Induced at 38wks or c-section-what's preferable?

[welliwasntexpectingthat]

I am having another large (ish) baby (last 2 were 10lb). There are no medical issues, just genetics but i am being offered either induction from 38wks or a cs at 40wks... does anyone have any opinions?

Really? It was mild, nodamage and he was 9 days over so if had induction earlier, he'd be smaller. For info, both previous births were induced. First at 12 days over and second at 9 days as contractions stopped after they started.

I have had babies both ways - (emergency) c section followed by a vaginal birth. I would say get induced every time. That birth was a lot easier, in my experience, and the recovery time was a lot faster.

Don't think it's automatically 6 weeks off driving post-section. It depends on your insurance company. Mine said they didn't have a set time that you couldn't drive for, you just had to be capable of performing an emergency stop. After DC3 I was driving after about 4 weeks.

It is a hard decision. Thankfully it was a mild shoulder dystocia last time, and you'll likely have a smaller baby this time and things will go well. But should dystocia if they truly get stuck, you're talking minutes between having a healthy baby and a baby with mild or severe brain damage if they can't get them out. Don't mean that to scare you but that can be the reality of SD and it's important to know before making a decision. Sections have risks also obviously so it's weighing them up

I would go for induction rather than a CS; as you have said baby likely to be smaller at 38 weeks and recovery likely to be quicker which will be better if you have other children to care for and the holidays approaching. I am sure they wouldn't have offered induction as an option if they thought the risk was so severe that you should definitely have a CS.

C section recovery isnt necessarily straight forward.

My wound caused me issues for 4 months. I had daily nurse visits to have it packed as the stupid thing wouldn't heal.

Ny forst child was born vaginally and i tore badly but the recovery was so much faster. I womt have another child now in case i have to have another section.

Obviously everyone is different. I had to make the same choice and I opted for a planned section due to the high risk of being induced then needing an emergency one.

A section was not my original plan or preferred option however I feel I made the best decision for me and my baby. It was a very calm experience and I was well rested not exhausted from labour.

Me and DS were both absolutely fine and I was up and about that night after section at 3pm. Home the next day tho I could have stayed in hospital had I wanted to. I was lucky and had no complications, healed really well and was driving after a few weeks with the go ahead from my HV and insurance company

Good luck

C section
I was driving within 2 weeks

Waiting until 40 weeks with SD risk- no way. I’d much rather an induction two weeks earlier than risk spontaneous delivery.

In light of the shoulder dystocia I would opt for a c section.