ARM induction

[eachpeachpearss]

I'm due to go in for an ARM induction on Thursday if I haven't gone into labour by then, (had a sweep this morning at hospital). My friend has told me having her waters broke was the worst pain she felt throughout her whole pregnancy and labour and another saying she has heard awful things, so obviously now I'm quite terrified. This is my second baby and I went into labour spontaneously with my first was it was pretty straight forward. Has anyone had a positive experience with an ARM induction, is having your waters broken really that scary? I had also heard horror stories about having a sweep which almost put me off having one but went for it anyway and actually found it painless.

If your sweep was fine then your ARM will be totally fine too please dont worry! The ARM doesn't tend to be the painful part, it's the vaginal examination (VE) that is. So if you're a long ways off labour with an unfavourable cervix the VE is going to be pretty uncomfortable, and in turn so is the ARM. Sometimes if you're being induced and your cervix hasn't progressed very far they are the most difficult ARMs to tolerate. However you have already tolerated a VE just fine for your sweep and your cervix must be somewhat open😊 Had an ARM induction myself with a favourable cervix and wasn't phased by it in the slightest, and also a midwife so have seen hundreds. Good luck OP!

I've had two after induction was started.

It wasn't pleasant but not the most painful part.

I had my waters broken, and so used gas and air as I was so nervous and it honestly was not bad at all!
Wasn't anything different to a sweep in my humble opinion.
It's not "nice" no, but it wasn't bad.
Tell midwives your nerves and they will do everything they can to make you feel comfortable.

This is really reassuring to hear! I wasn't nervous for the arm induction until I'd heard this from friends! But pleased to hear that since I found the sweep fine it shouldn't be too bad. I'm just so glad the end is in sight now, it feels like I've been pregnant a lifetime.

I had ARM for my second, after a couple of sweeps. I didn't find it bad at all. Mildly uncomfortable, like a sweep, and then pressure as waters broke and baby's head began really pushing on my cervix. Baby was born within 2 hours (I have fast labours) and no further intervention needed. I'd go in with a positive mind set. Every labour is different.

If it gets your labour going quickly it may be a bit of shock tbh. Were you wanting to have an epidural?

I'm definitely open to epidural this time, I had pethidine with my first which I'd like to avoid this time. Anyway I have woken up to come strong pains and TMI sorry but my knickers were quite wet, I have no idea if this could be my waters as I didn't feel anything during the night but also with my first my waters never went to my knowledge but when I went into hospital they said they had. So I'm wondering if I just don't feel the 'pop' everyone talks about?!

I had my waters broken with my first after a 4 day induction where I’d ended up needing gas & air for the cervix checks, so my tolerance was super low by then. It was mildly uncomfortable but nothing to write home about.

Hopefully things are getting going I their own 🤞

I got induced with the pessary at first which got me to about 3-4cms and the midwife said that’s the goal so they could break my waters. It wasn’t any worse then having a sweep done really.

Our beautiful baby boy was born today at 18:35. A really positive birth experience after opting for the epidural this time which I'm so glad I did!

Congratulations 🥳

I was going to suggest asking for the epidural prior to having the ARM.