induction vs planned c-section 1st baby pros and cons?

[islawhite]

HI all

Any comments welcome - my planned homebirth has been nixed.

Hate the thought of induction due to the 'cascade of interventions' which according to one consultant leads to a 1 in 2 chance of a c-section anyway (although this was disputed by the consultant midwife at the same hospital).

Thought I'd skip the trauma and go for something planned and manageable (but with it's own risks) instead.

Be interested to hear from you all.

Thanks

What happens if you have an early induction (say 38 weeks) with bfing? does you milk still come in?

crokky wouldnn't know - I am allergic to opiates so didn't get any decent drugs. Did have to labour on two paracetamols though

pixiefish - yes, the removal of the placenta leads your prolactin levels to soar which causes milk supply to kick off properly a few days later.

Pixiefish: Yes, I was induced at 37 weeks, milk came no problem. Problem was baby was too drugged and sleepy to take it, but managed in the end!

worried as I may have to have an elective cs or be induced at 38 weeks for medical reasons. Was worried I'd have problems with bfing.
Thanks for your answers xx

had been concerning me too pixiefish, hope all goes well for you

I had an epidural and really couldn't feel any pain, just tightening like braxton hicks, but still only took about 40mins pushing first time. Epidural doesn't always equal assisted delivery.

ok, apologies if this has been answered, but why are you being told no to homebirth, legally, it is your right....unless there are legitimate medical contraindications..if it is a straightforward pregnancy, then HB is just as safe as a hospital birth

also, having an epidural makes it more likely that labour will be slower, that you will require forceps or ventouse. or can even stall labour

your best chance of a positive birth, is a spontaneous , natural labour, remaining upright, active, and able to listen to and work with your body, rather than stuck on a bed, immobile with an epidural, and on a monitor and a drip

many inductions fail due to the mother not being able to stand and move and use gravity to help get baby out

a planned c.s for a first baby will possibly make it harder for you to have a vaginal delivery in the future, and it is major abdominal surgery with its own inherent risks to you and baby.

research and educate yourself about birth, and try not to place it in one of two options, an induction or C.s...there are plenty more options and other methods of pain releif too

lulu - the op has gestational diabetes - I think that's why she can't have a homebirth and consultant has said she must be induced at due date

Don't forget to try all the natural induction methods - sex, raspberry leaf tea, curries etc. If the baby isn't ready they won't bring labour on but if it is then you may avoid having to make the decision. I think you can start from 37 wks whihc is full term.

hallo all!
am off for some acupuncture today, and will be looking at other natural induction methods over the next few days also.

would be so happy if labour started naturally, hospital are allowing use of birth pool for labour only, but their main concern seems to be monitoring my blood sugar levels throughout (have to say, not entirely sure why, since they don't really fluctuate that much.

really not trying to pigeonhole myself into an either or, but given the conversations i've had at the hospital, i really feel like their births become a bit of a production line affair, and if you're not playing ball and doing things as they suggest, they get a bit narked.

and i mean the consultants, not the general nursing or midwifery staff, have to say all contact with them has been luverly.

hi loopymumsy

(wink)if i make to the hospital at all you mean??

well, basically my midwife said she would be unhappy delivering me at home (although i think lightening a caseload after 4 other midwives left the team might have had something to do with this (hmm)...)

to be honest, i do feel a number of scare tactics have been used - shoulder dystocia was mentioned, big baby, and then placental failure, and then hypoglycemia, but when questioned on the above in the can i have a c-section interview, all of this was dismissed as inadequate grounds for a c-section, or not even relevant.

if giving birth is likely to be such a trauma for me and bubs, then why are they so anti-section??

really haven't got the hang of the emoticons thing now, have i?!

hallo

just got back from acupuncture, so excuse the long silence...

well, have reconciled myself to the fact that hospital is probably where i'll be, but really wanted to avoid being railroaded into an induction that would likely end in a c-section anyway.

it's possibly more that i just need to try and look at induction as a good thing, or decide to go with a c-section next week and be done with it. and in the meantime, settle back with a cup of raspberry leaf tea, get some more acupuncture, possible have a sweep done, and go for some long walks! or try voodoo.

had enough of arguing with the nhs!

I was induced due to being overdue (40 + 8) and my age (37, 1st time) and the gel started to work first time, had a long labour though, 26.5 hours from beginning of contractions to delivery, managed on gas and air, did have ventouse, and so episiotomy and stitches. I would have preferred baby to come of his own accord, and I didn't like the level of monitoring and so being fastened to a machine and having to lie down all the time, would have liked to be in a different position. However, my birth outcome was closer to what I would have liked than a CS would have been, and I felt lucky. If I get to have a second child at my advanced age (I want to), I suspect I'll face induction again, but would be more than happy if that goes as well as the first time round.

They're meant to work out the likelihood of induction being effective, how ready your body is to go into labour with a little prompting, beforehand - perhaps you could ask them to talk to you about the results of that test (is it the Bishop's Score) to help you decide. But I'd recommend at least giving it a go being induced.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

Have not read the thread but here's my story:

ds1 - 30 hours of labor, emergency section, very difficult recovery, PTSD from all of it.

ds2 - planned section which ds2 mucked up by having water break early but we still proceeded basically the same just on a different day IYKWIM. No labor, straight to surgery and he was out. Recovery on all levels was AMAZINGLY better.

So I would go with the planned section.

HI all

And thanks for all the posts. I think I will have one last chat with the midwife, try and get my Bishops Score assessed, insist on one last scan and then try the prostaglandin only if well indicated and they agree to minimal monitoring.

My fingers are now crossed that junior decides he or she would like a bit more room to move now anyway, and comes out anyway...

Thanks again everyone, enjoy your bank holiday!

Hi OP!

would be interested to hear what you went with in the end. I’m facing the same fate!

thanks!!