Induction options - advise me / tell me about your experience

[goldmother2b]

I am due to be induced on Monday at 39+6 due to gestational diabetes (diet controlled). This is my first DC.

I saw my consultant today, was given a membrane sweep and told that I have a Bishops score of 5.

My consultant told me that there are 2 ways that they can induce me on Monday - one that I am aware of and one that I wasn't and that its up to me to choose which to go for. I have't a clue, so would appreciate any advice / stories that will help me to decide.

Option 1 is the prostoglandin gel (sp?)- a max of 4 applications 6 hours apart.

Option 2 is to have a pair of balloons inserted and then inflated with water. The balloons are left in for 12 hours and their weight is supposed to push on the cervix from inside the uterus and start dilation.

Each option rules out use of the other later, and if the cervix isn't widely enough dilated to rupture the membranes / labour hasn't started then they will move for a C-Section (which I really don't want....)

Please help me to decide......
Thanks

[Sam100]

I had option 1 - but was 40+12 - had one dose of prostaglandin at 8am - contractions started about 1 - 2 pm, baby no 3 born at 4pm in birth pool no other interventions necessary. I walked (waddled) round the hospital about 5 times in the morning though - so maybe gravity helped with the dilation bit!

Did not know about option 2!

[CarGirl]

never heard of option 2

but a bishops score of 5 is promising!!!! My bishops score never got anywhere on its own even with my 4th!

[MiniMarmite]

I had none of the above - my waters had already broken and quite a lot of time had passed, hence the need for an induction. I had a membrane sweep and then straight into the syntonicin drip. I haven't heard of option 2 either. I just mention it because, as you say, the gel doesn't guarentee to start labour. It might be worth asking about the drip option if you'd rather avoid a C-section (but there might be a good reason why this 'option' has not been mentioned to you)...

[nina99]

Option 2 is not a conventional or widely used method for induction (? is it part of a new research trial- I would ask your Obstetrician what the associated success rates and complications are). Most hospitals use Option 1!

[CarGirl]

I would just say avoid having your waters broken too soon because once they've gone there is a huge time pressure to get the baby out within x hours (and it gets more painful), never had to had the drip but again it tends to make it very painful very quickly (book your epidural IMHO if that has to happen)

[MKG]

goldmother--I can't believe it almost here. The time has gone by sooo fast.

With ds1 I had a gel for 12 hours (we do it a little different here). That was overnight. In the morning they saw that I was dilated less than 1 cm, but I was soft and ready to go so they broke my water and started an oxytocin drip. after 9 hours of no action I was in labor and 3 hours later ds1 was born.

If I were you I'd go for option 1. I didn't even notice the protaglandin when it was done, as it was overnight and I slept through it, but the balloon sounds uncomfortable.

Oh I wish you all the luck. I had a really good experience with my induction and hope you have the same.

[twocutedarlings]

Found this thread goldmother maybe you could track oops down and ask her how she got on.

[goldmother2b]

thanks ladies - have posted a message on ooops's thread asking how she got on - fingers crossed she'll pick it up!