To those who were induced - which method did you have? What was thr pain like?

The drip took my contractions from 0 to 100 in what felt like no time at all. It was really bad so I had the epidural to get me through which worked a treat x

The pessary worked very quickly for me within 1 or 2 hours and contractions were intense quickly and not far apart. I didn’t want an induction and only chose it as I had reached 42 weeks. I ended up in theatre anyway with a forcep delivery including a tear and episiotomy (also an over extended bladder which has caused permanent damage but that was down to neglectful midwives not the induction) I wish I had waited longer for my baby to come on their own terms. I’ve since had a planned C-section to prevent further damage and would choose that again any day x

I had the last 3! But only oxytocin drip worked (its not painful but that speed up the contractions so thats the contractions that are painful). None of them were painful. What hurts me was the vaginal examinations but even that that's bearable.

I only had pitocin and it was slow to start then really picked up just after half way. My contractions were back to back which made it way more difficult than my naturally occurring labour but I didn’t have pain relief and it was still quite bearable

I had a failed balloon insertion (so not sure if it would have hurt, the attempted insertions weren’t pleasant!), a pessary that fell out after 11 hours and didn’t do anything except some mild cramps, a sweep, attempted manual breaking of waters, and finally the drip. The drip hurt but with an epidural I gave birth within 14 hours of it starting, and the epidural meant I didn’t feel a thing even when pushing.

Several pessaries, then breaking my waters and then the hormone drip. I don’t recommend any of it unless medically necessary.

@Siobhan same, I had been having contractions for around an hour which were totally fine. I could hardy tell then all of a sudden, went from 0-100 I had the epidural I couldn't do it without one

If you don’t medically have to get induced I personally wouldn’t. I had to have one since my son had a birth defect, but I would never choose an induction willingly. Just more painful to the point you practically don’t have a choice but to get a epidural 😭 hope it works out for you though xx

I did the balloon. It barely did anything so a day later they broke my water. Everything went fast from there.

i tried the balloon it hurt bad but i was barely dilated, i then did pitocin wasn’t bad at all, then did the balloon again and didn’t even feel it go in or out. i was in labor for 36 hours but by hour 28 they broke my water and that got things moving quickly(didn’t hurt at all)

My water broke without labour starting in the next 12 hours, tried pills for about 8h went from 0-1 so got put on the drip. It was bad, but I managed without an epidural (fear of needles no other reason) it got intense fast and it was quite painful but also fast I went from 1-10cm in 3h so that was my silver lining.

I had my water broken and pitocin at the same time. The pain wasn't bad at all, it was pretty equal to my non-induced labor and very manageable. I did both labors unmedicated. The only real difference was that contractions ramped up a lot more quickly. I had about 3 contractions that were about 10 minutes apart and then they jumped right to about 1 minute apart, whereas in my non-induced labor it took several hours to build up like that. So that made it a little more intense and surprised me, but as far as pain level itself they were about the same.

I had 4 pessaries over 4 days which got things started (was having contractions the whole time) but didn’t progress me far enough. Day 5 they broke my waters and started the drip. I got to 10cm by 3am then had baby via emergency c-section after I started pushing bc I spiked a fever and something happened with his heart rate The 3rd and 4th pessaries and cervical exams were extremely painful

Out of my 6 I’ve had pessary 4 times… worked with 2 other 2 one ended up on drip 😬 and another emergency C-section due to cord prolapse. They broken my waters with my other 2 as went into labour naturally

The pressary worked great with my first my waters broke within half an hour but with my second I over reacted and ended up in an emergency c-section I really “enjoyed “( as much as you can lol ) my first birth

I had the balloon and pessary…. I wouldn’t say the balloon hurts, them feeling your cervix hurts 😭😭 not the balloon and when it’s in it doesn’t hurt. It was a complete waste of time for me though and I was only 1cm dilated… I has the pessary after which was working a bit but I actually chose to have a c section in the end

I had the pessary (fine) waters broken (fine) then the drip - that wasn’t great cos like others have said one minute I was fine then the next DEFINITELY NOT FINE 😂 it makes it happen too quickly!! I was desperate to avoid induction but my waters broke at 32 weeks so risk of infection blah blah. I’d say avoid if possible, if not get that epidural in ASAP cos it was too late for me 😆 that being said, baby was born with no medical interventions (forceps, c section etc) so that was good.

I had a tablet orally and then a tablet inserted a few hours later. it was painful but not as bad as the balloon or drip so I’ve heard from friends/family

I had the balloon and had period pains!! Then went to labour ward and had the drip but did have epidural after 2 hours of nothing 🤦🏽‍♀️

Thank you everyone! They want me to have sweeps from 37 weeks and then to book my induction between 38-39 weeks. I absolutely want to avoid an induction but they said if baby doesn't come by then it's either induction or c section and I refuseeeee to have another section unless its life or death😂 makes me nervous even thinking about it, just praying he comes on his own before then🥲

I had 3 gel inductions, then had waters broken then I was on the drip 14 hours and not much really happened. I’d say the last couple hours i had contractions, but i only got to 3cm dilated so had emergency c section. I hated the inductions and breaking waters as im super sensitive down there.

They did all of the above with me. Started with cytotek and Pitocin. Then added the balloon. Then broke my water the first time. Second induction I was further along and was already dilated so no cytotek or ballon, just Pitocin and breaking my waters. Pain was awful with both. Get the epidural.

I’ve had all 4. The balloon didn’t hurt but I had the one with only one ball. There’s 2 kinds of balloon, the one with 2 balls is typically the one people find painful. Pitocin makes your contractions 10x stronger and worse than natural ones. The tablet only soften your cervix, very rarely does it induce labor. Breaking my waters did speed up things, Are you attempting a VBAC? Cause you said you don’t want a C-section again. But if you’re attempting a VBAC, then don’t do the induction. Inductions increase the risk of uterine rupture by 40% especially with pitocin so it has a greater chance of ending as an emergency.

Why do they want to start inducing you so early?

I had a pessary after my waters had already broken so it worked quite quickly

My last one was vbac. I had 2 sweeps 1 at 37 weeks and 1 at 38 weeks and it worked I went into labour 2days after my 2nd sweep. I didn’t want another C-section as I’d had 4 vaginal deliveries and 5th was emergency C-section due to cord prolapse, but I said if it was execution I’d want planned but luckily the sweeps worked xx

@✨Wis 🇭🇹 ah I didn't know that, yeah ideally a vbac, i have a super clingy toddler and i know i wont be able to recover properly if i had another section. I do have a phone call with the consultant next week so I'll bring that up then too but he was pushing for another section when I spoke to him last week😒

@Emma he's measuring small and I have a couple of health issues so they think it'll be best

I had a dilopan as I wasn’t allowed to have medical induction, just some rods they stick in your cervix then 24 hours later are removed however if they’re unable to break your waters they won’t re do. I was able to just about have mine broken. I didn’t feel a thing. Sweeps did not work

I had the pessary for 24hours didn’t do anything, the first round of gel done something but then nothing happened after the 2nd and 3rd round (they done 2 doses in the first) and so I had to be scheduled in for a c section

I had the drip as my waters had broke, started at 8am was 2cm and by 12 contractions went 0-100 and I was 6cm but was manageable with gas and air by 1:15pm was 9cm and 2:45 I pushed for 15 mins and she was out! 😌

Sorry to hear that, I hope everything goes well for you, I know it’s a scary hard decision x