I can't stand the thought of induction - what do you think my chances would be of getting a c-section?

[electra]

My baby is measuring small for dates and is not growing up a curve - but just growing across lines in a kind of flat curve. Yesterday I was told that if this continues (I'm 33 weeks) the doctor will not want to allow this pregnancy to run to term and will want to induce me.

I cannot stand the thought of being induced. I have experienced 'normal' contractions and an active labour and by contrast a medically managed labour with syntocinon. I ideally wanted a homebirth. If I can labour actively I am fine and can move on afterwards. But the medically managed labour horrified me - the whole thing - being strapped to a monitor, having contractions lying down, feet in stirrups, and finally a hemorrhage followed by episiotomy, which to this day still causes me pain (7 years later). If I have an induced labour I think it's highly likely that I will need an epidural, and can then kiss goodbye to any kind of control that I would have in a normal labour. A friend on facebook recently posted some pictures of her new baby and of her in labour, being induced and I found that I was horrified and upset even looking at the pictures!

It may sound very odd for someone who wants a home birth to say that in this instance I would want a section. I am sure a section would be no walk in the park, and would be a trauma enough in itself for me and I don't 'want' one, would just far prefer it than induction. But I feel quite fragile - at the moment I am well but I have mental health problems and my home situation is very difficult and stressful. A year ago I was seriously considering killing myself. I don't feel that way now but I can get ill very quickly if the right triggers are there.

Do you think the consultant would be sympathetic to my wishes? I have two other children and I need to stay well. I don't want another big trauma to recover from which could be another 'hit' to my frame of mind. I had thought that as this was my 3rd baby, there was no reason for me to think that I would not be able to go into labour normally and have a good shot at a birth that would not require being in a hospital bed - just shows you can never tell.

However, I want to be sure that I'm as informed as I can be about this. What should I read and how should I put my case to my doctor and be sure that I have made a balanced decision?

The other thing is that I will be on my own so won't have anyone there for support. This was another reason why I wanted to be at home.

Electra, would you consider a doula?

Yes, I have been thinking about that. Perhaps in my case it would be a good idea.

I was very fearful of being induced with DC4 - previous bad experience. Something I was surprised to find helpful was a conversation with a local midwife in which she recommended working out a birthplan specifically for an induced labour. It helped me focus on exactly what I was so frightened of, and plan to avoid it.

For example, I was scared of a mw coming in every 4 hours to examine me "to see how you're getting on". I was also scared of having my waters broken. So when I prepared my birthplan I said that I didn't want to have routine IEs, wanted everyone to speak v quietly, and didn't want my waters broken unless medically indicated. I had a lovely doula booked who I knew would be a good interface between me and the mws.

Thanks Rolf, that sounds like a good idea - did it work out well for you in the end? The thing that bothers me is that I have seen women waiting around for the doctor to review their notes, and then told 'OK, so and so - you can go down to the delivery suite' - with no discussion at all

Perhaps if I do what you have suggested, and have the support of a doula it will be easier for me to get a birth experience that doesn't do any damage.

My induction (ds1) was managed, i.e monitor on but i was encouraged to be active as much as i wanted even when drip in. They start with a gel though it is not straight to drip. Even when on drip they turn it up gradually it is not straight to full power.

Ive never even seen stirrups despite 1 induction and 2 em c/s. Also you dont have to lie on the bed.

I ended up with an emCS though due to foetal distress and though recovery was fine for me it is still a big op and has a big effect on you. I wouldnt go for c/s as 1st option.

Talk to your midwife or consultant (or request another) as being induced shouldnt mean being confined to bed.

Also with DS2 i wasnt induced but labour was just as quick and contractions equally quick and painful. Both mine had their heads in wrong position so midwife said after, she thought that was the reason for them effectively not being able to get out and then showing distress hence c/sections.

With DS2 i did say that i would rather have a nother c/s than an instrument birth so at the point where it was obvious ds2 not happy (v high heartrate and lots of meconium when waters broke at 9cm) i had c/s.

So perhaps you can state that preference...i.e give it a go with labour but if it looks like there are problems then go straight to c/s.

Another thought...one advantage is that you wil get 1 on 1 midwife care with an induction which is no bad thing.

Electra, after a grim experience being induced, resulting in an em cs 5 days later I refused an induction for my second, so when the consultant said that the baby needed to come out due to pre-eclampsia, I had an elective cs. I'd planned a VBAC at home too, and even had the pool up, private midwife etc, but it was not to be. I don't feel that it was "elective" as such as I had no other opeion, but it was a much better experience than the emergency cs.

I do have a couple of friends who have had reasonably good experiences with inductions though.

Electra sorry if I'm repeating anything
But i've had 2 inductions
first I was continually monitored but was able to mave about
the 2nd I didn't need synotocin, so could do what I wanted
Really talk things through with your doc
and have you not got a really good friend to go with you instead of the expense of a doula

I had inductions with both births and I have to say the difference in the care I received from the hospitals made a HUGE difference.

When I had DD I was fully mobile, occasionally hooked up to the CTG monitor but apart from that able to move about. I had an epidural and my memory of the birth is generally positive, the pain was managable, the midwives were there when needed but not intrusive.

By the time I had DS we had moved and the birth was so different. Again, I had to be induced (waters broke 24 hrs before) and the midwife came in every half an hour and bumped the dosage of the drip up. By hour 3 of this I was screaming for an epidural (I managed 9 hours of labour with DD before the doc offered me an epidural as they wanted to increase the dosage).

At this point, DS was starting to get distressed and I was rushed to theater for a crash CS. This was most traumatic, not only for myself but also for my poor DH who was left standing in the empty room, not knowing what was happening. It took them almost an hour to get word to him that both the baby and I were ok.

My experience has been that a well managed induction can still be a positive experience, but a badly managed induction can (as you know) be very traumatic.

Saying that, the recovery from the CS took a lot longer than the normal birth so should the decision is a difficult one. I took several days before I was able to get out of bed without assistance and was not allowed to lift anything heavier than the baby for 6 weeks after the birth.

You need to talk with the consultant/midwife. Tell them your fears. If they give you the impression that they do not take your fears seriously then I would seriously think about pressing for a CS.

I have to say for my last induction I just refused conitinuous monitoring. I let them do the 45 minutes after they'd inserted the stuff and after that I just said no and got up and moved around/used birthing ball etc.

Hi Electra. I ended up going into labour spontaneously but preparing the induction birthplan really helped calm me down. Hypnosis CDs are excellent for calming you down, too i can get very panicky and it helped me.

i was in a similar situation as i was terrified of induction due to my own mum's bad experience with it when i was born. after labouring for 2 days they wanted to induce but i demanded a c section and they had to oblige. i would ask and stand your ground. i was disappointed i didnt have my water birth but it was ok and i was pleased with the final result! better than an induction imo.

Just wanted to say I was induced, I had wanted a waterbirth obviously I couldn't have that, but I was able to move around. When I felt like the pain was unmanageable, I had diamorphine which was great for me, I could still feel the pain, but could handle it. You don't only have the option of epidural for pain relief. Hope everything goes well for you.

electra, you are wise to think about these issues.

My experience - induction ending in crash cs under GA for foetal distress - made me very angry at the obstetrician for underplaying the risks of an emcs with an induction. I think women are routinely not advised of the very real risk that an induction will end in emcs.

Even if you cope fine with the pain (because you have an epidural or do the active birth thing - like I did with birth balls at the edge of my bed, naive fool I was), there is a significant chance that your baby won't - like many others I read on this thread. This is particularly so if your baby is not term.

Having a one-to-one midwife made no difference to me. She was a student midwife who had her nose in a book and was only interested in cranking up the drip, completely failing to notice my CTG trace was showing heart decels for 15 mins before the doctor noticed and then all hell broke loose - hence the cs under GA.

It is worthwhile to have an elective cs, just to avoid the high risk of an emcs, for all the reasons ABetaDad described.

The only time I would consent to an induction is if I was very ripe to begin with. At 40 weeks, I was not ripe, even less chance in your case. You want the gel to work, otherwise go straight cs. Avoid the syntocinon drip.

Thanks for your replies - I am quite worried how this will play out. blueshoes - I think my main concern is that my body won't be ready for induction (other children born at 40+8 and 40+0).

I think you should get a consultant to at least agree to an el c for your peace of mind. You keep your options open this way.

If you were traumatised by a vaginal birth previously they should be sympathetic to you.

Interestingly, Michel Odent is against induced labour and believes a c-section is preferable to induction.

Thanks BumblBeee. I have had a vaginal birth that went really well and I would choose to have that experience again over anything else....but as some of you have discussed there is a chance that induction before you are ready will lead to a crash c-section anyway. I guess I will have to wait and see what happens on Friday when I have the next scan...

'midwife came in every half an hour and bumped the dosage'

I know I'd have THIS very stongly highlighted in my notes. Each time they'd have to get written consent.