Complicated pregnancy & can't decide between early induction & c sec - help!

[Evianfash40]

Wonder if anyone can offer any advice - I am 37 weeks pregnant - (2nd pregnancy but 1st child - lost my first at 15 weeks). Naturally I have been very anxious throughout this pregnancy after what happened with my first, I'm still terrified about something going wrong.

At 30 weeks I got diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called ITP - my body is destroying my blood platelets, so my platelet count at present is too low for me to have an epidural despite being prescribed steroids to try & boost them. The steroids just aren't working. At present the consultant has advised that they will induce at 38 weeks and try to boost the platelets with a higher dose of steroids or immunoglobulin therapy (bit like blood transfusion) so that I have the option of an epidural. I have already said that I will refuse the induction if I don't have the option of the epidural as I have heard inductions can be particularly painful - particularly early. The consultant said I could have a planned c sec if I wanted and they wouldn't make me do something I didn't want to do. Also I had a growth scan this week and baby is measuring in 95th centile. To make matters more complicated, they don't know if the baby has low blood platelets like me (cannot test until he is born) which can cause internal bleeding if they are very low so they have said that during delivery they will try to avoid using forceps/ventouse.

Here's my dilemma which is the best option for delivery - both will have to happen at 38 weeks as they will try to boost my platelets enough for me to have epidural/spinal - altho lower count needed for spinal vs epidural. Weighing up the options I am leaning to the c sec for being more controlled/less risk for both of us/avoids forceps & ventouse/baby is big and my partner can be there.
Despite this the consultant still thinks that induction is better but I don't know why. Because c sec is considered major surgery? I am not confident at 38 weeks that an induction will be successful, and will not lead to the intervention that I am supposed to be avoiding - forceps/ventouse. I am already worried for my baby having lost one before. I will also not be able to have my partner with me during the induction because of covid so he can only join when in active labour.

Any thoughts/advice on which direction to take?

Given current covid restrictions and the unknown of your babies platelets id go csection with a spinal you can have your partner with you and if all goes well be home in 24 hrs

If you have an induction and it carries on you could end up labouring alone except for the midwife for periods of time

Google cascade of interventions for further info on inductions

I know this is an old thread, I've been diagnosed with the same and wandered what happened with your birth, baby and how you were postnatally Xx

Who cares if c section is frowned upon. Induction increases the odd that ventouse or forceps will be needed so they can’t guarantee not to use these. Forceps might still be needed for planned c section but are more likely if the induction fails and you need an emergency c section.

I was in the same position as you, needed delivery at 37 (due to APS) weeks and my options were induction or c section. In the U.K. it’s also normal to push induction as a first option but having very carefully weighed up the risks to myself and my baby, taking into account my history of miscarriages, potential for blood clotting, and that with my own set of circumstances (38, first time birth,overweight and induction at 37 weeks) my odds of having a failed induction, which may or may not include forceps/ventouse attempts, was about 40%, and as I’d have needed an emcs at this point my consultant and I agreed that for a coin toss situation like this, the safest option was a planned section.

My planned c section went like a dream and I had excellent recovery. I don’t doubt that someone with your set of circumstances will come to share their amazing induction story, however for us it was the right choice. Good luck whatever you decide x

Forgot to say, mine was spinal only and was about 50 minutes from spinal injection (which barely stung, and had been another worry) to being wheeled to recovery x