Hospital want to induce at 39 weeks with DC3. Help me weigh up whether this is a wise move.

[Artichook]

This is DC3.My consultant wants to induce me at 39 weeks because:
(a) This baby is already estimated to be 8lbs (I am 37 weeks today) and my last baby was 10lbs 2oz;
(b) My BP is slowly rising and I did develop pre-eclampsia with DC1.

I like the idea of birthing this baby before he gets too massive. I tore quite badly with DCs 1 and 2 and I think that was because their heads were both on the 99th centile. I also want to avoid a further spike in BP as it scares me having lost my father to a BP induced cerebral bleed when he was the age i am now.

On the other hand I am scared of induction. I was induced with DC1 due to the pre-eclampsia and it was a very long and difficult labour with a cascade of interventions. DD2 came naturally and she was must easier to birth. However, maybe my body knows what it is doing now as this is DC3 so induction should be easier than with DC1.

Does anyone have experience of induction with DC3? Or tips on hw to prepare my cervix for a good induction? Any advice would be gratefully received.

TIA.

[StrawberryMojito]

I was induced due to a medical condition. It was awful and I tore very badly due to all the intervention. There is a chance my condition will reoccur if I get pregnant again but I would opt for a c section over an induction if the hospital say baby needs to be born early.

[Artichook]

Thanks Strawberry. Was the induction for your first baby? If so it sounds like my first experience. I guess I am hoping to hear that inductions for later pregnancies are quicker and more successful because your body knows what to do once its prompted. I may be being overly optimistic!

[StrawberryMojito]

Yes, it was for my first. Sorry, I should have read the last bit of your post better and realised that you wanted info re subsequent pregnancies. Good luck though, hope it goes well.

[carrielou2007]

I've been induced all three times (being overdue) first labour long, drip, forceps, second my ds just shot out so was expecting similar this time around. Had EMCS yesterday which not easy with two other you g dc at home who need me

[Artichook]

Oh no Carrie, I'm sorry. Can I ask why you needed the c-section?

[kritur]

I was induced with my first due to pre eclampsia and was in active labour for only 43 minutes. Every birth is different, you might be just fine x

[Artichook]

I would love a labour like that Kritur. However, my first induction was 44 hours from first pessary to birth (18 hours active) and even my natural labour was 25 hours from first contraction (10 hours active). I am afraid my body isn't that efficient at birthing which adds to my worries about another induction.

[RooneyMara]

I'm not sure what to suggest as I'm clueless, but thoughts are with you.

Fwiw I just had dc3 and I wouldn't say that anyone is 'better' at giving birth than anyone else, really - first two labours were 8 and 3 hours, and this one was on and off for about 11 hours. Which surprised me.

I would be more concerned about the BP than anything else, really - do you have to decide right now or can you afford to wait a bit?

[carrielou2007]

With every contraction his heart rate was dipping and not picking up well enough they thought it was gird compression if some sort. I really didn't want section so they broke my waters hoping then he's shoot out but never got past 4cm then had to get him out quick. Was very very unexpected as first induction so long, second very quick so no reason to think my body 'couldn't do it' but he's here snd actually recovery not as bad ad I thought it would be. Not looking forward to pushing my son on buggy board on pram for school run though!!

[lougle]

I had 3 inductions (39+6, 35+2, 38+5) all for medical reasons.

Labours of 4 hours, 8 hours, 3 hours respectively. All pessary + ARM.

It needn't be terrible.

[Tuppenyrice]

Hello
I was induced at 37 weeks due to choleostasis(sp?)
The midwife popped my waters and within half an hour I was in labour. About half hour after that my 3 rd child flew out.
It was fast and furious but definitely my easiest birth!
It could be fine for you too.
Good luck x

[BR44]

I was induced last week with Dc2. It was intense but effective. The gel went in at 10.30 and he was born at 16.10. Proper contractions from about 12.00, seriously seriously painful from 3.00, started pushing about 15 mins max before he was born.

I was not prepared for how quick and intense it would be, but on the plus side it was over quickly and I have recovered well. I think you are right that as your body has done this before it is unlikely to bd the slow, torturous type of induction lots of women get with their first labour.

Good luck!

[BR44]

Should have said my first labour was a invention-heavy 32 hrs, so this really was the polar opposite!

[AmandaPayneAteTooMuchChocolate]

It's not quite what you asked, but the length of both my labours was similar to your two, and neither were induced. I think you had a double whammy of it being your first and induction IYSWIM.

Good luck with deciding. Could you think about booking it in but cancelling if you are happy with your blood pressure in 10 days or so?

[TerracottaPie]

I had an induction with DC3 but it was for being post dates rather than your specific reasons.

I only needed the gel to get going go though and then for me following that it was fairly similar to how I laboured with DC2 (planned homebirth). The only thing different for me was DC3 was back to back and I wasn't quite dilating the last 0.5cm for a fair while. But he was big too so I don't know if that had any part to play as well.

I do remember the midwife telling me earlier on in the pregnancy that third babies can be, anecdotally at least, awkward PITAs.