Advice/experiences on second induction

[MrsCremuel]

Sorry - long one.

Currently 37 weeks. Have been for many growth scans as baby was 8th centile at the 20week scan, seemingly caught up (to 40th centile at one point) but now back to 8th.

I’ve been booked for an induction at 39 weeks and am absolutely gutted. Embarrassingly, I burst into tears when told this by the by the midwife! I’d got my hopes up.

First induction was awful. Ended up on the drip had to beg for an epidural as they were v reluctant. It didn’t work, no one believed me until anaesthetist stopped consultant from performing episiotomy as I didn’t have the adequate pain relief yet. Lost a lot of blood, internal tears and bleeding, DS taken away during stitching for the first 1.5 hours, terribly bruised poor thing. Had faecal incontinence for the first 10 months after and ongoing pelvic pain for over a year. Still can’t get the image of the consultant dragging him out of me, I felt railroaded into everything and violated and so, so helpless.

I had hoped to avoid all this again, but the midwife said second inductions are easier? I might not end up on the drip as I did with my first?

So in a nutshell; what was your second induction like?

I am thinking I will ask for a caesarean if it looks like forceps and episiotomy again but am equally terrified of those!

Hello! I can’t really answer your question because I’ve only had one horrible induction experience, however, your experience sounds utterly awful and I’m sorry you went through that.
I’ve had lots of discussions about my worries about my second birth and I have to say if I went through what you did I’d be asking for an elective section. I have been back and forth about what I will do (38w3d currently) and have been very clear about what I don’t want/won’t consent to second time round, one of them being forceps and episiotomy. I have made sure it is clear in my notes that if it appears to be going that way, I want them to discuss it with me as early as possible as I would want a section at that point. I still haven’t ruled out asking for a section now for which they are supportive but it took a few conversations for them to really understand WHY I was worried.
Be clear with your midwife and that you understand your birth rights and if you haven’t already, maybe ask for a call with a consultant midwife? You have every right to be worried and want to be clear about what you do and don’t want. I appreciate you say a section terrifies you too so I think the important thing is you feel listened to and respected in whatever choice you make and given your history, I can’t imagine this should require much fight on your side. Good luck xx

Oh and my epidural failed first time too so I have also made sure they know if on the very unlikely chance I consent to the drip again, I want pain relief sorted before they start it xx