Hi Anna,

I had similar worries to you - I was induced with my first three girls for various reasons, and then with #4 went naturally. I was really nervous because I go from quite comfortable to 2nd stage very, very quickly, and I was terrified of making it on to the nightly news!

I read somewhere, possibly my favourite Sheila Kitsinger book, that when your contractions are five minutes apart, regular and strong, you are in good labour but you can't possibly deliver at that point - seems like me a good point to go in to the hospital. That was the time line we followed with dd4 - I got to hospital, and then she was born two hours later. I got to do all the early labour at home, and then be in hospital at the time when things were intense and I didn't want to be having to go anywhere!

That labour itself was very similar to the others, even though it started differently. If anything, it was a bit more intense than the others, and shorter. I'd suspect that a spontaneous labour would be faster because your body is ready to go on its own, rather than needing a little coaxing.

So I'd suggest reflecting on how your labours went last time - did you go from say 5cm to complete quickly? Do you feel you need a hospital setting in early labour? (Some women do, and that's fine!) Does the hospital have a threshhold of how established your contractions need to be before admitting you (length, regularity, strength, etc).

Most of all I'd have a good long talk with your midwife/doctor and see what they advise - they'll have dealt with a lot of women in your situation.

Good luck!!

Oh, and after four inductions and one spontaneous, I really *really* want this one to be spontaneous, just for the fun of it!!!