Induction experiences with first baby

[VioIetMoon]

I'm booked in for induction next week at 38 weeks for my first baby.
I've been going out of my mind not knowing what is the right choice to be induced or opt for c section.
Just looking some opinions on others experiences with induction .
Positive or negative please share.
What was the outcome?
how many hours did it take?
did you tear? I have GD which is uncontrolled despite them upping and upping insulin and I know this can increase baby's weight. Was last weighed at 36w and its slightly above average. Do they scan you for estimated weight before induction or anything?
what was your babys weight? And how many weeks were you?
And what form of pain relief did you have?
I have gestational diabetes and frequent reduced movements. We had an episode of high pi with the flow to the cord a few weeks ago. I have also been diagnosed recently with mild thickening of my heart wall, this is what scares me about a natural birth as I haven't received any support from cardiology/ consultant regarding this and I do worry about the pushing stage putting strain on my heart as I've been dealing with symptoms for years. This is also an ivf pregnancy and I'm 38. To he honest I'd rather have the c section but as I feel that would be the best option for me but its the fact we were told we couldn't do ivf again for 18-24 months . By then I'll be over 40, diminishing our chances of another successful round as we have no frozen eggs, plus ive read reports that c sections can reduce ivf success. This was the only one we had.
I guess my worry with vaginal birth is a failed induction or needing an emergency section in the end. I think then I'd be kicking myself that I didn't go for a planned induction.
I've heard women saying induction is more painful and epidurals are more likely to end in c sections. At what stage did you get an epidural if you had one
Any advice at all would be appreciated as I've 2 days to figure it out 😆 hoping for kind responses.
Didn't really get much help with advice when I spoke to consultant / midwife. Feel pretty much on my own relying on google and forums for answers and opinions

First baby at 16 days post dates, induction with ARM then straight to drip. She was nearly 10lb. Beautiful experience. Calm, I was able to move around as much as I wanted (even though monitored). 7 hours and she was here!

6 years later same experience DS! Though he was also back to back so was stuck at 2cm for ages. 7 hours later he arrived fine.

no pain relief each time but Google labour hopscotch, it helps! And hypnobirthing breathing.

I was induced with my first baby 10 weeks ago now, my induction lasted 36 hours from going in up to my waters breaking (I had the gels and then rods when gels didn’t work) I was having contractions the whole time but my cervix was too far back. Once my waters broke I was then in labour for just under 24 hours before my baby was born, I had to have an episiotomy, forceps delivery and also ended up with a tear elsewhere. Thankfully they were able to successfully deliver her that way as at the time they gave us 30 mins to get her out otherwise I would have been rushed for an emergency section which at least for me personally was my worst case scenario.

My birth was literally everything I was terrified of while pregnant but I can honestly say it was nowhere near as bad as I worried it might be, and it’s so worth it once you have your baby in your arms. My advice would be just keep an open mind re. pain relief, make sure you have good support there during labour and afterwards, and good luck! X

Just wanted to say that you can restart IVF 6 months after a C section. I know some doctors would prefer longer but 6 months after birth is safe.

I was induced with my first and second and honestly when you don’t know any different it’s hard to explain it is more intense but you haven’t felt the pain before so it no worse.

I had diamorphine and gas and air with my first had 4 Pacers and the drip tock a while to get me going and once I started it was 36 hours start to finish but about 14-16 hours active labour I had my water broken at 2 cm but midwife and I tour I need a stitches but that’s because I was pushing for 2 hours then they numbed me to cut me and she came before they got chance.

I wouldn’t say it was a bad birth but compare to a natural one it was harder

never had a section but would rather be induced than a section

I was induced at 39+1, it did not go according to plan, ended up (36hrs later) with an assisted delivery and episiotomy. That said I'd probably do it again, the whole thing about first labour is that it is a totally new experience and I think overwhelming for most people no matter how it goes. There are definitely things I would do differently if I had my time again, I intended to be much better at advocating for myself and what I wanted than I ended up being - I felt quite overpowered by the doctors at various times because I was exhausted and worried about bb. I was very glad to avoid a C-section, but then others I know ended up with a C-section after induction have said they'd just go straight to that next time. 🤷‍♀️ At the end of it if you're ok and the bb is ok I think over time the way they came into the world natters less and less to you.

Appreciate this is an old thread but leaving my thoughts if anyone else reads. There’s lot of positive stories which I am glad but I think it’s always good to know the two sides of the coin.
I was induced with a drip at 39+1 due to waters having broken 2 days before. 16 hours of labour, 2 hours of pushing, epidural didn’t work properly, baby got stuck in the birth canal, needed forceps, had an episiotomy and also suffered a third degree tear that I am still healing/recovering from 9 weeks later. Quite frankly, it wasn’t fun, so if I had the choice, even if a c section recovery can also be difficult, I’d save myself from the 16 hour labour prior to recovery…

I got induced with my first at 41 weeks. The pessary got things started and got me to about 4cms which allowed them to break my waters and I was put on the drip. Obviously with it being my first and no other pregnancies since, I have nothing to compare it to, but it was painful so I went for the epidural to help and as my BP was getting a bit too high for the midwife’s liking. I think I was about 6cms by the time I had the epidural and it was a godsend. I could still feel the pressure of the contractions and needed gas and air, but no where near as much pain. Ended up having a episiotomy and ventouse delivery which didn’t bother me, I know some people are determined to have zero interventions. Episiotomy healed really well and had no further complications.

I had an induction with my first and only child at 37 weeks. The procedure didn't bother me at all. I was in labour 31 hours, but my Mum was longer than me. I did tear, had a lot of stitches, but I was still able to walk 10 mins into our village three days later. Mind you, I'm a size 6 so probably small all over!!

A growth scan on DD picked up I had no amniotic fluid, so I didn't have that to contend with. Also they were concerned that I'm small and DD was expected to be around 5lbs at term, turned out to be 6lbs at 37 weeks!

I was tired at the end, as DD was starting to get stressed. The baby and surgical team were called, but thought I could still do it, so I had an audience of around 15, but greatvas I had all the support going.

I could have been discharged the next day, but we were waiting for a blood test result on DD so wanted to be in hospital in case she needed treatment (nothing to do with induction).

What was the outcome? Vaginal birth.
how many hours did it take? It took 6 days... The induction failed and i went into spontaneous labour while waiting for a sectiin.
did you tear? I didn't tear, however I had an episiotomy and a ventouse delivery.
do they scan you for estimated weight before induction or anything? They didn't, no.
what was your babys weight? And how many weeks were you? The baby was born at 40+5 and weighed 7lbs 6.
And what form of pain relief did you have? None! Not necessarily by choice, my labour was too quick.