Hi lanaktb,

I think what your Ob is talking about is an induction of labour using a Foley's Catheter. This is a device usually used to drain the bladder which has a balloon on it, inflated once inside the bladder, to stop it slipping out.

In induction they use this to ripen the cervix. Some places use prostaglandin gels instead or as well (yours sounds like an "as well" place). Basically the prostaglandin gels are an artificial form of a hormone your body can make which ripens (softens and prepares) your cervix for labour. With the Foleys catheter they insert it through the cervix and inflate the balloon between the baby and your cervix. This increases the pressure on the back of your cervix, mimicking the action of the baby's head later in labour, which causes your body to make it's own prostaglandin-type hormones to ripen your cervix.

Once your cervix is softening, shortening and starting to open the catheter will fall out (or be removed) and your ob will rupture your membranes which will bring bubs head down against your cervix, making more pressure and hopefully kicking you into full-blown labour.

The use of the Foleys catheter is relatively new, and one of its benefits is that in VBAC women it carries lower risk of uterine rupture than prostaglandins do. If you're not VABCing i'm not sure why your ob is using this method - he might have found it has better success in inductions using both methods than just the gels as it engages the woman's body's natural hormones rather than relying on artificial ones.

Any induction carries risk, so it'd be wise (i'm sure you have) to talk about why bubs needs to come out with help and natural labour can't be alowed to kick in on its own. The placenta usually functions well until EDD + 14 and after that scans can be done to ensure your baby has plenty of fluid and nourishment coming to him/her. The less intervention, the less risk to you and baby IN GENERAL - obviously there are some rarer cases when induction is the safer option.

I KNEW it'd be useful eventually reading up on Foley cath. inductions LOL

HTH

Bec