Elle Derby recently had her baby boy after a balloon induction. If you search for her labour video on YouTube, she talks about it a bit.

Hey!

I was induced at 38 weeks due to consistent contractions and no dilation progress. They started with a balloon but over night it only gave me 1 cm more of dilation. And it was a very uncomfortable night! Definitely ask for gas while it's going in and try to be as relaxed as possible. I listened to music and zoned out. I also couldn't pass urine once it was in (just my experience), so I asked for a catheter. I was mobile and able to move around although I felt like a had a lot going on between my legs! Personally I wouldn't want to be at home with it in... I dunno how you'd even get home once it is in! Sitting in a car would be horrific.

I reckon my body just wasn't ready and that's why it didn't work for me. They had to manually break my water the next morning before I got the drip.

I had it with my DD! Was a much nicer experience that a pessary… I had a stretch & sweep then the balloon. It dislodged my mucus plug and I went into labour less than 24 hours later

Elle Darby has just uploaded two birth vlogs on YouTube of her experience of a balloon induction, be prepared though the pregnancy hormones made me cry when she met her baby 😂

I guess it's another one of those things everyone finds different.
When it was fitted I didn't find it painful or even uncomfortable. It was just strange when it was being inflated.
I was able to have a wee with it in too!

Thanks everyone! Lots of food for thought here! Never heard of Elle Darby but I’ll look up the vlogs!