Why are people so against induction?

[PicassoWouldBeProud]

I'm overdue at the moment and there's talk about me being induced in a couple of days if nothing happens. This is my first DC and I'm wondering what is so bad about induction because my midwife says things like "we'll do everything we can to avoid inducing you" and "we don't want you to have to go down that road".

It's scaring me a bit because in my mind (naïveté) I was thinking "OK well you'll be in hospital and they'll give you pain relief first and you'll be closely monitored" so why do the midwives talk about it like it's a terrifying and horrific procedure? Can anyone shed any light on the reality of it for me?

The midwife has explained it can take a long time which I know isn't ideal but is there more to it than this?

My second baby was induced at 37 weeks and it was a fantastic, well managed birth, he was gorgeous and healthy, I had just gas and air throughout. So nothing negative about it in my experience!

I think there’s a higher chance of complications if you’re induced. And the if you need the drip then it ramps up the contractions from nought to a hundred without the acclimatisation you might get from spontaneous labour. Saying that I was induced and it was over and done with in 4 hours. So not all inductions are bad experiences. Good luck!!!

I researched prior to my second and third/fourth babies. I read that induction increases the risk of further interventions. It also increases the risk of uterine rupture in a vbac. I have no issue with c sections but would have preferred to go straight for a planned c section rather than induction, instruments and then potentially a c section.

I had a vbac with number 2, hypnobirthed and used the birthing pool. With babies 3/4 (twins) I had a c section. I really wanted to avoid instrumental deliveries.

The c sections were quicker recoveries in my experience.

It doesn't always work, I had a failed induction and it ended in a section. I wasn't overdue though.

Inductions can be extremely lengthy, more painful, and mean you are more likely to require pain relief and other interventions such as forceps or a caesarean. Sarah Wickham’s book is incredibly useful to help you understand the process, and also what options you have.

You are forcing your body to go into labour before it is ready, therefore things can move on very quickly and therefore much more painful, or the opposite, it may not work and then you have to stay in hospital for longer. The chances of complication increase and the need for intervention. However, this is not the case for every induced birth.

As others say it doesn't always work.

I was induced at 36 weeks due to pre enclampsia and it failed resulting in an emergency c section due to baby in distress. It was a bit more traumatic than I would have liked but we both came out the other side fine.

Don't worry yourself too much though. What will happen will happen and if you go with the flow its less likely to be as stressful :)

My induction was absolutely fine and so was my sister's. Good luck.

Well I suppose it's not the "ideal" natural birth that women (generally) have in mind? Can lead to greater chance of the cascade of interventions (forceps, emergency sections, etc) and complications, as you mentioned it can take a long time, you'll be stuck in hospital if it does etc. it can limit your birth choices somewhat - probably no pool, more difficult to stay active... etc.

What kind of birth had you and your midwife discussed when you did you birth plan? She may be assuming that you would prefer natural, etc. or basing it on your plan.

But it can also be a great experience! I was induced with my first and it was positive over all, quick and minimal interventions (just an episiotomy), but I think my body was already in go mode - it can be quite different if your body is nowhere near ready. I wasn't automatically offered any type of pain relief though, so don't assume that will happen and maybe make it clear to your midwife that you will want this.

Good luck OP and don't fear the induction (I did and in hindsight it was a waste of energy really!).

I was induced at 38 weeks. Had to have waters manually broken. On a drip the whole time so couldn't walk about. Pain was incredible so early epidural, forceps and then emergency c section. Never again!

It generally causes much more painful intense contractions. Torture at the time, and causes more damage than a normal birth. So much higher risk of tearing/episiotomy, prolapse, incontinence etc.

I’ve had an induced vaginal birth and an elective Caesarian and would choose a Caesarian again, it was a much easier recovery.

Sorry to be negative.

www.swbh.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Induction-of-labour-ML5105.pdf

It says 2015 at the bottom so your hospital may have more up to date information.

My experience was that it took ages to kick in. 24 hours maybe. Then it kicked off big time and was all done in a few hours. No forceps or any other nasties. It was my second child though.

It can also discount you from labouring in the MLU, if that's where you had been planning to give birth. Re: pain relief, don't get too wedded to a specific idea of getting XYZ before induction and in early stages. You might have to wait for quite a while for an epidural depending on availability (if that's what you are planning on).

I agree - it was long. I wish my labour had come on naturally. I was in hospital for about 30 hours with multiple (highly uncomfortable) pressures being inserted in and out and it felt like an eternity. After about 18-20 hours they started talking about C-sections and that was terrifying for me.

Yes I waited 4 hours for epidural after the contractions had started.

IF I had to induce again I’d refuse consent to start the process until the anaesthetist was literally in the room and ready to go.

I am not particularly wedded to any kind of birth plan I've just made it clear I would like to be listened to if I ask for an epidural. My midwife has said if the induction happens I would be offered an epidural before the drip because of how intense the contractions are, but wouldn't necessarily get one during the earlier stages (pessaries etc.)

I also asked if I could opt for an elective C section instead of induction and was told no, I have to go through the induction process first and only if it fails am I then allowed a C section (at that stage obviously I wouldn't want one as then you've endured both!)

@TinselTimes was that 4 hours you had to wait after being put on the drip?

Some inductions are medically necessary but routine ones are all too common. You don’t have to agree to them and can ask to be monitored instead. My 3rd was over 2 weeks late and resisted pressure for induction as tends to lead to lots more intervention.

That's not right. You can have an elective c section. If the consultant says no they have to refer you to someone who will say yes. Look at Birthrights.

I wish I had done that. Have you looked at percentage likelihood of outcomes for induction? And for first births not all births. Where I am, instrumental delivery is about 65% chance. I wrote I did not want this in by birth plan and that in that instance I would want a c section but they did it anyway. Just didn't warn me or discuss.

Don't want to scare you but it seems like you want honest and true info.

They don't tell people the risks of induction at my hospital. The head of midwifery told me its "because it would scare the women". So therefore they never get informed consent.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Documents/IOL-leaflet-40plus-weeks.pdf

This is really interesting - further down th page it summarises the difference between being late and inducing - and chances of complications etc and they aren’t that different

Mainly just because of the increased risk of intervention I think.
I was induced last week. Didn’t make it to the waters breaking/drip stage, the pessary kicked things off. 5 hours from first contraction to birth, no pain relief bar gas and air and no stitches. It was fine! Frustrating waiting around but otherwise fine.

that was four hours without an epidural after my waters were broken.

In total the process took 3 days in hospital before baby arrived.

Legally you are entitled to a Caesarian - you can just choose to have one. In your shoes I would!

I was induced with second using pessary and you are not given pain relief as a matter of course before. Epidural can slow progression of labour so the opposite of what they are trying to achieve with induction. Induction statistically leads to more intervention but in my case it was fine - just used gas and air and tens but I labour quickly. Any longer and I probably would have needed something else. First delivery was spontaneous and I also just used gas and air and tens. Induced labour was more intense but fine in the end.

Oh and I did Hypnobirthing with both which really helped.