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)

My children were all overdue, walking seemed to eventually trigger their births.I declined induction for all of them as I had similar fears to yourself.They were born around 10-12 days overdue, probably just within a day or so of the proposed induction date. I hated the way induction became the main subject, how virtual strangers would inform you that you'd have a sweep at your next appointment etc. When I declined induction the stress of it all reduced and I went into labour.Best of luck.

I had a 'soft' induction for post date baby. Unfortunately I had a very strong reaction to the pessary, so it was removed. I was dilated enough to have ARM, which kicked things off well. My labour stalled and I opted straight to section with no syntocin.

I really think the head position and engagement are crucial. Have they worked out your bishops score? It'll give you an idea of how likely any induction is to work, and you can make your decision from there.

Everyone will have an opinion on whether an induction is preferable to a c section.

I had a spontaneous (but awful) birth with DS1. Induced with DS2 due to cholestasis. Honestly I was shit scared because I had just heard horror stories. But it was great tbh. Took a couple of pessaries and a sweep to get things going, but I remember eating a chocolate brownie in Costa at 5pm, waters broke 6.30pm (still on antenatal ward!) he was born at 7.17pm. Never saw a drip. It was painful and intense but no time for anything other than gas and air! If you’ve already had an uncomplicated first birth, the chances are pretty high that you’ll have another ok vaginal birth. I wouldn’t go straight for a c section unless I had no other choice.

C section is not as bad as people make out. I’d chose it over natural any day. It’s quick and easy, you’re mentally there and not in a fog. The recovery isn’t too bad. I was home in 3 days and as a single parent with an older child, pretty much just got on with it. Obviously had some support, but lived alone. I recovered quicker from c section than natural birth!

I had an induction at 42 weeks on my first.
I hated it. My cervix was so high and posterior they couldn’t reach it. My induction took 48 hours and the drip was just awful.
I had a normal birth, didn’t need forceps or anything but I had to be cut. My stitches failed and the pain when sitting for about a week afterwards was horrendous. I ended up on antibiotics with an infection.

Had a planned section on my second due to complications. It wasn’t easy but I recovered much quicker from it than I did from my induction. The only thing I struggled with was sitting up and moving in bed. Walking around and doing day to day things was fine. I was driving 12 days post section.

If I had to have a choice again I’d have the section!

I was petrified of forceps and opted for c section. They then told me I could go for my waters being broken and then the drip if I didn't start by myself 2 hours later. I didn't want 24 hours of one, thenz 24hours of another with the pessary and gels and In the end I opted for waters breaking and the drip, but I wouldn't change that for anything. Csection recovery is tough!

I wouldn’t say it either happens soon after pessary or c section. It took days between my first pessary and actually having my dd but once my waters had gone it was an absolute breeze. Far far easier than first birth and no complications.

It’s frustrating to wait and the worst bit imo is not being able to have proper pain relief whilst waiting for them to work. I’d definitely give it a try first though.

Oh and I didn't need to be cut and I didn't need forceps - even with the drip. Completely natural and pain relief free.
You can take your time with it, I made them turn it back down and I increased it at a gradual pace. Because of this my labour following the drip starting lasted 7hours when it could have been over much quicker. I was continuously monitored and my baby was deemed as in no danger so they allowed me to take my time

I had the drip for failure to progress after a successful sweep and it didnt do anything for me personally, I never got past 4-5cm. I had an emcs but healed very quickly and I'd have an elective if I have another baby.

I was also terrified of instrumental delivery so understand your concern. YANBU to ask for whatever birth option you feel most comfortable with.

However if I didn't need the c section as an emergency and i didnt know how well I would heal, I'd probably give the induction a go in your case, you can always opt for a section if things dont get moving.

For a first baby, I might just request a C-section, but for a second or subsequent baby I think induction is worth a try. I had my third at 39+3 after induction because of oligohydramnios. I had the propess thingy because my cervix wasn't favourable in the slightest. It was put in at 12.30 - lunchtime. She was born just before 6am the next morning and it was the best labour/birth of the three.

Good luck whatever you decide

As it's your second baby, it's not uncommon for you not to be dilated before you go into labour because your body already knows what to do. A C-section is major surgery, if you're going to pick one I'd personally go for induction and remain as active as I could throughout labour. Though I'd be inclined to take a wait and see approach and maybe go in for extra checks if you feel more comfortable with that approach? Chances are you won't be waiting much longer anyway.

Personally, I'd never be induced again, but you have no idea how it would go for your so other people's experiences are of limited value in deciding what is right for you.

I've had 1 proper induction and a very nearly induction with no 2. I wouldn't choose a section over them despite the pain of no1, the epidural helped. I recovered fairly quickly from the birth.

I had a similar experience to @Spanglybangles

Induced at 41+5. 5 failed stretch and sweeps. I ended up with EMCS after 24 hours of the pessary, following 16 hours of contractions - my cervix didn’t even open let alone start dilating! Ended up on the drip at which point the midwife promptly spotted meconium and the baby’s heart rate disappeared and we were rushed to theatre.

If we have another I will absolutely take a c-section over another failed induction. I had my reservations about induction but got talked into it as almost 2 weeks overdue I was exhausted and just wanted the baby to come!

forceps are not there to hurt you they are their to help - & frankly you are so concentrating on the labour that I don't even remember but they certainly used them(breech, induced with drip etc) I was too relieved to have given birth ( 2nd stage very long because of breech delivery) don't fear them honestly! (3 induced labours my db couldn't count 40)

I had an induction with my first which ended in emergency c section. I opted for elective section for my second - calm and predictable. Yes the recovery is hard but it often is for other types of birth too.

I'm not trying to scare you but this is something to bare in mind:
I had an induced labour. The pessary got me into active labour and having my waters broken got me to fully dilated. But I had to have the hormone drip right at the end after an hour of pushing cos my contractions were slowing down. I hadn't wanted the drip and had decided I would have an epidural if I had to have it, but obviously being right at the end this wasn't possible.

For me personally this was still preferable to a csection, as I would have found a long recovery time difficult. I had a 3rd degree tear and a lot of blood loss but I recovered fairly quickly and 3 months later I have yet to notice any long term issues.

With hindsight, I would have had an epidural, as I needed a spinal anyway for stitches! But I would have stuck with the induced labour.

Posting for the first time just to offer my experience, which differs from the others here.

At 40 weeks +1 my water broke and I went into hospital, but 24 hours later - nothing. We did the pessary, twice, still nothing. From that point on I was offered a choice of more aggressive induction vs c-section, with the consultant’s recommendation being the latter because he believed continuing the induction route (considering the specifics of my medical history, lack of progress, and baby’s position) had a good chance of putting the baby in distress, causing me physical trauma, and resulting in emergency c-section anyhow. So opting for a c-section now would be the least traumatic option for us both, he believed. Having prepared for a natural hypnobirth it was quite a shock to be given these options. I had very little time to decide and after discussion with my husband opted for the C-section per consultant’s advice, all the while hysterical with terror as they prepped me for theatre and administered the spinal.

And then...

It was fabulous.

The team operating on me was wonderfully skilled and had brilliant bedside manner. They managed to calm me down and put me at ease. Procedure lasted 10 minutes. Baby was extracted with a calm happy look on her face. Next morning catheter and IV were removed and I was walking and peeing on my own. Pain manageable with paracetamol. I was able to focus on enjoying my lovely baby with minimal trauma from what my body went through.

Once home I was perfectly capable of caring for my baby with zero support (husband had to return to work and we have no family nearby). Scar is tiny and healed quickly. Per medical advice I waited the full 6 weeks to get back to more physically demanding activities, but I was walking up/down stairs, taking long country walks with the pram, and doing housework, straight out of hospital.

To be sure, I realise that I got very lucky indeed with my c-section; not everyone’s is such a fairytale. But I wanted to share just so you know that it can be the right choice in some circumstances and can be a positive experience. I know several other women in my area with equally good outcomes from opting for c-sections.

Ultimately there are pros and cons to every choice, especially if your starting point is a delayed or problematic labour. But in my case a c-section was not the to be avoided at all costs nightmare I believed it to be.

Hope this helps and best of luck no matter what you decide.

I had my waters broken. They wanted to start me on the drip, but I said not without an epidural as I had been told it's brutal. By the time the anaesthatist was free I was ready to push without any further "help" inn the form of induction. Can you ask about having your waters broken? I started within 2 hours of it being done. (2nd child, 9 days over, 1st was elcs)

I was offered an induction or c section, I went with a section, mainly due to previous trauma but really not wanting a forceps/ventouse delivery was a big factor as well.

I loved my section, it was the best decision I ever made, went in first thing on the Monday, had the baby by midday, home by the Wednesday afternoon. I felt right as nine pence after a fortnight, all in all a very pleasant experience. If I were to have had any more children then I would not have hesitated to have another section.

I would never go through an induction again. I had a c-section for my 2nd birth and it was very straightforward and I healed quickly.

Meant to add: There is a world of difference between a planned section and an emergency section where you're already tired and worried.

I was induced for my first but baby really wasn't ready. They were concerned as I had polyhydramiosis and wanted to monitor baby. I was on my back being monitored the whole time after contractions started and was told I had to stay in this position continually, rather than being allowed to move to a more natural position. Contractions were v intense, close and painful (baby was back to back though) but I wasn't dilating much. They broke my waters and eventually I ended up having an emergency c-section. I wish I'd have stood my ground and held off on the induction until baby was more ready. From my personal experience, I would opt for an elective section above that.

I had an induction with the drip - it was straightforward, I managed with just gas and air and baby came out with no interventions just a tiny 2nd degree tear that needed 3 small stitches. I recovered SO much faster than my friends who had sections, physically I was pretty much back to normal other than waiting for the stitches to fall out at my 10 day check!

I was terrified of the drip beforehand but if I need inducing as/when we have dc2 I’ll be so much more relaxed because it really was a positive experience. There’s no way I’d opt for a section without giving it a go.

I had a failed induction with my first, at 42+1, leading to EMCS. It was a brutal 3 day affair, which I did everything to avoid the 2nd time round. I had a planned section. The 2 are very different. With my planned section I was in and out of hospital within 18 hours. I was walking around pushing the peak after a couple of days. I felt totally fine after a couple of weeks.

I don't want to put you off an induction at all. I'd say a successful induction is completely superior to a c section. But for myself, having experienced a failed induction, I didn't risk it happening again and a planned section was far, far, far superior to a failed induction. You might be onto something with the pessary v drip thing. I had, over 3 days, 3 pessaries, waters broken, drip, eventually epidural and emcs.