Considering ELCS instead of induction IF baby won't come

[Hoping4baby21]

Hey,

So I guess I have a very specific set of circumstances that have brought me to this. I'm currently 40+1. My preference is to have a vaginal and physiological birth (as few interventions as possible and no vaginal exams). I went through IVF to get pregnant and tried for over 2 years, I stopped counting at the 2 year mark. I've had a lot of vaginal and vaginal adjacent procedures due to IVF and now I struggle with the idea but also with intimacy with my husband. Hence the absolute no flex to consenting to vaginal exams.

Whilst an induction would or could still allow for a vaginal birth, it would require a lot of vaginal exams, as well as the increased risks of intervention etc.
I also have SPD, and cannot be confined to a bed for hours or have my legs in stirrups or pushed apart. There's no way I could tolerate an assisted delivery.

In light of all of this, as well as more but I'm trying to keep this short, the longer I go, the heavier I get, the lower baby gets my SPD gets worse and I'm finding it hard to have such little mobility and constant pain. I would love for baby to come spontenously but i feel I'm at the point I need to consider alternative options for my own mental and physical wellbeing.

So my question is, has anyone made a similar choice even if for different reasons? Would love to know your experience, any regrets, or tips (please no horror stories).

Sorry another thing to add that will be relevant to yourself as it was to me- they need to put in a catheter. I was horrified by this as I so far hadn’t had any internal exams for the reasons I stated above so I was anxious about this. I asked if I could have the spinal first, then the curtain up, then the catheter. So that I wouldn’t feel it. And they respected my wishes and did exactly that- curtain up, after spinal, and I wasn’t aware of what they were doing re the catheter. It was in very fast (I only know because they told me!) Then there is catheter removal- done the day after the section. Truly I promise you this is SO fast and truly pain free. I barely felt it. So the only times I had anyone near my nether regions was for the catheter. Putting it in I didn’t feel. Taking it out was quick and pain free so not much by way of people “messing with my bits” (as I felt!). No other exams or vaginal anything was needed at all. Make sure you ask them to do catheter AFTER the spinal so you don’t feel it.

I was induced the first time around and ended up needing a category one emergency section- so a proper scary emergency with alarms going off, crash team running in, me under GA, husband not allowed in the room at all, and then me in recovery for over 9 hours before even getting to see my baby. That was due to pre eclampsia and baby's heart rate dipping to flatline. I don't know if there would have been a similar fright if it were a
routine induction.
Second time around I had a planned section and it was great! I was still terrified due to what had happened before but it was genuinely so easy, went smoothly, I only needed a spinal and my husband could stay in the room for the birth. It was an entirely different experience and I would say planned section every single time to any woman who is considering it!
Recovered easy peasy from it- much easier if just local anaesthetic as you can get up and move within a few hours! After the general anaesthetic and me not having moved for over 24 hours by the time I had to stand up it was excruciatingly painful and took a long time to get moving.
So planned section for sure!
You will be fine, good luck with the birth and beyond.

I have chosen this too, but for slightly different reasons. Also IVF pregnancy. I’m 38 weeks and I have an ELCS booked for 40+2 if I don’t go into labour spontaneously. I discussed my reasons for not wanting an induction and my consultant / midwife were fully supportive. Good luck!

For every person who says ELCS there will be others who say induction. I had an induction and I would do so again, but our circumstances are extremely different. I think the best you can do is make a decision that feels right for you in your specific circumstances.
Have you seen the BRAIN risk assessment tool? I found that very helpful and used it to make my decision.
Remember, an induction is a pathway not one single procedure - there's loads of ways it could go down, some straight forward and some not, and I believe it's complete luck of the draw if you have a terrible time or not.
I hope you can make a decision so that you can try to enjoy the last bit of time before baby arrives, best of luck x

I had an induction last time and after three EXTREMELY painful VEs, I refused any more. The rest of my birthing experience was awful as my contractions weren’t following the so-called patterns they’d expect so they didn’t believe I was as far gone as I was. It was only when I agreed to a final VE that they saw baby was RIGHT THERE and was well on her way. So, I’d never ever recommend an induction without VEs, based on my own experience. For that reason, I’m also considering an ELCS if they want to induce me this time.

My only advice is do what feels right for you.

But just so you know, you will be definitely be frog legged twice during a C-section. First to put the catheter in. The second to clean out the vagina of any blood clots once the operation is complete.

Both these things need to happen. The catheter to get your bladder out of the way of where the incision will be made. The clean up is to: get an accurate final blood loss/know if you're having a PPH once you're in recovery/make sure you won't be lying in it while you're still numb. The spinal will make it so while you might know something is going on, you won't feel any pain. As a PP says, catheter removal is super duper easy. Don't even have to move your legs at all, so don't worry about that.

As someone who was induced just last August, the pessary insertion wasn't pleasant, and the three attempts to break my waters were invasive and not something I would ever want to repeat, of I was offered induction again I would absolutely request a c section. My first labour was a good experience on the midwife led unit, the second time was the induction.

Hi @Hoping4baby21 i hope you and your baby are doing well! Would you mind sharing how you got on if you feel comfortable doing so? I am nearing the end of my IVF pregnancy and wanting to make informed decisions where possible.

Not RTFT but in your circumstances I'd go for a ELCS too. Just to add though that not all inductions require a lot of examinations. I had DD 6 months ago and other than putting the gel in, there wasn't time for any other exams - she was born in an hour 25 minutes!

Aaaaaand this is why you RTFT 🤦‍♀️

I would do the same as you . The chances of a you ending up with a c section are big anyway with a induction , with the rest of your circumstances I think it’s the best option too

I should also add I had a natural vaginal birth and emergency and planned c sections and the planned c sections and here my best births ,the ones I cherish the most

Oops RTFT