Induction or ELCS?

[Cariad007]

If it came down to these two options which would you choose and why? And if you’re told you’ll need to be induced then how willing are doctors to give you an ELCS if you’d rather have that?

I don't know what I'd do in that situation if I had a choice, but my hospital have a policy of doing no ELCSs without a medical reason, which would lead me to believe that I wouldn't be given a choice and would be induced.

Then again, I don't think they can induce you without your permission. They may advise that you have an induction, but in the end you should be the one to make the decision.

If I had the choice ELCS. I've had one of each and the ELCS was the better experience for me. Saying that though I've heard lots if people whose inductions were positive experiences and I'm sure they'll be along soon so you'll have a balanced response.

Talk to your mw/dr and find out as much as you can about each.

I would choose elcs my reasoning being that I was induced before and that ended in emcs and me having to be put to sleep and dp not actually seeing his son be born.
I'm unsure how willing the hospital would be to do an elcs but the nice guidelines say anyone can request a c section even for non medical reasons but they are guidelines so it would be down to the consultant to agree it.

Anyone can request a c section? The front page of my maternity notes says, "Caesarian sections in this unit are only performed for medical or clinical reasons following discussion with the Consultant Obstetrician." Makes sense to me.

I think that if you can show that it would cause huge mental distress to have vaginally delivery then they have to consider it or refer you to a consultant who will consider it.

I think that's what the NICE guidelines say.

I've had both and would choose an ELCS any day. Recovery was much easier than from my forceps delivery after induction.

Thanks for all the responses. I'm just interested in getting a few opinions just in case all doesn't go to plan for me. I know that inductions can result in more interventions and instrumental delivery and this terrifies me tbh, as I've read awful stories about tearing. I think overall I'd rather take the longer recovery time from an ELCS than risk the pain and/or incontinence risks from forces or ventouse.

The book provided by the South London NHS Trust says that if you request a c-section due to anxiety about vaginal birth you will be referred for counseling. While I would agree with everyone here and say I think I would prefer the ELCS, I highly doubt most hospitals will just go ahead and say yes.

I've had the option and am going for an elcs if I don't go into Labour naturally. The thought of being induced scares me as the thought of forcing my body by the use of artificial hormones into doing something it's not ready to do just makes me uncomfortable plus all the risks associated with induction. I know c-sections aren't without risk but to me the potential risks of a c-sect aren't as bad as as induction, plus there is the pain factor too. I've had an emcs before and found the recovery from that easier and less painful then the vaginal birth I had. So elcs it would be for me.

Just want to agree that I found recovery from elcs far easier than my induction which totally wiped me out and I wasn't right for ages. But I did have great support at home so was able to recover well with cs despite having a little crazy toddler running around too

Hi!

I was induced with dd1 after going 13 days over and although painful, was the best option for me as no tearing/ really quick recovery and was a 9lber!! I did beg for an epidural but refused as whole thing lasted 8 hoyrs from start to finish. This time around, hoping to go into labour naturally but tbh, the induction worked first time and was not the horrir story often imagined. I also had my gas abd aid tajen away from me as I was getting a bit too merry! Good luck and you will be amazing:)

Ps no medical intervention either and was first baby- it's not all doom and gloom being Induced. I'm just glad it was quick and I could feel everything and so did not tear as didnt push when I coukd feel there were no contractions. I'm only 5:2 and she was a whopper but having a good midwife and birthing partner works wonders. Just believe you csn do it and it will be over at some point! Good luck!

Hello I had induction for DS 1 12 days late. I was persuaded to have epidural before they even broke my waters and set up the drip. Senior midwife and anaesthetist came to see me as I'm a Dr and persuaded me that induction without epidural equals severe pain. This was lucky, pain well controlled, 12 hours to dilate I was able to rest, but at 1 point the epidural ran low, it was agony without it. I ended up with emcs as head too big this was why he never descended. I got to 10cm and pushed for an hour. C section and my recovery was fine much better than having tears etc but we almost lost DS he went to icu with fetal distress. Afterwards I learnt that in first time mums who have induction more than 50# end up with emcs. If I had my time again I would have had Elcs rather than induction.
Hope this helps.
The bottom line was that I ended up with worst case scenario but I went home well after 3 days with a perfect baby. Very few labours are good but it will all be ok in the end for almost everyone.

I would choose ELCS if I was given the choice between the two.

Based on anecdotal evidence- friends & acquaintances- those that had induction ended up with multiple interventions e.g. Syntocinon drip to speed things up, instrumental delivery (mainly forceps- sounds horrendous & makes me shudder!) or CS

I was induced at 38 weeks as waters ruptured but I wasn't progressing so the risk of infection is higher. I ended up having forceps and stitches but I was up and about after a few hours, discharged 24 hours after and felt well. My recovery was fine, I was out and about walking to the shops the day after.
I had consented to a cs incase things took a turn for the worse, but was glad I avoided it due to the restrictions after (lifting, driving etc).

Having had one ELCS for a breech baby it's a no brained for me, ELCS again! I had such a good experience I wouldn't want to try and then have it fail and have a stressful EMCS.

Ive had both. In fact I fought for an elcs on the nhs because my dds birth (an induction) was so awful... 72 hours from start to finish, ventouse and episiotomy etc etc. I didnt want to do all that again. It left me with severe pnd for a year afterwards.

My elcs with ds was amazing and despite undiagnosed placenta previa causing 2 litres blood loss (!!!) It was fantastic and I would have another elcs in a heartbeat. Recovery was better and faster too.

This is all really useful so thanks so much for answering my question. The reason I ask is because my baby was back to back and breech at my 20 week scan and now at 28 weeks I can still feel a lot of kicks very low down and towards my back. I know there's plenty of time for him to turn but I like to be prepared for all eventualities.

If you're overdue and get to x number of weeks- then you are presented with a plan for induction with all the monitoring involved etc...how likely is it that you can get a CS instead?

For example, if you refuse to consent to induction, is the default just to let you go on, with close/daily monitoring or would they agree to a CS...?

Just to add I'm planning on booking into local birth centre but obviously if I go overdue it'll have to be labour ward.

I'm happy enough to go the 'natural' route but I'm not desperate for a vaginal birth at any cost. I would definitely find forceps/episiotomy much more traumatic than a CS.

I'm 37 weeks with breech baby and in next week to discuss options! Before the section though- 39 weeks usually here- ill be offered the evc/ or evc never sure!- manual turning before that. As unlisted above, dd1 was induced but I'm just happy to get dd2 out safely! Babies turn though right up to the end- although less likely as weeks increase- but I'm hoping she does so I can have a water birth- good luck!!

It's ECV- external cephalic version

Not sure what the success rate, but they certainly will be keen to give it a go if you've not had any complications during the pregnancy etc.