Had my first internal exam after my ultrasound today, and the nurse told me that baby hasn't really dropped yet (she's gone back up for some reason, must have my sense of direction...) and my cervix hasn't even softened, much less dilated! Argh! My doctor said that if I don't go into labour naturally before my next appt. on Monday, we'll talk about inducing next week. Since at my first ultrasound I was too far along for a dating scan, she doesn't want to let me go much overdue because we're not definite on gestational age. Sooooo.... I'm gonna have my baby next week! Wheeee!!!!!

I am honestly afraid of induction though because they say it hurts a lot worse... any ladies here make it through an induction without an epidural? I need reassurance that I'll be able to handle it!!

I was induced with 2 of mine and the first one I had an epidural with mainly because I was scared lol I had my last one with just gas and air and it was one of my best labours and births (ot of 5!). Labour hurts whether it's induced or not, I just think with an induction there's sometimes not the same build up to contractions as you would get with a natural labour but the only thing I can say with any labour is relax, relax, relax! Hope it all goes well for you and baby is here safe and sound very soon x

It seems like it throws you right into the hardcore stuff from the start. I would not have had the energy left to push without the epidural. No reason to feel bad getting the epi though if you need it. My son was born into a room filled with laughter and no pain. Took only 7 1/2 hours for the whole thing. I think the epidural was the best thing ever invented.

I was induced at 35 weeks for PET so cervix was no where near ready. I had Gel at night and felt nothing, then some again in the morning. I had some period type pains for a few hours then got more uncomfortable and was finding it like bad period pain. Waters popped and within 2 3/4hrs I had my wee boy with only TENS machine and Gas. Was very anti Epidural and pleased I didn't have it. In saying that, had I had IV drugs to induce I may have felt differently as I hear that hurts even more. PET gives you hard and fast births though so I don't know if it would be that different???

I was induced with a pessary the first time and then the second time just my waters broken and a drip put up.

ill be getin an induction and i aint allowed an epi so god nos what its gonna be like. il just have to bare pain then ahhhhhhhhhhhh

I had induction due to my water that broke a month early and risk of infection. I also had epidural,so delivery was easy as pie!

Pessaries
Intravaginal prostaglandin, in the form of a waxy pessary or gel, is often placed in the vagina using a slimline applicator. This is done to help soften the cervix, so that it can open up and start the contractions going. For some women, one pessary does the trick, but others may need to have several. However, it doesn't work for everyone and another method may be needed.

After you've been given the pessary, the heartbeat of your baby will be monitored for a while to ensure he's not affected by the induction. Although it's an artificial way of bringing labour on, once this is done your labour experience should be relatively similar to how it would normally have been.


Breaking The Waters
If your waters haven't broken naturally, it's possible for the midwife to help them on their way. A long thin hook-like instrument is inserted and the bag of water can be gently opened, starting labour off. It doesn't always work in every case, especially if the cervix isn't already open, but if it does it can start off quite strong contractions. Thankfully, this method doesn't usually hurt and the experience of labour is similar to how it would be if it had started of its own accord.


Syntocinon Drip
Syntocinon contains an artificial form of oxtyocin, the hormone which helps your womb contract. The drip is put into your arm and gradually releases oxtyocin, mimicking the way in which it would have been produced if labour had started naturally.

If you're induced in this way, it can produce a different kind of labour experience. Many women find that syntocinon can cause contractions to become very strong and difficult to cope with. The baby's heartbeat needs to be monitored constantly, because of the strength of the contractions. Syntocinon is often used alongside the manual breaking of the waters, with the drip in place ready for when the waters have been broken.

I was induced at 10 days overdue with my first. I went in at 10 pm and hooked me on the monitors for an hour and i was having string braxton hicks, then at 11 they gave me a pessary. Baby had turned back to back so i knew i was gonna have back labour and within half an hour i started getting really bad back ache, couldnt sit down or anything.

I'm not gonna lie to you my birth was horrible and i got through it all with just gas and air. I had my baby on day 13 with the help of suction as i wasn't progressing, i had the drip and everything but did nothing. They were gonna do a c-section but wanted to try suction first. It fell off first attempt and they ended up taking skin off her head which i had to put dressings on for 10 days after she was born.

Not all inductions are like this tho hun, and i wouldnt have wanted anyone to lie to me and tell me it was gonna be easy. I said i wasn't gonna have another baby after that but here i am again.

No difference pain wise hun
xx