Experiences of induction with balloon, compared with planned caesarean?

[Kellym25]

Evening all, I'm hoping people can give me their honest opinions on being induced with the balloon, how long the process took from insertion to baby being born, did you hyperstimulate, did you end up needing assisted birth, stitches etc

I was induced with my previous baby but not with the balloon and it was hell on earth, I hyperstimulated, tore, almost bleed out and got rushed into surgery and I'm not keen on being induced again.

The doctor said about induction at 39 weeks due to reduced movements but I've said no so they said about a c section (which I'm not keen on either as I have a toodler to look after)

I'm just after people's experiences really as I've read everything I possibly can online about it.

Thank you

I had a balloon induction at 41+5 so slightly different circumstances. I hadn't dilated at all so they recommended balloon. Had it in for a lovely peaceful 24 hours while I chilled and read books in a private room, it kicked off some mild contractions. Once it was out things progressed entirely without any intervention and I had baby vaginally a few hours later. No complications or tearing, utterly beautiful birth. I hope you have a good experience xxx

Get a second or third opinion if you need to. You do not have to agree with anything you don’t feel well informed about.

Aww @Kellym25 you are in a difficult position.
Your instinct is important. I think perhaps subconsciously our bodies know what type of birth will be best suited for our babies/ our bodies.
I appreciate that might sound slightly ridiculous. I am someone who loves facts, percentages and sought out a lot of evidence based research.
Research and statistics are inportant but they only go so far.
My 1st birth.
early pregnancy wanted to avoid C-section considering long term impact on baby and mums body.
baby was breech - I strongly debated what to do ( ecv or c section). I hated idea of having to ask husband for help/ being restricted in movement. Debated back and forth but then told doctor - I definitely don’t want ecv. They said ‘ we will make appointment incase you change mind’. I rung ahead of appointment to cancel - told to go in to cancel procedure. Went in told them again I don’t want ecv - they told me just to let them try. I went along with it literally crying- tears streaming.
ecv was successful
baby needed to be induced ( 12 days over ) I absolutely instinctively hated idea of this. Decided to avoid epidural ( based on my research)
For me - Very bad experience personally. For baby - back to back, angled head tilt. Assisted delivery, cord snapped. Very very unsettled baby.
I do wonder if my slightly illogical very strong aversion to ecv was my body telling me something.
It was/ is very unusual for me to go against professional advice/ suggestion tbh 🙈
I also have long term complications post birth

2nd baby
Given option of c section. Very much debated, discussed and researched for weeks- going back and forth in mind . In appointment - I sought clinical opinion. Consultant suggested they book me in and then I can have longer to decide - but literally it was placeholder but no pressure.
But driving home that day, knowing I was booked in I felt a calmness seep in. I did not doubt c section for a moment after that. I was aware of all associated health complications - but I felt it was right decision. I am not pro c section at all - but I have no regrets. Baby had to be born at 36 weeks due to health worries - but birth itself calm, gave me great start to motherhood tbh. My daughter has associated health needs - allergies, eczema etc but tbh I don’t have a regret

sorry for so much detail 🙈
I know you said about not being keen for induction - is it mainly fear of awful experience being repeated or do you think something else?
With c section and your toddler - is it only because practically there is no one else to help - or is it because you hate relying on others - or do you have underlying instinct

prob not any help. All you can do is make best decision you can with information you have. It’s your decision

Thank for you the advice.

I'll have my other half home for 4 weeks but not the last two and toddler is still in nappies so needs picking up to put on changing station to change bum plus he's a massive mummy's boy and is always following me around, climbing on me, cuddles etc (our bond is amazing and I love it) don't want him to feel like I don't love him anymore.

The induction is because of what happened last time, I lost so much blood and got rushed to surgery, it was a bit touch and go and then baby ended up in nicu. Plus it took so long and I don't want to leave my son for that long if I can help it.

This is the thing id be thinking if I were you. I'm not that different to you in many ways, just got more kids!

There is a good chance that your cervix is quite favourable due to you having had a child recently. You'll likely have a "multips os" which means your cervix isn't completely closed. It's something like 1cm open. That doesn't mean that it is thin, or short, though. And it needs to also make these changes for you to go into labour.

So usually with the balloon, they put it in for up to a day for it to do it's thing. After it's done it's thing, they either break your waters or start the hormone drip depending on their specific protocols if you arent contracting sufficiently yourself.

The point being, that unless it not only dilates your cervix, but starts your contractions, the next step (or maybe the one after) will likely involve some sort of hormone that you want to avoid after your last experience.

There is a chance that breaking your waters will start contractions that don't require a drip to progress labour. But also there is a chance that they break your waters and it doesnt, so now you require a drip and have an increasing chance of infection which starts a clock ticking in terms of when baby should be born.

So if I wanted to avoid hormonal induction, I'd bear in mind that the only possible way to do that all the way to a vaginal birth would be if the balloon happens to make me go into active labour. That does happen for some people, statistically. I know of some it has worked for who has previous cesarean. But of course many more people do require hormonal augmentation, too.

Can't talk about the balloon, but I was induced with a pessary (two actually) and then induced by hormonal drip when that didn't work.

Epidural at 4cm dilated as the pain was getting too much and then a fantastic experience from then on delivering without instrumentation and only a small tear than hasn't bothered me since. My epidural was a textbook walking epidural so I felt no pain, but could still stand/walk etc.

I only heard horror stories about the hormone drip, but it's not inevitable that you'll have further complications if it comes to that

I’ve had 2 elective sections and found them very positive experiences. Recovery was a bit sore but at no point did I ever actually feel any pain and after 4 weeks I was pretty much healed so no issues looking after my 3YO and the baby on my own. Regardless of what you decide I’d probably make some minor changes with your eldest now to make sure that you won’t have to lift them if you aren’t up to it e.g. stop lifting them onto a high up changing station and start doing standing changes.