38 week ELCS or induction. Which would you choose?

[Purpleball]

I'm type 2 diabetic and have been told I will be having an ELCS or an induction at 38 weeks or sooner.

I'm 90% certain I want an ELCS. Almost everyone I know who's had an induction has ended up with an EMCS.

I'm also insulin dependent which adds further complications

My BMI is over 35 which is a further consideration although I'm currently lighter than when I fell pregnant

I mentioned to the consultant that I wanted an ELCS and he was non committal. I don't want a fight on my hands but I am prone to high anxiety and this is worrying me a lot. I'm currently nearly 20 weeks so there's time yet to decide

I would go for the ELCS - which is what I requested and got last time. But that was purely based on my previous experiences, I'd already had an EMCS and knew what to expect. The last thing on earth I would want is an induction, followed by assisted delivery or EMCS.

I don't know anyone who was induced who didn't end up with forceps or CS (my best friend ended up with a failed epidural, ventouse, then forceps, then a CS and her son's skull was fractured, so I think her story was what tipped me over the edge).

I accept that my decision was based on a very small sample of deliveries, and that an induction with no further problems is just as likely. But I wasn't willing to put myself through anything that had a 30-50% chance of needing an EMCS anyway (my consultant's answer when I asked how likely it would be).

Not that an ELCS is a walk in the park, even if all goes very well. I don't understand this whole 'too posh to push' thing, as it was very painful and I can't imagine anyone choosing that over a normal, problem free vaginal birth without very good reason!

Thanks everyone. I feel better now. I know a section isn't a simple thing and it is major surgery that needs recovery. But I am now more certain that it is the best option for me

ELCS everytime!

Everyone I know who was induced (including myself) ended up having a c-section. I wish I hadn't agreed to induction as my body just wasn't ready and they stressed me out so much it was never going to work! It's difficult to say no to induction when they are worrying you so much about the (very small) increased risk of still birth and you're totally fed up of being pregnant, so probably best to have it agreed what you want far in advance. Try and line up some help for afterwards. I was fairly ok after my section, but my sister got an infection so just bear in mind you may need help for a while. Good luck

I had an induction at 35+1 weeks and although it took 3 days it worked and I didn't need any instruments. I was able to hop out of bed straight after and even walked myself to the ward (think the midwife thought I was mental) I was in a lot of pain during the induction, but I think that was poorly managed by the hospital (I very much felt like they thought I was moany) I would probably choose induction again over a section x

I'd rather an induction than c-section. I've been induced twice and had good births. First at 41wks - pessary, ARM and drip, baby arrived six hours after drip started with Gas&Air. Second at 39wks - no pessary, just ARM and drip, again baby arrived about 6hrs after drip was started and Gas&Air.

You generally don't hear about good inductions, just horror stories.

I've had two inductions at 38weeks because of (insulin dependent) gd. One with epidural, one just g&a. Neither were instrumental deliveries and in both cases I was up and walking around and feeling fine within a few hours of birth.
Both times I wasn't showing any signs of imminent labour when the process was started. Only ever needed one pessary, then waters broken and drip. Longest active labour was 4hrs.
It doesn't have to be a negative experience.