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Original poster

Only options induction or c-section?

26 replies

Cornflakes44 · 14/09/2022 19:15

I wanted to see if anyone else had been given similar advice. I’m only 24 weeks but talked to the doctor about the birth. She said as I’m over 40 they would want me to either book a c-section or induction a week early. Im a bit annoyed as I would like to be given the opportunity to go into labour naturally and I think cutting it off a week early feels unnecessary. I know the risk of stillbirth goes up after 40 weeks but I feel like I should be able to given until then before the medical inventions kick in. Anyone else been in this situation and get told anything different? Thanks

OP posts:
Boxofsockss · 14/09/2022 19:20

I was given these options too but to be honest for me, the date I went into hospital for my induction was my due date anyway so I didn’t mind so much and I had to end up having an emergency c section anyway

cowsaysmoo · 14/09/2022 19:30

I was 37yo when induced and ended up with emergency section. I would never ever go through induction again and risk an emergency section.
The risk of emergency section after inductions is very high.
I had elective section with second one (although hoped for a vbac) and it was so much better than first time!
It can be a very nice experience with dimmed lights, music and cuddles right after the baby is birthed.
Good luck OP!

ContadoraExplorer · 14/09/2022 19:33

As far as I'm aware you have the right to the birth you want so you can push to wait and see if you'll go naturally but I think the consultants have the medical knowledge and know the increased risks from age so will try to guide you down the safest route.

I had an EMCS after a failed induction at 40+13 (35 years old) and I chose, with my second at 38, to have a caesarean. I stated my reasons to the consultant, she listened, gave me the risks as a matter of fact, and agreed that I could have one.

I would absolutely have one again, I could plan pretty much everything and recovery has been great and I'm actually quite glad now that I never birthed "naturally."

Interested in this thread?

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2nd trimester Antenatal & postnatal Childbirth Families
naomi81 · 14/09/2022 19:36

I had an induction and ended up going to c section, if I had my time over I would have just had a c section but if your in good health I can't see why you can't go to full term. X

trrk · 14/09/2022 20:22

I was given those options too (I’m 41) but I think you always have a choice to go against the advice and ask to go to full term. I would probably have been too paranoid about still birth to wait though it’s worth remembering that even if the risk is doubled by waiting it is still very small (eg 2 in 1000 vs 1 in 1000). In the end I went into labour at 38w but baby was breach so all the time I spent debating the options was wasted and c section it was.

Original poster
Cornflakes44 · 14/09/2022 21:06

Thanks for the replies. I am leaning towards elective c-section and I am planning to follow medical advice but it does feel like the chance of a ‘natural’ birth isn’t really on the table. Maybe just have to hope to go into labour early…

OP posts:
WooWooWinnie · 14/09/2022 21:11

You have been given the advice, but you could opt for induction at later date (eg a week overdue) as a compromise or decline it altogether and wait for labour. It’s up to you.

lookslikeabombhitit · 14/09/2022 21:16

Have a look at Dr Sara Wickham's books. She's a midwife/ research midwife. They're excellent, well balanced and give you the information you need to make a decision that's best for you. Other excellent books to read are birth like a feminist/ the positive birth book both by Milli Hill. Expecting better by Emily Oster. The aims and evidence based birth (us based) websites are excellent. The Cochrane database allows you to look up research and read simple to follow systemic reviews of available research- spoiler most maternity research is of poor quality and is old... The RCOG and NICE websites allow you to read the guidelines that doctors should be working to within the NHS.

In terms of still birth risks after 40 weeks have a look at this article detailing the mbrace studies: www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/induction-at-term

Personally in my experience doctors certainly haven't known best.

ClearButtons · 14/09/2022 21:17

Anecdotal of course but I had an induction which ended up in an emergency c section and I'd never be induced again. Planned C section all the way if I had to do it again.

Lou98 · 14/09/2022 21:20

You don't need to have either, there's always a choice.
If you choose not to have either and wait to see what happens they will offer you extra, regular monitoring so that if anything happens with baby they can get you in quickly if need be.

The reason they offer it is because there is increased risks with age but you can refuse and give it until your due date or further if you want.

Fwiw I've had 2 inductions and both were very quick and straightforward labours. I'm not planning on having anymore but if I did I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Obviously everybody is different though

Redwood500 · 14/09/2022 21:22

I had emergency section after failed induction and then a planned section with my second. The planned Section was great!

In your position I would try and negotiate a planned C Section if you haven’t gone in to labour by a certain date. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x

Nat6999 · 14/09/2022 21:26

I had a failed induction 6 weeks before my 38th birthday, I was 60 hours in induced labour only to end up with an emcs. I was shattered, hadn't slept for over 3 nights, hadn't eaten for that length of time either & seriously ill with pre eclampsia. The stupid thing was if I had gone straight to C section I would have been home quicker & not so poorly.

catsnore · 14/09/2022 21:53

You do not have to do anything you don't want to do!

The risk of stillbirth goes up marginally over 40 but it's still pretty low. I had a long chat about this with my midwife and she said to me that the figures they have are skewed because not many women over 40 are allowed to go full term.

My sil gave birth at 41, refused induction, refused consultant appointments, went full term, waters broke but no contractions, after a while got induced to start contractions but was getting there on her own anyway. Baby absolutely fine.

I gave birth at 42, was monitored by consultants etc, they all wanted me to be induced etc. I resisted but went to an appointment for the monitoring. My plan was to go home if all was fine but I had developed pre-eclampsia so would have had to be admitted to hospital anyway. I accepted induction at this point (day after due date) and went into labour quickly with just the pessary. Baby was born following morning. There were complications and it took me a while for my bp to stabilise. No idea if this was age related or down to the fact I had a Covid at 8 months pregnant.

If you do go down the induction route make sure you have plenty of pain relief. It's very intense pain (I've had a non-induced labour too and the difference was stark!) and personally if I did it again (I won't!!!!) I would ask for an epidural.

NameChange30 · 14/09/2022 21:56

lookslikeabombhitit · 14/09/2022 21:16

Have a look at Dr Sara Wickham's books. She's a midwife/ research midwife. They're excellent, well balanced and give you the information you need to make a decision that's best for you. Other excellent books to read are birth like a feminist/ the positive birth book both by Milli Hill. Expecting better by Emily Oster. The aims and evidence based birth (us based) websites are excellent. The Cochrane database allows you to look up research and read simple to follow systemic reviews of available research- spoiler most maternity research is of poor quality and is old... The RCOG and NICE websites allow you to read the guidelines that doctors should be working to within the NHS.

In terms of still birth risks after 40 weeks have a look at this article detailing the mbrace studies: www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/induction-at-term

Personally in my experience doctors certainly haven't known best.

Excellent post, look at everything suggested here, OP!

Also, it's your choice. See www.aims.org.uk/information/item/making-decisions

NameChange30 · 14/09/2022 21:57

Lou98 · 14/09/2022 21:20

You don't need to have either, there's always a choice.
If you choose not to have either and wait to see what happens they will offer you extra, regular monitoring so that if anything happens with baby they can get you in quickly if need be.

The reason they offer it is because there is increased risks with age but you can refuse and give it until your due date or further if you want.

Fwiw I've had 2 inductions and both were very quick and straightforward labours. I'm not planning on having anymore but if I did I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Obviously everybody is different though

What stage in the pregnancies were you induced?

HyperDrivenIntoParalysis · 14/09/2022 22:41

I was above 40 when I had DC2 last year and had been told right from the beginning that I would be induced at 39 weeks. I was not given the option of a c section. I asked as I'd not heard good things about induction.

Then in one of my later scans I had a brilliant consultant who explained everything to me and put all my fears to rest regarding any delivery method. He also booked me in for an additional scan at 39 weeks as he said "we should make this decision with all the information we can get". At that scan I saw the head of the department or whatever her title was and she said since my case is not complicated I could have any method I wanted including c section. I don't remember exactly what she said but she said in my case the risk of waiting for my due date or a few days beyond my date was negligible. I decided to book in for an induction on my due date but then went into labour a few days before that anyway.

If your choice is between induction and c section then personally I'd go for a c-section. I believe it's the safest method for the baby to get out and probably the most comfortable for you. From what I've heard the recovery periods aren't so bad either.

Anyway according to my consultant waiting for a due date even if you are above 40 is ok if there are no complications and the placenta is healthy.

Dipsydoodlenoodle · 14/09/2022 23:14

I was 37 and induced...no issues with the induction and had a healthy baby.

Chanel05 · 15/09/2022 10:14

Absolutely your choice!! They will likely just bring you in for regular monitoring.

Personally though, I'd rather have an elective section than be induced.

Merryclaire · 15/09/2022 13:58

I had the same options and chose planned CS, which took place 3 days before due date. I had heard so many bad induction stories and while I could have refused to have DD earlier and held out for the natural birth I wanted, I didn’t want to ignore medical advice.

CS wasn’t a walk in the park but I felt a lot better after a few days and I suspect it was a much better outcome than an induction ending with assisted delivery or emergency CS (both common scenarios with inductions).

There is no right or wrong answer - you just need to weigh up what you feel is lowest risk and right for you. Best of luck.

SunflowerGirl91 · 15/09/2022 16:18

Your age has nothing to do with how you should/shouldn’t give birth. Just because you’re 40 it doesn’t mean you’re less able to give birth naturally than someone who is 20!

out of the two of them options I personally would choose a planned csection, but if you want to try a natural birth then do so. Don’t be put off just because of your age!

Orangechips654123 · 15/09/2022 17:08

Hiya,

I was offered induction due to potentially having a 10lb+ baby and this was to be the day after due date. My waters broke at 39weeks 5days, didn't have contractions and hind waters didn't break so ended up having them broken and being induced on a hormone drip. Ended up in labour and gave birth on gas and air/pethidine. Pain was rather intense, never had any other births so unable to compare it to a non induced labour. I'm a month short of 39th birthday and baby boy is 17 days old.
Induction wasn't worse thing for me but I am aware of other people having to have emergency c sections etc so might be worth waiting it out if happy to do so.
Good luck and hope all goes well.

Underthemoon1 · 15/09/2022 17:27

I had a planned C-section for a breech baby and an induction for a late baby. I good the C-section horrendous I'm afraid. I lot a huge amount of blood and the pain afterwards was terrible, while you're trying to look after a newborn. My induction was very straightforward, really positive and recovery much easier despite a huge baby and an epistiotomy. Even if it had ended in a C-section I would have been happy knowing I did what I could to avoid another C-section.

iwishiwascountingsheep · 15/09/2022 18:28

lookslikeabombhitit · 14/09/2022 21:16

Have a look at Dr Sara Wickham's books. She's a midwife/ research midwife. They're excellent, well balanced and give you the information you need to make a decision that's best for you. Other excellent books to read are birth like a feminist/ the positive birth book both by Milli Hill. Expecting better by Emily Oster. The aims and evidence based birth (us based) websites are excellent. The Cochrane database allows you to look up research and read simple to follow systemic reviews of available research- spoiler most maternity research is of poor quality and is old... The RCOG and NICE websites allow you to read the guidelines that doctors should be working to within the NHS.

In terms of still birth risks after 40 weeks have a look at this article detailing the mbrace studies: www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/induction-at-term

Personally in my experience doctors certainly haven't known best.

Sad, but true.

Unless you have other medical issues, you can give birth as you please and God only knows why they wouldn't want you to.

The risk margins are tiny.

That's not to say that if you WANT a C-section you shouldn't have one.

Your choice is what matters.

Lou98 · 18/09/2022 12:07

@NameChange30 I was induced at 39 weeks exactly with my first and 39+2 with my second

GiltEdges · 18/09/2022 12:24

SunflowerGirl91 · 15/09/2022 16:18

Your age has nothing to do with how you should/shouldn’t give birth. Just because you’re 40 it doesn’t mean you’re less able to give birth naturally than someone who is 20!

out of the two of them options I personally would choose a planned csection, but if you want to try a natural birth then do so. Don’t be put off just because of your age!

It’s not about being “less able” to give birth naturally, it’s about the fact that there’s a (marginally) increased risk of stillbirth in a 40 year old woman who waits past term to give birth naturally compared with that same woman having an induction/ELCS at 39 weeks.

I’ve only given birth once by EMCS at 41+2 so don’t have any directly relevant experience (was only 30 at the time), but in your shoes OP I’d opt for the ELCS over induction any day of the week. I had a really positive experience with my section recovery and anecdotally most of the people I know who’ve had ELCS had even better experiences than me.