Induction

[bouncer]

anyone been induce with prostagladin gel? What was it like and how long did it all take?

Oooh Bouncer, you'll get lots of replies on this.

I was induced last year using prostaglandin gel at 11 days overdue and it had an electric effect, like turning on a switch. I started having strong contractions 2 minutes apart within a couple of minutes of the gel being put on. This surprised the midwives so much that they denied it was happening for a long time ("Oh no dear, you're due to be in labour in the morning").

It varies though. I know people who have had several lots of the gel with no effect at all. I think it depends whether your body is ready to go at the time they put the gel on. I had been having stop-start contractions for several days beforehand, and had had a show that morning, so my body was probably almost ready to go naturally.

Unfortunately the birth as a whole wasn't a good one: 23 hours of agony ending in a Caesarean, but I don't think that had anything to do with the induction. If you're a first-time mother, please don't be put off by my experience. Several friends of mine have had quick and easy births following an induction.

Bouncer, I was induced using the gel. I hadn't had so much of a sniff of a contraction up until that point. At my hospital, once they give you the gel, they monitor you for the first hour, then check again 5 hours later. By then, I was 3cm dilated and ready to go into the delivery room. So, all in all, a good induction. You do get a few aches from the gel, like period pains, but that could have also been early contractions . They didn't hurt much though, nothing that a hot bath didn't relieve.
Hope that helps a little...

The gel just didnt work for me, unfortunately. On the other hand, the sweep....blimey

I had a couple of lots of it. It was boring. Waiting around for nothing much to happen - I had contractions but they were not really strong although the machine I was hooked up to sometimes thought they were. The iv drip later on though - ouch!! that really got the contractions going. I had 3 lots I think of prostaglandin. I was at 37 weeks and I think just not ready to dilate enough - got to 5cm then c section.
Why are you being induced? (jsut interested, nosy parker!)

I've been induced twice with the gel from hell! Both of my boys actually needed dynamite to come out through. First time I had 2 double dozes of the gel at 11 days overdue (no contractions or show previously)and nothing happened for 36 hours when finally my waters broke and my labour finally started. Second time round at 10 days late I thought here we go again! But the day I was due to be induced I had a show in the morning. Hurrah I thought this time it'll happen much faster - no such luck! 2 dozes of gel and 24 hours later they decided to break my waters and get things started. The induction itself is ok just a wee bit uncomfortable but its better than being overdue as every day over feels like a week! I dont know if it makes the whole labour slower though as both times I've also needed the drip to bring on stonger contractions. Could be the fact that both my babies were huge! 9Lbs and 11 lbs 7oz respectively

I was induced with my DD (2nd pg) at 12 days overdue. Nothing happened for 7 1/2 hours then had first contraction which was HUGE, dd was born 3 hours later.

Putting the gel in etc, didn't hurt at all but all the waiting around was really boring. They have monitor the baby before they do it, then you have to lie down for an hour after they put it in, then they monitor you again......and in between they encourage you to walk around. Antenatal wards are very tedious after the 80th lap!!

The syntocinon drip however........whole other story. Go for an epidural if they put you on one of those

I had one dose of gel, had cramps all night and 12 hours later was 1/2 cm dilated! Another dose of gel got me far enough along to have my waters broken, at which point things started getting going. They slowed down again though so I ended up on the synto drip and lots of intervention. I was 2 weeks overdue and I don't think I was ready. If I had known about MN then, I might have held off a bit longer....

I do know of friends who have got one whiff of the gel and then boom! Labour starts straight away and they are off! One of my friends had no 1 within 24 hours from 1st gel, and no 2 within about 3 hours! No stiches or anything and they were big boys (9lb 15oz and 9lb 9oz)! So don't be put off. Good luck!

bouncer,i was induced with the gel with my first.i won't tell you my story because its a negative one, prostin gel and me don't agree! but basically, labour started immediately and babe born 3 1/2 hours later.

I was induced at 12 days over with the gel.I t took 3 doses (one on Wed evening, one on Thurs morning and last one on Thurs evening) to get it to do anything for me, and then not enough. My experinece wasn't particuarly pleasant. The pain once I started to dilate were very painful, much more so than I had imagined they could be. I had other forms of induction and pain relief during that 3rd day. The pain relief did help. I never got beyond 2/3cm though, and after 50 hours from start of induction I had a c section.

It turned out, BTW, that DD most likely couldn't have been born naturally. But they obviosuly didn't know that until the c section took place.

I was induced with number 2 at 9am baby took 26 hours to put in an appearence little monkey but he was 14 days overdue

they put in my gel and I went for a long walk first contractions took about 2 hours

I've had 2 inductions. DS1 was a week overdue, one dose of gel was enough to kick it all off but I was topped up with the syntocinon drip. Gel at 8pm, baby at lunchtime next day
DS2 was a nightmare but at 39 weeks so I just wasn't ready . Gels at 10am/4pm wed, then 10am thur did nothing and they sent me home on the friday - v. upsetting to go home still pg. Tried again the next week and it took 2 doses but once it started it was much quicker (and more painful) contractions started at 8.30pm, baby at 1.25am (this was only 2 weeks ago hence my detailed memory of the times!)
Good luck.

P. gel didn't work for me with dd1 (elective caesarian in the end after 3 doses). With dd2, I had another form of induction (foley catheter followed by syntocinon (sp?) drip) - had a 2.5 hr labour which was fantastic and not nearly as painful as I 'd anticipated. In fact I loved my labour - so don't expect the worst!