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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Requesting ELCS over induction

19 replies

dinosaur17 · 07/03/2021 10:27

Due DC3 next week and he may arrive in his own time, older DCs were born 40+ weeks. DC1 was assisted delivery and DC2 waterbirth.

I’ve had a rough last few weeks of this pregnancy from about 32 weeks which I’m not used to. I was admitted a few weeks ago due to a complication and had lots of ladies being induced in my bay. I’ve never been induced, but from what I’ve heard and being on the ward I’m terrified of trying to get baby to come before he’s ready. I know I can refuse an induction and wait until very very last min to give him a chance. But has anyone ever declined an induction and opted for Elcs?

I had prepped myself for a section anyway as baby was breech until 37 weeks. I had such a rough recovery with DC1 that the thought of another possible assisted delivery seemed much worse than recovering post section.

Basically I was very lucky with DC2 and had a wonderful labour so hoping for another one of those! But I’m completely terrified of trying to force his arrival and would rather just go straight for the section

OP posts:

BurningBenches · 07/03/2021 11:05

I've only had one spontaneous labour of 4. My first induction wasn't great and ended in theatre delivery, ventoused etc. But my 3rd and 4th were easier. My 3rd was in fact the easiest of all of mine.

Personally I would make a decision based on how favourable my cervix was. Dd3 I had a great bishops score, they popped my waters and she was born 2hrs later.
DS (4th) was induced at 40wks due to size and my body wasn't as ready as DC3 at 42wks and I did need a drip again but I had an epidural put in first. Once labour was established it was only 4hrs and in that time he made his own way down. They checked me at 6am and he was pretty much born one or two pushes later.

I'm expecting again in June and expecting to be induced again. No child of mine has ever come before 41wks and I'm 41 so they've said they'll induce at 41wks.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that for me first time induction wasn't great, my body wasn't ready but with the others it was far better.

riotlady · 07/03/2021 11:09

Yes I did. I had gestational diabetes and DD was estimated to be really big, so they wanted her to come 2 weeks early. I requested a c section over an induction, partly because I have a history of trauma that made me feel I would struggle with lots of examinations and interventions. I had to have a chat with the consultant about the risks and then was booked in. It was a very relaxed experience, quite a lot of pain in the first few days but otherwise recover was ok

Original poster

dinosaur17 · 07/03/2021 11:49

Thank you

@riotlady how long did the process take for you to opt for section over induction? I’m also factoring in a large baby, my measurements are ok but midwife thinks he’s big but he’s just had to fit to the available space so is quite squashed now. My last 2 were around 7lb but think he’s about 9lb at the moment and I’m quite small!

OP posts:

choosername1234 · 07/03/2021 12:05

I was told early on in my 2nd pregnancy that I'd be induced on my due date (various reasons but they didn't want me going over 40 weeks), I requested a c-section instead. After a brief chat with the Dr to ensure I understood the risks etc I was booked in for a Caesarian at 39 weeks. It might have helped that the hospital trust I was at had (at that time) one of the highest Caesarian rates in the country so I was far from unusual!

Mylittlesandwich · 07/03/2021 12:10

I had reduced movements with DS and so they offered to induce me at 38 weeks. The other option was regular monitoring and my ELCS at 39 weeks exactly. I hadn't had a single hint of DS wanting to make his way into the world and I didn't think my body would be ready as he was my first. I also had been told he was big so I opted for the section. I had a week of daily or every other day monitoring at the hospital and then we were in at 39 weeks on the dot. It was a really positive experience and in my opinion the right decision.

riotlady · 09/03/2021 12:21

@dinosaur17

Thank you

@riotlady how long did the process take for you to opt for section over induction? I’m also factoring in a large baby, my measurements are ok but midwife thinks he’s big but he’s just had to fit to the available space so is quite squashed now. My last 2 were around 7lb but think he’s about 9lb at the moment and I’m quite small!

A few weeks, if I remember properly. I spoke to my diabetes midwife about it when it was first brought up that baby was going to be large. Then I had a growth scan at about 34 weeks and they said she was already about 7lbs and would be well over 10lbs when she was born (she was actually 7lbs 2 when she was born but never mind!). At that point they decided they wanted her out 38 weeks and I saw the consultant for a chat. She had to run through all the leaflets and risks for a c section but was pretty supportive about it. Then I had to wait a couple of weeks until they phoned me up with a section date.

On the day I arrived at the hospital at 7.30, went down for the surgery at 9, she was out at half past! Home two days later

Original poster

dinosaur17 · 09/03/2021 12:36

Perfect! I’m not really sure what the process is for going over due but I’ll discuss with midwife on Friday

OP posts:

Teakind · 09/03/2021 13:48

Please don’t be worried about induction. Much like labour in general, it’s easier for some women than for others.

I was induced with my DS but they discussed a CS with me too. I chose to be induced because although I knew it could take a couple of days, I knew the recovery after a CS would take a lot longer. I also had a two year old at home so wanted to be able to pick her up, drive places etc.

Original poster

dinosaur17 · 09/03/2021 15:50

Thank you @Teakind I’ve been trying to weigh up the pros and cons of both. I know it could be a case of a very quick induction and a similar birth outcome to if I had gone into spontaneous labour.

I suppose I can’t predict what’s going to happen!

OP posts:

Teakind · 09/03/2021 16:21

@dinosaur17 I know exactly what you mean. There’s pros and cons on each side.

As it’s your third child, hopefully an induction wouldn’t take too long anyway. My induction was with my second child and although the pessaries took a while to work, once labour started it only took 2.5 hours!

IcicleLight · 09/03/2021 16:38

Assuming I was already overdue I'd make a decision based on the Bishop's score. Below 5 and I'd refuse the induction in favour of ELCS (I had an induction with a Bishop's score of 0 and it ended in an EMCS so I'd never go through that again).

Original poster

dinosaur17 · 09/03/2021 20:23

Thank you both. I think that’s probably the best idea, I’m very reluctant to try and force my body to do something it’s not ready for and end up having a section anyway

OP posts:

BellamyBells · 09/03/2021 20:25

Me! I went with my gut. They made me feel so guilty but I really pushed them and then they did it. Then they told me induction mJ have ended in csection anyway as he was in a terrible position. It's your birth, no else else's.

BellamyBells · 09/03/2021 20:25

@dinosaur17

Thank you both. I think that’s probably the best idea, I’m very reluctant to try and force my body to do something it’s not ready for and end up having a section anyway

Yep!

RandomMess · 09/03/2021 20:46

My inductions at 41 and 40 weeks (DC1 & 3) were long although unassisted.

The ones at 42+3 and 42 (DC2 & 4) were "quick". With the last one at 42 weeks 6 hours after the 1st pessary my Bishops Score was still 1 😭😭😭 they put in the 2nd one and she was born 4 hours later and my labour was a minute 😂

Certainly with the last 2 births I didn't do any pushing my body did it all completely different to my first when the pushing was long and hard and they were borderline on intervening.

I think if they let you go reasonably overdue the chances of your induction leading to an assisted both are low because your 2nd birth went well if that makes sense??

My first baby was average, the next 3 all whoppers btw.

Original poster

dinosaur17 · 09/03/2021 22:12

@RandomMess I’d love a minute long labour 😂

I was much younger when I had Dc1&2, so think I would have gone for an elcs with DC2 had I thought more about my choices at the time. I was incredibly lucky to have a positive second birth, I had one examination on arrival in labour and the rest was totally hands off. The thought of lots of prodding and poking trying to start things off fills me with dread after a previous 40 hour labour!

OP posts:

RandomMess · 09/03/2021 23:02

It hurt a lot longer than a minute 😂😂😂😂

I'd been using gas and air for a few hours, got in the bath got out. Got onto the bed in the delivery suite at which point they asked to check as they weren't sure if my waters had gone or wet myself

"Oh you're 8cm, oh you've crowned, oh head delivered"

Original poster

dinosaur17 · 10/03/2021 14:15

😂😂😂 Well that sounds marvellous!

OP posts:

RandomMess · 10/03/2021 15:14

Birth 3 was similar once they actually got me into labour, took days to dilate enough for ARM. I didn't push though my body did it all very rapidly!!

Poor babies were a bit stunned and hadn't finished rotating properly.

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