Can you ask for c-section over induction?

[Prettylittlelady]

I am an anxious person at the best of times and I’m wondering that if I go over due - if there the option of asking for a csection?
My reasoning for this is from what I have read/experiences of people I know inductions can end up in emergency c sections anyway as your body wasn’t ready to give birth yet and had to be forced to.

Also - how long do they wait overdue until wanting to induce?

I did. FTM. It’s been agreed. My induction would have been at 37 weeks. There are other factors, but essentially risk of emergency c section would be about 40%, and threefold risk of aggravating existing issues compared to elective.

It usually depends on your trust and their policy on elective c section. Remember no one tells the good induction stories, they don't make good drama.

My friend was induced at 11am, baby born at 5 pm with paracetamol for pain relief.

I was booked for induction, baby came naturally a week earlier with paracetamol for pain.

Try not to assume the worst will happen to you, but speak to your midwife if your anxiety is that bad.

I had an induction in April and it was an absolutely amazing birth. No problems & was not as bad as everyone said at all. I preferred it to my first birth which was all natural! No mad dash to the hospital. Just nice and calm in your little bubble in the room

Following as I am considering this. Two previous inductions, now 43 with a rectocele...

You can certainly ask, I would raise it with your midwife of you are really worried, she might be able to ease your mind a bit. I was induced at 12 days overdue, I think that is the maximum they will let you get to. I know it's easier said than done but try not to worry about these things before they happen, good luck with your pregnancy x

Yes, and I will be opting for an elective c-section if I need to be induced.

Re: previous comments about what gestation they will 'let you get to' - you have a right to refuse an induction/c-section and wait to go into labour naturally at any gestation! You never have to agree to intervention, so it's important to do the research and make informed decisions for you and your baby. Personally, I've weighed up the evidence and will not be accepting any sort of intervention until 40+14. Remember that just because a hospital has a policy to recommend induction at a certain gestation (often 40+10 or 40+12) that doesn't necessarily mean it reflects the NICE guidelines or the best and most up to date evidence, and it certainly doesn't mean you have to go along with it 😊

Yes and do! A planned section is much kinder than an induction and they often end in emergency c sections anyway.

I will for my next baby. I was induced and got all the way to pushing before I had an emergency c-section. No way am I going through that again. Talk to your midwife and explain your concerns

Agree with a pp that women need to move away from language such as 'they won't let you do this'.

The Consultant tried that with me and got short shrift. Plus hospital policy on induction/c section differs between trusts which it wouldn't if it was based on settled science/research.

I discovered that I could insist on a c section instead of the drip after having two failed pessaries for induction...in the end went for the ARM and the drip. Would give the pessaries a whirl again as they, on reflection, were relatively low key (medical need for induction rather than overdue). Wish I hadn't had to have a big cry to be told that I could go straight to c section when the pessaries didn't work and it will depend where you are but could be one to keep in mind.

You absolutely have the right to request one. However I do agree with a PP about never hearing the positive induction stories.

For sure you can ask - would just say to balance out some of the comments that inductions are not shown to result in a higher risk of CS - rather the opposite. However, it all depends on the reason for induction. For example, someone who labours spontaneously at 39 weeks is not the same as someone who doesn’t go into labour until 42 weeks - being overdue itself leads to a higher risk of CS, it’s not so much the induction process.
There’s a good trial called the ARRIVE trial that compares induction and waiting in otherwise well low risk women - worth a look (google should find it). A few other trials around that show the same thing. There’s another one that compares induction at 41 weeks with Induction at 42 weeks and shows improved outcomes for both mum and baby by inducing earlier.

That’s not to dismiss any feelings you have about the process of induction itself - for sure it is different from natural labour.

I am an absolute believer in choice around your birth, so if you decide that you prefer a CS then by all means ask for a CS. It’s worth exploring your feelings around this with your midwife as well.

Aso re timing - generally you’ll find “post dates “ induction suggested at about 41-42 weeks. As pp have mentioned timing is all down to your choice so you shouldn’t feel forced into anything. Hopefully you have a good midwife who can talk around all the pros and cons of any approach - but even more hopefully you’ll just have a lovely normal labour at 39-40 :)

I was induced at 40+12. Induced at 10pm. Contractions started 7am. Had baby at 5:30pm with gas and air. Induction isn’t always awful.

Ok, let me rephrase the "let you get to" comment that is the maximum they advise is safe. As far as I remember, the placenta starts to deteriorate at around that point. Of course you have the right to do whatever you choose, but there are risks and they will probably ask you to come in for increased monitoring. For what it's worth, I requested a c section for my second and was given it with no resistance at all. It's your body and you are in control, please don't ever feel otherwise x

Just clarifying my comment re 40% chance of my induction ending up an emcs - need to stress that these odds are personal to me based on the other existing factors I mentioned, and don’t want people to think they necessarily have the same odds x

Also feel like my comment needs clarifying, the first sentence is a bit unclear! What I was trying to explain is that induction doesn’t cause higher risk of CS. Agree w pp - there are always going to be personal factors that raise or lower your risk, as well as personal factors that change your preference