Induction vs CSection

[Letsallscreamatthesistene]

Ok, so im having a big baby. Baby was measuring 50th centile until week 32, when he shot up the growth curve steeply. Last measured on the 95th centile at 37 weeks. Ive got another scan at 39 weeks to see if baby is still sharply climbing up the growth curve, and i'll need to make a decision about what to do.

Ive been offered three choices, a) just let it be and he'll come when he comes, he'll just be big b) an induction around due date, or c) a csection around due date.

What are peoples opinions on induction vs csection? I know induction can be a long, drawn out and quite a painful process, but equally the thought of major abdo surgery isnt thrilling me either. On the flip side, letting him be born naturally means he'll be big, and therefore increases the likelihood of instrumental delivery, which is also a risk in induction.

I dont really know where to go from here and im a bit stuck, so id like to know peoples opinions/experiences please and maybe it'll help me decide.

Its my 1st baby btw.

Thank you everyone!

I had a failed induction and then an emergency section.

The section was a blessed relief and the recovery wasn't so bad. How fit and healthy are you generally? The recovery does not have to be hell.

I'd have another section in a heartbeat but no force on earth would get me back in the induction suite.

Generally fairly fit and healthy, still going to the gym/swimming 3 x per week.

Was your induction horrible because of the pain?

The pain and the panic it caused. The induction was also done on an open ward. That did not help. I would check how they do the induction- do you get your own room? If not, how far in labour will you have to be until you do? How often do they monitor you? (Was every six hours with me) what are your options for pain relief during the induction?

If you're fit and healthy, the recovery from the section might not be that bad. I was doing DIY five days later! (Probably not recommended though!)

I also breastfed and had him in a sling by day two.

Don't get me wrong, the wound hurt and I needed the morphine they give you. It hurt for a few months if I moved too suddenly and there is a numb patch on my stomach near my scar. However, all of that was fairly easy to cope with.

And my bits are the same as they were pre-pregnancy

I was projected to have a big baby. Really didn’t want a c section due to the recovery. In the end I went almost 2 weeks overdue, had a great induction experience (the pessary was very effective, labour lasted 3 hours and I had a waterbirth). Baby was just under 9lbs so smaller than they expected. Inductions aren’t all awful and the scans can be inaccurate. I almost went for a c section and so glad I didnt.

PS my bits are the same as they were pre pregnancy too. I had a small tear (95th centile head!) but it healed quickly and easily.

I had an induction in similar circumstances and ended in emcs. None of it was particularly traumatic though. In that situation I think I'd probably try the same again.

Same situation and went to be induced and was a long awful experience, ended in emergency c section. Which at only 23 was also very easy recovery, had a kidney infection after but nothing bad was out for dinner a week later !
When having a second id either have a planned c section to avoid the long induction again or let things be. Hope all goes ok :)

I was induced in both my labours -DS was measuring on the 99th centile and I had a positive experience with him, he arrived at 39+6 weighing 7lbs8. DD was on 95th centile and arrived at 41+1 weighing 8lbs.

I can't compare to a "natural" birth but I laboured both times with just gas and air, and the first time I had the hormone drip which is meant to be the bit that hurts. It was a hard but manageable pain and I'd do it again over the thought of recovering from a major surgery.

I would be induced but decide at what point you’d rather them change to a c section if being induced isn’t working.

It's a tricky one because pretty much everyone I know who was predicted to have a big baby, the baby has not actually been that big at all. Those scans are notoriously unreliable. Me on the other hand, my DS was predicted to be 9lb 5 and was in fact 11lb 1! I went for the elective and am obviously very glad I did.

I was induced with my 3rd with a pessery 2 days before my due date. Pessery in about 4 hours then I started labour and baby was here in a hour. No intervention needed. baby wasnt huge though 8lb 2oz