Is there any point to induction by gel instead of drip?

[wildpoppy]

Just planning this birth (haha - best laid plans and all that).

Had premature rupture of membranes with dd and was induced by drip 24 hours later. Don't mind if I end up being induced again but have come to conclusion, based purely on anecdotes from other mums, that pessary induction never seems to go anywhere and ends up in a drip induction a day later with the woman an extra day of tired.

So would it be reasonable, if it came to induction, to say no to pessary and ask for drip straight away.

(By the way I had epidural last time at same
time induction and fully plan to have another one this time).

[effingwotsits]

I think I've had 8 or more pessaries over 2 of my labours which did sweet f.a
Waste of bloody time for me. Cervix was still like a brick.

The drip had them out in no time

[plantsitter]

I think there are 2 kinds - the pessary which is supposed to be more gentle (but often doesn't work) and the gel, which they smear on your cervix. The gel is more likely to work, especially as it's your second.

So check with your midwife, but I would say no to pessary but yes to gel if I were to have another (not bloody likely).

[elportodelgato]

I was induced by gel twice and it did the trick straight away both times - quick 7 hour labour, just gas and air and a normal delivery. Both times I was just about ready to go IYSWIM and it nudged me over the edge but without being so fast and painful as to need an epidural

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I was induced with a pessary with ds1. He was born within 6 hours of it being inserted.

It does work sometimes!

[Flojo1979]

I had gel induction with my first and it worked really quick, fully dilated within 4 hrs.

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I had a pessary with both DS's. I went into labour within 6 hours with both. The second time the pessary was inserted at 10pm, I had a nice sleep until 6am then had a 2 hour labour before DS2 was born. It really was a lovely birth, just G&A and a kiwi ventouse.

[laluna]

The syntocinon drip and the prostaglandin pessary/gel work in different ways. The purpose of the gel is to soften and make the cervix more favorable so that your waters can be broken. The drip can only be used when the waters have gone and directly makes the uterus contract. So if your cervix is not favorable and your waters haven't gone, the drip is not an option.

[BumgrapesofWrath]

I had a pessary, and was in labour within hours, and DS born 10 hours later, so I think it's worth a shot!

[wildpoppy]

Oh that's good to know laluna - I didn't know that.

What's a kiwi ventouse?

[DevaDiva]

I had gel pessary for DD1 did the trick as far as I was concerned, did make me feel a bit sick but who's to say I wouldn't have anyway?!

[TheDetective]

Laluna is correct.

[Rachel130690]

I was induced over a week ago. Went in Thurs morning had two pessary's and a sweep, made me go from half cm to 3cm, Then On Friday I had my waters broken and was put onto drip.

I started a thread before to find out more info on inductions.

I managed on gas and air, and the diamorphine injection, def glad I didn't get the epidural. Drip started at 12.40 and I started g&a after 3.

Pessary didn't do much for me, helped a bit but I felt like Thursday had been a waste.

[coldcupoftea]

I had the gel, 6 hours later I was in labour, about another 6 hours after that DD was born- natural delivery on gas and air. She was my second baby and I have heard that induction is more likely to work more quickly second time round.

I was terrified of the drip so I'm very glad I didn't need it!

[LostInWales]

Gel got me into labour three times out if three.

[sweetkitty]

I had the gel with no 4 (had spontaneous labours with first three), I was in labour an hour after having it, a baby an hour after that, he was my fourth though and the least painful. Felt so sorry I was in a ward with 3 other women all being induced some for 2 days.

[ISpyPlumPie]

Another one who had a straightforward birth on gas & air 8 hours after one pessary with no further interventions/augmentation so it def works sometimes.

[tanteclaire]

Another straightforward birth without intervention for me. it was a while ago now but believe I had two pessaries. My waters had already broken also. No epidural though.

[wildpoppy]

Thanks all - has made me feel better about the possibility

[PeshwariNaan]

My friend had this experience with her first (a couple of months ago in London). The first pessary didn't work. The second fell out. She ended up on a drip after a few days and they had to keep topping that up. She was severely ill and had to be given fluids, baby was born healthy but with lots of intervention (episiotomy and ventouse) and my friend ended up hemorrhaging badly. She needed two blood transfusions and the whole process took 7 days.

I hope to God I don't have to be induced...

[WrackedWithIndecision]

Worked fine for me with Dc1 (induced at 38 weeks). In labour within a few hours, and a very quick and straightforward labour.

[Badgerina]

I don't think they will give you the drip without having tried the gel/pessaries first to ripen your cervix.

PeshwariNaan I don't think your friend's experience is that common. Induced labours are harder, commonly, but no need for scaremongering.

[wildpoppy]

Badgerina, they went straight to drip for me last time. But maybe that's because it was premature rupture of membranes (bang on due date) rather than being late.

[Hennycluckington]

I had gel with DS and drip day after followed by more intervention. 17 hours later he was born.
DD had gel put in at 6pm, given sleeping tablet, paracetamol and had warm packs placed around my back and tummy. Woke at 2am with a almighty contraction and DD was born 2 hours later.

[Badgerina]

wildpoppy

Yes I think you're right, rupture of membranes would imply straight to drip I guess.

[Rachel130690]

Yes wildpoppy as your waters broke they will give you drip. Cannot be put on drip until your waters break or they break them.