Marcellus has given some great advice. I have had two inductions and one naturally started labour that needed to be augmented with syncotin. Having had a bit of a taste of natural labour i totally agree to make them TAKE IT SLOWLY. Try gel and then maybe let them rupture your membranes but if you are having good strong contractions try to bide your time before agreeing to be hooked up to syncotin because the contractions do get so very strong. I always lost the plot a bit after the drip went in... that tied down feeling is the worst. Also make sure if they are suggesting syncotin to start you off on a very small dose... ask for the minimum and let them raise it IF needs be.

I went on to use a bit of gas for distraction (does nothing for pain) and also have had the minimum dose of pethidine. With the peth apparently (this is what one of my Obs said) there is an optimal time to give it... at a certain point in a contraction... which stops it getting through as much to the baby. A baby under the effect of peth can be very sleepy as you probably know... but because I had the minimum mine were all born alert and ready to have a BF within minutes of delivery. Also, because I asked for minimum syncotin maybe it was one of the reasons i never tore during delivery.

Just take it slow... don't let them rush you. Good luck

ETA: if all your contractions start to run together into one long contraction and you are on syncotin ask them to turn it down. This will put baby under stress.... and it horrible to endure... happened during my first labour.