Looking for positive induction stories

[Lulusunflowers]

As the title suggests, i'm looking for anyone's positive inductions experiences.
I'm a FTM and have heard so many horror stories that it's got me incredibly nervous and anxious.
I have one scheduled at the end of the week but really hoping i won't need it.
I will be having another sweep before hand, although the first one hasn't seemed to of done anything. Still hoping i will go into labour naturally as i lost my mucus plug a week ago and am 1cm dilated. Midwife said my cervix is very soft ectt but want want to prepare myself if things don't go as i want.
TIA x

Just in terms of ‘preparation’ i would advise to ask your midwife what the exact plan or process is if they do induce you and then there is no room on the labour ward when it is time to go down, or if they need to break your waters.

I was induced, they broke my waters and also tired to induce me with a pessary which didn’t work so I was them out on a drip to induce me that way which worked and apart from not being able to move around so much it was absolutely fine, I was around 11 hours in labour and birth was absolutely fine no complications, my daughter is now 23. As I say the only down side for me was I couldn’t be as mobile as I had the IV drip in my arm , I kept naturally wanting to turn from my back onto my knees/ all 4’s if you like but I had to remain lying on my back due to the drip but that was only complaint from me. I was ready to go early also I was around 8cm dilated and that was 2 weeks before my due date. Best of luck I am sure all will be fine.

I have twins who were induced at 37 weeks, 12 hour labour following drip and breaking waters, no issues and two healthy babies (now teenagers). It was easier than my singleton, spontaneous labour.

@Bedtimewithoutissues123 @AmberRose26 thank you for sharing your experiences xx

Thank you for your reply. I have another appointment tomorrow so will deffo ask this xx

I was induced at 42 weeks. They manually broke my waters. Contractions started right away. Baby was out exactly 2 hours after waters were broken. 2nd baby though.

37 week induction as a FTM. Two sets of gels, ARM and a little under 12 hours on the drip I was holding my baby.

I’ve been induced with the drip twice.

First time the midwife didn’t listen to me when I said I was in pain and told me I “wasn’t in labour yet” but she clearly couldn’t be arsed checking. By the time she believed me I was pushing and it was too late for epidural. I found it very hard to deal with the pain, however my baby was perfectly happy and healthy. Whole thing from first contraction to birth took three hours. Still haven’t forgiven that bloody midwife and my baby is almost 20! I like to hold a grudge.

Second time the consultant wrote on my notes that if I asked for an epidural I was not to be fobbed off. I got the epidural line in before the induction one. Labour was fine, I felt in control, pressure rather than pain, and again baby was happy and healthy. Whole thing from first contraction to birth took 90 minutes. Still love that midwife and that baby is 16.

So, moral of the story is to discuss your wishes around pain relief before it starts, and have someone to advocate for you in case you don’t feel able when they tell you to “wait a while and see”.

FTM induction at 39 weeks, I had the pessary which brought on contractions within two hours. I had the pessary removed and my waters broken for me after 6 hours and was holding DD within 10 hours. I ended up with a small tear (I wasn't listening when they told me not to push for a bit!) and a couple of stitches. The contractions were very intense, but I think that's just how my body has babies as I had similarly intense contractions with DD2's spontaneous birth three years later.

As far as preparations go, make sure your midwife and birth partner know what you want to happen if the induction doesn't work. I told everyone within earshot that forceps or ventouse were absolutely last resort for me.

I was given the gel on the Monday and kept in hospital because of pre eclampsia. Didn't do much and there was noone available to examine me/no room on delivery ward. On Thursday at around midday someone came to get me and take me down to the delivery room where I was given the drip and the midwives broke my waters. DS was born at 9:30pm. No complications whatsoever. He and I were both great!

I'd heard tonnes of horror stories too and although that's not the experience I would have chosen (too much hospital. First set of midwives weren't that great and kept pushing me towards an epidural I did not want) I wouldn't be disappointed if DC2 arrived the same way.