Elective section over induction.

[BEO]

Hi girls (long post warning).

I guess I was just hoping to speak to people who have elected a section over induction. I have had an uncomplicated pregnancy, and have always said I wanted to go into Labour naturally and avoid induction and would go over my due date with monitoring and only accept an induction if I was well over my due date and my body looked like it was getting ready I.e cervix dilated, baby engaged etc. I have always been against induction especially when body isn’t ready just because I think it is a recipe for disaster if your body isn’t ready. Yes I am aware there are many ladies who have had successful inductions too but most of the stories I hear and research suggests a long painful Labour with more chance of intervention. Yes I am also aware a natural Labour may be long and also end in intervention.

Now since 31 weeks I am being told baby is measuring big, have had numerous growth scans and she is 97th centile. I am booked in for a growth scan in 2 weeks at 38 weeks and will have another discussion with consultant then for next steps. she mentioned if the baby was predicted to be over 4kg that they would want to induce me at 39 weeks and not let me go to 40 weeks.

I guess my question is that if this is the case and she is still measuring large and they don’t want me to go to term, can I request a section over the induction? I know sections come with their own risks and recovery can be hard and it isn’t the easy option however after weighing up the risks I would rather opt for a section straight away than go through a long painful induction process to have an emergency one anyway.

Was wondering if anyone else had made this decision?

Also I am aware their measurements may be off but they have been consistent through out-even getting measured at different hospitals and it’s not a risk I want to take. She may be smaller than predicted but she may also be larger and I don’t want to risk the complications that may come with trying to birth a huge baby.

Yes you can ask for a section instead of being induced.

My waters broke and I didn’t go into active labour quickly enough, they inserted the gel but it didn’t work. They wanted to put me on the drip but my epidural failed and at that point I hadn’t slept in 3 days and was terrified of going on the drip with the failed epidural so I asked for a c section. They did gently tell me there was no medical need for it and they suggested I go ahead with the drip but I said I’d rather have a section and they agreed.

Although I do wonder what would have happened if I’d gone ahead with the drip, I could have had a perfect natural birth or it could have ended up in an emergency section anyway. I’ll never know now, but the recovery from c section is no joke and something to be seriously considered. It’s not an easy option.

I had a similar choice to make with my first. I was pretty much always facing an induction anyway as I'm type 1 diabetic so was recommended to not go past 38 weeks due to risk of placenta deteriorating past that.

I had a growth scan at 36 weeks which put baby over 90th centile and I had a chat with as obstetrician who basically told me my options were induction at 37 weeks or section at 38 (so slightly earlier than you). I had loads of questions about chances of induction working that early and chances of needing emergency section anyway but no one really had any proper statistics for what I was asking which was annoying.

In the end I opted for a c-section as the risks of shoulder dystocia or 3rd/4th degree tears scared me too much, although the obstetrician did say the risks of either were still slim.

I had a planned section at 38 weeks exactly, all went well, recovery was fine and baby was just over 4kg, so I felt happy with my decision (although the doctor who delivered him said "he's not that big!" as he pulled him out!).

Good luck with your choice and ask to speak to an doctor/midwife about the specific pros and cons for you case if you haven't already.

I was in a similar situation and was told « not to be silly » when I asked for a c section.
It ended up with us needing an emergency c section anyway , but by then my child was too far down the birth canal for it. Absolutely horrible labour with all possible interventions. Both of us almost died and it took me months of recovery before I could go for an hour long walk outside.

Never feel bad for choosing the c section in your case ! While it could have been fine if you’d chosen the induction it also could have been a complete disaster.

You absolutely can request a section.

I’ve had both. Induced with my first. Labour was stop - start for three days. She was back to back. She ended up getting stuck and I was exhausted so I had to have a forceps delivery. Recovery was awful.

I had elective section with my second. Very calm positive delivery and recovered much quicker than I did with my first birth.

I won’t have a third but if I did I would absolutely opt for a section again.

Sorry, I quoted the wrong post. I wanted to quote @Inmydreams88

sorry just following as I am trying to make the same decision- I have gestational diabetes but baby is 42nd centile so not sure why I would need to be induced early but I think I would prefer a c section over an early induction

I will have the conversation with my consultant at my next scan/appointment.

Hey. I agreed to an induction at 39 weeks with my first back in April 22, for no other reason than a ‘big baby’. I regret it to this day, she arrived via emcs at 39+2 weighing 8lb 5oz. The whole induction experience traumatised me. So much so that I have an elcs booked in for 39 weeks this time. If I went into labour myself before then, then I would 100% go for vaginal birth but there was no way I was being induced again. This baby is estimated even bigger. If I could go back and do it all again, I would have pushed to go to 40/41 weeks as there was nothing medically wrong.

In short, if my options were induction or planned cection, I would choose cection everytime.

Just wanted to quickly share my experience in relation to induction. Waters broke at 37 weeks exactly, no contractions. Two days later I agreed to an induction as I really didn't want a section as I know from friends it's a difficult recovery. I got the drip and 12 hours later had my baby with gas and air only. I had no previous labour to compare it to and I'm sure at the time it wasn't pleasant but I remember not long later I wanted to do it all again 😂 it just felt really empowering. I was terrified of any intervention too but it all worked out fine for me. One of my friends was also induced and baby arrived with no intervention, she was only induced because she had PGP and was in agony. Do what is right for you 😊

Remember you don't have to be induced early, it is only their recommendation. If you don't want to be induced then say to your midwife/consultant that you would like extra monitoring instead.

@jellyfish2 thank you is much prefer a vaginal Birth but really do feel strongly about be induced early

I had an elective c-section and I can honestly say it was such a calm and positive experience. I recovered quickly and was out the next day.
I do think the recovery from an emergency c-section is much harder than an elective because you aren’t physically, mentally or even emotionally prepared.
With elective, you have the time to research ways to make your life easier post-surgery than if it’s thrust upon you. The recovery wasn’t easy but was straightforward and actually better than I’d expected, but also the recovery from a traumatic vaginal birth is not necessarily any easier. For me personally, I would 100% elect again in any future pregnancies. I felt in control, less fearful of a negative outcome for myself and baby, and I think having a positive birth experience regardless of how you give birth is the end goal.

Thanks girls. I am aware I could decline early intervention and go to 41 weeks but if she’s measuring big at 38 weeks I don’t want to see how big she would be at 41. If she wasn’t measuring big I would have gone up to and over my due date . I know people give birth to big babies all of the time when it’s not been flagged that they’re big but they’ve picked up she is and I don’t want to risk her being huge and having such a traumatic vaginal birth.

I agreed on induction for 37w as they said DD needs to be taken out. I got sick from the induction medication so they had to take me to emergency c section. I found the process itself straightforward and quick but recovery took forever. It's the only birth I have ever given so I cannot compare recovery experience. As PP has said lots of people seem to find planned c section much easier than emergency one. If I was to have another baby I would opt for c section.

I was induced recently due to GD. The contractions started so quick and became unbearable once I was past 4cm dilated. Managed to get to 9cm but my LO's heart rate was dropping and not recovering so had have an EMCS. Yes the first few weeks were of recovery were hard but I really wish I had opted for a planned C section from the start and will do so if we have another LO.

Best of luck with everything x

I'm currently overdue. I've got wn appointment on Friday if I'm still pregnant to discuss getting baby out. Due to an awful induction experience with my last pregnancy, if baby doesn't arrive of his own accord before this date I'll be having a section. I have been told this won't be an issue by my midwife, it will just be an elective procedure rather than for medical reasons. (Told they only do these on certain days)

Also just a as a side note, my 97th percentile baby came out at 39weeks weighing 6lb 7, so I would take measurements with a pinch of salt.

I've had both and found the c section easier for the actual delivery, but preferred my recovery with my induction despite shoulder dystocia etc. I only had a 1st degree cut and was back to normal pretty quickly. Took a bit longer with my ELCS. Both fine though for me (I was very lucky) and 2 x healthy dcs

Also agree with pp that they can't predict size very accurately m! My dc2 was measuring huge but was only 7 lbs in the end

I'm expecting my 3rd and (like my others) I'm hoping I will go into labour on my own and have a natural birth (2 previous natural births). If I had the choice over a planned section or an induction I'd take the induction, as there's still a high chance I'll give birth naturally anyway. A section is major surgery (7 layers to cut through) it's never something I will opt for if I think there's a chance I can avoid it.

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone having a huge baby (or small one) when told they would lol.