Has anyone been offered alternative induction methods due to drug shortages?

[Shopaholic100]

My friend had her midwife appointment for her sweep as baby is overdue, it looks like it is unlikely to work and her induction is booked for next week. The midwife said there is a shortage of induction drugs so they may have to do some alternative treatment, which has made my friend really stressed and worried. Has anyone else heard of this? What did it entail?

I recently read a thread on Reddit where the poster was offered a misoprostol induction as there is a shortage of prostaglandin gel. It doesn't mention if any of the other methods are in short supply though.

Prostaglandin gel is in shortage at the moment, and this has the quickest action and highest success rate for inductions I think.

The pessary is the typical next step for first time mums as it softens cervix, but takes longer to work. Some hospitals are offering balloon induction, which is non hormonal, then going to breaking waters and pitocin.

If the cervix is suitable, some hospitals are going straight to breaking waters and pitocin. Pitocin contractions are meant to be wild anecdotally.

If I was your friend, I'd be asking for induction methods beforehand and researching if the risks of them outweigh the risks of going overdue.

Update- my friend went into labour naturally on the morning of the induction, so thankfully didn’t need an induction. Not sure if they had forgotten about her as by mid day they didn’t know she was in labour and hadn’t called either😬.