Overdue: EMCS vs induction

[dinosaur17]

Please tell me your experiences, I’ve never had either but have been asked to book in for induction or make a choice in a few days time.

Due to complications with previous birth I’m very worried about being induced and the increased risks of an instrumental del/EMCS as a result of not going into spontaneous labour

I had a horrific emcs, which resulted in a very difficult recovery. Many people do give birth vaginally after induction but you can refuse this and ask for an elcs. A c-section is major surgery and very painful. That being said, I'll be going for an elcs next time.

Sorry you had such a tough recovery @Chanel05, had you been induced which ended in an EMCS?

I chose ELCS over induction when I was pushing 42 weeks and developed pre eclampsia. I had no signs of impending labour at all, and just had a feeling that an induction would go on for several days and end in either an instrumental delivery or EMCS, both of which I didn't want. It just didn't feel right to me.

I think it was definitely the right decision as DS was nearly 9lb and had a lot of meconium in his waters, so I think an induction would have distressed him even more.

My ELCS was a lovely calm experience with our playlist playing and immediate skin to skin, I was in a lot of pain walking for two days but off all pain relief by day 5.

@dinosaur17 no, I went into spontaneous labour at 40+1.

I was induced due to being overdue and it ended up being an awful EMCS. I know they are fine for a lot of people but if I have another pregnancy then I will refuse induction and go for ELCS if nothing happens naturally. I don't think they'd let me be induced again anyway.

I was induced at 40+10 with the gel (my waters had already been leaking) then the drip. Pain wasn't too bad after the gel but the drip was extremely painful so I had an epidural but unfortunately despite hours of contractions I failed to progress beyond 3cm and baby was in distress so had an EMCS which was scary but I recovered fairly quickly. This time I am going for an ELCS as I don't want to be on the same situation again x

Obviously be aware this is just my experience, but I read this a lot on MN - that a c section is major surgery and recovery is just awful - for me it wasn’t. I don’t remember feeling any real pain: minor discomfort at best. And I could pick my baby up, drive, all the things you are warned you can’t do. I don’t know how much it varies from person to person.

Thank you all for your replies. I’m booked for an ELCS in 6 days if baby doesn’t arrive. I’ve looked into it previously as baby was breech until nearly 38 weeks. My main worry with induction is that it increases the risk of instrumental/EMCS. My body seems to be one that you can’t force to do anything unless it wants to! I had a rather traumatic instrumental birth and recovery with DC1, so I can only go off this in terms of worried over recovery.

I should add that my recovery from the c section was absolutely fine. It was the induction and the emergency c section that it led to which was traumatic and painful.

So I think you've made a good decision. Wishing you lots of luck.

I went in for induction. The doctors tried to push me towards ELCS, after the first drugs failed. The midwives said to keep trying towards labour.
I didn’t get very far, 2cm, before the doctors intervened with EMCS. The recovery was brutal, but me & the baby were fine, thank God...
However, a friend who had ELCS was in a very bad way after her birth. She had a top consultant, but that made no difference in end.
The doctors in my case said “you’ll end up having a section anyway” and they were right. That said, I’m glad I experienced some labour as I had planned a natural birth.
It’s quite hard to know what to do for the best... I’m just grateful that my midwife was totally on the ball when it came to getting the doctors involved. It all happened very quickly once I agreed to EMCS.

Looking back, though... I probably would have been safer going with the doctors for ELCS. I didn’t have my heart set on a vaginal birth, it was just that the midwives said don’t let the doctors pressure you!
I think you’ve made the right decision.

My due date is in a few days so it’s looking likely that I’ll be overdue. I’ve known so many people that have had an induction but it’s always ended up with EMCS, am I able to ask for an ELCS? I’m worried about being induced, having a long and difficult labour for it all to end in an EMCS.

It’s a gamble really. I was induced at 12 days late. I had no signs whatsoever of baby appearing and he was big - 9lbs. I had the pessary and 4 hours later after a lovely water birth I had my beautiful baby in my arms. No one could have predicted that but it was the ideal birth.

I had an induction that ended in an EMCS three years ago, after failed forceps. Lost 4L of blood and had sepsis after and was really unwell, spent two weeks in hospital.

Had an elective section last week, was an absolute dream. Recovery so much better, painful but bare able after not having been in labour before the section. Was home within 24 hours.

I would recommend an ELCS over an induction - only as you never know how an induction will turn out but at least with an ELCS you know what to expect.