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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WWYD/AIBU Elective cesarean vs induction very overdue.

99 replies

Wale90 · 07/05/2019 20:58

NC but first thread.

At 10 days over, with a failed sweep would you chose an EC (offered next day) or go for an induction (3 day wait).

I have already chosen and had my outcome, I just want to know if the consensus was with me or not.

OP posts:

MarthasGinYard · 08/05/2019 07:04

Elcs

No brainer

costacoffeecup · 08/05/2019 07:17

Having done both id take the section any day of the week. You're lucky they're offering a choice really!

Damntheman · 08/05/2019 07:59

I would have waited for induction. But OP you made the best choice for you! That's what's important here. a CS birth is no less valid a birthing experience than any other, you are still a mother, you are still a fucking warrior!

As for VBAC success stories. My mum's second baby was a breach baby C Section (emergency). She went on to have another three babies vaginally without any trouble at all. I hope that helps!

Original poster

Wale90 · 08/05/2019 08:01

@bamboofibre

I didn't mean that's what I wanted at 18, I just thought when I decided I was ready I thought it would be easy....being older and experiencing lots of friends journeys it's anything but.

OP posts:

PurpleFlower1983 · 08/05/2019 08:08

I would have neither and wait.

MintyT · 08/05/2019 08:16

I was induced, if I had my time again I would have a CS. I was traumatised you a few years and had PTS, but my 2nd and 3rd I went into labour and had positive deliveries and recoveries.
I always said after the 1st never again, but I was with my friend when she easily delivered her 3rd and decided to have another

babyworry2018 · 08/05/2019 08:25

I had an induction at 40+10, technically everything went wrong: was overstimulated by pessary and back to back so pain was like one long contraction but for 12 hours I didn't progress past one cm so couldn't move to labour ward so I had not so much as gas and air.

Then they moved me to break waters and start drip, meconium in water, had epidural at that stage, then needed ventouse and episiotomy due to her heart rate dropping and still ended up with a third degree tear.

Despite all that, I'd choose induction again. She has allergies now and everything I've read suggests vaginal birth helps the gut, with a family history of tummy problems that was important to me, as was breastfeeding. I think I would have personally struggled to establish feeding while recovering from surgery. I was v lucky with my own recovery, almost no pain.

I think I'd read so many horror stories about induction that even though everything I feared happened except needing an ecs at the end it was surprising to me it was nowhere near as bad as I feared and I would say I had a positive experience of childbirth.

Original poster

Wale90 · 08/05/2019 08:46

@Kescilly

There really are lots of positive stories about ELCS, I didn't have time to process before my c section because I went from midwives appointment to surgery in less than 24 hours, I was just elated my baby was finally here safely.

I struggled because I compared my birth to the dream one and believed I had missed out on but honestly, in these situations comparison is truly the thief of joy.

The team in surgery were brilliant, I ended up losing a bit more blood than normal which left me quite tired after. Looking back when I was in recovery we should have laid my bed back and tucked the baby in on my chest, I felt too weak to hold her upright for the first few hours so my partner had her in his top. These are just little things you think of after and are quite hard to plan before.

Chat with your partner about what you want to happen and, honestly it's all a bit of a blur and it went so fast.

Recovery can be quick and straightforward, I was walking around the next day and whilst I was sore keeping mobile really really helped. My insurer had no policy on driving post c section and 2 weeks later I was fine driving which made me feel great.

If you can get a next to me crib you should, it was hard lifting the baby into her moses but only for he first week or so.

You can feel empowered, start owning your decision, it's the right one for you given all the information you have.

OP posts:

Idonotlikeyoudonaldtrump · 08/05/2019 11:22

I’d delay the decision until 14 days overdue and opt for daily monitoring until then.

At term + 14 I would opt for ELCS because having researched it, I’m happier with the risks of a c section vs induction and the higher likelihood of instrumental delivery associated with that.
It would also depend on the size of the baby, although ultrasound is pretty inaccurate. I wouldn’t want to have a big baby induced due to increased risk of shoulder dystocia.

CripsSandwiches · 08/05/2019 11:23

I'd be tempted by EC but probably try for the induction just to avoid the surgery recovery.

DearTeddyRobinson · 08/05/2019 15:28

Interesting post. I was 10 days overdue with DC1. Obstetrician strongly recommended ELCS, having seen too many inductions end in EMCS. As it turned out, DC was covered in meconium, little to no amniotic fluid left, and would have been trapped by the umbilical cord (not visible on scan). Had I waited for nature to take its course things would likely have gone horribly wrong.
As it turned out, I recovered really well from the section and went on to have another one.

Kathandkim1 · 08/05/2019 15:56

Induction. At term+10 following a failed sweep (not unusual) and first baby, I'm surprised you've been offered a CS, unless you have other circumstances going on for you ie not a low risk pregnancy. Induction of labour can be a long process but a CS is not an easy option xx

RoyalChocolat · 08/05/2019 16:07

I had an induction for DC1 at over 42 weeks. It was an easy birth, but I did have an epidural.

Original poster

Wale90 · 08/05/2019 17:25

For those surprised a c section was offered, it initially wasn't. I made my views clear on not wanting an induction for a number of reasons. Coupled with my sudden overwhelming anxiety about the safety of my baby I made it clear a c section was now the way I wanted to proceed and they agreed.

I doubt they would have agreed as quickly had I not been so overdue. Pregnancy was not complicated and everything indicated I would have a straight forward labour...had the baby not been so bloody lazy.

OP posts:

babyno5 · 08/05/2019 17:32

I know it wouldn't happen now but I had my eldest DS at 43+2. It was spontaneous but I'm sure he heard the threatened induction was due the next day 😂. I really think we are too hung up in the 40 weeks gestation

babyno5 · 08/05/2019 17:33

Sorry @Wale90 I read your update. It was absolutely the right thing for you. Congratulations xxx

Cannyhandleit · 08/05/2019 17:35

I was in a similar situation, waited for induction, ended up with emcs anyway!

IntoValhalla · 08/05/2019 17:39

If I was my first baby and I had no experience of either process, then I’d be inclined to go for the induction.

But having already been through the induction process once, it’s not something I would ever repeat again. So I’d be having the elective section.

Original poster

Wale90 · 08/05/2019 18:48

@babyno5

If you had asked me before I went overdue I would have stated I would carry on with increased monitoring to 43 weeks. As it happens I got hit with increasing anxiety once 7 days over, something I had never experienced before and knowing what I now know it's a good job it all played out how it did. Its a shame as I think any subsequent pregnancies would see the same anxiety creep in if I end up going much past 5 days overdue.

OP posts:

Scanon · 08/05/2019 22:39

One thing that has helped make my peace with not having had a 'natural' birth is my children growing up. As I go through some of the intense challenges of parenthood, I think I've realised that birth is only the beginning. The personal qualities I wanted to test, or bring to the fore, during childbirth, are very much in demand through much of parenthood).

Plus, I've realised I have modern medicine to thank for all of my babies (from the viable pregnancies) surviving, which I am incredibly thankful for.

Scanon · 08/05/2019 22:41

I see your 'increasing anxiety' as intuition. Perhaps your body knew something wasn't right.

pandarific · 08/05/2019 22:51

I was against induction just 'for dates' ie no medical reason to induce for the reasons many have stated here, so when ds didn't appear (and then didn't appear and didn't appear..) I decided on expectant management, ie wait and see with increased monitoring. I also didn't really want to have major abdominal surgery which wasn't actually medically necessary. I was however pretty convinced that he was fine and I was fine, so not suffering from anxiety like you were, so I was happy to wait.

In the end he came on his own at 42 weeks as we were getting ready to go into hospital for a monitoring session.

Rightoutofhere · 08/05/2019 22:57

Most women are only offered induction initially (or even told that they ‘need’ or ‘have to’ be booked for one once overdue).If a woman makes it clear she’s not willing to consent to an induction for dates then the next obvious step is looking at the alternative options including planned CS.

pandarific · 08/05/2019 23:02

Forgot to say, don't worry about having made the wrong decision - it was one of the most worrying and stressful periods of my life. I felt horribly 'on the clock' and as you say worries about movements kept bothering me etc. There's no right or wrong when you're bringing your baby into the world - you listened to your gut and that's always the right thing to do imo. So well done!

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