Elective section vs Induction

[Salacia]

Just been diagnosed with preeclampsia and all being well (e.g everything stays stable) we’ll be looking at delivery at 37 weeks (currently 35).

I’ve been offered the choice of an elective section or an induction. I honestly can’t decide.

I’ve never had a firm birth plan but was vaguely hoping to avoid a section as I’ve previously had lots of abdominal/pelvic surgery so it won’t necessarily be straightforward (and I don’t want to add to the adhesions). I’m also worried about recovery time vs a vaginal birth.

That said I’m also worried that an induction will end up with a section anyway and have heard more negative experiences of inductions vs planned sections. I don’t want to end up in the same position but having days of pain/being knackered leading up to it.

I don’t think there’s really a right or a wrong answer so I was just wondering if anyone has been in a similar circumstance, what choice they made and do they have any thoughts?

Congratulations!!! Well done! And thank you for the update

Thanks @LizzeyBenett and everyone else who has posted. Has it happened this thread was a bit redundant as I spontaneously went into labour last week and had a vaginal delivery. Got a bit hairy towards the end and we’re both still in hospital but we’re going in the right direction. I’m really glad to have avoided the section so I think induction might have been the right choice for me but guess it’s one of those things we’ll never know!

Edited because in my agreement with Chateau, I somehow missed your update.

Congratulations!

I was induced at 36+5 for pre eclampsia, was in labour for 60 hours before EMCS. If I had my time again I would take a C section over induction, I was shattered & had to stay in 4 days after ds was born, had I taken the section I would have been home quicker.

@Salacia oh no , glad you are both doing ok . Enjoy your new baba

I had induction in my second one but had arm and missed the pessary stage. I still went for 10 hours of low to mild level contractions where for hours I had no pain killers where I didn't progress after ta certain point and I was put on the drip. Baby arrived within 5 hours after the drip on epidural with no instrumental intervention. This was second baby.

This could have easily gone the other way round though if it was first baby needing c section. Induction can be a long process and by the time you're ready, it could be a couple of days and you're exhausted with the added risk of c section anyway. There's a lot of waiting around with induction. You wait around for pessary even though I skipped this stage but I still had to wait around for a room for hours and then once in a room I waited half a day to have my cervix checked which is why I skipped a stage as my cervix was ready and didn't need a pessary as I was already 2cm dilated. I then waited hours to be admitted to the Labour ward because only there my waters could be broken and then a few hours to have my waters broken and then hours to progress and then another 5 hours on the hormone drip. So by the time baby finally arrives you are tired as fuck. But I still preferred this route as it was second baby and my body was more favourable to work with the induction.

A friend last year was the same as you and opted for elective c section as it was first baby. She went in the morning and had her baby in noon. One way or another, you still have to experience pain. Another friend first baby went for induction and spent 3 days of hell only to be wheeled to the theatre for emergency section.

Congratulations op. Apologies I didn't read your last comment but it's nice to have this thread as someone might stumble across it in the future. Again congratulations and im happy that it's all worked out for you.

Congratulations @Salacia ! Sorry to hear things went hairy at the end, and that you're both still in hospital. I hope your respective stays won't be for too much longer. Thank you for coming back to update us. Always appreciated.

I was induced three times with my eldest son and it didn’t work. I was two weeks overdue so I ended up having a c-section and then had the same with my youngest. I was absolutely fine with my sections (apart from the fact that I had a reaction to the morphine) but I was up, walking around the next morning, no problem at all.