I’m having my baby induced in 3 days but I’m scared

[Anonymous006]

Hey everyone, I haven’t posted on here in a long time but I’m getting induced in 3 days, and tonight I’m crazy worried and scared for some reason. Can anyone give me any advice? I’m scared something could happen to my baby. I don’t have any experience with any of this so any advice about staying calm and not being terrified anyone can give me I’d really appreciate. If you’ve had an induced baby before could you share your story? Im having a little boy and I’m gonna be about 39 weeks pregnant on Monday when I go in for delivery

Are there any medical reasons why he's being induced? People are induced every day so the likelihood is they'll be fine. What's the method of induction?

Why are you being induced op?

I was induced for late onset preeclampsia. The pessary was uncomfortable being inserted but after that it was fine. The worst part for me was not being able to get comfortable due to pretty consistent period style cramping. I found the bath very good for early pain relief. My waters broke about 15 hours after the pessary was inserted.

I chose to have the epidural and was glad for it. Especially as they put me on the drip after and I've heard bad things about the pain. I had to be topped up with fentanyl as I was still feeling pain but that's not very common, I don't think. DS was born 28 hours after the pessary was inserted so it wasn't long in the grand scheme of things. I didn't need any other interventions either. 2nd degree tear but didn't feel a thing due to the pain relief I was already on.

From my experience, the discomfort starts almost immediately unlike a natural labour which gears up slowly but it was totally manageable with pain meds and I wouldn't be displeased if my next labour goes the same way (I'm expecting it to).

Hope that helps a bit but remember that everyone's experience is different

I was induced and terrified too. It was in the first lockdown so no partner until the very end, but actually it was fine. Try not to worry, OP, lots of babies are born safely by induction every day, all four of us on the bay were in the same boat.

I didn’t find it any more painful than first natural delivery either. And it was much quicker once it started!

Hello! I have had two DC, one spontaneous labour, and one induction due to cholestasis. The induction was far, far less stressful and more relaxed, the whole process was very straightforward. Don't worry!

I was induced with my daughter (a few years ago) I was 41+5.
It's nothing to worry about, I had a pessary inserted in the morning and was able to carry on as normal (I did have to stay on the hospital grounds) within a couple of hours the contractions started and gave birth early hours of the next morning.

Try not to worry.

Have a look on Facebook for the positive induction group.

I had an induction 4 weeks ago. I had the pessary at about 9.30pm, went to sleep and I woke up at about 2am with contractions and my waters broke on a poor midwife who was trying to examine me! Baby was born at 4am.

I've had a spontaneous labour, a planned c-section for breech baby and an induction. I found the induction the easiest and most positive by a long way. The plus sides for me were that you are in hospital from the beginning so you don't need to stress about when to get to hospital in the middle of labour, and you have a midwife with you pretty much all the time once labour gets going which I found very reassuring. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences with me! Knowing that others have had positive outcomes from induced labor makes me feel better. I’m still scared but it helps to hear so thank you so much.
And to those wondering why, I’m having labor induced for a couple reasons. Firstly I have a couple of preexisting conditions (epilepsy and a skull malformation that’s dangerous for me if my blood pressure gets high or strain too hard). I had to get consults from a neuro team in order to have a vaginal delivery both conditions make it dangerous for me to wait much longer for him to get much bigger before having him otherwise I’ll have to do a c section and I’d rather avoid that. And my other reason that’s more non health related is I’ve been so scared my entire pregnancy that something could happen to him and I just wanna hold him and hear him and know he’s ok. Ive had two miscarriages in the past and he’s gonna be my first little one that I actually get to hold.

I’ve had two inductions, first was due to being almost two weeks overdue. I had the pessary inserted around 10am and had my baby at 2.25pm, it was a really intense but straightforward birth. The second induction was due to static growth at 39 weeks, with my second induction I had the pessary and two lots of gels so I was in hospital for 2 days but labour ended up being 40 minutes from the start of contractions to having my baby.

They were both really positive experiences with no complication and I had no pain relief due to both happening so fast. You are monitored frequently so any issues will be picked up so there is no need to be worried.

I was induced with DS and it was fine.
They started the induction on the Monday morning, I was in quite a lot of pain during the Monday night but I had diamorphine which was amazing 👍
Then they examined me at around 8am Tuesday morning and broke my water, gave me some paracetamol and DS arrived at 11am. No tearing, no drip needed and no drama. It wasn't as bad as a thought it was going to be. I was 38 weeks.

My last baby was induced. Was pretty straightforward. Born at 9pm and home the next morning at 9am.

It was a little more painful than natural spontaneous labour, so I would say be open to pain relief in your birth plan.

Good luck. Not long until you have your baby in your arms 🙂

I had a week 39 induction due to age. Second baby so knew a little bit about labour after having the first naturally. Despite this I was pretty scared about induction as my biggest fears were the pain from the drip, interventions etc.

My first baby did need intervention and it only took minutes and I barely knew what was happening as I was focused on pushing - so that is one 'good' thing.

Preparing for this induction I tried as much as possible to keep thinking - it's just a couple of days and we will get through it.

My actual induction was actually fairly positive and pain free. Before this baby I lose two babies and induction was to reduce risk of still birth. Once admitted you are regularly monitored and you are now on the right place that if something doesn't feel right - they can put you on the monitor.

Once I got the labour suite (far enough along but not yet in proper labour). There were some readings on the monitor that the midwife wasn't happy about. Cue for the next couple of hours the consultant and head midwife popped in and out telling me not to worry. After 2 hours of this they suggested a c-section. Baby out 30 mins later.

Telling you this story as my induction didn't go to plan - but my son was not healthy and I had so much monitoring - they knew and took action

I was induced with both of my children, only needed the pessary for the 2nd one and didn't end up needing the syntocin drip. Very straight forward both times though. The best thing you can do is relax x

First baby I was supposed be induced but I think I was so so scared that I end up going into labour literally hours just before being induced. Second baby again late, I was actually induced and it was shit but labour is shit regardless in my view so just got to grin and bear it and you’re gonna have a little bundle of joy in your arms after so that makes it all go away (almost). Be induced is different for everyone so try not to worry.

I had the syntocin drip for my second labour as waters had broken but no contractions (37.5 weeks). It was painful but no worse than my natural birth the first time round and much quicker- over in less than 3 hours! Good luck x

I've been induced twice and had great experiences. Calm and controlled and so positive. If I have another, I'd happily be induced. Good luck x

Hi! I’ve got two children, the first labour started naturally but the second I had to be induced because of reduced movements.
I’m not going to lie, I found my induced labour way more intense.
The pessary being inserted was a weird feeling but nothing too bad. Felt fine really, just had period like cramps at first. After 12 hours they ramped up quite a bit but when the midwife examined me I wasn’t dilated at all. Nothing happened that night. Then the next morning I was given a sweep which was horrible, really uncomfortable and did nothing for me. It was busy at the time so they said they’d have me on the drip by the next morning at the latest if nothing happened during the night.
I went down to be induced with the drip that next morning, I was pretty chilled about it all to be honest. I think because my first labour went really well and for some reason I didn’t expect this time to be any different - I was wrong! The drip went in around 11am. For the first hour or so I felt fine then I started having contractions. All good at first then they really started ramping up, so fast it shocked me. The pain seemed way more intense than my natural labour. I remember at one point I asked the midwife how dilated I was thinking I must have been almost ready to push and it was only 6cms, I remember thinking I couldn’t do it, I only had gas and air. I asked if I could have diamorphine but she said I was too far gone. When I realised that I had a little bit of a breakdown but didn’t have too much time to breakdown because 40 mins after that I gave birth! The last bit was so painful but so fast. So drip started at 11am, she was born 17:43pm.

I think birth is scary however it happens. I also think it’s natural to worry that something might go wrong. Just remember that you’re in the best place for you both. I’d say just try and go with it the best you can. Hope this helps a little! Good luck!
(Also, earplugs for when you’re on the ward, in case things don’t happen fast - it was so bloody noisy those few nights I was there, I barely got any sleep!)

I meant to add, although it was a painful experience, it was a good experience. I was really well looked after and the whole process went very smoothly!

I was induced after reduced movement at 41 weeks and like you was terrified about it all. It sounded so scary when the midwife talked me through what happens, but it was actually and genuinely fine. There are LOTS of internals which can be uncomfortable but otherwise it's just a lot of lying around with lovely midwives treating you like a queen!
Can't comment on labour as my induction ended up failing so I elected for a section rather than a second attempt at being induced which was also fine. It's really ok, please don't worry. You will be well cared for and in the very best and safest place to deliver your baby. Good luck x

Good luck. Just wanted to say that I am also epileptic and it was a mess with my third pregnancy so I was induced. They thought the baby was getting too big and didn’t want any additional strain for me. I’d had no issues with my first two. The induction proceeded to what felt like a natural labour pretty quickly. But, like you, for reasons I wasn’t sure of I wasn’t keen on the idea but it was fine. Hope you get to hold your little one soon.