Induction or C-section?

[atjmum]

Hi all. I'm new here and very nervous. I have had a really tough time in the past, 3 miscarriges, a full term stillbirth (no reason) and a medical TOP at 21 weeks.

Now I find myself pg again and past the 20 week scan where it all went wrong last time. I am now considering which option to go for to deliver my baby. I will either be induced or have c-section at 38 weeks.

My first thoughts were for a section as I feel the mental strain will be hard for me to take and I worry so much about things going wrong at this stage - I cannot loose another baby - but having read about sections I am now also worried about the implications of this on my baby.

I only want what is right for my baby, I dont care about what I have to go through phsyically, I know I will cope.

I have laboured twice and although emotionally they were horrific, phsically I coped well.

Any advice, hints or tips gratefully recieved. I've read the thread on c-section advice and found it helpful.

Sorry if this message is garbelled, it how my head is at the moment.......

Thank you in advance.xxx

atjmum

:( No advice atjmum but didn't want to leave your post unanswered. Hope that someone with some advice can come along soon.

Oh dear, what a rough time you have had. Good for you going fo it again. I'm not sure I could have been so brave.
As for induction, i was induced at 37 weeks and had an em cs in end which was really traumatic. 2nd time I had a planned cs, more as my husband was so anxious and could not contemplate seeing me nearly lose our baby again. The planned cs was weird and I did feel a bit of a cheat for not trying to deliver myself but at end of day I was just happy to have my family all together, relaxed and calm not left traumatised.

Saying that lot's of women do have successful inductions and so I can only relate my experience.
What do yopu think you want to do/
I know it wasn't the same but you have laboured and delivered twice before so you know you can do it.
Would it bring back too many bad memories for you?
Sorry can't be more help.
xx

So sorry that you've had such an awful time but congrats on this LO. The majority of early induction stories on here are not positive, it has to be said. I was induced at term (because of GD) and eventually, after a long and protracted Stage 1 failed to progress and was given a CS. The CS was really fine and I was up and about the following day. They give you decent painkillers and I don't think my recovery was any worse than many of my friends who had long labours and tearing etc. I am opting for a ELCS this time (GD again so they won't let me go overdue and I am refusing induction). Having said all that, presumably your hospital knows your history and will perhaps suggest labouring up to a certain point but make a CS decision earlier if its not going well? Sorry nt to be more help but best of luck x

Thank you for your replies.
needsatrim, I think I want a CS as I do feel labouring again will bring back such sad memories, I have also read induction can be very stressful for baby. I have a long time to think so will keep lurking and reading.
Thanks again.x

I am very sorry for your losses.

I think c section is thought to be safer for baby, spinal, hey presto 20 minutes later you are holding your precious baby.

I had a full term induction with DS1 and had not laboured before but fetal distress from the lengthy induction resulted in a csection and baby in NICU, but I am sure if you did go for the induction option you would be able to ask for a section if you were not progressing.

I wish you the very best.

if the option is induction or a c.s at 38 weeks, i would go straight for a c.s simply because the induction procvess at 38 weeks could be very long and slow and end in c.s anyway

it depends how ready your body is to labour

you have labour before which can help, although i appreciate under very different circumstancs

bear in mind a c.s at 38 has some risks wrt to the baby breathing

you need to get lots of info from your caregivers too

I am sorry for your losses

I'm very sorry for your losses.

From what I've read a C-section is safer for the baby, but riskier for the mother. (Note that we're talking about relative risks, and that a vaginal birth isn't risk free for either).

In your situation, personally I'd go for a section.

I had induction/augmentation with oxytocine when my daughter was born, as I had meconium stained waters. This ended in CS, as no progress whatsoever was made and she started showing signs of distress. It's just my personal anecdote, but I would never ever want to end up on that drip again. (Have chosen ELCS for No 2 anyway)

Anyway, my story is just an anecdote, as is any other birth story you'll read on here. That's why it's important that you discuss the pros and cons thoroughly with your consultant.

I found this website also quite helpful, and relatively unbiased:

www.csections.org/

So sorry for your awful experiences and losing your babies. If you decide to have a section, is there a reason it would be at 38 weeks and not at 39? It's been shown that doing a section at 39 weeks lowers the chances of the baby having respiratory problems which can otherwise occur with pre-due date sections. Just something to consider, if that would be possible for you.

Wishing you all the best with whatever you decide.

After a failed accelleration on syntocinon and emcs I personally would go for the section.

When I've spoken to Mums who had a good induction experience, they usually just had the pessary. If you didn't respond to that the synto drip is very unpleasant. Neither me, nor my baby tolerated it well.

Your emotional state in birth is really important, stress or fear from your previous experience will affect you physically. I would never consider surgery lightly, but in your position, given those 2 choices, i would go elcs.

I really hope whatever you decide it works out brilliantly for you.

Congratulations on your current pregnancy. Given what you've said and my personal experience of a failed induction (overdue btw not pre-due date) ending in emcs, I would probably go with a ELCS in your shoes - I say this as someone who's just had a fab successful vbac so I have experience of both. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Just wanted to say good luck, you sound like you deserve a littel happinesss. I'm sure you'll make the right decision for you and your precious new baby.

Thank you all for your replies. It helps so much to hear others perspectives.

Zimbah I will be induced/sectioned at 38 as my son was stillborn at 39+5 and both myself and the cons feel for my mental health it is unwise to even get close to this date again.

WidowWadman thank you I will check that website out.

Thanks again, you've all proved very helpful.

xxx

Another failed induction emcs here. My LO's heartbeat started dropping on the gel so had emcs quite early in the process. If I had to choose in your situation I would choose a planned section. It is very quick, I went from a very stressful situation to holding my baby in a half an hour. I found the recovery much easier than I anticipated, I think this was because I didn't go through labour and have to recover from that too. I was driving again at 3 weeks. I also think if it were me, I would take comfort from having definites - a date, knowing that approx 30 mins after going in you will be holding your baby.
I'm so sorry for your losses.

Hi there - I just wanted to say that I am in a similar position to you (although you have had more sad experiences - I am so sorry). I had a (nasty) induction for a stillbirth at 33 weeks early last year and am now 35 weeks. At 16 weeks it started to kick in that I would now have to give birth again and mentally I just felt that I would be so distressed that I would be putting this baby at risk by not being able to relax and actually labour.

At that point I too asked for an ELCS (and have had two rather difficult meetings with consultants who regard my last induction as a 'success' medically even though mentally it was terrible). However I have managed over the weeks to find a half-way house that is if I go into labour naturally before 40 weeks I will try and have a natural birth (after lots of work I do think this would be very healing) but if there are any signs of difficulty an early decision for CS will be made (and a firm commitment to no forceps and other interventions has been made as I also have issues with this). My consultant is clear that she believes I will be able to labour naturally and this is ultimately safest for the baby and me. I hope she is right....

At 40 weeks (I have an appointment on that day) to see if I could just start the pessary part of an induction (to see if it kicks things off) but may want to go to CS before going to Syntocin (my consultant has not agreed to this - would prefer CS or full induction). If I am not mentally in great shape at that point (fear of something happening to the baby and whether I could actually mentally cope with another induction) I will go straight to CS I think.

However I have reiterated (and it is in my notes) that at any point if I am not coping before or after 40 weeks (physically or mentally - I find it difficult just being in the hospital at all) then we will go straight to CS.

I am finding the whole process of dealing with this and making doctors understand just how difficult this is for me rather grueling - I hope you find it easier.

I am also doing lots of other things like natal hypnotherapy and having acupuncture etc. and these are all helping.

A long post but I thought it might help to read how I am dealing with it.

Hopefully everything will be well for me this time - if you like I could PM you how I get on over the next few weeks in case it was any further help.

Also wanted to add that I've just read your last post now (was typing mine at the time) and I totally understand why you don't want to go to 39+5. So my post 40 weeks part is not really relevant.... I am thinking of you.

Thank you luc101 and I am sorry for your loss. Its good (wrong word I know but difficult to find the right one) to hear from someone who has been through similar. Its all very helpful and has reassured me I am doing the right thing thinking of going straight for CS.

I hope all goes well for you and you hold your LO soon. Please do let me know how you get on.

Thanks everyone else, all advice gratefully recieved.

Hi atjmaum - I know exactly what you mean about reading someone else's experience lining up a little with your own. You have had such a terrible time (and must be incredibly brave and strong to have kept going which is a reassurance that you will get through this) that you deserve for this LO to be taken care of very well.

If I wobble over the next couple of weeks I might be joining you for an ELCS - will let you know how I get on.

WIll be thinking of you.

Sorry for bringing it up, totally understand why you don't want to go to 39 weeks.

I had an EMCS after my induction went pear shaped. At 38 weeks its likely your body simply won't be ready for labour, so you may struggle, and require an emergency c-section anyway, which could be really traumatic given the terrible experiences you have had in the past. In your position, I would opt for a section, definitely. I recovered really well after mine and hopefully you will be as lucky as I am. I am really sorry for your terrible losses, and wish you the very best for a healthy rest of pregnancy and the birth of your baby.

Big Hugs.
I too have a similar story to yours. My 2nd son was stillborn in 2009. MY DC1 was also induced.
DS3 was induced at 37 weeks. My consultant also agreed that for my metal health that as soon as I hit 'full term' bub would be out ASAP. I too tossed up between cs and induction. In the end I went with induction (mainly for the recovery time and my inductions had all been ok), on the understanding that the second anything was even 'off' a cs would be done.
My induction went very smoothly. I was lucky. I was already 3cm and bulging when the inserted the gel. He arrive less that 10 hours later.
DO what feel right for you. If you have a sympathetic consultant/midwife discuss it with them. I discussed the options several times with my midwife and consultant.