Hi Fiona, I have a positive story for you. I was induced at 39+4 with DD2 and was about 2cm dilated at my previous week's appointment. Ob broke my waters and left instructions for the dripnto be started but I started mild contractions immediately. He was happy to let me go for a few hours before getting the drip going but it wasn't needed, DD was born just over 2 hours later! Can you just request that they leave you for a little while after the ARM before they start the drip? I don't recall whether my ob had a time limit before he wanted the drip started, maybe he said lunch time?? (waters we're broken around 7am) As long as they can monitor you for any infection from the broken waters, I don't see the urgency to get the drip started.

Oh, and I agree that if you're already dilated, they don't use the gel, I certainly didn't get any.