Induction help?

Hi everyone
I'm kinda new but thought some of your experienced people might be able to help. I'm 41 weeks and 2 days pregnant and my midwife is keen to induce on Monday (when I'll be 41 weeks and 5 days). It's a bummer cos obviously I'd prefer NOT to have this procedure, but was wondering what it's like (for those who have been through it). My BP is normal and I've had an excellent pregnancy, but bubs has been engaged for 6 weeks now and no action, very very lazy.
Any advice? Also, should i be asking about an elective Caeser too, since we'll be using a private obstetrician for the induction if we have to, we could avoid labour altogether?

I was induced with addison and it was sweet. I just went in first thing and the midwife did the gel thing which was no worse than when they do a general check up there (not exactly pleasant but bearable and quick) then we just waited and walked for ages, got another dose of the gel and my waters broken a bit later but again while not pleasant it was over so quickly and not really painful. I had an epi when i started to feel sick and once that was in my midwife did a pretty full on sweep but I couldnt feel anything and bubs was born not much later.
I know some people avoid being induced but it wouldnt bother me if i had to do it again.

GandT, and everyone else, thanks for that. I guess I'm keen to get this baby out because my closest friend also had a very healthy pregnancy, was ten days overdue, booked induction for day 11 and baby died inside her without warning or explanation before this could be done. So I'm nervous - I would have waited but I think I will go with the induction.
My midwife has said she hasn't had great success with the stretch and sweep before and would rather just go onto gel/oxytocin if I'm happy with this.
My main fear is the stress it puts on the baby, many of my friends who have had inductions have needed emergency caesereans in the end. Also the pain and quickness of contractions! Guess I just need to bite the bullet and get on with it.

with my first induction my waters broke after the gel and there was meconium and so i was pretty much bed ridden the whole labour with drips and monitoring etc. i didnt have a c sect either time. my second they broke the waters for me after regular contractions and after that it was all go - 3 hours from then till baby. it was a very different birth as i got to labour in a pool and there was not even a mw in sight. i think that you have to be mentally in the right place and also the more ready the baby is the easier on your body it will be. I think also that just cause your mw hasnt any luck with a sweep doesnt mean she should rule it out. at least she can have a look/feel and should be able to tell how ready or not your body may be. You never know your luck tho, i have heard so many people say they went into labour just before they were due for induction...fingers crossed for you. and do come back and let us know how you go.

Hi misty
have you thought about acupuncture? I had acupuncture and went into labour 12 hours later.

you really should! its not painful, it just feels a bit strange.

Well, am just back from scan and apparently my baby is 9 pounds 4 oz!!! I wonder if he just can't fit
It's a bit of a shock as he was "guesstimated" to be about 7 and a half and I'm still quite small and compact.
My midwife says it's a week's wait to get a confirmed induction appointment (at National Womens) but will be "on the phone morning noon and night" for a cancellation. In the meantime will keep trying the old wives tales...

Misty you wont know if baby will 'fit' until you are pushing and then it wont really matter if bubs is 10lbs or 6lbs lol you will just want him out! Its actually more common than you think for a woman to have a baby over 9lbs these days.

I was induced with my first and it wasnt a good experence. She ended up getting distress and i had a emergency c/s. My second was over 1lb bigger and she was a 'normal' birth. With my son i was 18 days overdue i wanted to wait and had a stretch and sweep which really got things going and was in labour 24hrs later.

Good luck with what you choose to do.

There is this yucky stuff you can get from the herbal dispensary if they have one near you. I know a few people who have taken it the day before they were supposed to be induced and ended up going into labour on their own. Its pretty gross but if it works

Stay positive love everyBODY & every baby is different.
Things are monitored closely when you are induced.

My fisrt babe was ECS after a 51 hr labour, 2wks overdue being induced & having all the drugs the hospital offered. My waters broke just hours before the induction & i was 1cm so was given synotocin rather than gels..
After a long long long time of monitoring esc was discussed & agreed to coz i was a failing to progress. Lucky tho my babe who was estimated at 7-8lb turned out 9lb6oz only 2 days after the estimated weigh in. My next babe was elective & 1 week overdue 8lb 1oz & was still regarded as malpresentation & Mal proportioned (i kinda knew my body was too little to push out fat heads LOL) Just so you know- when your water break its like VERY VERY VERy sore esp with syno added on top!!!

I difenately second acupuncture as an alternative to induction. But what ever happens stay positive
All the best with you birth love