[Ehill]

2 births and 2 inductions. Both were great birth experiences and i have no regrets. I had epidurals for both. Induction is a very intense experience and for me the epidural was the key. I lay in bed and read the paper both times, even had a kip.

1st birth did result in a episeotimy and forceps so bit of a long recovery. The actual pushing took ages. 2nd birth he flew out and a small stitch, very fast recovery.

I loved that you could be organised, house clean, everything set, toddler set to go to grannies etc etc. I am an organised person so it appealed to me!

I do think you really need to trust and have a good ob. There are some terrible stories of having gels put in and then just left in long horrible labours. My ob was constantly monitoring and adjusting treatment to keep things on track and moving along ie. Gels, drip, break waters...

[Bek&H]

i was induced at 38 weeks due to gestational diabetes.

They popped the tablet in overnight and i woke at 6am with mild contractions, they broke my waters at 9am and put in the drip and things moved very quickly from there.

My contractions grew more and more painful and were anywhere from 15-40 seconds apart and lasting anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute, i handled this for 5 hours with just gas.

By 2pm they were only 15 seconds apart and lasting for over a minute, so i got the epidural.

I started pushing around quarter to 5, by 5:20 it was obvious he was stuck, the doctor came in and ended up having to do an episiotomy & use forceps to turn him because DS was laying on his side.

DS came out absolutley perfect only a tiny little bruise on the side of his head, he breastfed like a champ straight away. I needed stitches due to the episiotomy.

It may not sound it but it was actually a really positive birth experience for me, i had to be induced for DS's safety so it was all about getting him out safe and sound

Goodluck OP!

[trishalishous]

I was induced at 41+3, after 4 days of spurious labour.
Gel was used at 12, but nothing happened. I SROMd at 1 am, birthed at 930am. It wasnt a positive experience, and I had interventions, but no pain relief.
I will be induced this time too, if the bubs is big again. I am choosing that over a caesarean, all other things being fine (my placenta was low last scan, and I have a heart condition, so they both have to be ok)

[PurpleChicken]

I was induced at 39+6 due to non-progressive labour. My waters broke but nothing else happened.

It was a very positive experience for me.

I can't compare pain levels as DD was #1, but it was intense. I ended up getting an epidural at some stage which was just bliss!

My total labour from when the drip started to when she arrived was 8.5 hours. There was no intervention at all and I had minimal tearing.

So while I'd prefer to see if I can go into labour naturally this time just for the experience, if I need to be induced I'm not too worried.

[MickeyBoo]

I was induced with my first, third, fourth and now my fifth is getting booked in next week. (the last three are early inductions due to diabetes)

I found them to be a very good experience overall, I didn't have a cascade of interventions and pain relief, I was able to use just gas with all of them and I didn't find the pain any more intense or overwhelming.

My first was just gel and a 5 hour labour, the last two hours were when I needed the gas. My third and fourth I had the cervadil tape in overnight, waters broken the next morning, I was given about an hour to see if things would kick off on their own and then the drip was started. Third labour was 3 hours, fourth labour was one hour. Third labour the drip was on quite low, fourth labour it was put up fairly high early on but the pain levels were pretty much the same.

No forceps, no vacuum, no tearing, no stitches, no epi, no pethidine, etc etc etc BUT every birth is different and this is just how my labours go, I have always been under the impression that induction won't work if your body isn't ready so I just have faith that if things do start off and progress well then my body is ready and I just need to get my head in the game.

[mummynats]

Hi!
I was induced with both my children and both experiences were fantastic! The only thing i didnt like about the experience is that you are to remain on the monitor and can not be active during the labour. The contractions are quiet intense but gas will be your friend!
My DS labour was - 2 h 37 min (40w + 5 days over) and DD was 2 h 35 in (38 W).
Good luck!

[Natttmumm]

First time my waters broke and I was induced 2 days later at 37 weeks. It was a long drawn out process but I had an epidural so I wasn't in pain. After the drip went in she was born 4 hours later. 2 hours of pushing and nearly ended in a c section.
With number 2 I was induced at 40 weeks and it took 2 rounds of gel over two days and then the drip, waters broke themselves and baby was born about 5 hours later. Again I had an epidural so not much pain except the last bits of pushing.
Both were long drawn out processes in hospital. Each one i was I delivery for 2 days hooked up to monitors and drips. The births were calm and slow and DH andi felt like we were waiting around. Nothing to be concerned about and good experiences.

[Chill-Pill]

I was induced at 31.5 and had a great labour experience. The contractions did intensify quite quickly, so I only had an hour or two to ease into labour but I didn't get the feeling of exhaustion that might come with a longer labour. DD was born at 1.35pm the same day and even though the pushing stage was very fast no stitches were needed (premmie bub though). I didn't end up requiring pain relief but then I can't compare it to a non-induced birth to know if the pain was any different. After the birth though the placenta didn't detach and I needed to have an epidural to have it removed but I have no idea if this is more common with an induced labour?

[Baggy]

I had a good experience with induction, I did find it a little more intense than my first, but I think that's just because it was a quicker labour. I was in labour for just over an hour, I was left to do my own thing, everything went well with no interventions. After I had DD2 I jumped up and had a shower etc, I felt great.

Absolutely no issues at all