Induction v C section

[Soniarat24]

Hi fellow mums and mums to be

I am almost 40 weeks as a first time mum and due date is tomorrow. Planning ahead for little bump in case it does not make an appearance and membrane sweep does not work.

Induction v C Section? To be honest not keen on being induced after reading up but happy to hear your experiences then speak to midwife.

Thanks in advance for the support.

S

I had a very straightforward induction at 42 weeks with my first, delivered within 12 hours of the first pessary. Some people are even quicker, some have a tougher time. I believe induction post-dates doesn't increase the CS rate above normal labour, but haven't got the stats to hand. You still have time though!

Induction is usually only long if your body isn’t ready, so as long as your cervix is favourable it will likely be straightforward and simple. Our trust don’t offer c section for overdue babies so I’m facing another induction if this baby goes overdue too.

I've had 2 very positive straight forward inductions.

Only needed pessary both times. First time I was 8 days overdue, went into hospital night before. Given pessary at around midnight. Mild pains started the following lunch time. Picked up in intensity by tea time. Transferred to the labour ward by 8:30pm. DD born at 00:07. Had diamorphine and gas and air. Second degree tear, took about a week to start feeling better, but all in all much quicker recovery than if I'd had a c section.

Second time was just 3 days ago. I was only 39 weeks so I had concerns that my body wouldn't respond as well to the pessary as it did the first time. How wrong I was!
Went into hospital 10am Friday morning. Given pessary at about 11:30. Lay down for any hour or so. Went for a walk with DP to get things going and to get some lunch, back on the induction ward by 2:30pm with strange heavy feeling in legs and bottom but more discomfort than pain. Bounced on ball, chilled out for a bit. Waters break spontaneously at 5;15pm. Start getting mild contractions almost straight away, lasting 30 seconds every 2 - 3 minutes, however I didn't think anything was happening as I could speak through them and they were definitely bareable with just two paracetamol. By 6:45 they'd started ramping up a bit in intensity. I asked to be examined so I could be transferred to the labour ward and get some gas and air. Midwife examined me, I was 4cm, I thought 'thank god!'. She went away to call down to labour ward to get me transferred, 5 minutes later she came back to me, and she said I was sounding like I needed to push, transferred to labour ward, DS born an incredible 20 minutes later! Do from 4cm to birth in under half an hour! No tears. Only gas and air. I still can't believe how quick and easy it was! And I feel 100% better already after just 3 days. I would have another induction again in a heartbeat

I had a horrible induction and personally would never consent to one again. I was put straight on the drip, however, there was no pessary or anything first which perhaps helps? I do know lots of women who were fine being induced though, I was just unlucky!

It’s a very personal choice, but having had an induction and seen how quickly I recovered post childbirth compared to c section, I’d pick it every time. My body wasn’t ready for induction so the contractions came very strongly and quickly, but I did only have a short labour ... no one I know has had a perfect painfree labour so choose what you’re most comfortable with. (I have mainly forgotten the pain too)

I've had both and would choose a c section if I had another.

My induction was awful. My c section was a walk in the park in comparison.

I've done both (first baby was breech). C section was a lovely calm experience. However, there is a bit of recovery and if you plan on feeding it takes a bit more effort after a section (plenty people manage it but I gave up early). The induction was fine, started at 2pm and baby born at 10pm. The labour was fine but I did have an episiotomy (doesn't hurt while being done) which did hurt a bit afterwards. If I was going again, I think I would try to go naturally as I just think it's slightly easier on the body but in terms of the experience I am going to go against the grain and say the section was as lovely as natural.

I went over my due date by 7 days, didn't have an induction. I would wait and see how you go.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I really appreciate it.

X

@MynameisJune I imagine most trusts don’t automatically offer a section to overdue women but if a woman declined the offer of induction then I imagine they have to look at alternatives for her including planned section

I’ve never had a c-section but I would never consent to an induction again especially if baby was back to back. It wasn’t the actual induction that was bad it was the complete lack of care and zero pain relief that was the problem

@athousandmiles my trust have told me they would only offer a c section as a final resort. The NICE guidelines are just that, guidelines and they don’t have to follow them. If I declined induction I imagine the next step would be daily monitoring of the placenta until natural labour happened.

Op anecdotes are all well and good but stats on actual risk might be more useful.

Also you don't have to do anything, unless there's a medical reason then hanging on until 42 weeks or so might work for you.

Docs make it sound like you have to do something if you go over 40 weeks, not true. Most ftms go past due date.

Thank you very much everyone. Much appreciated.
X

Thanks for posting this. The consultant raised these with me today and I scheduled an induction for 39 weeks. But after doing more reading, I’m beginning to think I may want a section.

I haven't been induced before so don't truely know but am currently recovering from my second section and wouldn't recommend it if there are other options. I would say induction isn't nice but the discomfort is until the baby is born. Section isn't exactly relaxing and pain free to start with but then you have an extended period of discomfort for weeks/ potentially months post birth.

Discomfort isn’t necessarily only until baby is born if an emergency section or instrumental delivery happens which may have a raised likelihood if OP goes for induction. My local hospital have a 50% emergency CS rate for first time mums getting induced. In which case it’s understandable why some would prefer a planned CS.

OP I agree with PP you need to look carefully at statistics and weigh up your options, also bringing in factors such as whether you want more children and your own risk factors (age, weight and so on). It’s a very personal decision.