Are inductions actually that bad?

[Meeting]

I'm 40+1 and have a midwife appt today where I'll be offered a sweep. If that doesn't work I can book to have an induction.

I have seen a lot of negativity towards induction online but don't really understand why if I'm being honest. Should I book one in for after the weekend when I'm close to 41 weeks? I definitely don't want to get to 42.

Have you had one, if so, what was your experience like?

I’ve seen them work for people that have already been through a natural labour already. In my completely non medical opinion, if the body isn’t ready then it just doesn’t know what to do when pushed and it’ll end in a section.

I don’t know any mums who had a successful induction for the first birth but they are out there.

i ended up with a crash section as DDs heart was stopping due to the stress. I had 20 hours of labour (contractions every 3-5 mins lasting a minute from the get go but increasing in strength) getting to a massive 4cm, manual water breaking 24 hours after insertion with a lot of meconium and crash section 12 hours after that.

if I had my time again, I’d go straight for a planned section.

wishing you the best.

My first birth was an induction due to BP being a bit high.

Zero problems. Had the gel inserted, waters went within 2 hours and contractions started, within 6 hours little one was here. No pain relief, no interventions, minor tear. Short and sweet, would do it again!

I was induced at 37+5w and all went relatively well, despite the fact that it all lasted 3 days. It can be very long, stop and start, etc, but I didn't need a c section. I think if you are close to term it might be quicker. Good luck

Oh and it was my first (and only) birth x

I had an induction for my first birth and it was straightforward and went well. No induction for second birth, never got going properly and ended in a section. Don’t be scared of induction. I was offered, and accepted, an epidural when being induced and would recommend this so much! Good luck!

I had an induction with my dd (only pregnancy), it was brilliant in a way as my total labour time was less than an hour with only the gas and air. Until I read about it on here, I had no idea there was any negativity about them. I needed one due to dd's heartbeat being difficult to read when I went for a sweep at one week post my due date, which they were concerned about.

Thanks so much everyone for sharing. It's good to see so many positive experiences. My absolute worst fear is a section so the increased risk does worry me but I'm trying not to think about that because it just stresses me out.

My first dd was born by induction 10 days overdue (I always told the midwife she had my due date wrong so I think I was really only 3 days overdue). It was tough - took about 36 hours until I gave birth but I did manage it. I agreed to have an epidural as I was so exhausted the midwife recommended I needed a few hours of sleep. I was literally being prepared for a c-section when things got moving and the midwife said she was sure I could do it naturally - the epidural had slightly fallen out so I had some feeling back in the lower half and I think that helped with some serious pushing, I had a small episiotomy and delivered naturally. Following the birth I was absolutely shattered - my legs swelled up like tree trunks and I felt quite poorly. I think the exhaustion contributed to my milk being slow to come in, and I felt really unwell. I did manage to establish ebf but not easy

My second labour was also induced. It was a totally different (better) experience - straightforward and not prolonged: I didn’t need any interventions just had gas and air.

This isn’t true. I had an induction at 39 weeks and didn’t end up having a c section. The gel didn’t work well enough for two days. I had the drip early afternoon (third day) and then gave birth that night. It’s fine, but it can take days. I’ve come across more success stories for inductions than negative stories. Edited to add that this was my first and only baby.

hiya. I’ve had 5 DC have been induced with them all, for different reasons. They were all completely straight forward except for the last which ended in emergency csec but that’s because heart rate was dropping when I contracted. Hope it all goes well for you.

I was induced for my first and second children. Both worked really well and both safely delivered once contractions started properly. No tears. Quick recovery. Beautiful babies ☺️

Mine was pretty awful. Took about 48 hours, multiple grid and pessaries and an outer body experience from the pain when they tried to break my waters manually…

I had a successful, quick, easy induction with my first. I was 42+2 though. Generally though, if induced before post-term an induction is the first step on a slippery slope of intervention. I don’t understand why anyone without a clear medical need would be induced before 42 weeks. You could have an induction, more painful contractions, epidural, failure to progress, failed forceps, emergency section at 41 weeks or spontaneously go into normal labour at 41+4! There is plenty of research out there (try CINAHL or PubMed) but my observations are largely anecdotal from working on labour ward for several years.

They seem to work very well for women who have given birth before but badly for first time mothers.

They often take a very long time so you are extremely overtired and then go straight into looking after a newborn.

Risk of interventions rises significantly, not just C-section but also forceps episiotomy etc.

Basically if you have an induction your chances of a smooth vaginal birth go down and your risks for everything else (other than still birth as that is what the induction is trying to prevent) go up.

Having had to have an emergency c-section after an unsuccessful induction after having been terrified of the idea of a c-section- don’t be afraid of a c-section. They are totally fine and if things go that way for you, it will be ok!

I had an induction at 41 weeks with my first 20+ years ago, and it was fine. Around 15 hours between the first pessary and delivery. I found having my waters broken particularly painful but I know not everyone does and I didn’t like needing to be on the bed being monitored when I wanted to be moving around, but only had gas and air so it was all fine.

Hi OP, I was induced with both my babies and neither resulted in sections. I had the drip for the first one as the gel didn’t do anything and ended up having an epidural as I was exhausted and it helped me dose off until it was time to push.

Second baby, induction happened much quicker and it was a much more positive experience (I used hypnobirthing techniques second time round so that helped me).

My advice would be to go into it with an open mind and see how it goes, every birth is so different you just cannot predict what will happen. Focus on the end goal of meeting your baby and that will get you through it xx

My actual labour was fine after an induction it was just getting to that point as I was stop start and need my waters breaking but there was no room at the inn on the labour for a while so meant an extended stay on the antenatal ward which wasn’t the nicest until they could find me a bed!

I was induced at 36+4(twins) and when they examined me they said it could take a while as I was only just starting to show signs of effacement and funnelling. They put the pessary in, 20 mins later my waters broke and I was 4cm and had to move to the delivery suite! Babies born 21 hours later. I did need some help with forceps but healed well and babies were absolutely fine. Good luck xx

All 3 of mine were inductions, all straightforward, resulting in vaginal births. I didn’t know that inductions were so frowned upon until Mumsnet, because it’s so far from my own experience. Good luck OP!

I had two, in the 90s for my first two pregnancies. It was brutal, I had no pain relief for my 2nd as they didn't believe that I had started active labour and my sons head delivered in the bath on two paracetamol...I have never ever forgotten the pain and not being believed. For my last two I had them both at home and it was a wonderful natural labour.
If I was being offered induction I would definitely say NO (I'm 58 now so that won't happen 😂) and get a rescan to check dates

Unfortunately mine was absolutely terrible and lasted a full 6 days before DC finally arrived. My body was just not ready to go into labour and the amount of poking and prodding it took to get there didn't help and made the whole experience awful. I won't go into details but the after effects also had an impact on me for a year later. But 1) like most things, there will be equal amounts of people with really positive experiences and 2) I do think being 'overdue' really helps your chances as your body might be much readier than mine was in the first place. I also think it didn't help that it was the absolute total opposite of the birth I'd wanted.

I'd highly recommend an epidural before the hormone drip (if the drip is required/you agree to have it- remember you can say no to anything). I hyper stimulated, had really bad contractions that didn't actually do anything and massively regretted saying I'd try without an epidural first.

Sorry op i had an induction at nearly 42 weeks and it didn’t work. I was contracting for 2 days but never got past 3cm and ended in EMCS.

One thing to be mindful of and to ask your midwife about is an issue where women are induced on the antenatal ward, then left in limbo as they progress as there is no room to go to down to the labour ward. Both myself and many other women on here experienced this.

If this happens and they end up sending you home, you need to make sure they call you back in regularly for monitoring.

Thank you, a couple of people have mentioned not having a room available and I didn't even know that was a thing to consider so will definitely be sure to have that conversation!

Yes this is part of why mine took over 6 days. When I was finally ready to have my waters broken, there was no room. I was sent to the labour ward and back twice before finally getting to stay there. Not the staff's fault of course but so so frustrating when you're exhausted and have been in for days.

I had two inductions and both were a sucess.
My second baby was 2 weeks too early so they said , I had not section or stitches either time.
Everything went back into place I was 31, and then 34.
Stay positive, it may not come to that.A section is also alright , you'll do fine.