Talk to me about induction...

[GlittersLikeGold]

I'm currently 40+6 and unless anything changes, there is an induction booked for Sunday. I was wondering what the pros and cons of induction are? I've heard it takes longer and is more painful.. is this true? Will discuss with my midwife at my next appointment but would like to have a bit of knowledge. Thanks ladies.

[Dam58]

I've had 2 babies with induction, both with the gel, the second with an assisted water break.
My first daughter was 4 weeks early and weighed 6.3 oz. the birth was straightforward , average time with no complications.
My second weighed 11pounds eeek!! She was just over 2 weeks early and very obviously stuck..unsurprisingly.
I had a few stitches with the second but nothing dramatic. I have no comparison- but both my births were happy and healthy and so were my babies. I recovered well, breasted, left hospital the same day both times. Don't worry, you'll do great.

Good luck ❤

[Dam58]

Sorry- my 2nd was 2 weeks *late!!

[sillyoldfool]

I've been induced once and went into labour (4hours before I was due to be induced!) the second time.
Only real negative difference with the induction was having to be in hospital on a ward for the early labour bit-much less privacy than you get in early labour at home. Apart from that it was fine.

[ArgyMargy]

Not sure it takes longer, OP, it's probably just that one of the reasons for induction is v slow labour. That was the case for me. No big deal, really, compared with the scarier bits of my two births.

[Longfufu]

Just stay away from the drip...horrible!

[GlittersLikeGold]

I'm hoping I'll go by myself. Even if it is the night before, was hoping for a water birth. So will keep my fingers crossed for that as well.

[amyjayde]

I was induced with a propess, nothing happened for 24 hours, they broke my waters after that and bam really really painful contractions started within minutes, I don't know if its more painful as I have nothing to compare it to yet, 7 hours later my daughter was born, normal delivery, a couple of stitches and very quick recovery :)

[Longfufu]

I've experienced contracts that where natural and contracts via the drip. The natural ones I could cope with using a tens machine for 12 hours. The drip was horrendous...all I can say is make sure you have an epidural before they give it to you...that's if you let them.

[Lucyadams184]

I was induced with my son and it didn't make it worse at all. My son was back to back to and my first child and my labour was 6 hours. I had a propess and the first one worked. In the end I was 9 days over due.

[Hassled]

My third DC was induced and of the four labours it was undoubtedly the longest and the most painful (although DC3 was also the biggest baby, which would have affected that) - I ended up on the drip without epidural.

But from the posts here it seems to vary hugely from woman to woman so please don't panic - if it's needed, it's needed, and you'll be OK.

[CakesAreNotTheAnswer]

You have the right to refuse induction. You can even home birth after 42 weeks. Read up. Be unforced. Don't allow yourself to be bullied. I refuse to ever be induced again (drip). I will not post horror stories for mums to be but I strongly urge you to read up, be informed, be your own advocate, don't blindly accept what you're told and insist on good reasons for every action taken.

[CakesAreNotTheAnswer]

be informed, not unforced. though unforced is good too!

[NicolaSeal]

I was induced with my ds, 6 weeks ago, and was very worried about it. I needn't have been. Had pessery, nothing happened for 12 hours, then contractions started. Baby was born 90 minutes later. There was no intervention & I had no drugs (no time either!)

This is compared to my dd, born naturally. She took 17 long hours & we ended up with forceps.

For me, the pain felt the same with both. But with my induction, I had to be monitored which was annoying. Although they did take the monitors off me as my contractions properly kicked in, so I could stand up and move around.

[Pineapple80]

I was induced 9 wks ago with my DS. I had the gel and mild contractions started almost immediately and continued for 7 hrs, I had only dilated to 3cms. My waters got broken but DS heartrate kept dropping so ended up having an emergency C section. If it wasn't for fetal distress, the Dr said he had planned to use the drip to deliver.

It is hard to know what to expect with induction, but go in with an open mind & know your baby will be there with you soon . Good luck!

[nickelbabe]

I refused induction.

I don't see the medical need in rushing a baby to be born if they are not in distress.

The WHO says you're not even classed as overdue until 42 weeks, and most PCTs will try to induce you before that time.

after 42 weeks, you do not have to agree to induction, but you are recommended by NICE to have Expectant Management, which is basically monitoring (monitor on your belly for ages) and extra scans as required.
I went to 40+16 in the end.

If you refuse induction (which you are perfectly well within your human rights to do so), have it backed up with paperwork about the NICE guidelines in order to show that you know what you're on about, and expect a registrar (doctor person who only ever sees births that are critical or high risk, or have gone wrong) to be hysterical and tell you you're going kill your baby

here's you full NICE leaflet on induction
the bits on induction are pages 2 (20 of the pdf), 10, (28 of the pdf) and 29 (47 of the pdf)

Only you can decide whether to be induced or not - not the hospital, not the registrar and not the midwife.
so if you're not sure, please research it properly first.