Would you have an induction or go straight to C section?

[Howdidido]

Over 41 weeks now. Stretch and sweep suggests this baby is in no rush to come out at all.
Midwife suggested induction starting on Monday.
I'm more scared of full induction - drip etc- than of a c section.
Was looking for stories of experiences of inductions when nothing seems to be moving- and what people would choose retrospectively.
So my plan now is to try just pessary part of induction and if that goes no where then straight to C section.
AIBU to ask for c section without trying induction?

(For context, second child..first was hassle free, gas and air and water birth. This one has been heavy on the hassle and caused loads of worry- and doesn't seem to want to come out at all)

At 41 weeks+ you are quite likely to start off on your own anyway, or even be in early labour when they start the induction - you might well find that the pessary is enough to get you going.

Honestly I’d do all I could to avoid a c section, it’s major surgery, longer recovery time unless it’s an emergency and a c section is needed why would you.

My first couple of births were easy, with my last i had an induction it was fine. Baby will come when ready

My first baby was 12 days overdue. I had had 4 failed sweeps and like you, the baby was in no rush. No sign of anything happening at all. On day 11 I was given the pessary induction and my daughter was born in the early hours of the following morning. No complications, nice and quick, no issues at all. At the time I remember being petrified of the thought of induction as all I ever read were stories about pessaries not working, drips needing used, labour going on for days, etc etc. Obviously that is the reality for some people but it wasn't for me and it might not be for you either!

I'd go for the induction as I'd say that far overdue it'd get things moving.

Fwiw, I was 10 days overdue with my first and felt not one sign or symptom of anything. Nothing. I had a sweep, did sweet fanny Adams.

But then suddenly my waters broke out of a clear blue sky and it all went fine thereafter. I was shocked. I had felt nothing. I mean, yeah it still took 10 hours after that but it was went ok (apart from the baby being back to back but hey ho).

So don't assume that baby isn't going to come out when it's ready. The pessary might be all you need to kick start things.

I had two inductions at 36 weeks, and while it wasn't pleasant, I don't think a section would be any better.

Expect it to take a few days, but hopefully you will be out quicker afterwards so it will be worth it.

(I did one with an epidural and one with gas and air. In retrospect I'd take the epidural at the first opportunity - once things start happening it can move quick and you might not get the chance)

Induction everytime, why would you choose major surgery and then to look after a newborn.

Sorry I meant to say "failed stretch and sweep"
She couldn't get anywhere near doing one.

I have an irrational (rational?) fear that if I end up with an epidural I'll end up with a forceps delivery.
And I am terrified of forceps more than major surgery...

Expect it to take a few days,
That’s pretty unlikely vast majority of births will happen same day.

I had two overdue babies (who were prompted out by several stretch and sweeps) and then had to have the third induced early so my body was nowhere near ready. It still worked with only the pessary (two of them). It wasn’t that bad.

I'd go for the induction. A sweep had no impact on me/DS at all. Went in to be induced, I had one pessary and gave birth to DS after a 2 hr labour using only gas and air.

I had an induction with my second due to my waters leaking and labour not starting. I'd had a sweep a couple of days earlier and the midwife was quite confident she would be seeing me again after christmas for another sweep. Anyway. I had the pessary in at 5ish i think? Baby was born before 11 very quickly. It wasnt pleasant, it happened really fast and involved a high speed dash on a wheelchair to a delivery room so I could at least give birth on a bed. But it was quick and baby was born healthy, I didnt tear and I felt amazing afterwards.

When you went for the stretch and sweep did the MW describe your cervix to you at all? If the cervix is already at all dilated (more common with the second baby as it often doesn't quite clamp all the way shut again after a vaginal birth) then they would probably forego the pessary in any case and start the induction by breaking your waters.
Doesn't answer your question I realise but possibly provides a third option apart from pessary only vs c-section.

Totally undilated.

And baby still very high up

Sorry I meant to say "failed stretch and sweep"
She couldn't get anywhere near doing one.

Ah, sorry - I cross posted.

I’d go induction especially as this is your second baby. C section is no walk in the park. Well getting the baby out is easy because you’re full of morphine etc but recovery is hard. And you obviously have another child to care for too. No heavy lifting or driving for six weeks after a section.

I was induced and it was so much better than my previous section. Admittedly the pessary was enough to start things off but you may find that too. Good luck OP!

I'm not scared of the pessary. I'll definitely be up for giving that a go. But the drip does scare me

Do you know what your Bishops score is? I found this document on induction useful when faced with a similar decision.

www.uhnm.nhs.uk/aboutus/Statutory-Policies-and-Procedures/PublishingImages/Pages/Freedom-of-Information-Disclosure-Log/Induction%20of%20Labour%20guideline%20-%20FINAL%20-%20July14%204%20of%204.pdf

I had 4 failed sweeps between 40 weeks and my induction and 41+5. No sign of DD coming.

My induction worked a treat, very quick and straight forward. Active labour was only 2 hours and only needed gas and air. If I could do the same again, I would

Having been through a failed induction & 48 hours of labour before ending up in a CSection, I would go straight to C section. There is nothing worse than being shattered because of labour, no sleep or food, pumped full of drugs & hormones to then end up in theatre having a C section. Speak to your midwife & consultant, ask what the chances of you having an ordinary delivery with induction are, you already have a higher chance of needing intervention or a C section if you are induced. Then make your mind up & if you want a C section ask for one & stick to your guns.

I think a pp meant that induction can take a couple of days to get going to whoever that was that queried it. I had two pessaries OP and they were supposed to be 24 hours apart but it was more like 29 hours apart just because staff were busy. So yes induction can be boring waiting for things to kick off.

I had a horrible induction with my first so when my 3rd needed to be delivered without delay I went straight for the section

Thanks for experiences.
It sounds like it either happens soon after pessary or it ends up in an emergency C section anyway after a horrible labour.
So my gut is saying pessary and if no luck, request C section. But I know recovery is really tough. I'll quiz Drs hard on Monday!

I’m the opposite of many of the posters here. My first was 12 days late when I was admitted for induction.

I went in on the Saturday, had the pessary and started contractions. However nothing else happened. The pessary was administered 5 times from Saturday to Monday afternoon and I got no further than 1cm dilated which I was advised was not enough for waters to be easily broken.

Was given the option of “having a crack at breaking waters” which might not work or going for a c section. As I’d been contracting for 3 days and was shattered, I opted for c section the following day.

It’s a major operation not to be taken lightly, but was the best option for me. My body just wasn’t for going into natural labour. So I say do what feels best for you.

I had an induction (IV) which went wrong so had to have an awful emergency c-section and wished I never been induced as the intensity of the contraction was causing babies heart rate to drop. On the plus side though has epidural pretty early in labour so even though I was 21 hours in labour I wasn't in pain even when they attempted to get baby out with forceps. Second was a planned c-section and it was an absolute doodle by comparison, fast section, quick recovery. Hope all goes well for you.