Induction - Dilapan rods

[NicNac100]

Hi all I'm looking for some induction advice. I have gestational diabetes and am on metformin and insulin so the hospital want to induce me at 39 weeks. I went for a growth scan today (I'm 36+5) and baby measured around 7lbs which they said was pretty average. When they booked me in for my induction they said the method they wish to use is Dilapan rods - does anyone have any experience of an induction with these? from the sounds of it they insert the rods and check on them after 24 hrs (obvs at the moment I have to be in hospital the whole time I can't go home) then if nothings happened they might try the rods again, then if nothing break my waters, then if nothing give me the hormone! it sounds like a really long drawn out process and has made me feel a bit down and anxious as I can't do this as an outpatient (plus with the diabetes have to stay and have mine and baby's blood sugars checked after birth) I could be in hospital for days on end :( hoping to hear if anyone else had this method and it wasn't too long-winded - thanks in advance!! :)

Hi
Am.currently going through the same. To say am terrified is an understatement. I'm at the hostel and the dilapan has been inserted to soften my cervix, the thought of it even removed again and maybe inserted again if it doesn't work scares the hell out of me.
Nicnac please how was the experience for you? Did you take any pain relief during childbirth?

Hiya hope you’re doing ok! So I ended up having two rounds of dilapan rods they didn’t hurt at all was just uncomfortable having them put in and taken out but they didn’t cause any pain once they were in. The first time they could only get four in, then 24hrs later they took them out and put new ones in and managed five - I think they like to get 3-5 in at a time. 24hrs after that they took them out and my cervix had softened enough to have the pessary put in which they were going to leave in for 6hrs then break my waters for me - they started off mild contractions but was just like period cramps - my waters then went on their own after about 5 hours and that’s when my contractions started which were (for me) painful. I had gas and air and an epidural and unfortunately ended up with emergency csec as my labour wasn’t progressing, baby’s heartrate kept dropping and on top of that it turned out I had a placenta abruption so was just best to get her out quickly. But all that was unfortunate luck on my labours part, the induction part wasn’t that bad so please don’t worry!! Just long winded as I went in on the Wednesday afternoon and didn’t have the baby until the Saturday morning. All in my hospital were amazing they were so calm and supportive I couldn’t fault them at all (antenatal, labour team and postnatal team) and my baby is here and she’s perfect and I’m healing ok from the csec so all ended well. Ask them whatever questions you might have, they should be more than happy to reassure you if you have any concerns or worries and my main advice is if you can ask if there are any spare empty private rooms or private side rooms - that way you will be able to relax and sleep during induction so you’re not too tired when it comes to actual labour x good luck and happy to try and answer anything else you want to know x