Is it better to never be induced?

[Pianodiano]

I am doing some very early research so thought this would be a good place to ask.

Most of our local trusts maternity stats are that if someone is induced it is then most likely they will need an assisted delivery, or it’ll end in EMCS. Surely knowing this if it comes to induction it’s better to just opt for an ELCS rather than go through the stress of interventions and putting yourself at risk for a time-pressured emergency situation where a section is likely needed anyway?

I really don’t like the idea of forceps or episotomy (who does) but this is especially since a couple of relatives and friends of mine have had serious birth trauma from instrumental deliveries and interventions, one of their babies needed physio after as the forceps had injured them. I am also hearing in the news that most maternity departments are rated inadequate or requires improvement in the last 12 months.

I guess this just bothers me as I don’t want a traumatic experience and I am hearing of so many people who have had that lately!

What has your experience been and would you avoid induction? Thanks :)

A friend of mine has had four inductions and four great experiences. I’ve been induced once and it wasn’t good.

There’s no way of knowing if any labour would have been traumatic for me though. I wouldn’t rule out induction just because of bad stories. There’s plenty of those about every type of birth (and probably every aspect of motherhood, too!)

Horrendous... induced 4 times for my first... emergency c sections and both very sick.
The only thing i had on my birth plan for second was do not induce under any circumstances it was that Horrendous i had to have counselling after. Dont do it.

I was very small during pregnancy 12 years ago and back then they only let you go a certain amount overdue. They let me go quite over to give baby a chance to grow. No sign of labour. Booked me for an induction. Was so upset. Booked in. Got gowned up. Lay down on the bed ready to start and my waters went. Not helpful but always makes me laugh as it reflects my son so much.. always makes things just by the skin of his teeth and last minute 😂 49 hour labour but yeah 😂

Also you put 'just opt for an elective c -section' in quite a casual manner as if that's a sure safe bet but they come with risks to mother and child too! Basically every option has some degree of potential danger it's not like oh I'll just opt for an elective and everything will be fine.

There’s always a medical reason for an induction- it’s the least riskiest option if your baby needs to be delivered to avoid complications and avoid a c section (which carries all the risks and recovery time of major surgery).

I think it would be foolish to refuse the medical advice you’re given.

HCPs have far more insight and experience than anything you can learn by “researching” online.

An induction is usually advised to prevent serious complications for you or the baby.

I would advise trusting the medical opinion you’re given.

I was induced for my first and ended up with an emergency section. For my second, my plan was to try VBAC but if I went well over I’d have an elective section over induction which is what happened in the end. I would not be induced again personally

Around 20% of labours are induced so it’s more likely that you won’t be advised to have an induction.

Bear in mind that if you refuse to co operate with an advised induction you will have to be carefully monitored.

Continuing a pregnancy past 42 weeks increases the risk of still birth for example.

There’s a lot of “anti induction” material online- some from questionable sources and heavily anecdotal.

I wouldn’t get too overwhelmed by info online and anxious about your labour at this early stage in your pregnancy x

I had 2 inductions, one with a drip, one with a pessary. One slightly early baby induced for medical reasons and one who was 2 weeks overdue. Both were normal deliveries with no tearing or instruments. I'm very glad I didn't have C sections.

I was induced with dd1. No c section. I was late on dates. The reason for the induction is simply that the placenta can start to fail after 42 weeks. So for me it isn’t as simple as desiring a nice uncomplicated birth but about the risks for the baby. At almost 42 weeks with dd2 a sweep worked and no induction was necessary. But rather than focusing on the nature of the birth it’s worth asking. Why an induction might be suggested.

1st induction as I had V high blood pressure so they wanted that baby out for my health. Quick labour 4 hours and baby came. They did cut me and use forceps but both me and baby absolutely fine. 2nd induction as waters broke with blood in and a day later baby didn't arrive. So high chance of baby getting an infection. Baby born naturally very quickly once waters were broken. Few stitches needed where they cut me 1st time (absolutely fine). You have to do what is best for you and baby. I was against induction just because I was over due date but for health reasons both times it was best to get babies out ASAP. I would say don't get too bogged down with a plan of what you want and what you don't, you have to go with the flow, its the unknown and thats ok, trust your body, instincts and the professionals. All the best 🩷

I'm 26 weeks with baby #6.
4 oldest I was induced, first with pessary and drip to finish off.
5th i had natural in the pool and it was amazing ( did have 3 sweeps prior to labour and she was born on her due date )
No c section to date!
Inductions aren't always bad but they definitely are more painful than natural

I agree with this.

An induction that results in a slow painful labour often means the mother will be given an epidural and if a section is carried out, it can be done with your spinal block in place- no need for an emergency C-section under general anaesthetic.

I would stay open minded to considering trying an induction which carries less risk than a c section.

You will only be advised to induce for medical reasons- high blood pressure, waters breaking, baby not thriving in utero or dangerously overdue.

I hope you’re not making yourself too anxious about this- most labours are not induced.

I had 3 inductions. All pessary +/- manual breaking of waters. No intervention with any of them. Stitches with DD1, but none with the others.

I was induced and ended up with an EMCS and it was fine. It wasn't panic and pain and awful, they just told me that I needed a CS, I gave permission, they wheeled me to the OR, put in a spinal block and started the operation. Everyone was calm and positive. The baby was born, kicking and crying, most beautiful moment of my life. They put her on me for a moment and then had her checked out by a doctor while they closed me up.

We chatted about the apple pie they had earlier and the surgeons pretty shoes. Seriously, it was fine. I have no problems with the scar or my back or anything. People who had a bad experience tell the internet and everyone. Plenty of women had a positive experience but there is nothing to tell so nobody listens.

You don't have to be scared of an EMCS. In many cases it will be fine. Sure, there is a recovery time, but you have that with every kind of birth.

DD1 would have died had I not been induced. Painful labour, but much better than the alternative.

I think there’s a difference between ignoring professional advice that the baby needs to be born soon and requesting a c-section over an induction. You’re still taking onboard the issue but dealing with a different way.

Generally I’m all for trusting the professionals and have done so but in my experience it’s not personalised enough and I get why it isn’t due to cost and time. In my case I think my pelvis isn’t best suited to giving birth as in both pregnancies baby has stayed in back to back position and doesn’t drop down but something like that won’t be investigated.

I had two assisted deliveries after going into spontaneous labour. Was induced for my third and had a (for want of a much better word) natural (and precipitous) labour and birth.

Anecdata, obviously.

I was induced with my first (breaking waters and the drip) and my third (just breaking waters) both went fine, first was painful with the drip but straightforward. I think sometimes people only tell you the horror stories.

Sorry I haven't read the comments so it may have already been mentioned, but I think it's best to think about why the statistics are the way they are, try and do what you can to mitigate these risks if you do go ahead and consent to induction, and have a conversation with your HCPs at every stage, raising your concerns. Don't be afraid to ask for another opinion if you think you are not being listened to.

I have had 2 inductions and they went absolutely fine, BUT they were not my first pregnancies and with my first pregnancy I did labour naturally. My experiences were great if a little slow, and the last one was more difficult as different decisions were being made and it took a while to actually get into the delivery room, which some talk about a planned C section as there was difficulty breaking my waters.

I would also look into the different induction methods and decide if there is a line you want to draw. Also just understanding the process can alleviate some of the worry. I had a pre-emptive epidural with my inductions after the pessary stages and that worked well for me but I was insistent on moving positions with my second and that worked well for me even if HCP's didn't want to do it!

I do sympathise and I think it's harder both statistically and personally if it is your first pregnancy as there are already so many unknowns.

My inductions were calm, controlled and empowering. With my final pregnancy I was sitting in the delivery room watching The Office on my phone and eating ice chips with my epidural, gently rocking and getting ready for the pushing stage. It is definitely not all doom and gloom!

I had an induction with my 2nd. Only a very minor tear that didn’t require stitches

I’ve had 3 births. First pain free where I was told they may have to use forceps with a cut as I had gone over the time limit for pushing. I didn’t know there was a time limit before intervention at hospitals so pushed out the baby two contractions later by myself to avoid the intervention. Second was fast and painful where I would have loved some drugs but there was no chance for that. Third was an induction due to my age, on a drip which didn’t enable me to do active birth as wires everywhere. Went for an epidural with that one and was bliss, no pain and delivered well with the help of cheerleading midwives telling me when to push. Fourth due next year and ideally I’d like the same birth as my first but know I’m 20 years older than I was then. Not opposed to induction if baby running late due to the complications that can happen. Would not want a c-section as recovery is longer and my core muscles aren’t great already, but to be honest I just want a healthy baby so whatever is needed to deliver the baby well. Birth is such a quick moment in the process of having a child, I know trauma can come from bad births. I’d really recommend shopping around the local maternity wards and finding a team that suit your needs. Have someone at your labour who will advocate for you and knows what you will and will not want. My husband was very firm with the doctors when I was finding it hard to communicate. Look at ways to prepare your body for birth, look at active birth, accupuncture, reflexology etc - whatever system works for you. If you do decide to go for a c-section you can ask for lights on dim, skin to skin straight away, your playlist, quiet room when baby is born etc so you still have ways to feel listened to.

I had an elective section and it was amazing. I’m a competitive equestrian and every woman I know who rides seriously ended up having major problems with natural delivery. No way was I risking my continence via induction and intervention. I do know horror stories. My c section was a breeze by comparison. I’m 3 week s in and recovery has been straightforward. I feel great and breast feeding has been going fantastically.

I had an induction, forceps and episiotomy for both of my deliveries. It wasn't pleasant (though first labour not too bad once I had an epidural) in both situations I got an infection and couldn't put pressure on that area for weeks after. Would I do it all again? Absolutely! I was an older mother with high blood pressure, reduced movements with both and diabetes. My babies had a risk of still birth if I went to full term- induction or CS were my only options.

I haven't had an induction but I have considered it (two overdue babies) and I know people who have had them.

I would consider an induction as long as two criteria were met:

1. my Bishop Score was favourable: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/bishop-score#score

2. staff levels/resourcing were such that I wouldn't be stuck waiting (and thus end up stressed and/or fatigued) for the next stage of the induction (if it wasn't progressing quickly).

I was induced in January. While the lead up to labour was pretty awful (4 day induction with very little “action” until the 11th hour), the labour was actually the most pleasant part of it, no intervention aside from an episiotomy which I don’t really count as plenty of my friend who had natural labours ended up with one too. I’d likely ask more questions if I were told I needed an induction next time, but I wouldn’t rule it out if it were needed.