Foley Balloon Catheter Induction.

[BEO]

So I am booked in for an induction Monday and have been told it will be the balloon.

Looking for people’s experiences with this and how painful it was going in? And how do they put it in?

I have had 2 sweeps this week and found them quite uncomfortable .

I had a foley balloon induction for an attempted VBAC, following an emergency c-section for my previous birth. Fitting with just a bit uncomfortable, nothing too much worse than a sweep from what I can remember! I do remember a really uncomfortable pressure when I stood up after, as they inflate balloons of fluid either side of your cervix to stimulate it, and the pressure is quite intense for a few hours till you get used to it. After that I was asymptomatic for 24 hours. I really didn’t think it had done anything at all (especially as with my first sons birth I hadn’t even dilated before my section for was physiologically a first time mum from a dilation perspective). They removed it which was painless, and then told me to walk around the hospital grounds for 2 hours and then they would examine me. As I was waking round I felt very damp in my underwear after about 45 mins. I went to the toilet and had lost an enormous mucous plug the size of my hand! Was really shocked as I then knew something had happened.

When they examined me I was 4-5cm! Without so much as a cramp! And was only 38+4 weeks so wasn’t overdue/ ripe ready to go! None of us could believe it. I had my waters broke 12 hours later (no beds on Labour ward until then) and Labour began spontaneously. I ended up getting to 9cm on my own but due to feral distress and meconium ended up with an emergency section anyway!

Despite this I think really highly of the foley balloon I was so so skeptical of having a non-hormonal induction, but hey ho it worked!

Also forgot to add, they literally put in a speculum to locate cervix, then insert a long thin tube (same as a normal catheter for bladder!) then once inside your cervix one small balloon is inflated with water, and the same just below the cervix. It puts pressure on either side of the cervix to stimulate the pressure of a babies head pushing onto it- this in turn started the hormonal feedback loop that triggers contractions/ Labour!

I had a balloon induction, was offered gas and air for insertion, initially I said I’ll be fine but I did find it really quite painful so took the gas and it was absolutely fine going in, whole process was probably 10 minutes.
Was advised it could cause craps after insertion so was given paracetamol on the ward. Unfortunately for me I found the cramps very intense, I know myself I don’t have a high pain threshold and was given stronger pain relief and after maybe a few hours I was pain free. Great that you can go home, get some sleep, bath etc before labour. Exactly 23 hours after insertion it fell out itself in the toilet, this was not painful at all and this now meant I was dilated enough to have my waters broken, and started on a hormone drip to progress the labour. For the fact you can go home after insertion and that the balloon did exactly what it was supposed to do I would definitely have a balloon induction again if required but yes I did find the few hours post procedure quite painful. Good luck with everything 😊

Thanks girls I am not too scared, like I said I did find the sweep’s uncomfortable but not agonising so hopefully it it’s just the same or abit worse I’ll be fine 🤣 I know Labour is going to be 10x worse so need to put my big girl pants on 🤣 it’s good that you get offered gas and air if you need it. 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

Hi op hope you don't mind me following your thread, I'm having the balloon on Friday so following for updates lol.

Good luck 🤞

I would advise asking whether your cervix looks favourable for the balloon. I've had it twice and was painful having it fitted however I was barely dilated. Was told afterwards my cervix was never going to respond with the balloon as my cervix wasn't ready enough and baby wasn't engaged. I think it can work really well if your body is ready for it!

Good luck!

I had it for DD2 (attempted VBAC). It wasn't too uncomfortable going in, and fine after.

It didn't work for me, but I wasn't even quite 37 weeks, I'm not sure anything was ever going to work to induce me tbh.

@Chanhedforthis no not at all! I am going in for 2pm tomorrow so I will keep you updated.

@Fipfop i am aware of this happening or if you being ‘too dilated’ and needing a pessary instead. However I had a sweep at the weekend and she said I was about 1cm as she managed to get her finger in and sweep, and I lost my plug today so hoping my cervix is getting ready. Will be 38+6 tomorrow. 🤞🏼

Sounds like you're in a good position for it then! Not long to meet little one now

@Chanhedforthis balloon is in! Wasn’t too comfortable but I found the sweep was worse! Didn’t need gas and air or anything like that. It did take two of them about three goes to get it in and inflate it. I was about 0.5-1cm dilated . Fingers crossed it does something 🤞🏼 seem to be getting tightenings now but not sure if they’re just pains or contractions lol!