Induction experiences

[Bry8899]

Can you tell me some of your experiences of inductions? What methods did they use, what did it feel like, pros and cons?

the hospital started talking me to
today about an induction but I feel very ill informed!

I had the drip and it made things go really really quickly. I went from 4cm to 10cm in less than an hour.
My best advice would be to look at what pain relief your hospital offer and which you would like. When you’re offered the induction ask to be given pain relief at the same time. I didn’t know enough about the pain relief options so it was too late for me to have any and I wished I’d asked for it at the same time as the induction starting.

I was lucky and had a sweep which worked so didn't need to go any further into the induction process.

I was 39+5 when I had it and I went into labour the same day.

Mine was an induction/ non induction. Started with a sweep at 37+3 which started mild cramps with a favourable cervix. I then lived on my medicine ball stayed active and walked alot so was already 2cm dilated on induction day. Waters were broken, contractions started and labour was 1hr 20 mins long from start to finish, it was a whirlwind!!

The aim of induction is to dilate your cervix enough so that waters can be broken. This came be done using pessaries, gels or balloons. All of these options were went through with me very clearly and thoroughly by my midwife on induction day. The consultant who booked me in spoke nothing of the process other than she thought with my favourable cervix (she gave me the sweep herself) that it was likely they would be able to break waters right away. Once waters are broken I was told I had four hours for contractions to start on there own and if not I'd be out on the petocine drip to start contractions artificially. I think this time period probably varies amongst trusts etc but ultimately your left for a period of time to see if things start naturally. This is all usually dependent on how busy the labour ward is as well!

Good luck! I and everyone I know who had inductions all had very positive experiences! I know there is alot of doom and gloom out there surrounding them!

I had a failed induction. Was given three pessaries over four days in hospital to try to get things moving contractions were happening but baby's head wasn't down low enough. They finally told me to bounce as much as I could on thw birth ball or c section in the morning, so I did lots of bouncing and lo and behold baby came! I found the induction process fine, no pain for me, but it doesn't always work if baby isn't ready so it can lead to more intrusive measures like breaking waters or c section. My personal view would be if there's a medical reason for it then get an induction and don't be worried, or if you are coming up on two weeks past due as the placenta stops working so well. Otherwise if you can let nature take its course. I had no sweeps or anything for second baby and that was a much more pleasant experience, no hands stuck up me at all :-D

I had a cook ballon induction at 39+4 for reduced movements.
Balloon is like a catheter but much larger, was given option for gas and air which I took, insertion wasn’t too bad but was told could have ‘cramping’ afterwards omg the pain was awful I ended up getting oral morphine and after a few hours that helped and pain was gone.
Almost exactly 24 hours later balloon fell out in the toilet and that meant my cervix had dilated. Booked onto labour ward few hours later and drip started, contraction came on thick and fast, at 4cm I had an epidural. I ended up with a forceps delivery due to babies position.
Good thing about the balloon is you can go home so it meant I had a chance to have a sleep and a bath at home before going on to the labour ward.
End of the day I just wanted my baby here safe and well and the induction gave me that even if it meant a good few interventions. Good luck 🍀

Also to say I've heard the drip can be much more intense, I would say you maybe don't need urgent pain relief with the pessaries but I think with the drip it sounds like a good idea! So I'd follow the PP's advice if you go down that route. I think in the UK usually they do pessaries as the first option.

I had my waters broke and then went straight on the drip. My labour was about 4 hours. I've since had a labour without induction and it was maybe a bit less intense for the first part, but it wasn't noticeably different in my opinion. First time around I hadn't really wanted to be induced but I had placental insufficiency so only had a choice between that and a section (which was what I wanted to avoid at all costs!). I would say I had a positive labour both times, albeit with medical intervention first time. I think induction gets a bad rep and I'm not sure it's always very fair. Wishing you all the luck 🍀

I’ve just read “Inducing Labour” by Dr Sara Wickham, she’s a midwife.

It was recommended to me on here and it was 99p on the kindle app.

Highly recommend, really informative about what induction actually involves, the benefits and risks. It was a short book, I read it in one evening.

I had 2 pessaries inserted and wasn’t allowed anything stronger than paracetamol as my babies heart rate was too high. I only got to 1.5cm before they decided do an emergency section as I had developed an infection. If I didn’t need the section I would have been put on the hormone drip which I’ve heard is quite painful and the stage at which a lot of people opt for epidural. To be honest I’ve forgotten the pain and I’m excited about having to do it all again in a few months.

My cervix had done naff all on its own so I had a 24 hour pessary. Mild contractions got going a few hours after insertion. They'll do another 24 hour pessary after that if needed, and they ummed and ahhed a bit because my contractions were irregular, but they were pretty decent so they left me without another pessary to see how I got on. By about 3 hours after it came out, contractions were full on. I was 2cm (could have cried 😭) but she thought they'd be able to break my waters so arranged for me to be moved over to the labour ward. Made it to the labour ward but no further intervention needed and baby was out shortly after with an official labour time of 59 minutes 😂 I texted my husband saying I was on the labour ward but they wouldn't break my waters until her got there and 20 minutes later I texted him "pushing" 🙈

My induction experience was absolutely fine and I'd have no issue having another induction if I were to have another baby. On my first I had the drip (spontaneous labour but veeerrry slow and my waters had broken right at the start), but I think I already had my epidural in before they put me on the drip 🤔 I have heard it's more intense with the drip so if you end up needing that then I would consider all pain relief options not already used - no prizes for being in pain and exhausted!

Induced on a Monday using a pessary and was 2 cm dilated l was told l was already dilated when l came in for my induction. On Tuesday another pessary and 11am and then from their contractions and the actual birthing part was 20mins!! My baby shot out!! She was more than ready. Had gas and air for contractions but honestly it didn't help. And had no time for the epidural l originally wanted.

Hi
were you already dilated when you had your sweep? I had one today at 1pm and was told I was already 2-3cm have had some blood loss and mild cramping but nothing seems to be happening!

My waters broke at 40+5 and I went in to triage and they told me to come back in 24 hours to be induced due to infection risk. That was at 4:45am, by 3pm I was having contractions anyway and managed at home until going back in at 4:45am the following day…

at this point I was 5cm on my own but the midwives suggested an oxytocin drip anyway to speed things along. I agreed but then had ‘coupled’ contractions with no gaps that were unbearable and I left my own body and watched myself from above. Overall I still think I had a fairly good birth experience but I wish I’d not had the induction seeing as natural labour had started anyway.

just something for you to have on your radar if you end up booked in but contractions start.

I think a lot will depend on how 'ready' your body is. I was already partially dilated and close to going anyway - just needed to be sped up for health reasons.

Epidural first! I didn't feel a thing when having my waters broken, all of the labour (and they cranked the drip right up) and stitching up afterwards. Couldn't have asked for a better experience really, it was vastly better than the drug free birth next time around. Took about 8 hours from beginning to end.

I think it tends to be ok if you don’t end up
on the drip, you’re more likely to need the drip if you’re before 41 weeks.
I had a horrible time on the drip. It’s a totally different level of pain to natural contractions and you can get over stimulated. I didn’t get pain relief as I dilated too fast but I def needed it.
This is worth looking at https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-of-labour/

Hi OP!

When I went into hospital to be induced my cervix was completely closed so I wasn't dilated at all. I had the pessary inserted for 24 hours, my contractions started after 2 hours of it being inserted, they were strong and quite close together n consistent, when they checked me after 24 hours I was only 1cm dilated (I really thought I'd be 5/6cm 😳 because of the contractions) they then inserted another pessary for 12 hours when they checked me I was '2cm' so they took me to the labour ward to break my waters & put me on the oxytocin drip , I was on the drip 6 hours & then they checked me again to tell me I was actually only 1cm 🙄 (I SOBBED when they told me I was only 1cm as I was in so much pain) shortly after them checking me , every time I got a contraction my baby's heart rate was dropping dangerously low (lots of doctors run into the room) so they took me off of the drip , I was getting natural contractions and baby was okay with them so basically baby was reacting badly to the drip. They had given me a choice of either staying off the drip for a while to give me and baby a break & to see how I go without the drip or either go straight for a C-section because they knew I wasn't coping well either, I said "GET THIS BABY OUT OF ME GET ME TO THEATRE " 🤣

I am so glad I got the c-section (my recovery was amazing) , I would say my induction failed?

Everyone has a different induction story! Good luck OP💗💙

Had the pessary ended up labouring very quickly, too quickly in fact to the point they gave me an injection to stop contractions as baby was distressed. 12 hours of established labour had the emergency buzzer hit multiple times during labour and ended in an emergency c section. Induction wasn't my choice I knew she wasn't ready but needed to be induced for my own medical reasons. Still enjoyed the experience though as weird as that is although it was very stressful.

I had a pessary induction & cervix was favourable midwife said at 37 & 6 - things started within 30 minutes around 8:30pm. I had surges or contractions through the night & managed to get sleep thankfully. Pessary was removed in the morning as body & baby didn’t like it. Waters were broke shortly after as I was at around 6cm & baby arrived 2pm. Was able to use yoga ball as I wanted to and walk around & no drip etc just gas & air which I loved 😂 Had a lovely experience & the birth I wanted. Hoping for a positive birth for this second one. Good luck!

I had a terrible experience being induced. First time the student midwife cocked up putting the pessary in, she was terrible and had no qualified midwife overseeing her. They sent me for an extra unnecessary scan because they thought he was breach - he wasn't. I left and went home. Told them to get fucked. Baby still didn't arrive a few days later so was dragged back in against my better judgement but the pressure they put on you is immense. The threats that I'm putting baby at risk were horrible. I don't know how they live with themselves sometimes.

Another pessary which fell out in the toilet, third pessary still nothing. Waters broken manually, still nothing. Was in hospital for days. Eventually he came out very slowly with the drip. Had an epidural which was useless. He just wasn't ready and if I'd listened to my instincts I'd have saved myself a lot of heartache.

The only person who did a half decent job was the amazing woman who came on shift at 8am and set to spending the first hour of her working day stitching up my absolutely ruined vagina with lots of smiles.

DS was fine, I was fine, I've largely forgotten about it now but I was very traumatised for a good couple of years afterwards. I'd stand up for myself listen to my body if I were ever in that position again.

I've heard horror stories on MN, but my induction was fine. Mine was at 39 weeks. After 2 days, the gels had made me contract quite painfully, but they weren't regular. On the third day, my waters were broken and then in the afternoon I was attached to the drip. I delivered my baby that night. I managed on gas and air.

I was induced at 39 weeks and ended up on the drip on my third day in hospital. This was in the afternoon and then I gave birth that night. I'd say the gels were the worst because I ended up with painful contractions and no pain relief apart from paracetamol (men would have more than this for less painful things). The drip was fine and I used gas and air which was great.