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Original poster

I will only be offered the gel for induction on Thurs due to section. Anyone had success?

29 replies

vicky11 · 21/04/2008 10:52

I will be 12 days overdue on Thurs! I am really hoping for a vbac but I will be induced on Thurs with only the gel. They will not give me the drip as I only had a section 16 mths ago.

Has anybody else found the gel to be a success? Did you go into labour straight after? Was the labour more intense and painful than without? If it doesn't work will they try it again or will I end up with another section?

I am booked in for a second sweep tomorrow so I'm hoping It might work this time but slowly losing hope!!

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BetteNoire · 21/04/2008 10:57

I had gel only for my second induction - 23 months after the first.
Had gel at 1pm, DS2 was born exactly 8 hours later. Only needed gas and air.

If you don't need to drip, all for the better, as that can be really intense.

I think because it was my second labour, and not too long since my first, everything was much quicker.

Was induced with DS1 on a Monday - and gave birth on the Friday , (after gel and more gel, drip, forceps and epidural) so the difference with my labour with DS2 was amazing.

I'm sure you'll be fine - good luck.

BetteNoire · 21/04/2008 10:57

sorry - he was born at 8pm, so only 7 hours after induction.

BetteNoire · 21/04/2008 10:58

If you don't need a drip.
(Must preview )

PeachyHas4BoysAndLovesIt · 21/04/2008 11:00

just had gel gor first birth, at 38 weeks with highly unfavourable cervix

baby born next day at 7pm

PortAndLemon · 21/04/2008 11:01

I thought the gel was worse than the drip with a previous section? Could be wrong though, will go and check... (especially as it seems like common sense that the drip would be worse).

Original poster
vicky11 · 21/04/2008 11:02

cheers BetteNoire! I hope i don't need to drip!! DD1 was born breech so I had a planned section. So this will be my 1st labour!! But still sounds encouraging, thanks!

OP posts:
wontbepreggersagain · 21/04/2008 11:04

i had a great gel-only induction for dd, gel administered at 5pm, contractions started within the hour, 7pm felt the need to dance through contractions, dd born at 8.37pm.

I was three weeks early and dd was born in her bag of waters!

clayre · 21/04/2008 11:05

i was induced with only the gel, it worked straight away, the labour was easy and quick, no time for pain relief, i was givent he gel at 10pm and dd was born at 6.42 am, so not even 8 hours, good luck!

Original poster
vicky11 · 21/04/2008 11:38

Thanks for the encouraging stories. Feel loads better now! I'll have to keep my fingers crossed now and hope for the best!!

OP posts:
slinkiemalinki · 21/04/2008 13:10

I had gel at 4pm or so and delivered my daughter (first baby) at 11.18pm! Was eating dinner around 6pm and only felt significantly uncomfortable by about 9pm. Only needed G&A (well, the anaesthetist arrived when I was about to start pushing so I refused anything more). I only pushed 10 mins.

I had to argue with the registrar not to have the drip and be allowed to get off the monitor and move about. Once they let me things went very quickly naturally. All that stuff about being relaxed and all is not rubbish - it's true (well was for me) - even in an induction.

Bky · 21/04/2008 13:14

I was induced with just gel 5 weeks ago, had gel at 4pm, having strong contractions every 3 minutes by about 7pm and baby born by 9pm. (9:05 to be exact)

So to answer your questions...yes I went into labour straight after....no labour wasn't more intense or painful, it was quicker but didn't feel like I had suddenly been thrown in at the deep end.....I was told they try the gel 3 times before they moved onto the drip.

Was far better than my first (natural) birth and only used gas and air for pain relief.

umberella · 21/04/2008 13:15

I had one gel at 6pm and dd was out by 6.22pm the following day. we went home overnight and i was 3cm dilated when we returned to hosp the following morning at 11am.

I was constantly monitored (no drip) but argued to labour on the floor and dp v heroically stuck up for me until they fetched mats and a beanbag. it was FAR easier and less painful then being on the bed imo.

Ended up with forceps but only at the v last minute and managed to get by on g&a till that point.

avenanap · 21/04/2008 13:17

ds was induced this way. May I suggest that you ask for pain relief before they give you the gel? Then it has time to work. I was started at 8am, ds was born 12 hours later.

choccypig · 21/04/2008 13:21

DS was ten days late, and I had gel on a Thursday night. Labour started at 4.30 (approx), DS was out at 7.21(precisely) That's all really.

scootermum · 21/04/2008 13:21

I had gel at 6pm and the baby was born at 2am..but defo get the pain relief first..there wasnt time for any for me..Good luck..

NatalieJane · 21/04/2008 13:25

Both of mine were induced this way, no drip, 1st labour was about 12 hours, 2nd, well I don't know, I had the gel about 2pm, had nothing at all until about 1am when my waters broke and labour lasted 2 hours. I don't know if it was the gel or not that started the 2nd labour, as I know with my first they said the gel would either work within 6 hours or not. All my notes said 'normal delivery' but I don't know if that was just because it was a natural delivery or if that meant they had decided that I went into natural labour on my own IYKWIM?.

NatalieJane · 21/04/2008 13:26

Well, that was as clear as mud Sorry!!

avenanap · 21/04/2008 13:28

Normal delivery means you did not need any medical intervention to deliver. (foreceps, cesarean etc)

MoreSpamThanGlam · 21/04/2008 13:31

Why cant you go over this date naturally? Surely you must be a good candidate for VBAC or they would have said no in first place? 42 weeks is term not 40.

Original poster
vicky11 · 21/04/2008 21:22

cheers for all the messages. I will defo ask for pain relief before (I wouldn't have thought of that!) MoreSpamThanGlam I asked my midwife that question as my dates are only today but I got a stern 'NO! You will not be allowed past 12 days after the dating scan!!' So I was told!! I'll try the gel and maybe fight with the consultant before I have to have another section!

OP posts:
avenanap · 21/04/2008 21:25

Try and get things moving if you can. curry, sex, I'm sure there's a thread somewhere. It's better this way as the pain can go from 0-60 in a few minutes as your endomorphins have not kicked in. I hope it goes ok for you.

mistermoo · 21/04/2008 22:25

Vicky - you don't have to do anything you don't want to... really - you can say no to induction for as long as you want.

I think the gel is not meant to be the safest method of induction after CS - as once it's been placed on your cervix, you can't take it off/reduce the dose, IYSWIM. (If it hyperstimulates your uterus, you are more at risk of rupture).

If I remember rightly, at least the drip can be turned off/dose reduced, but it is contra-indicated with VBAC for the same increase in possible rupture.

You can investigate a 'foley catheter' if your cervix is open a little bit...

seriously, though, IMHO your best chance of a VBAC is to avoid induction like the plague and you are deffo not overdue until 42 weeks.
Good luck (am also going for a VBAC in a few weeks).. hope it goes well.

CarGirl · 21/04/2008 22:27

I've had 4 dc, all induced, only had the gel & twice waters broken so it is possible. If you are 12 days over hopefully it should work.

avenanap · 21/04/2008 23:26

Maybe you could ask your midwife to do a sweep.

minster · 22/04/2008 14:05

I was told gel was unsafe after a section & all I could be offered for induction was sweep or ARM if the head was low & cervix favourable ???

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