Advice please! Planned Epidural v Planned C Section

[starslikeme]

Hello! I’m 16 weeks pregnant and a T2 diabetic. I’ve been advised by my consultant team (obstetrician, diabetic consultant and diabetic midwife) and my community midwife that I should expect to give birth Week 38 - unless ofcourse baby comes earlier.

I’m avoiding thinking about birth because I’m really scared of it. But as a planner, I can’t help myself, despite the fact that I’m anxious that I’m going to lose the baby before even getting to birth (am dealing with this separately!)

I know I can’t control what will happen, but the idea of having to have an emergency c section is terrifying me.

What I need: has anyone had a planned induction or c-section? What was it like? How did it feel and how was recovery?

Thank you!!

Is this your first baby? I was induced with my second at 38+2 due to slowing growth, and was told to pack enough stuff for five days as it could take a while. But, I was also told that as this was my second and my first was a fast labour, the chances are that this would be too even though it was early. So for me I'd be more likely to go for an induction with a second baby as your body knows what it's doing a bit more.

Edited to say - it was fast. Didn't even get to read my trashy mags! Baby born six hours after pessary went in and it was 40 mins from 2cm to holding my baby. Had gas and air for the last half an hour but that was all.

Thanks for this! It's my first baby, so I don't have anything to compare to. But this is helpful to know!

Inductions can fail and result in emergency C sections anyway. Ask your midwife for the information as to how many inductions at your chosen hospital end in EMCS - it could help your decision. This often isn't talked about much, but also labour from being induced is often more intense and painful. Not saying this to scare you at all, as for some women induction works and they have a fairly intervention free birth and healthy recovery.

In my case, I ended up with a failed induction ending in an EMCS first time (physical recovery was fine but had a lot of birth trauma) and so for my second I had an elective/planned C section. So happy I did it - was so relaxed and chilled. Recovery smooth. The drugs were spectacular! Just needed a lot of home support in the weeks afterwards - and ignore the 6 week recovery time, it's more like 12!

Hi, I had gestational diabetes in my last 3 pregnancies and had inductions around 36 weeks. All 3 went to plan. It does take longer than natural labour and was also more painful as they use drugs to stimulate contractions. I had an epidural each time and delivered the babies naturally without any extra support such as forceps etc. I would choose this over a c section due to the recovery from an operation is longer and harder than a vaginal delivery.