Going in for an induction

[scarypinkfairy]

Just a quick question, I am booked in for an induction next week due to medical reasons. I have to be at the hospital at 6.30am, and just wondered is it ok to have breakfast. I am hoping they just try the gel, to try and start things along (I know I should have asked more questions).
I am really hoping it comes by itself before then, but I don't think the head is totally engaged from the ultrasound I had today. Thanks!

[dusty]

Yes. Keeping your energy levels up is important. If you are having the gel it may be some time until contractions start anyway. I ate normally until the syntocin kicked 1st stage in many hours later.
Have a great labour!

[TeniBear]

One thing about the gel - they'll probably tell you anyway - don't get up for about an hour, and don't go to the loo for two hours after they put it in. They didn't tell me that until the third application so I was getting up to the toilet five minutes after they put it in

[scarypinkfairy]

thanks for those tips. i'm pretty sure i lost my plug last night, so i am really hoping things will start moving and i won't need to be induced. the poll on here says 30% start labour 1-2 days after losing it so i am hoping i am one of these!!!

[Liminal]

I was induced in January with gel application at 3pm and syntocin from 8am the following morning. (There was no question that I had to have the gel, he was at -4 station and my Bishop score was only about 4. But it didn't start labour well enough, just sent me into pre-labour, so there was syntocin too.) There were no restrictions on eating: a midwife especially woke me before the syntocin to encourage me to go to breakfast and eat up.

In fact, it was very hot then and a mistake I made before the gels was to not drink enough water: I ended up being put on a drip to get my hydration up nicely. Both the gels and syntocin are hard on your body, so eat and drink well as you might in preparation for serious exercise.

[Little Chicken]

Definately eat! Once in labour you might not feel like it and you need the energy.

I was induced for both my DDs, I just needed one dose of gel for DD2 cause that put me into full blown labour within 5 hours of having it, but with DD1 I had everything, gelx2, synto, and rupturing membranes. The difference being I think, DD1 I was induced early with an unfavourable cervix, DD2 I was post-dates with a much more favourable cervix.