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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Are inductions actually that bad?

88 replies

Meeting · 28/08/2025 06:40

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?

OP posts:
MissHollysDolly · 28/08/2025 12:20

I don’t know anyone who had an induction and had a positive experience, myself included. Elective section on the other hand, much better experience.

RapunzelHadExtensions · 28/08/2025 13:18

For balance, no one I've ever spoken to has a had a good induction experience. They are hugely over prescribed in this country, often for very little reason, and women rarely have all the information. Many end up in C section anyway as once it starts that's it, you're on a pathway of interventions (a sweep is still an induction)

This article is brilliant and written by a retired midwife who wrote her PHD on inductions:

https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-of-labour/

Ten things I wish every woman knew about induction of labour - Dr Sara Wickham

The most important things you need to know before deciding whether or not to have induction of labour, by Dr Sara Wickham.

https://www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/induction-of-labour

persianfairyfloss · 28/08/2025 13:21

Induced at 36 weeks with my first. No problems with the labour. My third baby was also induced at 36 weeks and again no problems. Both labours were 6 hours from established labour.

InfoSecInTheCity · 28/08/2025 13:26

Absolutely fine, lots of waiting around which was boring and the hospital temperature was set to ‘hotter than the fires of Hades’ but other than that it was great.

Had the pessary inserted, some monitoring then I waited around, paced and tried to get some sleep for 24 hours. The next day they checked me and decided they’d be able to break my waters, some more monitoring and waiting around before someone was free to actually do that.

Waters broken at just after 1pm that day, contractions started pretty much immediately and DD was born 5 hrs later. I had some gas n air in the last stage and while I was being stitched up as had a 2nd degree tear, then I went up to the ward for the night. Discharged early the next morning.

irregularegular · 28/08/2025 13:56

MissHollysDolly · 28/08/2025 12:20

I don’t know anyone who had an induction and had a positive experience, myself included. Elective section on the other hand, much better experience.

Well there's plenty of people on this thread for a start...

SometimesUnsure · 28/08/2025 14:06

I had an induction with DS. Pessary inserted around 11am and he was born within 48 hours. Mild labour pain initially overnight which I had mistaken as just my usual sore back (pre-pregnancy issue) which got stronger as the day went on. My waters broke around 6pm and active labour started soon after. DS was born around 3am. I just had gas and air for most of it, ended up not using it as I wasn't reading contractions very well. Very minor tear. I was induced as 2 weeks overdue. Going for an induction again this time around and happy enough about it. I opted for pessary again after discussion with my midwife but the hospital team would have preferred the balloon. My community midwife insisted on the pessary for me though. I have no apprehension about being induced again.

pambeesleyhalpert · 28/08/2025 14:07

My mum has had all 4 of her children via induction so I knew I was likely going to be induced and was absolutely fine with that. Ended up with an emg c section. There were 8 of us in my NCT group and half had c sections after being induced. If I had my time again I’d skip the induction and go straight for a C section x

Meeting · 28/08/2025 14:07

So I now have a scale of somewhere between absolute hell on earth to be avoided at all costs, and absolutely fine would recommend to a friend. Well I did ask for people's experiences and I guess this shows that there really is no way of knowing what to expect!

OP posts:
Tigercrane · 28/08/2025 14:12

Meeting · 28/08/2025 14:07

So I now have a scale of somewhere between absolute hell on earth to be avoided at all costs, and absolutely fine would recommend to a friend. Well I did ask for people's experiences and I guess this shows that there really is no way of knowing what to expect!

Like all these things the more relaxed you can be the better it will be.😀

Greatgoats · 28/08/2025 17:00

I’ve got nothing to compare to as I was induced with both my children due to type 1 diabetes.
But I had no problems really, DD1 ended up forceps as she just didn’t want to come out!
DD2 I think was sort of already on route and no issues, a lot quicker. Id happily do it all again!

soupmaker · 28/08/2025 17:11

I was induced second time round. I was 43 and consultant was adamant that I must not go over term so eventually agreed.

Arrived at 11pm, induced at midnight, told nothing much would happen until morning. Eh, not quite. Despite telling staff DD2 was well on her way, they told me to keep bouncing on a bloody birthing ball or try and sleep as I wasn’t a priority. Waters broke at 5am, at which point staff decided they’d better have a look only to discover I was fully dilated and DD2 imminent, just like I’d been telling them. Gave birth as I was being wheeled into the labour suite. Took longer to sew me up that for me to give birth. Think I was given a side room on the ward as compensation for no pain relief.

Gettingbysomehow · 28/08/2025 17:53

Sorry but it was agonising and hideous. I had a drip one and it forced the contractions up to such a pitch for hours on end until I started screaming like a lunatic and they had to give me an epidural to shut me up. I'd never have agreed to it if I'd known it was going to be so bad.
Might not be everyone's experience but I think its important to be truthful.

InTheLibrary · 28/08/2025 18:04

Both my births were inductions.
1st I was 41+5. Started induction by gel in the evening, continued the next day, waters went naturally. Ended up on the drip at about 1am on the day I turned 42w, at which point I got the epidural. Once I reached 10cm I pushed for 30 minutes with an episiotomy and he was here. Long and tiring but positive.

2nd I developed choleostasis at the end of my pregnancy and was induced at 39+6. Because it was my second labour I had a balloon inserted and then went home. Felt nothing but it fell out the next day so it obviously worked and I was 4cm. I went into the labour ward at 4pm, waters broken at 6.30. We had some issues with getting a trace on baby/my epidural so the drip wasn’t properly on until about 12.30am. I was fully dilated within 2 hours, had an hour of labouring down and again pushed for 30 minutes and he was out with a small tear. So shorter and easier, and even more positive!

PiggyPlumPie · 28/08/2025 18:13

My first was an induction at 40 + 10. Had a pesaary at 11 and woke up with labor pains at about 2. Was 5 cm dilated and DD was born at around half 5 the same morning.

Growingmyownberries · 28/08/2025 18:29

You'll get a lot of extremes either way on a thread like this - horror stories & easy labours in abundance.

A lot of it comes down to your hospital's / consultant's protocols & outcomes though. I advise asking for their stats around successful inductions, vs. spontaneous vaginal delivery. I had an induction on my first, and I probably would have made a different decision if I knew that my hospital had a 1 in 2 C-section rate, with only 10% of FTM having an unassisted delivery. That was because of their high induction rate & strict protocols - something they advised on after the fact. I had made my decision based on the average stats that I'd googled, instead of hospital specific info.

I'd also ask about your bishop score beforehand. This shows how likely an induction is to be successful. It gives a score out of ten for how ready your body is for labour (things like dilation, cervix length, etc.,).

& I'd also consider your personal circumstances too - is there any reason specific to you that you should have the baby out by a certain date?

Other food for thought is I personally think a lot of inductions go wrong because of the other interventions. If you're in hospital instead of your own home, you're more likely to be uncomfortable or want to take readily available pain relief earlier. Most inductions get the epidural I think (anecdotally) because induction labours tend to start contractions with a bang, you're in the hospital anyway, and there's not as much to do to take your mind off the pain. My consultant told me 90% of epidural births need assistance or c-sections (again hospital specific) but something to ask your care team about.

If you do get induced, that's also not to say you have to accept every intervention they offer thereafter. E.g. breaking waters, pitocin drip, internal fetal monitoring - so have a think about what you want in each scenario. I wrote a really detailed birth preference plan second time around, which had this laid out. E.g. if labour "stalled" I wanted to do X & Y instead of pitocin, for X period of time.

Best of luck with your decision. ❤️

For what it's worth, my first birth was an induction at 41 weeks, & I birthed in 7 hours. I would also recommend asking if your baby is OA or OP facing, because I learned the hard way an induction with an OP baby is not fun! I personally preferred spontaneous delivery but second babies are easier anyway.

wagnbobble · 28/08/2025 18:32

Two very successful inductions at 41/42 weeks ( adult kids so don’t think you are allowed to go that over. Labour from start of drip to birth 4 hours both times . No interventions .

Fridaysgirl17 · 28/08/2025 18:36

Both my births were inductions,both at 35 weeks (medical reasons),both were fine,gel got me started & had the drip on both,waters manually broken, I had an epidural on both(highly recommend), both mine were less than 24 hours from start to finish,I had a small tear on my 1st but that was because he literally shot out with 2 pushes before we were ready as we needed peads & NICU in the room but it was fine,& very minimal pushing on no 2 maybe 4 pushes & he was here,I progressed well,few issues on baby one with the drip but he was a tiny baby so they thought he just couldn't handle it so turned it down a bit,he was fine, never a notion of a section with either of mine & id second whoever said get the epidural before the drip it will help immensely,also just a word that you can get the shakes after with the epidural,i got them on my second & my partner freaked out but i knew it could happen so i was ok,it only lasted maybe over 30 minutes. Honestly my inductions were great & if needed I'd do it

JungleRun21 · 28/08/2025 19:53

I was induced with my 1st due to pre-eclampsia.
Pessary inserted at 1.30am, was told it would take up to 3 days to have the baby.
I had mild period pain by 6am which i didnt think anything of.
By 7am i had full on, back to back contractions with zero break between them.
Called midwife who basically laughed at me and said it was nothing and handed me 2 paracetamol.
8am my waters went. Again midwife dismissed me saying I had wet myself.
I asked for additional pain relief which i was denied.
I asked for the induction to be stopped which the midwife did do but realised I was already 6cms dilated and baby was on the way.
Baby was out before 9am.
I had to have an episotomy due to the speed of things and babys heart rate dropping dramatically.
I also suffered a big haemorrhage and blood pressure drop after birth which needed a crash team, twice, to come and take over my care.
I had a prolonged recovery due to hospital failings too.

Personally i dont know anyone who has had a good induction which I think is because the body is being forced to do something it isnt ready for.

Hannahtime · 28/08/2025 21:03

Growingmyownberries · 28/08/2025 18:29

You'll get a lot of extremes either way on a thread like this - horror stories & easy labours in abundance.

A lot of it comes down to your hospital's / consultant's protocols & outcomes though. I advise asking for their stats around successful inductions, vs. spontaneous vaginal delivery. I had an induction on my first, and I probably would have made a different decision if I knew that my hospital had a 1 in 2 C-section rate, with only 10% of FTM having an unassisted delivery. That was because of their high induction rate & strict protocols - something they advised on after the fact. I had made my decision based on the average stats that I'd googled, instead of hospital specific info.

I'd also ask about your bishop score beforehand. This shows how likely an induction is to be successful. It gives a score out of ten for how ready your body is for labour (things like dilation, cervix length, etc.,).

& I'd also consider your personal circumstances too - is there any reason specific to you that you should have the baby out by a certain date?

Other food for thought is I personally think a lot of inductions go wrong because of the other interventions. If you're in hospital instead of your own home, you're more likely to be uncomfortable or want to take readily available pain relief earlier. Most inductions get the epidural I think (anecdotally) because induction labours tend to start contractions with a bang, you're in the hospital anyway, and there's not as much to do to take your mind off the pain. My consultant told me 90% of epidural births need assistance or c-sections (again hospital specific) but something to ask your care team about.

If you do get induced, that's also not to say you have to accept every intervention they offer thereafter. E.g. breaking waters, pitocin drip, internal fetal monitoring - so have a think about what you want in each scenario. I wrote a really detailed birth preference plan second time around, which had this laid out. E.g. if labour "stalled" I wanted to do X & Y instead of pitocin, for X period of time.

Best of luck with your decision. ❤️

For what it's worth, my first birth was an induction at 41 weeks, & I birthed in 7 hours. I would also recommend asking if your baby is OA or OP facing, because I learned the hard way an induction with an OP baby is not fun! I personally preferred spontaneous delivery but second babies are easier anyway.

I didn’t even know about the Bishop score. This is the sort of stuff that would be useful in NCT as would things like checking for tongue tie.

YesRachelItIsMe · 28/08/2025 21:11

Induced with first baby at 41+3. I’d had a sweep and was about 2cm.
I was given a pessary at 11am, pains started at 6pm that day as the Neighbours end theme was starting. My waters were broken at some point before midnight I’m sure. I had a bit of time in the birthing pool but needed a ventouse delivery because my contractions weren’t long or strong enough. DS was born juts before 6am the next morning.
Good luck with it all.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 28/08/2025 21:14

I've only been induced. First time I went from induction to holding my baby in 11 hours. Second time took longer, 2 pessaries. Both were back to back, no one figured it out. DD was pulled out with the ventous (sp?) after six and a half hours of pushing. Not great, but got 2 wonderful DC.

ExperiencedTeacher · 28/08/2025 21:29

Induced at 40+6 due to reduced movement. Pessary inserted at 1.20pm. Active labour from 9pm and baby born at 1.20am. Nobody believed I was in labour until 1am so I laboured my back to back baby on my own to fully dilated with no pain relief. It was just the most incredible birth and I absolutely loved it.

Dyra · 28/08/2025 23:20

I've only ever been induced. Both times due to pre-eclampsia at 37 weeks with a Bishop score 0.

My first I had two rounds of gels, to get to a grand dilation of 1cm. Overnight the delivery suite ran out of labourers (no word of a lie), so I was brought down to continue the induction. My second was one round of gel and was pretty much instantly 2cm dilated. However due to a combination of staffing, bed spaces, and everyone else's waters breaking there was no space on delivery suite for 5 days....

I had managed ARMs (unpleasant, but necessary as my babies like riding high), but labour never started, necessitating the drip. Tbh I never found the drip that bad. Probably because it wasn't 0-100 for me like others described. It could be because I needed a high dose before labour was established, creating a few hours of gradually increasing contractions as the drip was turned up helped.

I did eventually need stronger pain relief in both labours. With my first, I wasn't keen on having an epidural, I had diamorphine. Weird experience, but it worked. Mostly. Either way it was enough to see me to fully dilated 5 hours later. Baby arrived after only 20 minutes pushing. My second labour was different. We knew baby was OP ahead of the induction, but hoped they would turn in labour. As it happens, they did not, and in fact got stuck when they tipped their head back. One slow, failure to progress labour and an epidural later, I had a C-section. I do not regret having the induction, nor do I blame it for the C-section. I was unlucky, and I firmly believe the same would have happened if I had laboured naturally.

All in all do what is best for you. For me, it was imperative that I tried to have a vaginal birth first. If I were to ever have a third, I would attempt a VBAC. Should I need to be induced, then I would accept that too. But I know that's not for everyone.

Sub2Mumma · 28/08/2025 23:26

Put it this way out of a 6 bedded bay 5 ladies were induced and they all ended up with EMCS. The 6th lady was me being monitored for pre term labour. After that experience I wouldn’t entertain an induction. FWIW I ended up having a medical CS due to DD being breech at 36wks

curious79 · 28/08/2025 23:32

Induced and ventouse delivery after 34 hrs of active labour.

statistically as soon as you’re being induced, you are much more likely to have further interventions.

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