Can I request an induction?

[MJH27]

Is it an option to request an induction? I am now 33 weeks pregnant with my 3rd baby and becoming more and more anxious about the birth.
My last labour was 1hr 54 mins from first pain to giving birth. He was born in the ambulance on the way to hospital, I then had a PPH as I needed the placenta to be delivered quickly. I then passed out at the hospital due to the blood loss and it was just a terrifying experience for myself and my partner.

Is it reasonable to ask to be induced to avoid this happening again?

Thank you

I've been told I can ask for an induction from 40 weeks. Not sure about earlier.

I answered on your other thread about ELCS but I didn't mention that induction is contraindicated for previous PPH as it can make it worse.

Your previous labour was traumatic, ask for a debrief and make a plan with your midwives. You'll feel a lot better with a plan.

Induction has a habit of speeding things up and making contractions stronger, which is pretty much the exact opposite of what you want. It's probably contraindicated in someone who's had such a fast birth. I'm booked for induction at 39 weeks if nothing happens before that, after a "three push" second stage in my previous birth, and they are going to be very cautious to make sure I don't fire the baby across the room.

In your shoes I would be asking for more time with your midwife, and more appointments, and talking extensively about what happened so that they can advise you. I think you are better off seeking reassurance that every birth is different than to look for induction as a solution.

You absolutely CAN ask for an elective c-section if you wish. With a bit of persuasion and showing that you absolutely understand thoroughly the risks and benefits, you can also probably manage to convince them to sweep you from 38 weeks. But the latter might not help, because you still need to get to hospital quickly if it actually works.

I really recommend a hypnobirthing course - it's not hypnosis, it's actually a form of therapy which is designed completely to change your thinking about how pregnancy and birth progresses and how to support yourself mentally to get through it. Seek out lots of videos on YouTube showing and explaining the physical processes of birth and the way baby moves down over time (the "mechanics" of birth) too, as this demystifies the process and helps you to cope during labour.

Thank you all.. I haven’t looked too much into induction currently. I was starting to believe an elective section was going to be needed but she has now turned and is now head down. Although I do have a few other reasons to possibly have a section. I’m just getting more and more scared about the whole thing 😳

You can ask to have your waters broken and see what happens. The oxytocin drip would need to be discussed with a consultant if you needed that, but at any point you can switch to a section.
there are lots of options so please have a what with your midwife.