positive induction stories please! Or advice

[AppleStrudel23]

I'm 41 + 1 and have been booked in for an induction tomorrow. I need advice and assurance as I'm a bit panicked!

So it might be an oxymoron but could I hear your induction stories and any advice or even a run down of what happens? When they put the stuff (I forgot the name!) on my cervix and leave me for six hours does it hurt? Can I sleep? When realistically will I get the epidural? Are the chances of forceps higher?

Hi OP, my baby is 12 weeks old now and I had an induction. They do a cervix check first before starting anything, it may be that they can break your waters straight away! For me that wasn’t the case so they started me off with the gel that lasts 6 hours, it wasn’t painful at all having those put in, some discomfort afterwards as I’d been in slow labour anyway so the gels started to increase my contractions but I still got some sleep in between it all, my induction started at 5pm so my first 2 gels were overnight and although they have to monitor baby every 2ish hours I got little bits of sleep here and there.

The gels didn’t end up working for me so I had the rods after 3 gels, having the rods inserted was incredibly painful (possibly the worst pain of my whole labour) but it did work and within 30 mins my waters had broke! I then needed to go onto the drip to speed things up.

You can’t have the epidural until you’re in active labour, so you can’t have that while being induced only once labour has actually started. My advice with epidural would be honestly ask for it way before you think you need it, do not wait until you really can’t cope anymore because it takes time for the anaesthetist to come, there is often a list and they could be sent into emergency c sections instead. It took 2 hours from me asking for one to actually getting one because at the time I asked they were both sent into emergency c sections and weren’t free, I wish I’d asked sooner!

The chances of needing intervention are higher with inductions yes, so I had an episiotomy and forceps, not ideal but it was that or an emergency section in the end.

All of that to say though just try not to worry. I was terrified of being induced when I was pregnant, an induction, drip, episiotomy and forceps was my WORST nightmare. But I did it and honestly none of it was as bad as I thought it would be, it’s all so worth it the second you hold your baby, just keep reminding yourself what you get at the end of it!! Also make sure you have a supportive birthing partner, take lots of snacks, I’d say take your own pillow for comfort, and take a fan! Good luck! X

@Mrsttcno1

Thank you so so so much for your reply!

I feel comforted now I know what it could be like. I haven't started labour at all but hopefully that's fine.

@Mrsttcno1 sorry! I sent that before finishing

Thank you also for your advice. I'm scared but now I'm more excited to meet my baby! And you're so right about the forceps etc it's important and I really want to avoid a section but if it's necessary I'll do that!

I think as long as you go in with an open mind and try to be as relaxed as possible you will be absolutely fine! There’s a lot of waiting around when being induced, my induction was 36 hours ish then 24 hours of labour and most of that 36 hours was spent watching Netflix on my phone while my husband rubbed my back, snacking, or trying to sleep! X

I had the gels but after a couple of days I didn't dilate enough - I was in pain though! Midwife put me on the drip and that sped up the process. I was really glad I was on the drip. 10 hours later, baby was born. No forceps needed. I had entonox and was offered the epidural.

At 41 weeks hopefully your body will be fairly ready. I had one at 40+5 and it was honestly a breeze (second baby though) broke waters no need for pessary. I didn't have the drip, baby was born 5 hours later!

Hey OP, I had an induction with my first at 37 weeks due to PROM at 29 weeks (nothing happened and she was very happy where she was until then). I had a pessary which didn’t work in the end and 24 hours later had my waters broke, epidural and drip at about midnight, she was born at 10am the next morning after an hour of pushing. All was taken out of my hands at 29 weeks and knew from then on I’d be having an induction which wasn’t easy, but the induction itself was positive. No forceps.

I had an induction at 37 weeks because my waters went at 34 weeks, but I didn't go into labour.

I had one dose of the internal gel which kicked things off immediately and she was born 11 hours later with no other interventions.

I'd gone in determined that if I needed the drip, no way was I having it without the epidural already in - not promised, or fobbed off with "wait and see how it goes" but actually in before I consented to the drip.

I had the pessary and it was absolutely fine. If that's an option for you then do consider it, especially as you're so close anyway and hopefully nearly ready. I was in active labour 12 hours later (tried to sleep) and they had to give me a second pessary which I was happy with as I wanted to give as much chance as possible of triggering a 'normal' labour. My baby was born 2 hours later with no intervention at all.
They really gave me time to progress which I think helped. There was no rush (as long as baby was ok).
Good luck!

Induction at 37+1 as baby measuring on the big side , waters broke at midnight, monitored for an hr on labour ward, brought to delivery suite for oxytocin drip at 1:20am, 1unit of oxytocin through drip, labour immediately started , took off drip after that initial dose, contractions went from 0-100 very quickly , baby born 1hr 20mins later. Great as v speedy but if you can ask for epidural before drip as very intense

Both my births were inductions and both were positive for different reasons.

My son's birth (first birth) was long and drawn out. I was given the pessary and it took 15 hours for my waters to break and another 14 hours after that for him to be born. It wasn't comfortable in the slightest but the midwives were very helpful and informative with the medication options. By the time I was far enough along to be taken to delivery suite I was knackered. Hadn't slept for who knows how many hours and being constantly uncomfortable was not working for me so I opted for the epidural. It wasn't strong enough for my contractions (helped along by the drip) so they gave me fentanyl as well. I didn't need any further interventions and had a 2nd degree tear which in all the midwife's books was a very good outcome! We were discharged the day after he was born

My daughter was born last year and her birth was pretty incredible. I was induced with the gel this time. They don't do pessaries in my trust anymore because they've found them to be weak and ineffective. Don't know if that caused it but my daughter was born an hour and 25 minutes after the gel went in. I wouldn't say being born that quickly was good for me but it was nice to have it over and done with quickly. Another 2nd degree tear but discharged within 6 hours of her birth.

They definitely can be good! It's not a surefire way to a slew of interventions but there's no way to guarantee that I'm afraid. Whatever happens, good luck and congratulations on your little one 💐

I was induced at 38 weeks due to preeclampsia and GD , mine went very well and very fast. They gave me the first gel at 11am and the 2nd 5-6 hours later my waters went on there own . I was 2cm dilated around 11pm and I gave birth at 1am it all happened very fast in the end I didn’t have time for an epidural but I’m actually glad now the gas and air did the trick honestly the worst part of the whole thing was my contractions after my water broke until I gave birth. The only thing I would change is maybe have gas and air first and save the petidine for later on in labour I had it early and then couldn’t have it again . I had a 2nd degree tear which I haven't really noticed to much to be honest. I was pretty out of it on the gas and air so I'm missing bits of time I have to keep asking my DH questions about the birth and leading up to it . But I didn't push for long and I don't actually remember any pain during the birth.

I'm in now! I havnt had the gel yet still being monitored etc

Thank you all, I feel tons better

Any update OP hope all is going / went well ?

@LizzeyBenett

Well it went worse than expected! After 2 days and one day of excruciating endless contractions I had my waters broken and she'd done a poo, the epidural didn't work the first time, by 2 am she was in distress and had an emergency c section where I lost 2 litres of blood!

However... I am a mother now to a beautiful little girl 😍 and I'd do that all over again for her in a heartbeat

You poor thing it's over now ! congratulations on your little girl x

Sounds like my experience except on the third day they broke my waters and then put me on the drip. Did they put you on the drip? Congrats on having your little girl!

@MyInduction

I did go on the drip but she wasn't happy in there and I was getting so exhausted. After the section the doctor said my cervix was no where near and the baby was in more distress than we thought so we made the right choice

That sounds scary. Glad you and baby are ok!

I had the balloon induction with my last baby. I had the balloon inserted at 10pm and at 10.30pm my waters had broken so the balloon was taken out and i was 4cm dilated. I was taken down to the labour ward and ds was born at 00.21.
I couldn't have the other type of induction they offer for medical reasons.

I've had one naturally starting birth when I was 42 weeks and was horrendous! - I was 17 though and midwives were not empathic with me sadly.

However, I've had 2 births since and been induced a week early, I've never had the 'balloon' as I had a pessary with my son and it was a lovely labour/transition into labour.

I also gave birth 18 months ago, 15 years after my first, and also induction. I declined the balloon and opted for a pessary which they were fine with.

I would recommend that if you are open to having the epidural, see if the anethatist can come up to you early and complete the paperwork for the epidural early, that way when you are in delivery suite and you decide you want it, you can have it without delay.

I'm sure you will be fine but please be vocal if you're feeling you are not well cared for, something I was not confident to do at 17.

Good luck! You'll be fine 😍