I'm not going to run in and have an induction for no reason, but if I do have to have one is it just luck whether or not I end up with a caesar? Is there nothing I can do to help baby not to get stressed? Is there nothing I can do to help my body not to get those really powerful contractions which lead to foetal distress?
Gabi there isn't anything you can do to affect the intensity of the contractions, no. The drug that is given during inductions (syntocinin) literally forces your uterus to contract. The intensity of the contractions is related to the dose, and the dose is increased on a regular basis until contractions become "productive". You don't have much control over how quickly the dose is increased or high it goes. From this point it is really luck of the draw whether or not your baby will cope - some babies are totally unbothered, others will show signs of distress. There is no way of predicting this beforehand and there is nothing you can do to control it - except to refuse to be induced without a clear indication that it is necessary.

So I guess the short answer to your question is, yes - it's just luck.