Were you informed of the risks of induction?

[minifingerz]

RCOG has done an audit of birth outcomes at hospitals across the U.K.

The national induction rate for first time mums is now about 33% and about a third of these will result in an emergency caesarean, with about another third needing forceps or ventouse.

Wondering how many first time mothers are told that the most likely outcome for an induced labour is c/s or instrumental?

Was anyone here actually given these figures when they discussed induction?

Do you think women should be told this?

Risks weren't explained to me either.

I was just told I was being induced at 42 weeks. And when I said (just before induction started) I didn't want the drip if the prostaglandin didn't work I got a lecture on the risks of going beyond 42 weeks and told that was part of the process.

My induction ended with fetal distress, large episiotomy and ventouse after they decided it was too late for a crash section under GA.

When they told me I was going for a EMCS under GA because of fetal distress I felt a bit annoyed, I knew the risks and statistics of induction (from MN) and that it often ends in EMCS, so I wished they'd just decided to do that from the get-go in a more planned way so DP could be there rather than under GA which I absolutely did not want.

Luckily DS decided to shift his head passed the point of no return at that stage so there was an abrupt change of plan.

I am a HCP and am involved in obstetrics, so I knew from a professional point of view what the risks were (in fact I probably had a gloomier view of induction than reality because I tend to only see the women who end up needing an epidural/in theatre/both). I was given a leaflet on induction at my 40 week appointment, and booked for 40+13. The leaflet contained all the info minifingerz mentions but nobody actually said it to me at any point - which I don't really mind, though it would have been better practice if they had.

For me, the increase in risk of stillbirth - which I know is relatively small, but significant enough to matter to me - outweighed the risk of instrumental/EMCS. As it was, although we didn't get started until 42 weeks in the end as the ward was so busy, I went into labour within a few hours of the first pessary, so didn't need an ARM or the drip, and delivered within 12 hours of it all starting.