Tokophobia &induction? Talk to me about induction.

[SubOptiMum]

so I have diagnosed PTSD &tokophobia following horrific birth of my daughter 23months ago. I am38weeks pregnant with #2. originally I was down to ELCS but in last few weeks have had a miraculous change of heart and am now down to VB with early epidural and lots of support from hospital (this is following months of CBT, EMDR &lots of support meetings at hospital).

If I go into labour spontaneously I am kind of okay but when my consultant was talking me through induction process it did make me panic slightly and isn't what I want at all- I had idea 50% inductions end in emCS but maybe that's wrong/for first timers? So I am thinking about refusing induction (possibly including sweeps for reasons associated with last birth) because I don't think it will help me get over my birth trauma at all and booking CS for 40+13 by which point with anyluck I will have gone into labour anyway?

But that is still 4weeks away but wanted help from you guys to help decide in meantime.

All I hear about induction is it's grim!

I think that if refusal of induction and CS at 40+13 is what you want, then go for it.

Remember - you are not 'overdue' until 42 weeks. You don't have to accept induction after that either and can go for expectant management if you want instead, and if any issues are picked up from the monitoring (such as a failing placenta meaning baby might not have sufficient energy to get through labour anyway) then certainly I'd personally believe that going for CS would be the best option for anyone in that position.

You can always refuse induction, and ask for expectant monitoring if they are concerned about the health of the placenta.

One concern I would have with your plan is that the epidural will mean you are immobile, which can affect your progress, and make it more likely you will need emcs too. Obviously it's your call.

Do you have a doula? A good doula who you can trust could help you on all kinds of levels.

Have worked through all that- epidural is non-negotiable for me- main thing is keeping me as calm as possible and not suffering from flashbacks/hysteria etc. Hospital do a continuous infusion epidural with patient controlled top ups- plan on trying not to top up too much and going with flow. Am even reconciled with possible emCS- weirdly. Decided babies are born how they need to be born. Is an absolute bloody miracle I am going for a VB (at start of this pregnancy I was at point of threatening termination unless they promised me an ELCS so is massive turn around) but I absolutely can't and won't attempt to do it without adequate pain relief.

Tried to find a Doula- found one but she was a smidge too judgy for me re. epidurals even though she tried not to be and I found I would be uncomfortable with her. Tried to get another one my hospital rates really really highly but she is rubbish at getting back to me. But I am okay without one as I have the head of the delivery suites mobile number and she is ensuring anyone put on my case looks after me properly (unfortunately I couldn't get a caseload midwife) so I feel more than adequately supported by the hospital.

DD was induced, but she's my only one, so I've nothing to compare it to. It didn't result in EMCS, or an instrumental delivery. In terms of pain, it was, for me, intolerable with gas and air pretty much immediately from when the contractions started. I might have found exactly the same not being induced though, although I gather natural contractions begin more mildly.

It seems from your OP that it's specifically the induction side of things that is scaring you (apologies if I've misunderstood). Is it because it reminds you of a very 'medical' first birth? Or are you worried about the pain?

Is it an option for you to say if you haven't gone into labour spontaneously by X date, then go for an ELCS?

I had an induction - i refused two sweeps as have a phobia of internals after v bad expereince (even prescribed Valium for smear tests). The induction process itself was fine. I actually cried with relief. The contractions were painful but a bit of pethidine really took the fear away for me and made the time fly. (I was more scared about the pessary being inserted than the contractions and the pushing!) but it was all fine in the end. Good luck.

Induced for dd and ds, not nice with dd, pain from nothing to 100 and no break inbetween but told myself could feel just the same if I had gone into labour myself, on the way to theatre for cs told no time for a cs and dd pulled out by forceps.

A big but happy baby and me very happy but never having any more!

Assured with ds nothing would happen until I got an epidural this time, no induction would happen until then, yet I did not get anything until I got gas and air for my stiches afterwards.

I must just be rubbish at birth, both big (I am not!!) both the wrong way around but hey, now, a long distant memory, put to bed, in the past as I have my two gorgous dc. Worth every ripping my body apart contraction. Really, every one. If I had a third? CS all the way for me with a

I felt traumatised by dd's birth (couldn't say that to anyone as just told to 'get over myself' ) yet the second was far far more painful yet for me was a sort of closure, I gave birth with no pain relief whatsoever, made me very chuffed at what my body could do!!

Previous labour started with out of control full throttle agonising contractions post waters breaking, failed epidurals ending in forceps episostomy of big possibly braindamaged oxygen starved baby with pneumonia.

It's thought of artificial rupture of membranes that really bothers especially as my consultant said no epidural until in established labour so potentially a lot more pain than I am anticipating with my current plan which is to get early epidural as soon as 3/4cm and active labour. I think lack of pain relief is biggest fear- birth of my massive daughter I wanted to die and if you'd offered to amputate me at waist to stop pain I would have accepted (labours that start with waters going are often more painful as no water cushion on cervix, plus giant baby in a funny position).

Is a bloody miracle am trying for a VB after last time but that's where we are but I definitely can only do it with early epidural and am counting on "second births are easier" and this baby isn't nec as big due to growth scan I had a month ago and fact I feel so much more comfortable this time.

Hmm reading other stories not convinced by induction.

I have had three inductions, one v recently. It was great. I had an early low dose epidural before contractions had even kicked in properly, I stood up nearly throughout, felt mellow and calm. I don't mind drips and tubes :) and I think if your body has done it before the chance of intervention is far lower.

I had a scary fast spontaneous birth with DC2 and have vastly preferred my three subsequent inductions. So don't worry, it can be a great experience.

Interesting coffeeaddict, that you were so mobile and calm. I had pessary at 7, waters broke at 11.30, and the contractions were immediately really painful. Ended up being monitored on bed, and having a horrible stirrups birth. Really does show that induction can go either way.

OP, your birth sounds awful, you must have been terrified.

I was monitored throughout and on syntocin (sp?) and had an epidural - but I could still stand up and go to the loo myself. It was a very good low-dose epidural and they totally encouraged me to be upright, standing or on a birthing ball if my legs got too heavy.

The contractions were quite painful as only side of my epidural worked but they gave me gas and air too. Maybe that's why I was mellow :)

Induction has such a bad press but I always want people to know that it CAN be lovely.

Ditto, an epidural CAN mean a (relatively) active labour, just without the excruciating pain. OP, I would recommend early epidural highly. It also means that the crowning can be nice and controlled (I have luckily had an intact perineum in all my inductions). I am hopeless at the 'now slow down and pant' bit so it is preferable for me to be relatively painfree so the baby can be eased out without my pushing too hard.

I have had 5 DC and feel I have finally now worked out exactly what works for me. But I'm not having any more!!!