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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

140 replies

Howdidido · 24/10/2019 22:47

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)

OP posts:
MyOtherProfile · 25/10/2019 07:06

Another one who had a failed induction ending in a section. The induction brought on a long and painful labour but didn't bring me any closer to having the baby. I was exhausted by the time I went for the section. With #2 I said from the beginning no induction so went straight to section with her. Recovery was so much better because I wasn't exhausted.

Sections are fine - you just need to take it easy once you've had the baby, and not listen to the people who say they pity you for never giving birth naturally!

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 25/10/2019 07:11

I have never gone into a natural labour. 3 inductions here, 2 with the drip.
No csections.
Gas and air only.
A bit inconvenient as you're strapped to monitors so movement is restricted but otherwise I had no problems whatsoever.

hazeyjane · 25/10/2019 07:18

I went straight to drip induction for dd2, who was 14 days overdue, and after I'd had 3 failed stretch and sweeps.

It was quick, I did have an epidural (which caused me to keep blacking out!) and a 2nd degree tear. The best of my 3 births.

I had an elective caesarean with 3rd birth, and it was the worst of the 3, very traumatic with a long recovery.

But everyone has very different births and very different experiences.

EleanorReally · 25/10/2019 07:20

do you have the choice for a C section?
I have had both, an induction leading to forceps and a C section, due to breech.
the C section is far more limiting post op

tumbleisatwat · 25/10/2019 07:21

I had a failed induction. Had nightmares and flashbacks for months.

The emergency c section that cured it was a walk in the park in comparison.

I'd just go for the section.

Bunnybaubles · 25/10/2019 07:27

I've had 4 babies, first 3 all normal deliveries, 2 with full inductions, 1 because I was overdue, the 2nd because of pre-eclampsia. I had no problems at all during the labours and births.

My 4th was a c-section. I had to be put to sleep, she got stuck during the operation, they couldnt stop the bleeding and I ended up in high dependency afterwards with sepsis. Recovery was awful, I missed so much time with my DD because I was in so much pain, wound repeatedly opening up, recurring infections and I suffered severe baby blues because of it. Nearly 4 months on and a part of my c-section wound opened up again last week.

I recommend the induction.

Aragog · 25/10/2019 07:30

For me, a c section as my induction didn't work at 40+12. 50 hours after induction started I had a c section anyway. The c section was very straightforward on the whole. Recovery took a while, but my induction experience wasn't pleasant.

I do know people who have had a good induction however.

Catsandchardonnay · 25/10/2019 07:37

I had an ectopic pregnancy on my ovary that I was cut open for and it took me ages to recover. There is no way I would ever elect for surgery if there was an alternative. I was induced with DC1, no pessary straight on the drip, and it was absolutely fine. No epidural, no forceps. The monitor was great as it told me when contractions were coming so I could bump up the TENs machine. 10 hour labour, everything fine.

Goingbacktokansascity · 25/10/2019 07:42

Had an induction and then forceps, would still rather that over a c section. The recovery was fine and I was up and about in 12 hours.

Purplejay · 25/10/2019 07:43

I would choose induction over c section. I would want to avoid epidural where possible but if I had to, I would choose forceps over abdominal surgery. Hopefully it won’t come to that. A lot can happen before Monday. Fingers crossed it all happens naturally for you.

Countryescape · 25/10/2019 07:46

@Kolo me too. Exactly the same as you. Never again!!! It was horrific.

Imonaplane · 25/10/2019 07:48

I think everyone recovers differently. I had an EMCS with my first and then (18 months later) had my twins by elective CS. The elective was one of the best experiences of my life - so calm and peaceful compared to the emergency. I had no problems recovering from either and had 3 babies to look after. Was driving again after a couple of weeks both times. If I was having another baby (not happening!) I would not hesitate to go for an elective CS again.

ChilledBee · 25/10/2019 07:51

No you're not unreasonable at all. It is a valid choice. But I'd make the decision after I have an examination to see how ready my cervix is.if baby is high up and my cervix is hard and closed, I might consider whether to just go for an elective. But I'd see first. My niece just had her first baby. She went into be induced but she didn't need anything but her waters broken. She ended up having the baby in the birth centre where she originally planned.

Morgan12 · 25/10/2019 07:58

I've had both.

My induction ended in forceps and massive blood loss. It was horrendous. Recovery time was very long.

Had a c section. Was a million times better and my recovery was easier.

So its a no brainer for me but your induction could be an easy one.

queenofmycastlex · 25/10/2019 07:59

I had an induction but at 38 weeks which ended in a c section as my body wouldn’t go into labour.

I absolutely would choose a c section. My induction was awful, however I was being induced ‘early’ so it’s likely at 41 weeks it would go a lot smoother. But based on my personal experience, if I had another one I wouldn’t let them induce me again and would go straight for a section.

welshladywhois40 · 25/10/2019 08:05

Hi, no experience on induction vs c section but experience on being scared of intervention or forceps or ventouse.

For my labour due to the speed of progression I didn't get pain relief so had to rely on breathing techniques to manage pain. If you haven't you tube yoga breathing for labour - got me through

My labour ended on a being cut (can't remember the name) and ventouse. i swear it is so quick it happens in minutes and at the end stage - you will take it to get it over. You get a local anesthetic so you won't feel the pain and I just closed my eyes focused on their instructions and my son was out.

Enko · 25/10/2019 08:05

I would and did wait it out dd3 arrived 12 days overdue. However if you are not comfortable with that I would go for induction over major surgery. &perhaps consider some counselling over some of your fears.

broomzoom · 25/10/2019 08:13

I would & did try induction first.

DC1 was 40 weeks & I was given a pessary. Baby came 14 hours later, 1.5 hours of active labour. Yes it was painful because part of it was back to back & no time for epidural or even gas & air till the end. However only a couple of stitches & recovery was super easy.
DC2 was a complicated pregnancy, offered a CS at 38 wks. I asked to try the pessary first & they agreed. No change after 2 pessary's so booked the CS the next day. It was the right decision as they still needed the ventouse, he was not engaged at all.

The trouble you get when people talk about CS is that lots of people have different experiences, some people seem to stay in hospital much longer than others & have much stronger drugs so it's hard to compare. I was deemed to have made a normal good recovery & was packed on my way the next morning with some paracetamol. Yes I could walk but my mobility was restricted & I did find the first few days very sore & felt very sorry for myself, no issue bf though. Personally I wouldn't want another CS.

gonewiththerain · 25/10/2019 08:16

Have an elcs much easier to recover from than a emcs after god knows how many days of labour.
I had a very long labour with drip and an emcs and I was absolutely knackered for months after. The actual c section wound was fine after a few weeks. I drove after 2 weeks. I was up and walking less than 6 hours after the cs, that’s when they took the catheter out and I had a shower. No problems lifting baby. I did get stuck in bed at home once but dh rescued me and I only needed paracetamol and ibuprofen for 3 weeks.
The drip was agony even with an epidural and I wasn’t allowed to get off the bed.

KnobJockey · 25/10/2019 08:27

Been through both, the c section was a month ago today, and for me it would depend on the pregnancy.

Do you know how big the baby is? Do you feel like it is at all progressing to coming out- stomach dropping, lots of irregular contractions, any sign of your mucus plug/ show?

Dd1 was 15 years ago, and induced at 37 weeks, so needed waters breaking and drip to come out. Because of this I was on a bed, epidural due to drip pain, catheter, monitor. In for about 36 hours, quick enough recovery after. Small baby, 6lb3. Would do it again with a small baby.

Dd2 was 1 month ago, 41+1, went into labour naturally after she'd been giving me lots of signs she was ready to come out. Very quick dilation, followed by 6 hours of pushing which got us nowhere ended up in emergency section. She was 9lb14, and basically too big to position herself properly, which I'd been telling them in the 10 days leading up to it- I honestly believe if she'd been a little smaller, she would have been born 10 days earlier, as I had s few false starts. In for 48 hours but could have left after 24 if I wanted, and I've found recovery easy. 4-5 days of soreness and stiffness, then just a bit of pain if I push too far. I've been driving after about 18 days, carrying baby fine- lifting her in hospital was the only issue.

Mammylamb · 25/10/2019 08:29

I’d go straight for c section.
That’s what I did and it really was straightforward and not too sore.
Most people I know who were induced ended up with a horrible experience and a c section in the end. Especially if they were older and / or overweight

orangejuicer · 25/10/2019 08:33

Do what's right for you. C section was best for me. Yes recovery is different/longer but an elective C section is so much better than I imagine an emergency one would be if needed.

Whomei · 25/10/2019 08:33

Having been through an induction at 42 weeks, which went on and on and on, I would probably do anything to avoid it this time. However, I've never experienced a c-section so it's difficult to know what that's like.

hazeyjane · 25/10/2019 08:39

It isn't a given that an elective caesarean will be an easier recovery, it depends on many factors.

SirVixofVixHall · 25/10/2019 08:57

OP I had a c section, after a pessary failed to make any difference. My baby was two days before due date, but I had pre-eclampsia and my hind waters had gone, so they were trying to speed things up. She was nowhere near being ready to come out though, so after a sweep which I had not agreed to, and was absolutely horrible, and a pessary which caused a lot of pain but made no difference, I asked for a c-section. I could see the writing on the wall and had a strong feeling that I would end up with one anyway, but after hours more interference stressing both me and my baby.
There is around a 50% chance an induction will end up in a c-section. Generally if it goes well it will be because your body is pretty much ready anyway, so arguably you could just wait another couple of days, if there are no other factors.

I think you can make a cut off point in your mind where you want to go straight to c-section, e.g. you could decide that if the pessary fails to make any difference then you do not want to go onto the drip (which usually means an epidural too). Talk to your midwife about this.
With my dd2 I was hoping for a VBAC, and this was the advice the consultant gave me. He said that if I was moved from the birthing unit to the Labour ward that was a strong sign that things would not be progressing as desired and that another caesarean was likely, so I could ask for one at that point. That is what happened, but the decision was made for me after I arrived in the Labour ward.

In your place I would try acupuncture before the induction, that can help, but might take a day to work so have it asap.