Update: got the Foley Induction - anxious about Foley bulb

[fairfax]

So my induction is scheduled for next Friday, and my OB went through the typical options yesterday: cervical ripening drug (misoprostol), Foley bulb, and pitocin. My only experience with the Foley has been the HSG I had pre-IVF and it was awful. I went from zero discomfort to horrific cramping instantly once it was inflated. If the procedure after that had lasted more than a minute or two I wouldn’t have been able to tolerate it. I mean I was sweating, shaking, about to pass out - and I have a decent tolerance for pain. It was the suddenness and intensity that got me. It sounds ridiculous but it was traumatic for me - I was totally out of control and not able to cope at all.

So I’m really anxious about possibly needing a Foley during the induction. I know it seems silly to want to avoid that pain during childbirth, but I am hoping to go med-free and I know I won’t be able to stay on top of sudden intense pain like that. Can I refuse it? I didn’t bring it up with the OB yesterday - he won’t actually be the dr at the hospital anyways.

Any advice? I’m not a wimp, I swear - I’m expecting pain and discomfort, I just am really hoping not to repeat my previous experience.

Update: I’m in L&D for my induction. Got one dose of misoprostol which resulted in lots of contractions that I couldn’t feel. Unfortunately they weren’t doing anything to dilate my cervix, but also were too close together for another dose. So, they recommended the foley with a dose of fentanyl. Placing it was pretty awful but I made it through. Now I have some moderate cramping but hopefully this does the trick! Thanks for all the support and advice.

[sunflower17]

I had the foley bulb too. It was painful and I needed IV pain medication. I’ll likely be induced and go through it again. It sucked, but I’ll have to deal with it.
If you refuse it and don’t dilate, then I don’t know what the recommendation would be. Definitely speak to your doctor and ask.

[fairfax]

Oct 3, 2019 7:55:58 GMT -5 sunflower17 said:

I had the foley bulb too. It was painful and I needed IV pain medication. I’ll likely be induced and go through it again. It sucked, but I’ll have to deal with it.
If you refuse it and don’t dilate, then I don’t know what the recommendation would be. Definitely speak to your doctor and ask.

Ugh, sorry you had to have one. Did you experience a sudden increase in pain with it? I’m hoping that maybe the miso would mean the impact wouldn’t be as severe.

[fairfax]

And I guess I shouldn’t say “refuse” - more “avoid if at all possible”...

[dock]

I had one with my first. I was also hoping to go med free/low intervention. I recall it being uncomfortable and a strange feeling, but not really painful. Unfortunately it didn’t really work, and I’ve often wondered if a more routine option like miso would’ve been more fruitful in the long run and actually allowed me to progress. If I’m induced this time, I’m probably going to go that route if it’s an option.

[sunflower17]

Oct 3, 2019 8:28:38 GMT -5 fairfax said:

Oct 3, 2019 7:55:58 GMT -5 sunflower17 said:

I had the foley bulb too. It was painful and I needed IV pain medication. I’ll likely be induced and go through it again. It sucked, but I’ll have to deal with it.
If you refuse it and don’t dilate, then I don’t know what the recommendation would be. Definitely speak to your doctor and ask.

Ugh, sorry you had to have one. Did you experience a sudden increase in pain with it? I’m hoping that maybe the miso would mean the impact wouldn’t be as severe.

When they inflated it it was very painful. Then it was ok until the nurse tugged at it and removed it (it didn’t “fall out” on its own). At that point I also needed pain meds as I was shaking uncontrollably.

[fairfax]

Oct 3, 2019 12:35:30 GMT -5 sunflower17 said:

Oct 3, 2019 8:28:38 GMT -5 fairfax said:

Ugh, sorry you had to have one. Did you experience a sudden increase in pain with it? I’m hoping that maybe the miso would mean the impact wouldn’t be as severe.

When they inflated it it was very painful. Then it was ok until the nurse tugged at it and removed it (it didn’t “fall out” on its own). At that point I also needed pain meds as I was shaking uncontrollably.

Shoot. Sounds exactly like my previous experience that I’d like to avoid if possible. Thanks for sharing your experience - I’m sorry you had to go through that but it helps me to mentally “gird my loins”. Poor loins!

[fairfax]

Oct 3, 2019 9:15:11 GMT -5 dock said:

I had one with my first. I was also hoping to go med free/low intervention. I recall it being uncomfortable and a strange feeling, but not really painful. Unfortunately it didn’t really work, and I’ve often wondered if a more routine option like miso would’ve been more fruitful in the long run and actually allowed me to progress. If I’m induced this time, I’m probably going to go that route if it’s an option.

Thanks! I’m really hoping the miso will do it’s job!

[dock]

Oct 3, 2019 13:14:51 GMT -5 fairfax said:

Oct 3, 2019 9:15:11 GMT -5 dock said:

I had one with my first. I was also hoping to go med free/low intervention. I recall it being uncomfortable and a strange feeling, but not really painful. Unfortunately it didn’t really work, and I’ve often wondered if a more routine option like miso would’ve been more fruitful in the long run and actually allowed me to progress. If I’m induced this time, I’m probably going to go that route if it’s an option.

Thanks! I’m really hoping the miso will do it’s job!

Also to clarify since I don’t think I read thoroughly enough the first time - the Foley was not the real recommendation from the clinical team - they wanted me to do miso (and pit), but because I was trying to go med free/low intervention that was what I pushed for (Foley plus pit). I think they would’ve preferred to skip the foley entirely. So maybe that’s the case for you, too?

[sparty04]

I was just induced last week with #4 and we started out with the foley and the lowest dose of pitocin. I was already dilated to 2, but the bulb was hardly noticeable and fell out within an hour when I got up to pee. Maybe I’m just really stretched out but it was honestly nbd

[mccallister84]

Have you explained your anxiety to your OB? Are you dilated at all?

I was induced with my first. The hospital where I delivered doesn’t allow the foley to be used on first time moms who aren’t overdue and since I was being induced at 39 weeks for hypertension it was a non starter so they used one of the cervical ripening drugs which worked fine.

[osulori]

I had miso, then foley, then pit with baby #2's induction. It was uncomfortable but not super painful, and fell out within a couple hours. Maybe your OB would give you something to help relax you and hopefully decrease your chances of it being painful?

[fairfax]

Oct 3, 2019 23:36:48 GMT -5 al dente said:

I got the foley bulb and it wasn’t bad. I also got 1/4 of a pill to take at the same time. I had it in for a few hours, and then it basically fell out so that was also easy.

When getting it inserted I tried to relax as much as possible and really focused on relaxing my cervix haha. It might be woo, but legit it didn’t hurt. And I’ve wanted to cry from Pap smears so I’m delicate lol.

Maybe since your body will be prepared for birth it will help make it less painful? Hopefully?

Thanks! I’m really hoping that, if I do need one, I won’t be starting from zero like I was for the HSG.

[fairfax]

Oct 4, 2019 5:19:06 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Have you explained your anxiety to your OB? Are you dilated at all?

I was induced with my first. The hospital where I delivered doesn’t allow the foley to be used on first time moms who aren’t overdue and since I was being induced at 39 weeks for hypertension it was a non starter so they used one of the cervical ripening drugs which worked fine.

I am not dilated at all yet - so next week I am planning a lot of walking and bouncing on my ball!

I didn’t share my concerns with my OB because he won’t actually be there in the hospital - it’s like 1 group of doctors for pregnancy and then a totally separate team at the hospital. I’ll definitely talk to them when I’m admitted though.

[fairfax]

Oct 4, 2019 10:31:35 GMT -5 osulori said:

I had miso, then foley, then pit with baby #2's induction. It was uncomfortable but not super painful, and fell out within a couple hours. Maybe your OB would give you something to help relax you and hopefully decrease your chances of it being painful?

That’s encouraging to hear! I know they offer nitrous along with other pain relief, so maybe I will ask for that to be on hand to relax me.

[sunflower17]

Oct 4, 2019 11:26:15 GMT -5 fairfax said:

Oct 4, 2019 10:31:35 GMT -5 osulori said:

I had miso, then foley, then pit with baby #2's induction. It was uncomfortable but not super painful, and fell out within a couple hours. Maybe your OB would give you something to help relax you and hopefully decrease your chances of it being painful?

That’s encouraging to hear! I know they offer nitrous along with other pain relief, so maybe I will ask for that to be on hand to relax me.

I wish they offered nitrous at my hospital!!

[mccallister84]

Oct 4, 2019 11:24:47 GMT -5 fairfax said:

Oct 4, 2019 5:19:06 GMT -5 mccallister84 said:

Have you explained your anxiety to your OB? Are you dilated at all?

I was induced with my first. The hospital where I delivered doesn’t allow the foley to be used on first time moms who aren’t overdue and since I was being induced at 39 weeks for hypertension it was a non starter so they used one of the cervical ripening drugs which worked fine.

I am not dilated at all yet - so next week I am planning a lot of walking and bouncing on my ball!

I didn’t share my concerns with my OB because he won’t actually be there in the hospital - it’s like 1 group of doctors for pregnancy and then a totally separate team at the hospital. I’ll definitely talk to them when I’m admitted though.

It may still be worth sharing with your OB. Maybe she could note it in your chart? There has to be some communication between the OB teams right?

[barney96]

I had an hcg, eventually ivf and had my baby girl 3 weeks early on 9/21. I had an induction due to BP.

I had a foley put in Friday afternoon, and taken out the next day when I didnt yank it out hard enough. I didn't enjoy the balloon going in but it really didnt take long. Recovery from labor was worse (labor and delivery were pretty easy for me- helps that she was 5 lbs 10 oz) so hopefully the foley is the worst for you because it can be worse.