Balloon induction

[rainbowsprinkles73]

Hi, I have been offered a balloon induction due to reduced movement. I will be 39+4. Please cAn you give me your honest experiences? Also can someone please explain how you have a wee whilst it is inserted?😂

They couldn’t get mine in. Hurt like hell and got nowhere, they hadn’t told me that was a possibility. I was a bit panicked after that to be honest after all the build up.

All the faffing and a reaction to the subsequent pessary they tried led to natural labour though in the end. So it all went well.

If they can get it in though it’s very effective and better than the drugs.

It doesn’t have anything to do with your urethra though! Weeing is fine.

@Megan2018

They couldn’t get mine in. Hurt like hell and got nowhere, they hadn’t told me that was a possibility. I was a bit panicked after that to be honest after all the build up.

All the faffing and a reaction to the subsequent pessary they tried led to natural labour though in the end. So it all went well.

If they can get it in though it’s very effective and better than the drugs.

It doesn’t have anything to do with your urethra though! Weeing is fine.

Thanks for the quick reply. Very anxious and wish I could just go into labour when I do but understand that's not always possible 😕I might be being ridiculously stupid here and please do correct me, do I have to wee into those bags?😂

You just wee like normal! It’s not a catheter in your bladder, it’s in your cervix

@Megan2018

You just wee like normal! It’s not a catheter in your bladder, it’s in your cervix

😂I honestly asked no questions came home and went on a google frenzy🙈she tried to do a sweep but babies head was too low down she could not get to my cervix. Doesn't seem like my cervix would even he favourable for this method but they know more than me! X

I hated the balloon and asked for it to be removed after around 12 hours because I couldn't bare it. It felt like a really dry poorly positioned tampon, if you've ever had that?

I found it more irritating than anything and it didn't do anything for me, but it could've been the positioning of it or my body because I've heard other people say it was fine and successful.

Hope it goes well for you xxx

I had it at 37 weeks, it was fine for me. It was obviously awkward and uncomfortable getting it inserted but I didn’t find it painful. They let me have gas and air which was quite nice really. I was able to go to the loo no problem and was able to wander to the hospital cafe and have lunch while it did it its work.

I was very early so they had to break my waters and put me on the induction drip after but that probably you won’t need that.

@LH1987

I had it at 37 weeks, it was fine for me. It was obviously awkward and uncomfortable getting it inserted but I didn’t find it painful. They let me have gas and air which was quite nice really. I was able to go to the loo no problem and was able to wander to the hospital cafe and have lunch while it did it its work.

I was very early so they had to break my waters and put me on the induction drip after but that probably you won’t need that.

Thanks for the response.

They couldn't do a sweep due to babies head being too low and couldn't get to my cervix. Wondering if that means it won't do anything for me and should go for another option😕x

Little bit uncomfortable being inserted but nothing horrific. Peeing is absolutely no problem - although my balloon was inserted at almost midnight so my first pee was in the middle of the night so I remember freaking out that I had the ‘tubes’ dangling down. Midwife laughed and reassured me they were supposed to be there. If fell out when I was on the loo after 16 hours - I think they get removed after 24. Baby was born 20 hours later after having my waters broken as they didn’t go themselves.

@Toottooot

Little bit uncomfortable being inserted but nothing horrific. Peeing is absolutely no problem - although my balloon was inserted at almost midnight so my first pee was in the middle of the night so I remember freaking out that I had the ‘tubes’ dangling down. Midwife laughed and reassured me they were supposed to be there. If fell out when I was on the loo after 16 hours - I think they get removed after 24. Baby was born 20 hours later after having my waters broken as they didn’t go themselves.

Thanks for the response.

Did you have any pain whilst you waited for it to fall out?

No, once it was in other than the tubey things that I only noticed when I peed I couldn’t feel a thing.

@Toottooot

No, once it was in other than the tubey things that I only noticed when I peed I couldn’t feel a thing.

Glad to hear that! Naturally a bit anxious about it and concerned I will go through it for nothing if my cervix is high x

My baby was nearly 2 weeks late so they started with a balloon induction. It was a bit uncomfortable going in but fine once in for me (except for the annoying dangling bits!). Mine fell out when my waters broke (at which time I happened to be on the toilet, which was lucky!). They had to give me additional drugs to induce labour though as the labour didn’t progress afterwards.

I had a balloon induction with dc3 at 42 weeks as the placenta was starting to show signs of failing. It was really not that bad having the balloon put in. I mainly just felt weight and pressure and I was able to walk around. It got things moving very effectively and the balloon fell out after a few hours. I had the baby a little while later and didn't need any induction drugs. Thinking back, I was given a firm sweep a couple of hours before the balloon was put in, which may have also contributed to the successful outcome.

So is the aim to ideally have the balloon fall out ?

I found it painful to be inserted and had gas and air. It “worked” quickly though as my waters broke hours later and I went into labour. I put worked in quotations as in the end I had a c-section but the balloon did do what it’s supposed to in regards breaking my waters.

Can I ask when you say it 'fell out' how did you know it had fell out? Did it like literally fall out all together? Did you have to like pull it out? 😂😳

I had a pessary induction and it was really easy. Is there a reason they're offering balloon first? It's less reliable so if you've got reduced movement surely you need to get things going?

@YukoandHiro

I had a pessary induction and it was really easy. Is there a reason they're offering balloon first? It's less reliable so if you've got reduced movement surely you need to get things going?

I'm not to sure. They didn't give me any other options😕maybe should have asked but wasn't aware of induction working other ways until I got home

@rainbowsprinkles73

Can I ask when you say it 'fell out' how did you know it had fell out? Did it like literally fall out all together? Did you have to like pull it out? 😂😳

It passed through my cervix (which had dilated due to the pressure of the balloon, as it was meant to) and it went down into my vagina and I pulled it out. This was uncomfortable and felt quite weird but it was not painful for me.

@hypnobrai

Got ya, could you tell it had fell from your cervix?

I think I have scared my self silly on google.

Awful and very painful, didn’t work and fell out when I went to the toilet (sorry tmi) actually fell in it!

Didn’t work like I said so ended up with an emcs

@BakingOfTheFoodCats

Didn’t work like I said so ended up with an emcs

I wonder if I could just request the pessary