Cervical gel for bringing on contractions????????????

[mami_guera]

So my midwife says if I don't deliver by Wed she is going to insert some gel to bring on contractions. Does anyone know what this is or have they had it done? Do contractions come on immediatly or slowly? I really want dh there at birth and want to let him know whats going on but I'm not sure myself! Can anyone help ?

[Yuba_River]

I had a friend whose induction started this way. My understanding is that the gel may or may not actually bring on contractions, but it's main function is to ripen your cervix to make you more ready for labor. With my friend, that was followed by Pitocin, but maybe for some it would be enough on it's own to get things going? Good luck, sorry not to have more info.

[lyttlewon]

Is it cervadil? Usually a prostaglandin of some sort is inserted. This is similar to what you get from your DH's sperm but a larger concentration. I was already dialated to 3 and effaced 70% when they gave it to me. My water broke the next morning at 7:00 and DD was born at 12:05 the same day (5 hours later). My contractions started a little before my water broke. I didn't need pitocin. This was my birth with DD.

[BoringTales]

I'd find out what kind of gel she's wanting to use. If its Cervidil, that is a cervical ripening agent. It sometimes can bring on contractions in some women.

Is there a reason that she's talking induction? When is your due date?

[FiddleMama]

If it's Cervadil, my experience was that it works rather slowly. I had it at 5 pm and my contractions didn't start picking up until about 10 hours later.

I was barely dilated but almost completely effaced when they started the Cervadil.