Balloon Induction?

[Crystalwings]

Hi,
I'm just after some info on balloon induction (not sure the correct term for it). Tomorrow is D-Day when i find out how and when on wednesday i will be induced and i want some idea of what i can expect to happen.
I was so not prepared this. I went into labour with DD at 39wks so to get over 41wks is a shock. Plus i have had so many false alarms and weeks of pre labour. I've tried accupuncture twice, had a S and S, lots of sex, accupressure, nipple stimulation. I'm wondering if there is some kind of phychological barrier going on as i had a traumatic birth with DD and a very extensive episiotomy which i'm nervous about but i feel ready and have been doing lots of visualisation about the birth. I'm also disappointed as i won't be able to birth in my local hospital if i'm induced and my doctor won't be able to deliver. I also had continuous monitoring for 13hrs with DD as i wasn't progressing which was very restrictive and i'm keen to avoid.
Anyway back to the original question. Has anyone had the balloon induction? Did it work? If it does work can i go on to have a relatively normal birth without continuous monitoring? What acually happens? If this doesn't work do they go to the gel or straight to the drip?
TIA

[HotI]

You don't have to be induced if you don't want to. You can wait longer to see if bub comes on his own.

Once you begin intervention it often leads to more, and so if everything is going well it is best to avoid intervention at the start.

[BrightSparkles]

can i ask what a balloon induction is? My SIL had one and i'd never heard of it before?

[BellyBelly]

Look up Foley's Catheter.

[Crystalwings]

Thanks,
i have looked it up and it seems that it's only used when the cervix is closed and not soft. I know mine is soft and ready so probably won't be getting this method.
If you are starting to dialate or things are just starting but irregular do they sometimes just do an ARM?

[Little Chicken]

I was induced for post dates last year. My cervix was softening and ready so they started with the gel, which I few hours later put me into full labour. I was barely monitored (not intenionally as no-one realised I was in full labour until close to the end, but that is another story). I think most inductions go to gel first, then ARM, then drugs

[Visitor8]

I had the balloons twice It hurt a little, they insert a tube with a balloon into your cervix and inflate it to 3cm in diameter with saline, then they do the same on the other side of the cervix, over a few hours it will dilate your cervix and they will rupture your membranes when the balloon falls out (or after a certain time frame they remove them, I never got that far). Was a very effective method.
I've had 3 inductions out of 4 births, the balloon was the most effective.

ETA: With Eli, they did the gel and nothing. The balloons went in and they said to have a sleep as it was about 8pm, and they'd ARM in the AM. 3 hours later the balloons fell out and we were ready to roll lol