Honest induction stories

[Librababy3]

Hi everyone

Following a previous post I made about C-sections, I would also like to hear all of your induction stories please. Positive or negative, I just need honest experiences

I’m due to give birth on Halloween for the first time and getting very anxious 😥

Thank you in advance xx

I had an induction where my waters broken and then I was straight on to the drip and to be honest I found it incredibly traumatic.

I was ten days overdue, I’d been on slow Labour for a week but my contractions had completely stopped by the time I went to hospital, so I went from 0 to 100 really quickly with the drip and mt body just wasn’t ready. I was having agonising back to back contractions, being sick and blacking out. There wasn’t time for an epidural and I found the entire thing absolutely horrific, it took me quite a while to get over it due to the sheer level of pain and now I’m pregnant again I’m determined not to be induced.

However - I have a number of friends who have been induced and they had an epidural and had a different experience.

Hi @Librababy3 .

I had an induction with DD1 at 37 weeks due to some health issues. For me it was too early and ended up with a c section. however I am imagine had I of done it a few weeks later that would be a different story.

The who.e experience was actually fairly calm and straightforward. I had a balloon inserted first, which wasn’t bad (a bit awkward but not painful). Then after 24 hours, I was moved to the labour ward and had my waters broke and was attached to the induction drip. I was in “labour” for 24 hours but it didn’t really progress. It was a nice calm environment and I ultimately decided to pull the plug on and have a c section as I was too tired and if it had fully commenced I didn’t think I would have the energy to deal with it. They gave me an epidural at that point and had a very easy c section which was an easy recovery.

while it didn’t work for me, I am now pregnant again and if my consultant allows it I would opt for an induction over a c section as I would like to avoid surgery where possible.

Good luck x

@HorsingAround2022 thank you! Could you please explain a little more about the drip, what it is, and what it does etc? I’m new to all of this 😀

@Sallyh87 thank you so much! X

Damn mine was a drip 25 years ago and I still feel traumatised by it.

Like PP my waters had broken (a couple of days previously) and I had no actual labour. On the drip for 8 hours or so with excruciating pain. I then ended up with an emergency section because of fetal distress (and frankly mine). I went on to have more children but had elective caesareans.

Induced with a drip because of pre eclampsia 10 days early. Baby born around 8 hours later. The actual induction wasn't traumatic but my blood pressure rocketing further was a concern to the team, but it was ok in the end.

The drip induces contractions and managed well they mimic normal progression of contractions. Waters were ruptured for me. The contractions shouldn't be too rapid because excessive co traction's are dangerous.

I was induced with my first and would say it was a fairly positive experience. I had my waters broken and then was put onto a hormone drip. The drip ended up being removed after half an hour or so as I was progressing very quickly. My entire labour was 1 hour 35 mins from waters being broken. I heard that inductions are more painful but would say pain-wise it was very similar to my non-induced birth of my second. Good luck lovely :)

I was lucky and had a really positive induction for a late baby - much more positive than my spontaneous labour because with that one I was really stressed about giving birth in the car on the drive in and deciding when to head to hospital. And I found having a midwife with me the whole time (as you do if you're induced - might be different in different hospitals) really reassuring compared to largely being left to myself with my spontaneous labour. I also had an elcs for a breech baby which I really hated - i lost a lot of blood and reacted badly to the drugs.

I had a failed induction on DD1. I was 10 days overdue when I was brought in. I got the gel three times and eventually waters broke after a day. When they broke contractions started hard and fast. I however failed to progress, only got to half a centimetre myself. I was put on the oxytocin drip and managed to get to 3cm,this took 10 hours. I was in horrific pain and they wouldn't give me the epidural until I got to 3cm in case it slowed things down. My antenatal teacher constantly told us not to get the drip until epidural was in. Anyway I still didn't progress and DD was in distress, her oxygen levels were dropping with every contraction. Had an energency c section and she was born with the cord around her neck and not crying. After what seemed like a lifetime she cried and was a beautiful healthy 11lbs princess. My experience was horrible but I found out I was pregnant with my second DD on her first birthday and then I had my third dc two years later. You will get through it all honestly. It's a maximum of 24 hours out of your life. You will do great.

I have had two inductions.

1st was quite a few years back and the process was slightly different but I had pessary in at 2pm, nothing much happened, went to bed at night and they woke me at 5am and broke my waters. I went on the drip at 12pm, had pethadine to help with the pain and baby arrived at 4.30pm, via ventouse.

2nd I was taken in on the Friday and at 5pm I had the 24 hour pessary inserted, hyper-stimulated at 10pm and had to be given an injection to stop contractions and pessary out. Had to restart the next day but by the time the dr came around it was lunchtime. 24 hour pessary back in. Nothing much happened other than some moderate contractions but when they checked the pessary on Sunday lunchtime I was ready for waters to be broken, however, labour ward was full so couldn't be moved across. I was still on the ward at 5pm on Monday where (after a mental breakdown due to no sleep - those wards are SO noisy and lights on all night!) I was finally moved to labour ward and had my waters broken. Nothing much happened and at 10pm I agreed to the drip and used gas and air, managed to get to 10cms this way (although had to tell them to turn the drip down - they keep doubling it - because it was too intense - don't be afraid to advocate for yourself) however baby was not coming down low enough so I was taken to theatre at 3.30am and given an EMCS. Was just happy for the saga to be over. It had been a long 5 days!

Every experience is different, just like a birth without intervention, you just don't know what you will get. Even though my 2nd was very protracted I still wouldn't say it was negative, it was just long and boring and took it's toll emotionally. The result was still overwhelming positive.

Thank you so much everyone! X

I was induced because baby was so overdue, to be honest it was a terrible experience but only because;

• I had unrealistic and naive expectations of the baby coming straight away
• My partner doesn't drive and wouldn't have made it back from home in time if things progressed suddenly, so stayed the entire time

I had the peseries and gel things for three days, all of the contractions for that time and a really bad reaction where everything became swollen and painful. Still my cervix didn't budge a single mm 🤦‍♀️ Eventually, after no sleep for either of us for days I was offered a c section and literally jumped for joy! If I were to have another I wouldn't be induced just because baby was overdue, there would need to be a better reason. I would also go elcs route if they found my cervix wasn't remotely dilated

I've had 2 inductions and both were fine. I just needed my waters breaking both times though and didnt need pessary or anything. Things progressed quite quickly after (especially 2nd time).

I had a positive induction experience. My waters went went I was 37+5, the hospital gave me the option of getting induced or waiting to see if contractions would start. I'm impatient and I'd had a good night's sleep so opted for induction. They inserted a pessary and warned me it probably wouldn't work since I was a FTM. Clearly my baby girl was ready to come though, as contractions started within a couple of hours and she was born about 18 hours later (sounds long, but I had an epidural, so it was fine).

If they’re putting you on the drip then get an epidural at the same time. The pain is horrendous. Honestly, I’d never ever put myself through that again. i was sick and had diahorrea at the same time in response to the pain. My body was in shock I think.

Only downside with epidural is you may not be able to push and then will likely have further interventions like forceps/ventouse. With my second I had an epidural as soon as i knew I needed the drip and it was a wonderful experience and I didn’t need any help, I pushed him out fine.

Mine didn’t work as it was intended and it wasn’t much fun but I don’t think my experience is common.

I was meant to have the balloon catheter but they couldn’t get it in. It was excruciating and they didn’t allow any gas and air. Instead they inserted the pessary which was uncomfortable but ok.

Unfortunately within minutes I had a reaction to the pessary, with instant, continuous awful contractions, projectile vomiting and diarrhea! It was called hyper stimulation of the uterus I think. The contractions weren’t “real” though as such. Anyway they removed the pessary pretty quickly and gave me codeine and it took many hours of walking the corridors to feel better. Walking helped the fake contractions stop, lying or sitting didn’t.

It was packed on the ward and I was basically waiting to see a consultant for Plan B (probably a section) when my waters went by themselves and I was 2cm. I was in pain so they suggested a bath. Contractions went mad in the bath, hardly any gap and when I got out an hour or so later I insisted on re-examination as it was so bad and unexpectedly for them I was 6cm so went straight to delivery and could have gas.

No time for an epidual which I was furious about and DD was born 6hrs later with gas and air, and 1 small shot of Pethidine to relax me as I got in to a right flap because my contractions were constant and in my back from the start and I lost all track of breathing etc. I had been really against opiates but the small amount I had really helped me calm down and when it wore off I was back in more control.

DD born with no tearing and I was bouncing around with no pain within minutes of her birth so it all ended very well.

I think the traumatic “failed” induction kicked it off naturally though IYSWIM.

Exactly this . It was absolutely horrendous . Within an hour of the pessary going in I was crawling around on the floor in agony . I was told I couldn’t have an epidural because I wouldn’t be able to stay still enough . After 11 hours I had a spinal block and an assisted delivery . The moment that needle went into my spine was the best moment of my life . I am pregnant again and will be having an ELCS. There is no chance I am risking having to be induced again .

I got induced on the Thursday and had the pessary put in at 3:30pm. After a few hours I started getting back ache. When they checked at 9:30pm, they said if the monitor was picking up tightenings they wouldn’t be able to put another pessary in. It was picking io tightenings so they did a sweep instead and I started getting contractions pretty much straight away but they were about 2 mins apart for most the night and then dropped to about 7 minutes apart. I was 2cm dilated so they said as soon as there was availability for me on the delivery suite they would send me down there for my waters to be broken. I was taken down on the Friday morning and had my waters broken and contractions started back up. My labour was progressing really slowly and by 2pm-ish I was only 4cm dilated and they said they would give me a bit more time and if I wasn’t much further on I would need to be put on the hormone drip. I was waiting to use the birthing pool but was told I needed to be 7cm to use this. I was getting tired by this point due to not sleeping in the night before, and knew it was likely I’d need the hormone drip so I had an epidural so I could test. I made it to 10cm at about 2am and started pushing at about 3:30am. After an hour and a half of pushing, the doctor came and wasn’t happy with the length of time so wanted to try forceps. I asked if they could use the ventouse instead but was told no, so was taken to theatre and prepped. They tried the ventouse and forceps but with no luck and babies heart rate started to drop so they went straight for a category 1 c section (immediate threat to the life of mum or baby) and baby was born healthy that was. I feel positive about the experience but it was a little traumatic in the end but I’d 100% do it all over again!

I’ve never heard a positive story about induction. Can you avoid it?

I was so scared by all the induction stories on here but mine was fine! Induced at 37+6 as waters had gone, straight on to the drip (synthetic hormone via a cannula to induce contractions), slept for a bit, contractions ramped up and were definitely intense but I didn't need an epidural and was fine with gas and air. I don't have much of a sense of time but went in at 1.30, on drip maybe 8ish, DS born ,2.30 am and home later that day.

Thank you everyone! Honestly for the most part, induction sounds horrific!! 😭

Induced at 38 weeks for growth and movement worries (first baby). Had gel put on my cervix in two lots during the day. Waters broke at night. 10 more hours and I was in active labour. They were about to give me the drip to speed things up, so I asked for and was given an epidural, but by then I had started dilating fast anyway. Baby came soon after. Wishing you all the best.

Induced at 39 weeks due to gestational diabetes. Progressed really quickly after pessary but midwife said they don’t check till after 24 hours so just left me in massive pain for ages. They finally checked after I had a bleed because it progressed too quickly and still took them ages to find me a room in the labour ward. Took the pessary out and went on the drip, the drip didn’t work at all and baby was in distress. Had an emergency c section after 1.5 days of horrendous pain and no sleep. Was just awful. Afterwards they told me that the baby was so big (to my size) that it would’ve been a challenge to have a vaginal birth anyway, so I was so bitter about that.

Second baby was an elective c section and was an even worse experience due to medical negligence…. But I think I’m just unlucky

It’s hard to imagine now but once baby is here you won’t care how they arrived, and once the process starts you just go with it. The waiting is far worse.
The minute DD was out I was like “oh, I could do that again”. Even though minutes earlier I was actually telling DH and anyone that would
listen that I was dying and no-one cared.

I’m not doing it again as I’m too old, but I definitely would like to give birth again. Afterwards I felt like superwoman.

All will be well.