Induction or elective c section?

[hkp288]

I am currently 35 weeks and I have been diagnosed with cholestasis and they are looking to induce me around week 37-39.

Obviously googling induction just results in horror stories, if you have been induced, was it ok or am I better off asking to be booked in for a c section?

I’ve read some inductions are unsuccessful which result in an emergency section and from what I’ve read online this has worse recovery periods than a scheduled section.

It would be ideal to hear some experiences on this!

I was induced and had a relatively straightforward, unassisted vaginal birth. The drip started at 8am, I started contracting from 10am and was fully dilated by 5pm. I started pushing at 6pm and baby was born 6.25pm.
I was 40 + 3 though and had refused induction between 38 weeks and then (baby was measuring small) because I was nervous about the risks when my body was not ready to labour. Google ‘Bishop Score’ and have a read and ask your doctor or midwife what your score is. It will give you an idea of how successful an induction is likely to be.

I was induced at 37 +2, I didn't even make it to the drip...the 24 hr pessary done nothing, but then I had the gel put in and baby was here less than 6 hours later...unassisted vaginal birth.

My induction was due to high blood pressure x

I’ve read some inductions are unsuccessful which result in an emergency section and from what I’ve read online this has worse recovery periods than a scheduled section.

That's really individual I think. Both mine were emergency sections (one after a very long labour/pushing and failed forceps) and I had the fastest recoveries of everyone I know, electives included.

I was induced at 40+7. Pessary went in at 10pm. Started contracting at 8am, fully dilated at 6pm and pushing lasted 45 minutes and DD born at 9pm. So 23 hours start to finish. Had an epidural. Was super easy and no issues

Induction for first and it was so long and drawn out, then still resulted in a section. Wouldn't even consider it for my second and ended up with an elective section. So much better than my first time around. A section when you're not exhausted from 48 hours in labour is fine.

Induction for my first at 39+5 due to large baby. Took a while - 3 pessaries, waters broken, hormone drip - 39 hours in total.
Vaginal delivery with no interventions, managed on gas and air, very minor tear that only needed a couple of dissolving stitches.
Gave birth at 3am and was home cuddling on the sofa with DH and baby by 3pm 😊

You will read constant horror stories about induction if you google it - but mine was absolutely fine! I have 4 friends with babies - all had natural labours - 1 went great, 1 ended up in theatre with forceps, and the other 2 ended up in for unplanned c-sections due to complications during labour. You just never know how things will go regardless of whether you’re induced or not 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was induced at 40+10, had waters broken right away as I was dilated enough. Went straight onto drip and contractions were pretty intense and quick from the outset-however it was my first child so I knew no different. I managed fine with gas and air for about 5/6 hours or so (all a bit of a blur!) and then had diamorphine (even more blurry!). After around 10 hours from getting waters broken and a while pushing they decided I needed an emcs. It was all fine though. Did take me a bit to recover but no idea if that’s any longer than a planned section. Scar was sore, moving about quite hard, sleeping uncomfortable. Trapped wind was awful. Hate the csection shelf I’m left with.
If I had to do it again I don’t think I’d necessarily change anything as ultimately I’d rather try for a natural birth.

In my experience, induction was fine. Went into it with a Bishop score of 0 at 37 weeks due to pre-eclampsia.

Gels didn't do much, but they did open my cervix enough to allow for my waters to be broken. Once they were broken, we waited 2 hours to see if I would go into labour naturally. I didn't, so had the drip. 11.5 hours of drip later I had a spontaneous vaginal delivery, with minor second degree tearing.

Of my NCT group, 4 were induced (myself, obstetric cholestasis, prolonged rupture of membranes and age). Of these, 2 were regular births (though the other lady (age) had a third degree tear), and the other 2 (OC and PROM) had emergency C-sections. Of the two spontaneous labours, one had a regular birth (with the biggest baby of the group at 10lb 2 no less!), while the other had a forceps delivery and third degree tear (second biggest baby).

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Induced at 38 weeks and it was loooooong and hard, eventually ended up with EMCS. Said zero chance I am being induced this time so planning elective section.

Everyone is different really, but I don't think my son was ready at all at 38 weeks and I was so exhausted in the end that it just wasn't a particularly nice experience.

Would do it all again tomorrow for him though :) but with the benefit of hindsight I won't be induced this time! x