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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to refuse induction and request c section?

178 replies

FanaticalFox · 21/04/2017 13:55

I am now 40+7. Induction booked for Wednesday however its likely in my view that I'll need a csection as the baby is on the right and should be on my left according to the midwife (its my first baby) and she is large - at least 9 pounds they think. I really don't want to go through natural childbirth with a big baby especially after reading how the lack of pain relief is used on other threads (i want an epidural straight away which the midwife agreed with as she said induction is more painful than natural labour)
I just feel like I'm going to go through potentially almost 24 hours of 2 pessaries and a gel and then need a csection anyway.

So i want to know if i can refuse induction if the baby is still on the right (or just refuse it is general) and request today to be booked for a csection. What are my chances?! Thanks all.

OP posts:
Original poster
FanaticalFox · 21/04/2017 20:35

Its so odd my midwife has been going on about sleeping on my left side etc and sitting with my knees below my hips to get the baby into "optimal fetal position" for weeks. She insists this is the left side as the right side of a womans uterus is narrower therefore more chance of baby getting stuck etc. She is old skool my midwife and has been in the job about 35 years so its not as if she shouldnt know what she is talking about, yet noone else has ever heard of this right/left side thing!

OP posts:
Mumzypopz · 21/04/2017 20:39

Plus any surgery carries risks, if that risk can be avoided by what could be a normal birth, why wouldn't you do that?

BertrandRussell · 21/04/2017 20:40

But babies move round sometimes right up til labour starts. I'm not sure it it will help, but I've had a 9.9 and a 10.6 with only gas and air and a bit of tearing- size really doesn't matter in most cases.

savagehk · 21/04/2017 20:41

I've heard of the right/left thing. But tbh if baby's right or left shouldn't make that much difference, what would make a bigger difference is if baby was back to back and stayed that way. All the midwives / doctors I've spoken to this time have been very clear that babies turn while in labour and they aren't concerned at all (and this is despite me having had one who stayed back to back last time). For my own piece of mind I'm trying to persuade this one to swing into the 'better' position well in advance of labour though.

OwlinaTree · 21/04/2017 20:42

I've had 2 planned sections. It was fine, I had no complications and I've healed really well. Harder the second time as I had a toddler.

Personally I would recommend a planned section as induction was horrendous for me, problem is that's my experience, many on here have had very positive experiences.

Good luck whatever you decide op.

savagehk · 21/04/2017 20:44

For any who are curious this is "the" expert on the subject optimal-foetal-positioning.co.nz/

Semaphorically · 21/04/2017 20:44

I didn't think sleeping on the left was because of the shape of the uterus. I thought it was because if the baby has its back towards your left side at the start of labour (LOA position) it only has to rotate 90 degrees through your pelvis on the way out, vs 270 degrees if it starts on the right hand side?

Underthemoonlight · 21/04/2017 20:45

I was induced early as ds2 was looking at 9lb14 he was also back to back. He ended up being 9lb6 and I had an epidural due to his position as I was in agony with my back but had a normal delivery.

Original poster
FanaticalFox · 21/04/2017 21:13

Thank you all. I've just got my DH to read through all this and his response was the same as mine - try the induction, see how i get on but try and avoid the drip and maybe ask for the section at that stage. He has said he will stick up for me if they try and force me down certain routes i.e you HAVE to try the drip etc if the pessaries etc haven't worked.

OP posts:
Mumzypopz · 21/04/2017 21:24

I think you need to be prepared for them to say "no" to a request for a c section just because you don't want to go through with an induction. Things don't always go as you might plan it in your head. You may request a c section when all the theatres are full with actual emergencies for example. I had a planned c section, but it wasn't by request, it was medically needed. I thought most planned c sections these days were due to medical necessity, not just because the baby is nine pounds and the mum doesn't want the pain of an induction. Sorry, don't want this to come across as being mean, but think you are being a little bit unrealistic?

stoplickingthetelly · 21/04/2017 21:31

Never been induced, but had a terrible labour with dc1, which included that bloody awful drip being turned up top wack! And rotational forcepts, bad tear, over 2 hours in surgery after birth then a blood transfusion. I requested a cs with dc2. Was wonderful - a doddle in comparison and I recovered much more quickly with the cs than I did the first time. Sorry, don't want to scare anyone, but it's the truth x

blue2014 · 21/04/2017 21:58

Sorry but they're highly likely to make you have the drip before offering c section. Epidural is your friend

Grayelephant · 21/04/2017 21:59

Sections cost about the same as vaginal births, once you take into account the cost of physio, and surgery to put our bits back together/continence issues etc.

Its not as if the OP is deciding between a textbook vaginal birth or a section. Even a 'normal' non induced delivery, for a FTM has about a 50-50 chance of needing either a section or forceps/ventose, I'm not sure how that varies after an induction, but its certainly not going to be lower. So its basically a choice betwen a section or a 50-50 chance of a 'natural' birth (and that still incvludes serious tears etc). Its a matter of evaluating the risks that she is prepared to take surely.

Chattycat78 · 21/04/2017 22:04

I've had both an induction and a planned section.

Section was an absolute dream in comparison to induction tbh. Induction involved 4 day labour - lots of pain, horrible pessaries and drip and forceps/episiotomy in theatre in the end anyway. I was totally out of it and a gibberingwreck when baby arrived.

C section by comparison was calm, I was completely lucid and recovery was actually fine.

That's my experience though.

Mumzypopz · 21/04/2017 22:05

I don't think sections are the same cost as a normal vaginal birth sorry. There were twelve people in the delivery room when i had a section as opposed to one midwife when i had a normal birth with induction. I wouldn't have thought the majority of births result in the need for physiology or ongoing incontinence issues?

QuackDuckQuack · 21/04/2017 22:07

I was induced with DD1, had an awful recovery and will probably need surgery in a few years for the amount of prolapse I have (and pregnancy didn't do it, I am utterly confident of that). I very much regret not just asking for a CS then. DD2 wouldn't be here if I couldn't have been guaranteed a CS. It was a walk in the park. The main thing I would suggest is that you make sure you are discussing what you want with an obstetrician, not midwife. I didn't see an obstetrician for the first 4 days of my induction, they apparently just chatted to the MW and passed messages on. I think I would have had a different outcome if I'd actually spoken to one myself.

felinewonderful · 21/04/2017 22:09

I have had 3dc. 2 inductions and one "natural". The inductions were awful, incredibly painful and both resulted in Ventouse deliveries. I found them traumatic, particularly the second one. In comparison the natural labour/birth was completely different and much more straightforward and I only had gas and air. I would avoid induction where possible and if it is absolutely necessary ask for epidural as it was the only way I could get through it. My baby was back to back though and weighed 9 pounds. Good luck x

Mumzypopz · 21/04/2017 22:10

I don't think it's a matter of her evaluating the risks she is prepared to take either, it's more a matter of will they let her chose and if they are willing to let her chose, will they have the facilities available? Will a whole team of people be put on standby just because she doesn't want the pain of an induction? I'm afraid i think not. And if they are, i don't think they should. With the NHS on its knees, why should she be allowed to say she just happens to want a c section?

JustMarriedBecca · 21/04/2017 22:12

4 days of induction and naff all here. Not even a measly bloody centimetre. C section both times and I was hiking after day three the second time around. Felt fantastic.

Semaphorically · 21/04/2017 22:18

just because she doesn't want the pain of an induction

There are other reasons to refuse induction. I refused induction because it increases the risk of birth trauma for the baby.

QuackDuckQuack · 21/04/2017 22:21

Mumzypopz - the cost comparisons of births never include the longitudinal costs for repair work etc. Until studies are done on this then we just end up with guesswork, which doesn't stand up to much scrutiny.

My VB had 4 HCP in the room, so that looks like a bargain based on the cost of just the birth at just that time. If you add in the time for the anaesthetist to do the epidural, then come back and fix it when it didn't work on one side, then come back when no one else could find a vein for a blood transfusion, then the 4 people in surgery for my first repair job, you get to quite expensive. If you add the counselling and physio, that cost more too. All of that is before the future repair work and the personal cost of having a truly shit time.

My ELCS had 7 in the room, though one was a student MW, so presumably there could have been 1 less. But that was it, no complications, no more cost.

I appreciate that many women have great VBs and complicated CS, my stories don't mean I think I was typical, but I genuinely don't think the cost of VB vs CS is properly calculated and I think a general thread of misogyny runs through the lot of it.

Starlight2345 · 21/04/2017 22:22

Just want to add positively... I was induced at 39 weeks.. I had pessary inserted at 6 . labour started at 10 and at 12.19 DS was born.. He was 7Lbs 2oz but I only had gas and air..

DasPepe · 21/04/2017 22:26

I have been induced twice: epidural the first time and nothing the second (gas and air sadly didn't work . . . ) the second time I did listen to some pain management hypnosis videos on you tube and during the initial inducement.

I think stress and attitude may have an effect on how you respond to the induction as well. The second time I was much more positive and prepared to "do it myself" and push which was not the case the first time round.

Also important- I was given a suppository as inducement. This was ideal as they were able to remove it once it started to work (too quick and baby was in distress for a bit). If I'd gotten the gel alternative there would be no way of removing it.

Coastalcommand · 21/04/2017 22:27

I refused induction and asked for a c section. They agreed. I was very glad I had. I had a 10lb baby and the c section was brilliant. I'd definitely have another if I'm lucky enough to get PG again.
Good luck. It's the best feeling in the world!

Birthdaypartyangstiness · 21/04/2017 22:28

Have a look at spinningbabies.com for advice on encouraging optimal positioning and engagement. Good luck!

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