[lynnemine]

I was induced with DD1. I just had one lot of gel to induce me and I went into labour, first contractions (very mild like period pain) at 6am, ramped up a bit and I was 4cm by lunch time. DD1 was born by ventouse at 4.47pm after they broke my waters at 4.35pm ish. 3 pushes and she was out.
The distress had nothing to do with being induced - she was posterior and had the cord wrapped round her neck, which was being compressed every time I had a contraction, so her oxygen/heart rate was dipping each contraction.
2nd degree tear and I just used gas/Entonox as pain relief, which they took away when I started pushing.

DD2 was born 20 months later, and natural. It hurt the same amount. I still had a second degree tear. She also was posterior and had the cord wrapped round her neck and her heart rate was dipping to under 80 every contraction. I had no pain relief - they had me on pure oxygen to try to saturate DD2's blood. I went from first contractions at midnight, to painful ones and 1cm at 6am, to 4cm waters bulging at 10.55am, to 4cm and waters broken at 11.25am, felt her slam into my cervix. She was born at 11.37am!

Giving birth both times really felt the same, except I felt out of it after DD1, and wide awake and completely with it after DD2. If I ever have another baby, I will try very hard to avoid the gas. The midwife's both times told me that if I had had an epidural in, they probably would've done an emergency caesar, but because I didn't, it was quicker to get them out naturally than operate.

Both were very positive birth experiences I felt.

[Jenflea]

I was induced on my due date due to GD. It's my only birth so can't compare with any others(though my OB said there's no way of knowing if an induction IS worse than natural as EVERY labour is different anyway).
I was 2cm dilated 2 days before the induction, had my waters broken on the day and gave birth 15 or so hours later. It was EXCRUCIATING back pain(which I wasn't expecting) but the epidural was FANTASTIC! Had a small episiotomy and she needed the ventouse (2 pulls from memory) and then she was out.
I felt positive about it as she was healthy, I was mostly healthy(unrelated PPH right after and a transfusion) and it a healthy baby is all I cared about.

[paddyboo]

I was induced at 39+5 for medical reasons. Was a very positive birth, quick and would gladly be induced again. See my birth story (link in sig) for more details.
sare

[amabanana]

I have. And it was hideous. That is all I am going to say.

I tried to avoid it but was really running out of options at 42+ weeks. I wouldn't go the induction without a very good reason but that is my personal opinion.

Best of luck OP.

[happy2bme]

My first was spontaneous labour - 12 hours.

My second was induced & whilst it was a shorter labour (2-3hrs) it was awful. Much more intense & I just hated it. If I have another baby I will be fighting to be induced. There wasn't any medical reason I was induced - only that I was overdue by the doctors dates.

[CrunchyNut]

I've had both inductions and natural labours and I can't say that either where worse than the other! I went in with a positive attitude and had complete trust in myself that I could deliver my babies myself without further intervention. If you have an induction stay positive and go with your body, you don't loose total control of what happens just because you're induced, things can go wrong as they can even with a natural labour. Good Luck.

[AvadaKedavra]

Induced for my first. ARM at 2 pm. Drip up at 4 pm. DS1 born at 6:30 pm. Easy labour, no analgesia, very small episiotomy.

Spontaneous labour with my second. 5 hours from first contraction to delivery. I actually thought it was a harder and more painful labour. I never had contractions more than 1 in 5 min (and that only at the very very end, mostly they were 1 in 10) so there was a lot of waiting around and then horrendously strong contractions. Bub was posterior though so maybe that confounds my perception of the experience.

An induction, in my opinion, is not that different from a spontaneous labour, as long as your body is almost ready and you have good labour techniques.

Good luck!

[opethmum]

I was induced and the contractions started about 3 hours later after the gel was put in. I was in active labour for about 19hrs before I had emergency c/s due to failure to progress and bub was stuck at the beginning of the birth canal.

[lamarque]

Induced x 2. Labour came on hard and fast for the first but after epi I managed to sleep for a few hours through it. Pushed 2 hours, no intervention to get him out necessary.

Second induction was like slow period pain that gradually built up, it was much easier to deal with. Had an epi which didn't take effect as DD started coming down. 40 mins of pushing and no intervention necessary (she was 4.2 kgs too!).

Good luck with your birth OP.

[howdo]

#3 ARM at 9am, labour established at 10am, baby at 10:20am.

Easy as falling off a log. Intense pain but nothing huge. (ie. it was no worse nor better than the other two)