To think this decision about how to give birth is impossible

[AliceAbsolum]

7 years trying, 5 rounds of IVF, previous loss. Consultant wants to induce at 39 weeks due to ivf. Or I can elect for a c section. I've been incredibly anxious through this whole pregnancy and I have no idea how to make this decision. Every time I read about it I just go back and forth. There are pros and cons on each side. It's impossible!

I'd like a straightforward natural birth but that looks unlikely to happen. How can you decide about something where you have no idea what will happen? I don't have any gut feelings or strong preferences either way. I don't want major surgery but I also don't want 3 days of pain and panic followed by surgery....

Maybe I'll just ask the consultant whats safest for the baby and go with that.

How did other people decide?

It’s hard to give advice because everyone’s experiences will be different and you can only make the decision that you feel most comfortable with.

For me, induction started on a Tuesday, but nothing happened whatsoever, so I had a C-section on the Friday. We went home early afternoon on the Saturday, my wound fully healed within a week to a barely visible line (although I had a dressing that created a vacuum seal using a little machine), and I was off pain meds within 10 days. Once DH went back to work after two weeks, I just carried on around the house as I normally would, apart from picking up heavy things, etc. Except for slightly more bleeding than normal during the surgery, it was a straightforward and relaxed process.

I do have numbness around the scar though. I used to find it very relaxing when DH rubbed that part of my belly, but now I can’t feel it 🤷‍♀️

I chose based on lowest risk for baby, and simplest for them which was a c section. I didn’t want to risk distress and intervention etc.

My induction for my first was horrendous, I point blank refused for my second and have no regrets about a planned section for my second.

its a difficult decision - for medical reasons I can’t give birth so I always slightly feel I missed the opportunity to by the choice being removed.

Ive had 2 planned c-sections first one was a dream! 2nd one not so fun a lot more uncomfortable, infection and a lot longer to heel.

It is down to your choice at the end of the day. You will get a great mix of opinions and experiences- it’s one of those who knows how it will turn out for you or how you will feel after.

I had induction at 38 weeks. The advantage was knowing when it would be and being able to do all of labour at the hospital instead of the worry and stress of getting there. The less good part was starting out 'from cold' and making my body go into labour. Get the epidural in before the drip goes up!

With hindsight a C-section would have been preferable. I wanted to avoid instrumental delivery (and I did, but tore badly) and it turned out the only way to guarantee that was a CS. The recovery from a planned CS is also likely to be a lot better than from a difficult vaginal birth.

No Brainer. ELCS. Why wouldn't you. They have advised you. A CS isn't as horrifying as its made out on here.

Planned c section will be safer for you and baby. I had an induction with my first, planned section with my second. The second experience was a million times better for me. Wish you all the best

I decided with all of mine, that it was completely natural or c-section, no in between for me. I was concerned about the ‘cascade of intervention’ following induction and in your shoes, if satisfied that baby needed to come out.

I've just given birth to my miracle ivf baby at 39+2 after a previous loss 2 years ago.

Labour happened naturally and he's a perfectly healthy 3 week old.
I had no complications through my pregnancy so no actual reason to induce me and I had no complications during labour.

In fact I didn't actually go into hospital until I was 10cm dilated

They like to induce ivf pregnancies due to a higher risk of still birth past 40 weeks (so I was told)

9 children?!! 😳😳

Why do you need to have either just because it's an IVF pregnancy?

I've had 2 inductions, one at 38 weeks and one at 39 weeks. Both very different.
I absolutely hate the post natal ward so I chose induction with dc2 so that I could go straight home from labour ward. That was the only part of that induction that actually went to plan!
The pain from them pulling my cervix forward to fit the balloon and then the pain from the contraction drip which was set too high was unreal.
We we're heading towards an emergency section as her heart rate started dropping but then I went from 5cm to 10cm in around 10 minutes and she was out safely in 4 pushes.
I'd take a planned section over an emergency one and at least you won't be in agony contracting 6 times in 10 minutes 🙄
A high % of inductions lead to c-sections anyway.

I had to decide between vbac or c section and I was so torn. Basically I booked the section and decided that if I went into labour spontaneously I would go with that, and if not, the section. I didn't go into labour before section date and went with that. I'd go with a c section in your case.

Early inductions are simply to reduce the risk. I had a previous stillbirth, and so far this pregnancy is totally healthy. I will be getting induced early (for me, I'm choosing induction due to the recovery afterwards). My consultant and bereavement midwife has said its just to reduce any risks from going over. Baby is considered full term from 37/38 weeks, and they would rather keep it to minimal risk by early induction. A previously healthy baby can be absolutely fine at 39 weeks, and stillborn at 40. While rare, this does happen, why wouldn't the original poster want an early birth?

I’ve had two inductions and a planned section. Absolutely go for the section. Recovery was a breeze compared to first two births. And a calm and relaxing experience.

Planned c section. So calm and controlled.

The notion that IVF babies can’t go past 39 weeks is outdated now.

However, in your shoes I would take the elective section. (As long as you have help at home whilst you recover)

Depends how old you are and if you’re likely to have any more babies, plus you BMI.

If I was young (20s or early 30s) and healthy with good BMI and wanted more children, try for natural (in birth centre or hospital not home).

If I was older (mid 30s onwards) with any risk factors or high BMI, and it was unlikely I would have more children, planned c-section all the way.

A vaginal birth is a naturally occurring event, a c section is major surgery. People have positive and negative experiences with both but I wouldn’t put my hand up for surgery with the recovery that involves without at least trying the vaginal induction route first.

I've had a spontaneous vaginal delivery with instrumental intervention and episiotomy, an induction that resulted in an EMCS and a planned c-section. The planned c-section was the best birth, soonest out of hospital (just under 24 hours) and the fastest recovery (driving again after 2.5 weeks, took all three kids to a festival 17 days post partum). Obviously everyone's experiences differ, but I think a c-section has by far the most predictable outcome.

I was in a very similar situation to you when I was having my DS, now 3, and also struggled to decide. I was hoping for a natural birth and was scared of having a drawn out induction ending up in a forceps birth - for me that idea seemed worse than a c-section. However I had also heard some positive stories about induction where the gel pessary was enough to kick off the process and then the person essentially ended up with a natural birth.

One thing to be aware of is that the evidence that IVF babies are at higher risk of stillbirth is not especially strong. I changed hospitals part way through my pregnancy - both my original hospital and the one where I eventually gave birth were top London teaching hospitals, but at the first one I was treated as low risk and could have chosen to give birth in the midwife-led centre, whereas at the second hospital I was high risk and under consultant care, simply because I was IVF. I'm a scientist so was confident to look up some of the published evidence and read it for myself, and it was pretty inconclusive . My hospital also wanted to induce me at 39 weeks but I decided to wait longer in the hope I would go into labour naturally. In the end we agreed a plan that I would be induced at 41 weeks if nothing happened, but importantly I got it written in my notes that I would have the option to opt for a c-section at any stage during the induction process if I wasn't happy with how things were progressing.

In the end that was what happened. I didn't enjoy the induction experience at all - I over-responded to the pessary and was awake all night having painful contractions then they wouldn''t give me another one so the contractions stopped. I got as far as having my waters broken, but I was in a lot of pain and still only 3cm dilated, so I asked for a c-section and within about 30 minutes I was in theatre. The whole process was fairly gruelling but the c-section was the easiest bit - in hindsight perhaps I would have opted to go straight to that, but if I had I would probably be wondering what if the induction had worked.

I honestly did not find the recovery from c-section that bad, although I have never given birth vaginally so have nothing to compare. At least with a c-section you know pretty much what to expect in terms of the recovery, whereas with a vaginal birth you could end up with all sorts of outcomes, some of which are just as difficult to recover from.

Planned section every time. Very safe option for the baby. I had a planned section with my second and it was amazing, quick, pain free, recovery fine for me. First ‘natural’ birth was horrendous, long recovery for me, and baby injured with forceps.

I would opt for the induction. But I’m phobic to the point I know I wouldn’t cope with the spinal anaesthetic needed for the C section! I guess labour and birth is never going to be easy or anxiety free, but we all have to choose what kind of scary we can cope with.

Had my IVF baby this year. Had an induction at 40+1 and baby was born 40+3 via C-section.

I wanted to try but knew the options. Agreed for a C-section and refused forceps!!

Thank you everyone this is really helping me.