Refusing induction in favour of c section?

[monniemae]

Hoping it won't come to this - am doing lots of ball bouncing, crawling around, walking, walking up hill, etc. But I'm a few days over and explained at my "post-dates" appointment that I won't be booking in for induction as I don't want to be induced. So it's off to the consultant I go tomorrow..

I feel entirely sure of my reasons for refusing induction - they are both research based (higher risks of bleeding etc when I'm already high risk for that); but it's also emotional. I'm not scared of birth but I'm terrified of induction, esp dragging on days and ending in emergency c section. A family member almost died in the same circs this year which has probably cemented my fear.

I want to say to consultant that I'm happy to have additional scans/checks etc with an ELCS booked in for 42 weeks (for eg) if I don't go into spontaneous labour. But will they do that? Has anyone successfully argued their case? I do understand why they want to induce, I just feel v v strongly I want to go straight for ELCS if or when we get to a point that the baby is at any additional risk.

Can you call a supervisor of midwives at your hospital to talk to them about this? You absolutely can refuse induction (as with any procedure) for whatever reason you like. Youcan't force them to offer you a c section, although if they feel baby needs to be out and induction is off the menu then it would be hard to justify not offering one. I doubt you need any stress rit now. A supervisor may be able to help you get a plan agreed in writing, which might give some sense of security (not quite the right word).

Fwiw in my last 3 pregancies if induction had been indicated I would have insisted on c section. All 3 came naturally, though one was 40+9.

Good luck!

Thank you, I hadn't thought of that. Yes I don't want to force them to schedule an ELCS it's just I'd rather know they aren't going to call my bluff on induction... Rubbish way of putting it, hope you know what I mean though

Will see how it goes w consultant and maybe speak to supervisor of midwives after that.. The consultant is lovely but v emphatic, eg "a home birth is out of the question" rather than "we'd strongly advise.." but I guess at least she's clear on where she stands with things!

I refused an induction in favour of ELCS, it was fine, the consultant sat and talked it over with me for about 20 minutes to make sure I understood everything. I was certain it was what I wanted and the right decision for our health, so she agreed.

I was supposed to be induced at 39 weeks but was worried about the 'slippery slope of intervention', i.e. forceps etc particularly as he wouldn't be ready to come out (if that makes sense?!). She asked if I would consider being induced and if things didn't progress well then to go straight for a C Section, no other type of intervention, but I felt if that would be the plan why not just save myself the stress of worrying what MIGHT happen when I could plan it.

First baby though and I was probably more frightened of labour than I was prepared to admit.

thanks nowwhat, exactly what I needed to hear! first baby here too, and I am scared, but have focused / displaced all my anxiety on induction - ctg / etc... which was a fine plan till they started talking about inducing me. Glad to hear you were able to argue your case

What you're suggesting sounds very sensible, although they may offer you 'expectant monitoring' first (where they check you and the baby pretty much every day) in the hope you'll go into labour naturally just after 42 weeks. Either way, you're entirely within your rights to refuse induction. With the benefit of hindsight, I'd have refused it until I was at least at 42 weeks.

I negotiated induction at term +7 then bottled it as baby was fine when monitored that day and i had the same concerns as you. Consultant offered me a sweep, i'd had one 2 days prior with no effect. The one she did was the mother of all sweeps and 12 hrs later labour started. I had agreed to return 48 hrs later if nothing happened. Could you consider this route? Good luck!

Thanks all! Cakebaby - yes am happy for sweeps. Consultant was fine - listened to me, tried to explain why they prefer induction, but eventually said no problem if you haven't delivered by 42 weeks (or just before) we'll book you in for a c section if you still want that. And now of course am having grumbling pains as the stress has lifted!

Great news OP, my decision was right for me and I'm glad I stuck with it. Sometimes you have to trust your own judgment. Best of luck to you!

Have a great birth! It sounds like it might well all be academic now anyway

Great news! Hope it all goes well for you :)

Oh great news, so pleased for you. In my case I was totally against being induced but folded under the weight of pressure from my midwife and my husband. I just knew it was going to go wrong if I was induced, and it did, I went down the 'cascade of intervention' path at lightening speed. So so so pleased that you were able to follow your instincts and that this was respected. All the best to you :)

I was induced and it was awful, the whole cascade of intervention followed. Started on the Friday, finished on the Monday with ARM/epidural/syntocinon and in the end had to have emergency section. I was totally exhausted after 3 days of contractions and no sleep, and was in hospital 6 nights. Never again would I agree to be induced.

Good luck!

Oh god sorry for those of you who did have horrendous inductions

Amazingly the relief of getting what I wanted in notes was followed by spontaneous labour weds evening, the same consultant was examining me the next day and baby girl arrived yesterday morning! It was a long, exhausting, but ultimately straightforward labour and I'm so relieved - I honestly don't know how people cope when complications or interventions are chucked into the mix.

My mum was induced with me (her first), and had to do the whole thing on her back with no birth partner and just g&a....

Yeahhhhh!!!!

Congrats on your DD!

Congratulations! So pleased it went well

Congratulations, so glad u had a straightforward delivery. I myself have had 2 emer sections for baby being distressed and then for placenta praevia. The recovery after a section is horrendous and the risks make it just as dangerous as open heart surgery. I sadly had no choice but i wished i had a normal delivery as im still having problems 18 months on xxx

Congratulations!