Nervous- has anyone had the 'balloon' induction?

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Hi
I'm booked in for an induction tomorrow evening (I'll be 13 days over), and they are starting the process with the 'balloon' that mechanically opens the cervix.
Just wondering if anyone else has had that and what it's like?
I'm in Ireland and it's just being trialled here- they have used it on a grand total of 6 women! ! So I'll be the 7th. But he said it's widely used in the UK for years, so I thought some of you might have had it?
Thanks

Anyone at all had one? Maybe they're not as frequently done as I thought

I was sure it was phased out in the U.K. let me find a link

Im in Australia and they tried it with me in January. They always use the balloon way first here.
Complete failed with me and they couldn't even get it in so i had to have the gel. I wasn't overdue however i was induced a week eearly so that may have had something to do with it.

Yes we use it. We offer it mainly for previous CS women but also trialling it for outpatient inductions. Mixed success really. I was offered it as a prev CS induction and declined it for propess

Ok thanks, sounds like just another way to potentially lengthen the whole process! This feels like the longest pregnancy ever! Really hope I don't end up needing the gel too

Well it’s a mode of induction which has less risks than using oessary or gel

My obstetrician would like to do a balloon induction with me @ 38weeks. I’m in England, second baby.
Her explanation is that it is less intense than induction using drugs, and better for women who’ve given birth before. I haven’t had a chance to ask about outcome stats but from my research I think the risks are mainly that if it fails you’ll need to pretty quickly move on to other interventions (eg peasary or drip induction). And if your cervix isn’t favourable then it can be painful fitting it.
At the moment I’m not keen, but if I was considering it then I’d only want them to do it if my bishop’s score was good and I was close to labour anyway.

Good luck! Be interested to know how it goes if you do try it.