Induction gel question!!

Hi all,

Just a question about induction gel. If I wanted to be induced, could they try the gel once or twice and if nothing happens and if my waters are still intact can we then leave it and go no further with induction??

I've got another post about my grandad dying and his funeral will probably be on 6th Jan in Coffs Harbour (6hrs from here) so if I don't go into labour and have peanut in my arms by the 4th I will not make the funeral... so what we were wondering is if I ask that if I don't go into labour before the 4th or even the afternoon of the 3rd, if we can try 2 lots of gel to see if that can put me in labour. I am not wanting to go the whole way to the drip etc because of the complications etc that can occur, but as long as I know that if nothing eventuates from it, I can be left to go into labour naturally, I am happy to try the gel.

If I don't go into labour trying the gel at least I will be at peace with knowing I did everything I could to try to be there at the funeral.... whereas if I don't try and don't make it, I will be devestated and very very stressed which could cause more harm to me and baby.

I appreciate the help girls!!

Hi Mrs Bexie, I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather :hugs:

In relation to your question, I don't think they will, once they start an induction they don't stop and giving gel is considered the start of an induction. Though if your body is ready for labour the gel can work quite quickly, well it did for me anyway, only needed one dose of gel for DD2.

i agree the gel is officially what they consider an induction well the beginning of it...
maybe ask for a stretch & sweep???
ive had 2 inductions out of my 4 n nealry had another one with dd they arent that bad but they are more full on
i also found the gel the worst part i found it uncomfortable n i got quiet frustrated
if they do the S&S it could start it off for u or at least start things moving in a sense iywim>??

I dont think once they start the gel, they will send you home, or stop the induction.

I also think a S&S is a good idea! Its not an induction, and your midwife can do it.

Good luck sweets.xoxoxo

Sorry to hear about your grandfather. :hug:
Remember also there are risks associated with the use of gels, so things could just *have* to proceed whether you like it or not.
Has your cervix been assessed? A S&S may be possible.
I'm sure your little one is very safe and happy right now, despite your understandable distress. It's hard enough waiting beyond 40 weeks, even without this extra stress for you

When I was having my last bub I had the induction talk with one of the midwives and she said that with the gels you were committed to labour essentially and if they didn't work it would lead to further interventions - and I certainly did not want those. Also another risk of the gel was getting what the midwife called 'prostin pains' and and irritable uterus without them doing anything but make me miserable. So there is a risk that if you have the gel and it doesn't work, that you will end up with what you don't want anyway. Personally I'd leave well enough alone - there is every chance that you will go into labour between now and then anyway without the induction so I'd be trying natural induction methods to see if that helped. I'm sorry that you are having to make this decision in these circumstances though :hug:

In the UK it is not unusual for the gel to be inserted, and if it doesn't work and the ward becomes too busy for the induction to go ahead (or the woman changes her mind) she can go home. So yes it is possible, although the hospital will probably not support it. Remember at any point in your pregnancy, even after beginning an induction, you can refuse consent to what they want to do. The difficulty is, if you start an induction with the gel, and decide to leave the hospital if it doesn't work, the hospital could refuse to treat you again on the basis that you are not taking their advice. Gel often leads to other interventions so you need to weigh up the risk of not just the prostin, but the ARM and possibly synto that they will likely want you to accept.

So sorry to hear about your grandfather :hug:

I will talk to my MW about it tomorrow and see what she says...

I have had a S&S yesterday, so what we were thinking was saying another S&S on 1st or 2nd and if that doesn't work, trying the gel on 3rd or 4th... if that doesn't work, leave it until natural labour... It is very important for me to be at his funeral so I will just have to see what the hospitals policy is...

Thanks all for your help!!!

This might seem a bit of an airy-fairy notion for you, but it is entirely possible that your subconcious wont let you go into labour until after the funeral anyway. I really do think that the power of the mind has a lot to do with letting yourself go into labour and it wont if it isn't safe to do so, if that makes sense. I have read of many women who couldn't go into labour until they had released any emotional baggage they were holding onto, so it might be the same for you. I would be thinking too that if things didn't work out and I needed a c/s then I definitely wouldn't be able to go, so that is something to consider as well :hug:

Trillian makes an excellent point.

Sorry to hear about your Grandfather :hug:

With the induction - it will probably work better if your cervix is favourable. It's not a guarantee but it is something to consider. I was induced with DS and my cervix was unfavourable when they started and it was awful. I don't know if it would have been better if my cervix was more favourable but it felt like my body was fighting the induction every step of the way. Having an unfavourable cervix may mean it's less likely that you will go into labour anytime soon naturally so you might be okay to make your Grandad's funeral.

I really hope that whatever happens, you make it to the funeral and get to celebrate his life and say goodbye with the rest of your family.

All the best for the coming days.

i was induced with the gel with ds2. the ob told me that she would apply 2 lots of the gel, and if it did not work i would be sent home. the first application did nothing. we were all prepared to go home, and even rang my dad who was looking after ds1 to say we would probably be coming to pick him up soon as we were going to be sent home......anyway, the second application got things started and i ended up having him that night with no need for the drip.
so.....in answer to your question, check with your midwife what their particular procedure is, but i was definitely offered the option of going home after 2 lots of gel.

Ok so it doesn't matter anyways!
I couldn't get in to talk to the Ob until wednesday and the funeral is thursday. BOO! :(

Oh I am so sorry ur gonna miss this special day maybe have ur own memorial at home n browse through sum pics n rehash those beautiful memories it could b just as special for u n I'm pretty sure his looking down on u n ur baby n knows ur doing wats best
** big hugs hun

I'm sorry you're not going to be there in person, but you will be there with all your heart and soul :hug: what it does do is take some pressure off you so hopefully you can relax and bub will be in your arms soon. Like Z&A has said, perhaps you can plan your own special way to farewell your Grandad on Thursday. He will know :comfort:

This happened to my SIL as well - her grandfather died when she was 39 weeks, and funeral was a three hour drive. She went to a chapel in town instead, and lit a candle for him. I went with her and it was really special.

I think it's a good choice not to go - even if you have your peanut in your arms by then, sitting in a car for that long right after your birth is probably not the best start for either of you.

If she is out i am definitely going.. I have to go, for myself... My own emotional health. Yes it will be tough on us as a family especially considering it is the first few days with our darling, but I won't get another chance to go to his funeral.

Please just keep praying and keeping your FX that she comes in the next 3 days!!!

Keeping everything crossed for you for a very smooth and easy labour very soon. I really hope you can say goodbye to your Grandad in a way that you will find peace with it :hug:

just wanted to check up n see how things are moving?? :)

She had the baby this morning!
There is a thread in the BA board. :)

thanks lime,
i noticed after i had posted lol!!! :)

Lol yup!! I am now a mummy n don't have to worry about this anymore!!
:)

Congrats again :hug: are you going to make it to the funeral on Thursday? Travel safe if you do :hug:

fantastic!!
so will u be going to the funeral now bex??
how u feeling bout the whole situation now she here :)

Thanks so much girls for still showing interest!!
Yup leaving for Coffs in the morning. I am feeling prett good about it. It'll be hard but as long as I can try to make it as normal as possible for her (what's normal to a 2 day old?!? Lol ) n we are stopping heaps on the way down so I can get out n stretch n walk around.

I'm so thankful she came yesterday and that meant today we could have some time with her before it was too hectic!

:) she's amazing...

Oh that's good I think u have been preparing for this so I reckon ull b fine :)
Goodluck Hun I hope the drive n everything goes smoothly
N I'm glad u get too say goodbye u really must have ur gd looking over u for this too have worked out