Induction or ELCS - overdue baby

[harrietm87]

So I'm 40+10 today, first baby. I've had 2 failed sweeps. Bishop score is 1 - cervix is still posterior, long, closed and baby is at -2 station.

My hospital's policy is to induce at 40+10 so I'm already past that and they're starting to put pressure on me. I have another sweep on Friday and then need to decide what to do.

I really wanted a natural birth but my bishops score is so low, and the baby still isn't fully engaged (either 2 or 3/5), that the likelihood is that an induction will fail and end in EMCS anyway. All the stats I've seen suggest that the chance of an EMCS with an "unfavourable cervix" is 50% or more. I'm wondering whether there is a physical reason why my baby isn't fully engaged (which is why cervix hasn't progressed) and so I'm destined for a c section anyway.

I don't know whether I should just go straight in for ELCS therefore or take my chances with an induction which has a (likely small) chance of ending in the vaginal birth I wanted (albeit with more pain and higher chance of instruments).

Any thoughts and advice welcome!

I was induced at 40+10 with an unfavourable cervix (following a couple of failed sweeps), and ended up having an EMCS at 42 weeks, after a couple of days of nothing happening and a day of labour.

I don't know how easy it is to get an ELCS for a first child, though, unless there's a specific medical reason for it.

I have just been told I will have to have an induction at 41 weeks with my current VBAC pregnancy assuming nothing happens before then - am hoping to convince them that I would rather go straight to a post-dates ELCS rather than be induced.

I had the same bishops score and too had an emergency c section. 32 hours of agonising contractions and exshaustion and a failed epidural. Diamorphine didnt cut the pain. When i have my 2nd i will not be induced! I refused to be induced until i was 42 weeks and my son was born 2 days later. The world health organization published aomthing about western countries inducing too early and that a human pregnancy can take 44 weeks. Dont let the hospital bully you. The pain of the c section wound was nothing compared to contractions and i was up walking in 6 hours so will be having an elective next time as it was so much easier xx

Is there a medical reason why your baby has to be delivered now? It might be worth looking into waiting a little longer and discussing with your midwife how they could support you with that.

If delivery must happen now then in your position I would most likely opt for ELCS

I had one induction and chose a Caesarian for the second. Honestly if you’re at risk of Caesarian anyway then go straight for an elective rather than risk an emergency Caesarian. My elective was calm, straightforward, and did much less damage than my induction did.

I was induced at 42 weeks with my first and he was still completely free and not engaged in the slightest. The induction was fine and didn’t end in a c-section.

With number 2 I went into labour naturally on the day I was meant to be induced and I was induced again with number 3, all between 40+12 and 42 weeks.

Elective. All the way.

Is there a medical reason why your baby has to be delivered now? yes there are valid reasons especially if op is over 35.

www.newscientist.com/article/long-let-pregnancy-run-induced/

bowlof I know valid reasons exist, I was just asking if they applied in the OPs case...

I wouldn’t induce/ my emcs was lovely compared to the 12 previous hours of induction

Similar tale here, I was actually engaged but unfavourable cervix and induced at 40+12 ended in emc. This time around going for vbac but if not in Labour by 42 weeks will go to elective and have refused induction

Hi all, thanks so much for the replies. I went back to the hospital on Friday for another check/discussion. My bishop score had improved marginally (from 0-4) but cervix was still so tightly closed she couldn't do the sweep. I reluctantly agreed to the gel (used instead of pessary at my hospital) as by then (40+12) I just wanted the baby out. Anyway, it worked amazingly quickly. Contractions started at 1pm and baby boy born at 4.30pm in the water with just gas and air, no other interventions or medications. I know I'm so lucky!

congratulations!!

Hurrah! Thanks for the update and huge congratulations, so glad you got the delivery you wanted

Will they give you an elective? I asked for one in pretty much the same situation and was refused...had one anyone after 2 days of labour so if you can have one go for it!

Congratulations! That's amazing!!

Congratulations! Nice to hear a good induction story!

Congratulations!