Induction or ELCS with SGA/IUGR baby

[Namechangedforthis60]

cross posted from childbirth as that seems like a quieter category!

I am 34/40 with dc5, all my others were spontaneous vaginal deliveries with minimal complications just for info.
This baby is measuring small, 1st centile, baby is now prioritising blood flow to the brain and other areas of growth are stunted due to this. I am now having weekly scans and Dopplers due to concerns around baby and have been told I will need to deliver at 37 weeks.
The consultant has said I have a choice of induction or c section however babies that are small are less likely to “cope” with labour and there is a higher chance of needed an emergency Caesarian.
Im terrified of the recovery from a c section but obviously want baby here in the safest possible
way. I have heard that elective sections are “easier” than emergency.
I am a little lost as to what to do for the best, obviously I will discuss with the consultant when I see them again but just wondered if others had been in this position before and what you decided!?
thanks in advance!

I’ve had two sections and recovery was fine. The first couple of days yeah not fun. Day 3/4 get a little easier. Day 5/6 feel a lot better.
I was back driving after 2 weeks with my second.
I’d hate to be induced and then end up with a section. I’d rather just have it all planned. Also I went for an elective section second time around due to risks of third degree tears etc with a vbac.

If you’ve had relatively ok births before I can see why you’d want to maybe go for the induction. But personally the people I know who have been induced have been in hospital for way longer than I was.

I was induced last week and started off with a vaginal birth which progressed to a c section under GA due to complications. I think I’d prefer an elective if there’s a next time as it all had to be done quite quickly, but mine and baby’s safety was my priority. Recovery has been fine. Baby spent a few days in NICU due to temporary respiratory issues from the turn of events but we’re both home and thriving now 😊 not trying to scare you at all - just giving my experience.

I had my baby early due to growth issues. OK a lot earlier than you but I was in a ward of small babies, everyone else had had an emergency c section as they had tried, been induced and it didn't work. These were all 5lb ish babies. It made my quite glad I had a c section straight off

I was supposed to be induced early due to IUGR however my waters actually broke when they examined me for the induction. My labour didn’t start so they wanted to try the hormone drip. They wanted to put in an epidural beforehand in case we needed to rush to theatre as small babies don’t cope well with labour but I requested a section. It was a surreal but nice experience, I was classed as a category 3 section due to the waters breaking but it was relaxed and my recovery was much better than other mums I know who had an emergency section. In your shoes I would not hesitate to ask for a section.

Also I was 39 weeks (IUGR was picked up very late) and my baby weighed 5lb, so was tiny.

DD1 was classed as suspected IUGR due to cord flow issues and my high BP. She was 5lbs 12oz at 38w in the end, so not as small as everyone thought, but still pretty little. I was due to have induction but labour started naturally before the induction date. My labour wasn't even that long and she did start to struggle - i basically got her out in the next couple of pushes or else we would have been looking at further interventions. She was my first baby and I didnt know any better but for my next pregnancy, the one thing i did say was no inductions.

Do you have plenty of help / family around for your older children if you did choose an elective section? I was due to have an ELCS with DD2 due to her being breech and the consultant midwife told me that the two key things are help with older children and keeping regularly on top of pain medication - even if you are starting to feel like you don't need it.

just Thought as I am sat tired feeding my beautiful daughter that I would update in case anyone in the future is in a similar situation!
I ended up being induced at 37 weeks exactly, I did need the oxytocin drip but it all went really well, contractions were no more painful than with my others (I only needed gas and air in the end!) and delivery was relatively straightforward (she did throw some interesting heart rate patterns on the ctg but that was due to cord being around her neck!)
she is tiny but she’s perfectly healthy and the process of getting her here wasn’t that bad after all!
thank you for sharing your stories with me!