Planned c section vs induction

[Laurenabs]

Hiya! I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I'm seeking out some honest birth experiences to do with elective c sections and being induced.

Abit of a quick back story... at my 20 week scan it was said that my placenta was completely covering my cervix so from that point onwards I had done ALOT of reading into sections and kind of had my mind set on wanting one. I was then diagnosed with gestational diabetes and at my 28 week scan they said my placenta had moved 4cm away from my cervix. The consultant did mention and I've also read that most women with GD do end up being induced early. Since finding out that my placenta had moved my mum has made a couple of comments along the lines of 'you'll be able to deliver naturally now won't that be nice that you won't have to have a c section'. I'm still kind of set on wanting an elective section but families opinions are making me feel like im making a stupid decision and that it's going to be really difficult for me to recover and that I should be doing it the natural way. I've heard a lot of bad stories about people being induced early and things not going smoothly. Im also epileptic (controlled) my seizures are mostly triggered by exhaustion and stress and I'd like to just be as relaxed as possible, know when im going in and not end up having a traumatic birth, im so confused 😞

Hey! I was induced with my first last year at 39 weeks for her being a ‘big baby’, she came at 39+2 by emcs at 8lb 5oz after 2 days of failed induction.

I am now 22+6 weeks with my 2nd and if there is any mention of induction, I will going straight for an elcs. Induction was awful for me but I was still so early so if I was induced at 41 weeks it could have been a totally different story!

After reading everything you’ve mentioned an ELCS sounds to be the better option.

I don't think you can ever predict the best route, which makes it so difficult!

From my own experience I was induced for preclampsia, which failed. It was a week of misery and pain. Eventually I had a c section which was elective in all but name due to the failed induction. C section was brilliant, calm, safe and the recovery wasn't too bad. Currently pregnant again and I have an elective c section booked already. I would never go through an induction again.

Out of the 8 women I know who went through an induction, only 2 ended up giving birth naturally.

I really don't know why people see C-section as the easy way out. Birth is pain before or pain after, and for the unlucky, both!

Ignore your family. Most older people have terrible memories when it comes to birth. You're doing what's right for you. Yes, you would ideally have a 39 week induction for GDM. Though tbh with the epilepsy, no matter how well controlled or how quickly you could get an epidural, I would be inclined to have a C-section too.

I've had one of each, a vaginal birth and a C-section. Both after good inductions. While the C-section recovery was harder, it wasn't overly difficult. As long as you have help and support, you will be fine.

Hey,

As someone who also has epilepsy I would honestly say you need to weigh up your triggers as well.

With my daughter I went in for an induction due to reduced movements and spent a very stressful week with it failing and then ending up with what was classed as an elective section, whilst the recovery was hard it was the best choice for me. I'm now pregnant again and will be going straight to an elective, when I think about the induction process it was exhausting and stressful, I was lucky that I only had a few absence seizures but that was more than I'd had during pregnancy.

My own feeling is that I would rather go straight to the c section reducing stress than an induction, although I do have friends that have had positive inductions.

You should be able to talk to a consultant midwife about your birth choices and also neurology about pain relief which should help you decide.

As hard as it is, you need to try and block out what others are saying and do what is best for you and your baby.

I was induced at 39 weeks. Gels were applied for 2 days but I didn't go into labour. On the 3rd morning, my waters were broken and I was put on the drip. I delivered that night. No forceps required. I didn't have GD though and was a lower end of healthy weight (I was a bit underweight at the start of my pregnancy).

You should speak to a consultant about your options because they'll know about your medical history. I'm really glad I didn't have a c section though.

With my eldest I had GD and a failed induction at 38 weeks that ended after 3 nearly sleepless nights with a caesarean. I was exhausted. With my youngest I said throughout the pregnancy that I wanted another caesarean as I couldn’t bear the risk of having another failed induction. In the end they agreed and I had a planned caesarean at 39 weeks after a good night’s sleep. Made the world of difference.

Good luck whatever happens. And I agree not to listen to family. My SIL was adamant I should try for a natural birth. I never asked her!

I can only comment on the induction side, I was boderline GD but then all my readings were normal even on my usual diet so they decided I didn't have it but I still had it on my notes and growth scans were normal. I really didn't want an induction as I was hoping to be in the midwife led unit not labour ward but one was booked for me on the Friday after my due date was Wednesday, with no medical reason given, so I was planning to say I wouldn't be attending.

However my waters broke the Saturday before and I had no contractions, I called and was advised I couldn't go to the mlu had to be labour ward for induction due to infection risk as I'd previously tested positive for GBS. I went in so they confirmed waters had gone and I was put on IV antibiotics and told to start the drip which I declined, I spent the time on the ball, walking, trying to relax get things going but had consultants in all the time saying to go on the drip. I accepted Sunday midday and after a few hours of having it turned up and my hind waters broken at 1cm contractions started with very little break or build up so I found I was struggling, I have a copy of my notes so looking back at them it says 3-4 contractions every 10 mins for 6 hours then they checked me and I was only 2-3cm. They offered c section for no progression or epidural to relax me so I went for epidural, after again originally planning to avoid as I was scared of intervention, had the epidural a few hours later (had gas and air before that) and it worked really well, I could still move my legs but was able to sleep.

I woke up feeling pains and a huge amount of pressure and panic, I pressed the buzzer and midwife said I was 10cm but give it another hour and left. I found my body was pushing anyway and I was making grunting noises I couldn't control really pushing down, so I woke my partner to press the buzzer again and midwife came back in and was.shocked saying oh I can see her head and I don't have anything ready! Called for another midwife and after 20 mins total pushing time baby was born, just under 4 hours after having epidural. Stitches for internal grazes no major tears which was a huge relief, able to move about straight after birth, go to the toilet etc.

So overall for me it was a good birth in the end but I was really shocked by the drip contractions, but overall more grateful I didn't have any interventions or major tears. I was able to sleep with the epidural as well so had some rest before the birth.

It's so difficult as you just never know how things will go. Best of luck!

ELCS sounds fine. There's no reason to suppose that you'll find a vaginal delivery a positive experience anyway. I've done it, and wouldn't feel I'd missed out if I hadn't. And while all births are exhausting in their own way, it does at least remove the probably worst case tiredness scenario of lengthy failed induction followed by CS.

Go for the c section, trust me on this 😂 yours sincerely, failed induction EMCS mum x

Me too, ditto.

If your placenta is near your cervix you could haemorrhage really badly in a vaginal birth.

But yeah, I'm totally disillusioned with induction. I was on the synthetic oxytocin for so so long and never dilated, and then finally got the EMCS. Induction was horrific. Never, ever again! ELCS for my second, 100%