hippomummy: Oh I see. I had waterbag leak too with my first, and laboured at home, but that's also because I didn't have contractions. Since you're there already and in labour, they probably want to monitor you. Try to relax and breathe. Visualise your baby coming and be excited about that.
One tip is please don't let them pressure you into a C-Sect if you don't want one. Even if your waterbag breaks, you don't have to worry about infection - just ask them to keep their fingers out of you (no unnecessary VEs) and get started on IV antibiotics.
Austin - Induction is only more painful if they subject you to the drip (pitocin) because that causes strong contractions and the drugs mask your natural coping mechanism which is the release of oxytocin. So it's like chemically-induced labour with no natural coping mechanisms. Not fun. Did your gynae say what he had in mind? Can try a sweep first, or prostaglandin gel, neither of which will cause pain. If you have GD, they may feel early induction is necessary.
As for going home, yes, in theory, if you go to hospital for a check and there is no action, you should be entitled to ask to go home to allow labour to start there. But in my experience, once you show up in hospital, they are v reluctant to let you go home. Might be lawsuit issues or billing issues, or maybe just the way medicine is practised here. Can I suggest this? On your proposed day of induction, say 7th, go to the gynae clinic and ask him for a VE, ask him for an assessment of your Bishop's Score - if it looks ripe, then ask for pros gel to be administered, then go home first and hopefully you'll get contractions before admission.
