I was indued because I had gestation diabetics and they were predicting a big baby! I had the 24hr pessary, then2 lots of 6 hour gels before my waters finally broke on their own, however at my hospital if I was dilated enough they would have broke them for me, but I was quite glad they broke naturally. Had no contractions with them so went one the drip (syntocin I think) which to be honest was ok as they start if off slowly and ramp it up, but you do have to be continually monitored. In the ende had a heart rate thing out in the baby's head so I didn't have to keep wearing the band around my stomach. After about10-12 hours on the drip it was quite painful, but I obviously have nothing to compare it too, I didn't have an epidural until about 16 hours after the drip started, just had gas and air. In then en just hasn't progressed enough in the 24hrs after my waters broke plus the consultant thought I had been on then rip long enough so they decided a c section was the best way forwad. It was fine, and much better than I thought it would be. In fact if I do have another baby I'm going to opt for a c section. For me the downside of the induction was the time it took, I went to hospital at 9am on Thursday and had toby at 10.30am on Sunday, I obviously wasn't in labour all that time, but I was fed up after a day or so of hanging about! I wasn't allowed to go home as I was deemed high risk due to the diabetes.
Ones ther thing I would say, is try to keep an open mind about the labour process, I was adamant I wanted to be standing or on a gym ball but ironically the most comfortable place for me was on my side on the bed! My birthing plan had very little on it, the number1 thing was that toby arrived safely, whatever it took.
So good to hear all these babies are on their way, I remember a year or so back when we were all just waiting to get pregnant, and now we are in the process of actually having a baby!
I'm doing ok, he is 16 weeks today and finally feel that it's coming together, I don't want to use the word easier, because it's not easier, but I feel like I know what he wants when he wants it and we are starting to get a btpit of a routine (baby whisperer has been my bible!). Nights are pretty good, but he does struggle to sleep for more than 45 mins at a time during the day which can be fustrating when you are trying to get stuff done!