Can I ask for a planned C section rather than being induced?

[LisaAYarrow]

Hello there, this is my first time posting here :) I just have a question about something that's bothering me! I've just had my first baby 7 weeks ago and I found the labour really horrendous. I had to get induced after being 13 days overdue, had a 14hr labour with forceps delivery and a 2nd degree cut. I only had pain relief for the first 4 hours and had the rest with just gas and air. I know that might not be as bad as some other people but I just found the whole thing quite upsetting and disturbing.

I wanted to know if I became pregnant again could I explain all this to my midwife etc and say that I'd really want to have a planned C section rather than go through the induction process? I am 34 just now so I am secretly hoping that my age would also swing in my favour! It's just that I'm so nervous about having to go through induction again it's actually making me not want to have any more children. Thanks very much for your help.

Glad I found this thread... I've literally just had the first conversation about this with my MW!

I've only got mild PIH right now, but just had a VB and overnight stay in hospital and am on monitoring for increase in BP. So, I can't go to the standalone MLU as I'd planned... will have to use the MLU at the hospital, in case anything happens and I need transferring to the CLU or theatre.

I'm terrified of Syntocinon - the statistic posted earlier is right, 47% of inductions (with no natural start) end in assisted birth or CS. Add to that the '1 in 5 births ending in CS' statistic on the hospital's website, and I've got a real problem! I simply refuse to be put through induced labour (and physical/emotional exhaustion) only to have half a chance on top of the recovery required after a CS... I'd like to be compos mentis for my son!

Thing is, my lovely lovely MW did all she could to reassure me that I've not heard all the good stories that go with Syntocinon... her own experience, etc blah. I do trust her, but is she just doing 'the usual' and trying to encourage natural birth over really hearing my choice?

Lisa, my first birth was very similar to yours and TBH horrendous. I was in shock for months afterwards looking back. I had many of the fears you had about having another DC. However, 3 years later my second birth was a totally different experience, I went into labour naturally 2 days before by due date and it was a fantastic birth. I have just had dc3 on Tuesday, at home, and it was a brilliant experience, polar opposite to my first birth and I feel great, emotionally and physically. So, I know it's easy to lose confidence in your body, but it just wanted to reassure you a horrendous first birth doesn't mean you can't have a great birth subsequently. HTH!

Aww thanks so much :) that's cheered me up! I really pray that will happen to me, congratulations on all your kids :D xx

See how you go, it's only 7 weeks since your baby was born and it's still very fresh in your mind. Sounds trite, but time is a great healer and it won't always feel as traumatic as it does now. You can make whatever decision regarding any future births is right for you when the time comes, whether that's a natural birth or a c section. Congratulations on your baby, btw!

Hi I hope someone can give me and my wife some guidance. She is a week overdue and had her first sweep today.

She works in educational psychology so all too often sees the results of difficult births.

After today's visit induction was discussed for a weeks time but she is terrified of the idea. Being overdue already could anyone guide us on how we should go about arranging a c section instead if induction if the baby doesn't arrive by then.

She is having her 2nd sweep Monday are we too late to avoid induction?

Any help/advice would be gratefully received.

After an emergency c-section with dd1 I was convinced I'd want an ElCS with any future delivery, however govt policy now seems to dictate that women should be talked out of this in favour of VBAC. Having relented I now find myself 12 days overdue after having had 2 unsuccessful sweeps. After the first sweep I was booked in for induction before I'd even got dressed again - not having discussed or realised what this involved. I had to call the hospital later to say I really wasn't happy with this and demand a section instead. Having been told by one person this would be fine, I was later told that I would need to discuss this with my consultant and that there wouldn't be any elective appointments available to me when I needed one. Upon speaking to the consultant I have been talked into having my waters broken but I have point blank refused any further induction using drugs. Reluctantly my consultant has accepted this but I am now left having to wait for an emergency slot when I will be 14 days over. Not ideal! Had I known this might happen I'd have been much firmer about what I wanted from the start. To me, it feels like I've been pressured into things at different points primarily to meet VBAC targets and to save the NHS money.