Yeah i think you should get the news, then a break for an hour, and THEN have the procedure explained to you.

Even if bubs is engaged they don't come down hard on the cervix until later on in labour - the foleys balloon also acts in the same way a stretch and sweep does in separating the membranes from the back of the cervix which again helps stimulate hormones. It could be that the foleys cath will help "break down" any scar tissue that's there from surgery which is why he's using it. It does have good outcomes in the study i read. Of 52 (38 first timers like yourself) women 40 delivered vaginally (10 of those had forceps or vaccuum extraction), and of the 12 who didn't 4 failed to progress at all (the catheter plain didn't work), 2 had foetal distress, 5 had meconium staining and 1 had cord prolapse. There were no cases of infection and the mean labour time (mid point of all lengths of labour) from induction to delivery was 8 hours (so some were longer, some shorter).

With induction as with any sort of labour it's important to keep as active as possible, avoid staying on the bed and keep upright if you possibly can. All of these things will help things progress and help you to avoid needing forceps or ventouse help.

If you don't want to be induced you can ask for your levels to be checked again, sometimes they improve at the next scan.

Best of luck hun.

Bx