C section or balloon induction at 38/39w - what would you choose?

[fool11]

This is my second pregnancy, , ivf baby and i'm 45..consultant wants me to deliver baby at 38/39w - at the latest. I'm going to try a sweep at 38w, although not sure it will work so early, it worked with my first at 39w and baby was born next day, although this time i also have anterior placenta..not sure if it makes any difference.. If sweep doesn't work, they said they would try a balloon induction (they are currently not doing gel/pessaries because of covid situation), i would need to come to hospital in the afternoon, they would insert the balloon, stay there till morning, if nothing happens they would break my waters, wait i think for 4h, if nothing happens would have to go on a drip for up to 12h..I read lots of horror stories about induction, heard balloon insertion can be painful (i'm def not good with the pain) and nhs web says that one in three inductions will end up in emergency c section..so would you try to get induce (which might end up in c section anyway) or choose a c section from the beginning - i know the risks, major surgery, recovery time can be long etc..I'll be honest i'm not keen on induction or c section and really hope that a sweep might work..don't want to stay in hospital for long, especially as partners cant stay with you and want to get home asap. Anyone else had to decide between these two and how did it go? thank you.

As above, the point of the balloon is to get your cervix open enough to break your waters, not to put you into labour.
If you had a quick vaginal birth last time it’s very unlikely you would have any complications with an induction or need an instrumental delivery. Of course it’s always a possibility but having had one vaginal birth the risks of a future instrumental delivery drop massively.
If it was me I would try balloon induction absolutely no question.

Whoops basically repeated what the poster above me said

Sorry one more thing.. what’s covid got to do with gel/pessaries? You should definitely double check that one as it makes no sense and definitely isn’t the case in my local hospitals

During our phone appointment the consultant just said that they've stopped doing gel/pessaries during current covid pandemic and only doing the mechanical induction, then they would brake waters followed by a drip if things don't progress just with a balloon etc as they don't want to keep women in hospital for long..if i'm honest i don't if the gel/pessaries inductions can take much longer etc, but that's what she told us. I will be hopefully seeing her next time we have appointment face to face so will check with her again.

If you had waters broken by them/midwife, does it hurt? do you need a gas & air?

That’s a really weird reason because lots of women aren’t suitable for a balloon induction. Standard induction can take days so yes balloon can be quicker but it can also not be possible at all.
Breaking of waters can be painful or completely pain free, everyone is different but gas and air is available if you want it.

Incredibly strange and I’ve not heard that at all, re not using gel/pessaries and covid. Agreed can often take longer but not a reason to not use them

I'm having an induction this week and it will be pessaries or gel... how weird!

@fool11 I'm going in for an induction today (also due to ivf but I am 40+5). My hospital are currently doing balloon catheter rather than pessaries due to covid as they can in most cases let you go home while it works, whereas with the pessary you need to stay in the ward -it is to reduce the number of people staying in hospital and hence reduce risk of covid.

I'm really struggling with what to do too. I have no risk factors apart from ivf and was desperate to try and have a natural birth. I also have been having cramps, backache and lost mucus plug - feel like I very close and worried going into hospital might disrupt but then maybe I'm better to get checked out so they can see how I'm progressing. Just worried once I'm in hospital I will come under pressure to go through with the whole 3 stage induction process.

good luck @Girlinajumpsuit...hope all goes well for you today..i think you should go and get checked and they might decide to wait for a day etc..if you there are no risk factors.. My hospital said even with balloon induction i would have to stay there overnight..that's my kind of worry too, being pushed into the whole all stages induction process if it doesn't work..and really anxious about it..i'm not due till July (it can change as closely monitored for baby growths, which dropped rapidly in last 4w) and already stressed out about whole thing. Can your partner be with you? i've heard some hospitals now allow partners from the beginning of the induction..

I had a balloon induction with my second a few months ago. Balloon wasn't painful to be inserted (just felt a bit weird) and was allowed to go home before coming back the next day for getting my waters broken. Waters were broken and 3 hours and a straight forward delivery later baby was here.

@m0jit0 thanks for the nice positive induction story! Did you have an epidural? My hospital is currently advising epidurals for all inductions because of the risk of EMcs and stretched anaesthetist resources because of covid.

@fool11 thanks I think you are right. Would be good to get baby checked out. Its just so hard to push back against consultants etc and especially when all they do is highlight risks and strike the fear of God into you!

No epidural, but this was pre covid.
Good luck whatever you decide

C-section. You don't want to be in hospital any longer than necessary under Covid. The other options could result in a lengthy stay before a c-section anyway.

Hi @fretnot..hope you are well...just wanted to ask you have any update..how did you get on?

With an induction with the hormone drip you are monitored constantly and have a midwife with you the full time. I have no experience of the balloon but I was induced before and didn't find it too bad was 3cms so taken up to private room birth room ? Waters broken and then drip 4.5 hours later my baby was born. Granted it was with episiotomy and ventous (spelling ?) as baby heart rate was dropping but I honestly recovered very well and wasn't in any significant pain afterwards. I had a failed epidural so before episiotomy lots of injections down there to numb the area. Due to be induced with my 2nd next week but not currently dilated and baby isn't engaged so couldn't have sweep and dreading the long process of gels etc. Remember each birth is unique so just because it was traumatic last time doesn't mean it will be this time. 2nd babies are generally quicker so you might be very quick which is prob why they are keeping you in with the balloon. Good luck

Just want to add a c section scares the crap out of me! Would be my worst nightmare

I'd have a chat with your consultant about timings for the induction. I had an unplanned induction which failed - but they allowed it to continue for over 100 hours before heading to an EMCS. If I'd had time to discuss it beforehand I would definitely have talked about what happens if I'm not progressing and when do we move to CS.

The CS was a fantastic birth btw, I just wish I hadn't had the induction first.