I read with interest the number of "traumatic" inductions and thought i would post my story. - I had what can only be called a VERY positive Induction.

I had insulin dependent Gest Diabetes from 29 weeks and my OB had told me that he would not let me go full term and that i would have to be induced - Understandably, after reading many scary stories about the trauma of induction i was not a happy camper and very anxious as to what was going to happen. Anyway below is my Birth story and encounter with induction...

I was admitted to hospital on Tues 20 Jan 09 at 2pm and my OB had told me I would have the gels inserted then waters broken the following morning at 8.00am(21 Jan 09) - First lot of gels were inserted at 3pm and I was put on CTG monitoring for 1 hr - mild contractions had started but nothing to write home about - At 9pm another lot of gels were inserted and i was told by the midwife to get some rest, so DH and i slept from about 10pm. At 12.50am the contractions were like bad period pain and at 12.55am i rolled over in bed and my waters broke on their own!!!! (i couldnt believe it i was so prepared for being put on the drip the following morning at 8am!) - so from 12.55am I was in active labour - the contractions were painful, but bearable. My DH called our Doula at 12.10am to come to the hospital and once she arrived I laboured in my hospital room until 6.55am when the midwife told me it was time to move to the birth suite - I remember doing the calculations in my head and telling the midwife i couldn't possibly be ready to start pushing!! - by now the pain was bad but as i had an active labour and was coping well (thanks to my DH and my Doula)i knew i wasn't going to use any drugs - We got to the birth suite where the MW checked to see how dilated i was - 9cm with just the lip to go!! I immediately got in the shower and could already feel the urge to start pushing but was told to wait. DH and i were in the shower for about 15mins before i couldn't stand anymore from the pain and urge to push and moved to the bed on all fours - by this stage the contractions were on top of each other and i was told i could start pushing. The pain was very full on but i just kept listening to my Doula and DH and using my visualisation techniques learned. The MW offered me gas and i took one suck and knew then that the pain was beyond anything gas could help with!! By now it was 7.30am and i been pushing for just over 30 mins - My OB arrived at 7.50am and i remember telling him i didnt want to be cut - he said, "Well Gill, listen to me and i will get you out of this with minimal fuss!" - I pushed for another 10 mins from when my OB arrived and at 8.00am our beautiful daughter Ella Grace was born on Wednesday 21st January 2009 (the same time i was mean to have my waters broken - guess she had other ideas!) She weighed 7 pounds, 14ounces (3.6kgs - so yes she was "bigger" than average due to my GD but nothing what i had expected - i thought she'd be about 8.5 pounds!) 50.5cm long, HC 34cm, with no drugs, no tears, cuts or other medical intervention as is so often portrayed with inductions!

I understand that many inductions do not go like mine and i count myself very lucky to have had such a positive birth experience and i now feel if i go for bub number two and have GD again and need to be induced again, gels for me were the best way.

I must also say that having a DOULA was THE BEST investment DH and i could have made as she helped ensure our birth plan was adhered to and helped keep both me and DH focused!