"Planned" induction due to previous traumatic birth - experiences?

ladydanger · 2020-09-29T11:34:28+00:00

I'm pregnant with my second and had a pretty traumatic first birth (mostly around lack of pain relief). I would like an elective c-section this time around, however the midwife has suggested I could also consider a 'planned' induction whereby I would have an induction date, come into hospital and get set up on pain relief prior to the induction process. I would be induced on or close to my due date. Has anybody been in a similar position and how were your experiences?

gassylady · 29/09/2020 12:41

In your circumstances I think planned c section would be most likely to give you a more positive birth experience. Ask to meet with a consultant obstetrician to discuss this, you can consider and reject the idea of planned induction. Perhaps ask how long on average women take to enter established labour and what pain relief is available at each stage? How many planned inductions end in emergency c section at that unit?

FourPlasticRings · 29/09/2020 13:00

Inductions are more likely to result in interventions leading to trauma than spontaneous labours are aren't they? It'd be a no from me!

sooveritalready · 29/09/2020 13:06

If they give you pain relief from the start you have to have a midwife with you anyway.

I had landed induction, took 4 days, 8 days in hospital total, baby readmitted and 2 years of physio and counselling.

I would def push for c section !

NoRoomInBed · 29/09/2020 13:07

My induction was planned but it was very fast it was only an hour from 1st contraction to baby in arms so only had gas and air as pain relief as they couldn't do anything else. It was a pessery. Maybe a planned section would be good?

NameChange30 · 29/09/2020 14:03

Sorry your first birth was traumatic
If you're induced with a drip it's generally more painful than allowing labour to progress naturally.
So it doesn't make a lot of logical sense to me.
My approach when anticipating childbirth second time around, after a traumatic first experience, was to hire a doula who could support me before and during the birth, to advocate for myself (or to advocate on my behalf if necessary) to ensure my choices - for pain relief and other things - would be respected.
Would you consider hiring a doula?

stoptheworldiwant2getoff · 29/09/2020 14:09

I actually have experience of this rather than just an opinion! Ny experience is a very positive one! Yes you can get set up with epidural before they induce you which I did and had the perfect labour. I had no interventions so wish people wouldn't always use that line as it scares people. Section isn't the easy option but if that's other people's preference then fair play but It is not a fact that an emergency section will happen just because you're induced!

DuggeeHugs · 29/09/2020 15:04

The problem is you have no idea whether an induction will be straightforward or not. Have a look on the RCOG website for stats around birth in your circumstances. There's useful information based on age, first delivery, etc., that can help you. I used this to make my choice with DC2 and found it informative - much more so than my midwife or consultant!

gassylady · 29/09/2020 16:14

Which bit Of the website did you find this under?? Sounds really useful

Original poster

ladydanger · 29/09/2020 17:00

Thanks so much everyone and to stoptheworld for sharing your experience.

Yest he midwife has said I can get set up with an epidural immediately if I went for the planned induction. My labour came on spontaneously first time round so I don't have any experience of inductions.

I'll also look up the RCOG website too.

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Original poster

ladydanger · 29/09/2020 17:01

Were you on the drip or pessary?

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woollysocksaresexy · 29/09/2020 17:11

I had inductions with all of my children. Pessaries didn't work, so they gave me an epidural before breaking my waters and putting me on the drip. This had been planned in advance for other reasons. All easy births, no complications. I am sure I got lucky, but induction does not need to be a horror story!

Original poster

ladydanger · 29/09/2020 17:20

@woollysocksaresexy

I had inductions with all of my children. Pessaries didn't work, so they gave me an epidural before breaking my waters and putting me on the drip. This had been planned in advance for other reasons. All easy births, no complications. I am sure I got lucky, but induction does not need to be a horror story!

Thanks for sharing and glad to hear of a good induction experience!

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Original poster

ladydanger · 29/09/2020 17:21

@stoptheworldiwant2getoff

I actually have experience of this rather than just an opinion! Ny experience is a very positive one! Yes you can get set up with epidural before they induce you which I did and had the perfect labour. I had no interventions so wish people wouldn't always use that line as it scares people. Section isn't the easy option but if that's other people's preference then fair play but It is not a fact that an emergency section will happen just because you're induced!

Were you put on the drip or pessary?

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Original poster

ladydanger · 29/09/2020 17:23

@DuggeeHugs

The problem is you have no idea whether an induction will be straightforward or not. Have a look on the RCOG website for stats around birth in your circumstances. There's useful information based on age, first delivery, etc., that can help you. I used this to make my choice with DC2 and found it informative - much more so than my midwife or consultant!

Agreed, I think the uncertainty around how an induction will pan out is causing me a lot of anxiety. I think my current preference is for a c section but I was hoping to understand more about inductions and see if anybody has had a similar experience.

Thanks for sharing the RCOG website too, I'll be reading!

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countdownison2020 · 29/09/2020 18:56

@ladydanger it was the drip, I'm not sure why I didn't have a pessary actually

PanamaPattie · 29/09/2020 19:30

I would insist on a guaranteed c-section. I wouldn't believe a MW that would promise a planned induction with an epidural. First, as soon as you attend the hospital, you will probably be faced with another MW trying to talk to out of it by suggested you give it a go without pain relief because it's your second birth and every birth is different. Secondly, when you turn up for your induction and there isn't an anaesthetist free. What do you do then? Go home?

Tink2007 · 29/09/2020 20:47

I would go for a planned section and not an induction.

I had to have an induction with our third DD four weeks ago. The pessary caused overstimulated contractions, coming every minute and caused DD’s heart rate to jump to 178 and drop right down to 98. I was rushed into a Cat 1 C-Section. Luckily DD3 was fine.

I would never go for an induction again and I’m surprised the midwife has suggested after a previous traumatic birth seeing as they so often end up in sections.

Original poster

ladydanger · 29/09/2020 20:52

Thanks @PanamaPattie and @Tink2007

I think the MW is just trying to give me all options ... I'm still leaning towards a planned c-section I think.

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Twigletmama · 29/09/2020 20:58

At our local hospital they do not allow requests for an elective c- section without a strong medical reason. I asked for one and was offered a planned induction instead. In the end I had a natural birth in a midwife led unit.
I would say that they are trying to steer you away from a c-section but if that is what you want I would stand firm about it.

NameChange30 · 29/09/2020 20:59

My maternity hospital offers a "birth afterthoughts" service where you can talk through your previous experience with a midwife, they look at your notes and can answer any questions you have.

You can also ask to talk to the consultant midwife about your options and preferences this time around.

I did both and found both conversations helpful in terms of putting my previous experience behind me and deciding on my preferences for my second birth.

DeadButDelicious · 29/09/2020 21:15

I had a planned c section following a previous traumatic birth.

I was offered an induction but pushed for the section and it was exactly what I needed, it was so far removed from my first birth. I had a wonderful, positive, experience and it gave me a level of control that i really needed.

Twobecomingthreeplusthedog · 30/09/2020 08:59

Could you possible share this link? I have spent an hour this morning on RCOG but can’t find any statistics to assist me with my first born delivery! Thank you! :)

Freshair85 · 30/09/2020 09:21

Hi, sorry to hear about your traumatic birth. I had one also and I ended up on the drip to progress things, I had an epidural beforehand but this failed despite numerous top ups and the contractions from the drip were so intense and constant pain and then resulted in an emergency c-section. Next time I will definitely be opting for a planned section

NameChange30 · 30/09/2020 09:25

@Twobecomingthreeplusthedog

Could you possible share this link? I have spent an hour this morning on RCOG but can’t find any statistics to assist me with my first born delivery! Thank you! :)

The RCOG Patient Information Leaflets are here: www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/?q=&subject=Pregnancy+and+birth&orderby=title

There's also some useful info here:
www.aims.org.uk/information/page/1

Puffthemagicdragongoestobed · 30/09/2020 09:26

Did you have a vaginal birth first time around? A lot of the times second births are easier and quicker. I had a complicated induction first time around with pessary, waters broken by midwife, drip, suction cap, forceps and episiotomy. Not pleasant. Second birth was about 20 minutes of pain plus five minutes of pushing, it felt manageable! I have heard similar stories frequently.
Just to give you another perspective. Obviously none of this is guaranteed so I can understand that you would want a planned c-section where you pretty much know what is going to happen.