AIBU to refuse induction and request c section?

[FanaticalFox]

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.

DC1 I had epidural straight away, induced...spent 8am-8pm with baby heart rate fluctuations, ended in emcs. I was back on feet day after and healed well. However, had lots of scar tissue pain and PND which is apparently common in women who have had EMCS.
DC2 I did not want the uncertainty of having EMCS again. ELCS was relaxed, really enjoyed the experience, calm and able to bond with baby. Healed quicker, 8pm operation and was heading to vending machine next afternoon.
But...
Everyone heals differently and post operation horror stories are common. How much help do you have at home? How will it impact OH/Family?

Always remember it is your choice and don't be afraid to voice! Do what makes you feel mentally at peace.

I started the induction process but refused to continue after 3 sleepless nights and zero progress beyond 1cm dilation. I believe the stress of being in hospital just stopped any progress (I was able to go home for a while after the pessaries where I started contracting but stopped soon after going back into the hospital). I opted for a cs, I was past 42 weeks according to the scan dates (not mine) and over 40 years old (when they prefer you to be induced at 40 weeks but that had even less chance of working in my opinion). Good luck OP, definitely get your DH to help stick up for what you want. I was out of the hospital 24 hours after my cs, and religiously took painkillers afterwards which meant the pain was manageable.

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.

They absolutely cannot force you to do anything. They need your consent to lay a finger on you. Sometimes they can 'persuade' you in a way that makes it sound like you have no choice, but be assured that you are the one in control. If you are determined not to have the hormone drip then you can refuse and insist they document your request for a section. The syntocinon drip isn't necessarily awful though, again it depends on how your body responds to it. If you try the drip and find you're struggling then demand an epidural quick smart, don't wait and try and tough it out is my advice.

Mumzypopz, I'm struggling to find a link to what I'm saying re cost, but as far as immediate costs go, the breakdown is something like:

a normal birth costs an average of £1,512
Planndd Caesareans cost £2,369
emergency C-sections cost £3,042

Given that around 17% of births are by unplanned section, that takes the average cost of pursuing a non elective section route to £1772, a difference of £597.

C section rates are higher for first births, so the difference between the average cost of a planned vaginal birth and c section will be less for them.

When the differences start to become fairly small, then it becomes obvious that by the time you take into account birth injuries etc, there isn't going to be much difference.

83=125496
17=51714

1772

I will be honest and say I have NOT RTFT. BUT. why on earth would anyone choose to have major surgery to bring a child into the world unless necessary for the health of mother and/or child.

I gave birth to a 9lb 3oz baby with only gas & air (41weeks). It's not a walk in the park but I walked the mile each way to collect DD from school on the Tuesday after DS was born on the Sunday. Doubt I would have even been out of hospital if I'd had a CS.

I will add add that one of my best friends has three DCs. First was by section as footling breech, second (just two tears later and over 9lb) and third were both vaginal delivery. She says that she would NEVER have opted for another section (unless medically necessary like for her first child) as the vaginal deliveries were easier during AND after.

As a young woman in my 20s, I had two inductions. In my 40s, I had a planned section. I have to say, there is no way I would EVER consent to an induction now, as an informed, older mother (absolutely no plans to have another child in my late 40s!!). I strongly feel that the risks of induction were very much down played, and sections were never even mentioned as an alternative to those risks. A sizable % of women being induced will end up with and emergency section - again, I think the risks of this happening are minimised. Imo if baby needs delivered for its own safety, then straight to section if a valid choice.
I recovered swiftly from my planned section, the inductions left me with significant injuries which took far longer to heal...

Sorry, I've not read the full thread but I wanted to say I was induced with the drip on both my DC.

It was fine. It hurt a bit obviously but I used gas and air and it really was ok. Delivered two big headed babies without an iissue and I was up and about again straight after.

Every delivery is different but induction, with a supportive partner and midwife really can be ok.i would choose induction over major abdominal surgery if possible.

Having said that you need to do what is right for you. As long as there is a healthy mum and baby at the end that's all that matters!

NICE stats I found for induction:
63% normal labour and delivery
15% assisted delivery
22% ECS

Thanks for the stats RMC

The stats don't take into account first births vs second or more. Your chance of intervention is much higher on a first birth, inductions on second or more are more likely to get going quickly and avoid needing a drip.

How is it going op? Did you deliver yet or are you being induced? Good luck!

2 ELCS here - have ever had a moments pain from either.

Hi I'm due to be induced tomorrow now. DH and me have decided that we will only let it get so far before insisting on a c section. Your replies were all really helpful and I'll let you know how it goes. P.s i have name changed!

"CS is surgery, pure and simple. Takes a number of weeks to recover from it. Risk of wound infection etc etc. Normal delivery and you're up and running shock in a couple of hours."

I'm sorry, but I don't think this is good advice. Yes, c-section is surgery but a planned c-section is relatively safe, and you will usually be attended by a consultant. "Normal" delivery sounds great but there is no guarantee the OP will have a "normal" delivery - with a big baby, she could have a forceps delivery, she could tear badly or she could end up with an emergency section, which would be riskier than a planned one.

Everyone is different and I would definitely discuss your concerns however having had a section with dd1 and induction with dd2 personally I would do anything to avoid a section. The pain, complications and recovery time for me were major (and dd was tiny) whereas the labour in comparison was manageable. I was told to expect over a 9.5lb baby with dd2 and really think hard about going vbac she was 6lb 13 so measurements can be wrong

Cross post good luck

When the differences start to become fairly small, then it becomes obvious that by the time you take into account birth injuries etc, there isn't going to be much difference

The biggest cost to maternity services is pay outs from botched births.

Of course when a woman goes back to hospital with on going birth injuries its a diff dept that gets billed, the true costs - are hard to find.

YANBU. I was induced with 4 kg baby and the aftermath was catastrophic for my body. Much preferred my subsequent el-CS.

Blowing: "The biggest cost to maternity services is pay outs from botched births."

That's true. It's usually a vaginal birth that has gone wrong, resulting in the baby dying or the baby being deprived of oxygen and having cerebral palsy and needing lifetime care, which is very expensive.

Other things not shown in the costs include repairing severe tears or treating mental health problems in women who have had a traumatic birth.

I was induced,took 14 hrs before labour started and then just 3 hour to birth.I had pessaries so was able to walk around.
Someone up thread said you had a consultant operate if you had a planned C's,I almost choked on my coffee.Consultants in most hospitals are not the ones operating,they are far too busy when a competent junior Dr can do it,especially for planned surgery.
I see lots of cesarian sections every week and all are different but it is major surgery with all that involves and does takes good time to heal.My major motivator for refusing C's,apart from experience,was that I lived rurally so would have been house bound as no driving for at least 6 weeks.
Enjoy being a mum

I have had both. I realise others will have different experiences but from my point of view I wish I had refused induction. It was painful, I was in labour (active) over 20 hours and ended up with an epidural and forceps anyway. I also ended up with maternal exhaustion. I felt I was pushed into it to be honest. I had wanted to wait but was told it was unsafe to be overdue (which of course is true). My ELCS was, from my point of view and DD2s, much better.

Is the OP's induction scheduled for today? Good luck!

I had a failed induction that ended in an emergency section. They offered me a pre-emptive epidural before putting me on the drip so the pain wasn't that bad. It started to fail a few times but Gas & Air took the edge off until they readjusted it.

As to the c-section, in terms of MY health it was totally fine. I was on nothing but ibuprofen and paracetamol after 48 hours and not taking that after a week. It just ached a bit if I exerted myself. After 2 weeks I was totally fine. I got off far lighter than my friend who had a bad tear and forceps. I am probably at the luckier end of the scale, though.

On the other hand, DD spent 48 hours in the NICU due to water in her lungs, and apparently this is more common with c-section babies. I think the theory is that the trip down the birth canal helps squeeze out the liquid? She made a full recovery, and other complications meant it was the right choice - she needed out quickly. But like...

No one can predict what'll happen, you know? Complications arise unexpectedly, and so do the parts that end ip easier than you thought.

Just make the choice you feel most comfortable with and try not to second guess yourself.

I hope everything is going smoothly!

Thanks Satellite, my induction is now tomorrow as the hospital was fully booked today! P.s i am the OP with a name change.