anyone have experience with induction?

@Kimjoy,
Nope, no experience, but that means you'll probably be induced around Nov 16, so you might even deliver earlier than me...:-) Maybe you'll see your baby sooner than I do, or we'll be lying there puffing away at the same time :-)

What I've read is that it can happen in different ways...
So with tablets, gel, and contractions being induced....
I really don't know, girl..
Tell me all about it once it's all behind you..
Sounds super exciting for you both...

Big hugs from Ju

Hi Kim,
My second labor was induced and to be honest, I found it quite unpleasant. My contractions were so intense that I barely had any rest in between, so it felt like I had one long contraction lasting six hours. I even ended up on morphine, while my other labors went without any pain relief. Luckily, you forget all of it pretty quickly.

The good thing was that I knew exactly when my little one would be born, so I could plan everything better—like childcare, taking time off, etc.

First, they broke my waters, and after four hours when labor hadn’t started yet, I went on oxytocin. After about half an hour, the contractions really kicked in.

So, my tip for you would be to bring a laptop with some movies or something similar, because it can take a long time before things really get going.

Love,
Evelien

I didn't really notice much difference between my induced labor and my regular labor, so I don't think it always has to be worse.
It's not that much different from just giving birth in the hospital, but then with oxytocin (how do you spell that again?)

@Kimjoy,
I'm really curious too about more experiences...
And yeah, my little guy might come earlier,
but that doesn't have to be the case; we really have to wait and see.
But the ticket is definitely coming your way anyway, so then you'll know for sure..
Love, Ju

Hi Kim,

No experience, but it must be so exciting for you!!!
And I'm just waiting..........no worries, I'm doing fine and I'm just being patient (NOT)

Love, Dani

@Dani,
Here's another one who is very patient (NOT)

Love, Ju

On very many patient moments..... hihihi

Cheers... with a cup of tea!!!!

Almost 14 years ago now (my son turns 14 tomorrow) I was induced.
First they inserted a tablet, which gave me some contractions but not enough, then they broke my waters with a hook and then I went on an IV (at 3:30 PM). The contractions intensified and my son was born at 6:30 PM, so it went quickly from the IV. But still 3 hours in total. Indeed, as Evelien says, little rest between contractions.

Greetings,
Anne

With my first daughter, I was also induced because I didn't have enough amniotic fluid anymore. I had to check in at 8 am and they put a pill in (I don't know what it's called), and a few hours later, another one. I had to wait the whole time, but no contractions or anything. It wasn't until 7 pm that it really got intense, and I really had to push through the contractions. I remember having to throw up somewhere in the middle, but that seemed to be a side effect of those pills. It was tough but manageable because your body goes into some kind of trance or something, so you can handle the pain well. (I gave birth without an epidural.) At 2 am, our daughter was born after 3 or 4 pushing contractions. It's been 5 years now, and I don't remember all the details so precisely.

With my second daughter, I gave birth spontaneously (my water broke, and in the hospital, they broke my membranes). I also just lay there waiting for contractions, but at 5 cm dilation, I had no strength left and got an epidural. As soon as I lay back down, I had to push, and my daughter was born in 3 pushing contractions (all in all, it took about 4 hours).

Other than my second daughter being born faster and me getting an epidural, I didn't experience it differently than when I was induced.

It varies enormously from person to person how you experience your labor and probably also how they induce you, so I'd say get as well informed as possible by your gynecologist and let everything happen naturally; your body will react on its own!

@kimjoy,
yes I was induced 3 times, the first time at 37 weeks because of a sick placenta.
The little one wasn't getting any more nutrition so it was better for him to come out and it lasted from 8am until 4pm, quite intense.
The 2nd time also until 4:30pm but quite intense as well.

And the 3rd time was quite special I can say.
First a Baxter which didn't seem enough of contractions then I got a vaginal pill and a pill to swallow and then when it started there wasn't much time in between to think of anything.
It was very intense I had full dilation at 5pm and then when I wanted to push the little one moved back up didn't want to come out then the doctor decided to do an emergency c-section because she thought the umbilical cord was around the neck.
I said to myself I'm lying here suffering and then this. But she was a star-gazer as they say and because of that she didn't want to come.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THESE ARE THINGS YOU FORGET QUICKLY ONCE YOUR LITTLE ONE IS HERE.

AND THEN I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WITH A NORMAL BIRTH
Women say my waters broke at home they had to go to the hospital quickly but I don't know what it is.
I'm curious what it will be like with this birth but I'm already preparing myself.
But every woman is different with this right

Enjoy the time because within a few weeks your baby will be there

Love Tammi

With my first, I went in for a check-up in the morning, and since the baby was big and everything looked good, I was allowed to stay. They induced me with the pill, then used oxytocin (Baxter), which caused intense contractions. I didn't get an epidural until 2 PM. By 10 PM, I was 10 cm dilated, but the baby just wouldn't descend, so at 10:30 PM, I had a C-section. Apparently, my pelvis wasn't big enough for a baby that was 53 cm long and weighed 4.4 kg!!!

The next delivery was a scheduled C-section two weeks early because it looked like the baby would be big again (born 2 weeks early, weighed 3.5 kg, so it was around 4 kg).

Now I'm pregnant with my third, and I'll have a scheduled C-section (since they don't risk a third C-section after two). But just like all moms can confirm, you forget all the misery as soon as that cloud of a baby is in your arms :-)

I was also induced due to pregnancy-induced hypertension. Since I already had 2 cm dilation, my waters broke, and when the contractions didn't start on their own, I got an oxytocin drip. Within 3 hours, I was at 8 cm dilation, and from then on, I had pushing contractions that lasted 2.5 hours. Not exactly a walk in the park, to say the least.

I found the induction quite unpleasant compared to a natural labor. Everything (hormone stimulation, contractions, etc.) is forced, making it quite intense and not the usual course of events.

But.....every labor and induction is different, and this is just my story .
The most important thing is to go in relaxed so your body gets the chance to do its job and keep in mind; your baby in your arms is your ultimate goal!

That’s also the best way to do it. With Maya, I had the advantage of only finding out the day before that I’d be induced, but on the morning itself, the nurse on the ward still knew nothing, and I thought it would go differently.
Later, the OB-GYN still came by for the induction. So, in that sense, I went into it pretty unprepared, which actually has its advantages: you don’t have the chance to stress about it.

So let it come over you beautifully; it’ll definitely go well!

Ugh!!
I always get the jitters when I hear that!
And here it would only happen if there's a serious medical reason for it. (if the baby is in danger then, you know..)
What's the reason for you, Kim??

To start with, I don't think it's healthy at all:
The baby is the one who should kick off the labor! He sends hormones to our uterus to trigger contractions, and he breaks the water when he's ready..
Recent research has also shown that babies are completely surprised by this and can even get quite scared from the artificial breaking of the membranes.

And the tension is completely gone. "I'm giving birth on the 10th" it sounds so artificial..
But yeah, I'm really an old-fashioned box you know (despite my 23 summers)
From me, it HAS to be all natural, it's supposed to hurt, and breastfeeding is a must!! Long birth plan!! Hahaha..

Most people I hear from say it's much more intense because they couldn't get used to the contractions gradually, since you immediately get a decent dose of labor inducers.
But that will feel different for the first one than for the second..

I don't want to scare you, you know, I don't have personal experience with it myself..
I do hope it's not too bad for you!! And that you'll have a positive experience out of it!!