I'm mostly a lurker to not only this DDC, but MDC generally. I just wanted to mention that "gels" are prostaglandin gels that mostly "ripen" the cervix. They "induce" labor in some relatively small percent of women. They are a by product of pig semen and are not any more effective than sex (thereby using REAL HUMAN semen).
I had 14 treatments with my first DD in 2007 and they did nothing for me, though, in the grand scheme of things, they are lower on the intervention scale (outside of all the vaginal entry--there is a pre-exam and then they insert the gels, so two chances to introduce "stuff" into your vagina during each treatment). It's often recommended that the gels be done twice a day.
My gel treatments were the first in a series of failed induction steps that led to an unnecessary c-section, so I would not take this decision lightly. If the gels don't work, the "next step" is often the use of Cervadil or Cytotek (which should be refused under any circumstances).
I would ask: How many treatments are you recommending? Should I just have a lot of sex? What if the treatments don't "work"? What if I do nothing?
If you aren't at least 42 weeks, I would avoid all induction, unless you have some intervening medical condition.
Kristine
