Induction Birmingham Women’s Hospital

It was decided for me! I went in at 41+5, and they used the pessary. Wasn't allowed to go home in-between but my partner was allowed to stay 24/7 on the induction ward 😊

I had an induction at the women’s as I went over by 15 days, they were so nice on the ward and really accommodating. I first went in for pessary and they let me go home for 24 hours, the hope was I would dilate and start active labour to which they would of sent me to the birth centre if there were no complications. However nothing happen! So I had to go into the ward where they tried another pessary and sweeps, this one I had to be monitored on the machines, you can still get up and move around. I went out for laps of the hospital ground to get the labour going, if you go into active labour then you’ll labour on the ward until your waters break essentially and usually you go down to the delivery room for the final part labour. For me I had three pessaries and non worked, I didn’t dilate enough, I was advised to go to the delivery suite to break my waters and get labour going and I did that and nothing happened so I was given the synthetic hormones to get the labour going.

They don’t let you choose what method, but it depends on your situation as to whether they let you go home or keep you on the ward, and also how long they try each method for. For me, my waters were leaking for over 3 days so due to increased infection risk so they only tried the pessary once from 9pm until 8am before they took me down to the delivery suite to put me on the drip and then eventually had to break my waters for me. While I had the pessary I wasn’t allowed to go home but I was allowed to leave the ward and so went for a walk with my partner.

For my sister in law, she was over her due date by two weeks and as two sweeps hadn’t done their job, she had the same process as Roxanne above.

In hindsight I personally wouldn’t have gone through with an induction if I had actually understood all my options as there is a high risk of baby’s heart rate dropping from the drip (very common side effect) which led me to have a very stressful emergency c section. Everyone is different t

Different though, so it’s great that you’re looking for all the information you can beforehand so you can make a well informed decision x

I will say if you have to stay in be prepared to not get any sleep as they wake you up for the exam to see if you have dilated! so try and get as much sleep as you can and if you don’t like the room you are in you can request to move. They were really good on that ward. Just ask as many questions they are super helpful the midwives and they give you the alternatives and facts. Also the pessaries did make me very sore and uncomfortable so for the sweeps I asked for pain relief which they gave it to me! They don’t offer any other form of induction other than the pessaries, I have heard that city hospital do the balloon technique. I would be prepared that with induction there are higher chances of intervention. That is getting an epidural, forceps or c-section. Every labour is different though! Keep a positive mindset ❤️ all the best!!

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

Hi I had a very positive induction and I was high risk . Despite everything I had a truly magical experience in delivery suite I still did my hypnobirthing with fairy lights & music , bean bag and ball and from waters breaking I had my baby within 4 hours! Had some gas and air for the last hour but was fine. Midwives were amazing lovely and you do have a choice , if you express your wishes so they know where you are at . I always was clear on what I did and didn’t want and the choice is always yours xxx
Lots of walking !! I used to do the stairs of the womens lol and Laps of the hospital. Use the ball , try some positive music or hypnobirth, take a book. Drinks , snacks . Use the bath. Sit in the garden on induction suite to get fresh air . Make it your positive birth experience and be open minded too because babies are babies but enjoy you will be fine xx

hi seen this post really late, is the induction suite private or are all people allowed. And is it on ward 1 as that’s where I’ll be having my induction started x

Hi I was on the induction suite on delivery unit and was allowed my partner with me all time even over night. There was 6 I think in there of us but was really big spacious with a little garden attached x
I’m not sure about ward 1 hun
Good luck .. if you can just walk loads and use the bouncy ball xxx