i was induced with my DS at 40 weeks because of being on insulin for GD.

i had something other than the gels (they called it a tape, just a diff sort of product) put in on the tues evening. contractions hadn't started by the morning so they did an ARM & then started me on synto. i'd asked for a wireless monitor so i had one of those. i was quite aware that i was on a bit of a schedule (i asked & was told they wanted to see a 'good' contraction every 10 mins). i agree with PPs here & if i am induced again, i will be asking for more time as the synto was upped & upped till i was having contractions continuously & they had to stop the drip altogether.

i was fully dilated about 7 hours after contractions started but when i started pushing DS' heart rate wasn't recovering as they wanted so i was taken to theatre for an attempt at an assisted delivery with the ability to do an emergency c-section if necessary. in the end, they were able to get DS out with forceps. i'd had an epidural at the end because they wanted me to be ready for the c-section if required.

i had sterile water injections for back pain & gas during the 1st stage.

the m/w were very supportive of me trying different positions etc, although i wasn't able to have a shower (which i would have loved).

i consider it a positive story because i was still able to birth DS vaginally & that's what i really wanted. i did feel pressured & on a set time frame but i think with experience i would be able to stand up for myself better this time.

i did educate myself on the 'spiral of intervention' so i did feel at least mentally prepared for what might happen.

i spoke to an IM recently & she reassured me that inductions for 2nd births do not have quite the same risk of resulting in a c-section so that's also something positive to take into account.

for me, one of the worst things was the waiting overnight to see if the cervidil worked. i would have been so much happier if i could have gone home (maybe i could have, i didn't force the issue) & come back the next day.