Induction or Csection

[wingingit1987]

This will be our 6th baby (31 weeks at present). All of our previous babies have had spontaneous vaginal labours, usually at some point during the 39th week.

I have gestational diabetes this time and baby is measuring ahead. They have told me I may need induced this time, and I feel like all I’ve seen is horror stories of inductions taking days and ultimately ending up with emergency c section. I have three friends who had failed inductions and needed Csections in the end. They have all advised me to strongly consider a planned csection of if I do need to have the baby earlier. The thought of a C-section recovery with 6 kids, seems daunting and I do “enjoy” natural labour (if that’s the right word) and would really like to experience it again since this will be our last. That being said, I would rather have a planned Csection than an emergency one.

Hoping all of this is a bit redundant and I’m allowed to have a spontaneous labour but just seeking the opinions and experience of others since it’s something I may need to give some thought to in the coming weeks.

If it’s your 6th baby I’d be very surprised if you’d even need the drip for an induction they’d probably just break your waters and you’ll be well on your way.

Also though you don’t HAVE to have an induction or c-section for gestational diabetes, you can discuss the pros and cons and make your own decision. Are you diet controlled or taking medication to manage your sugars levels?

I’ve just started metformin this week and midwife had said I’m unlikely to be able to go to my due date. I’m worried sick at the thought of being induced- I think it’s just the unknown for me.

hi 👋🏻 didn't want to read & run.. im currently pregnant with our 6th by the way 😆 im not as far along as you but just thought i would share my experience of when i was pregnant with our 4th son - who i had GD with, aswell as polyhydraminos & he was measuring big at growth scans too, but that wasn't their concern it was the poly which put me at risk of when i went into labour of cord prolapse which absoloutly terrified me so speaking to a consultant at the time who advised it would be best to have an induction as if something was to go wrong atleast i was already in hospital.. well anyway i went in at 37+1 and our son wasn't born until 37+5 & only weighing 7pounds&8.5oz - so not that big like they thought! i will admit this, it was a long draining process for me personally as every method we tried seem to fail in kick starting my body into labour 😂 plus i hardly got any sleep in them 4 days 🤦🏻‍♀️ but i think the reason why the induction didn't go quite as i naively expected is because i think the fact it was too early & body & baby wasn't quite ready.. i ended up on hormone drip in end which got things eventually going & within 3 hours of that starting i had baby in my arms 🥰 didn't find the hormone drip any different contractions wise so i managed with just gas & air as of when i needed it.. like you i have had all my other babies vaginally & my body has always gone into labour spontaneously.. i have to agree with your realistic way of thinking, to have a c-section & recovery of that amongst trying to look after 5 children will be pretty tough going for anyone especially given the fact it could be your first c-section and it is classed as major abdominal surgery! & tbf unless its an emergency situation, i personally wouldn't ever opt for 1! soo my advice would be this.. if your scared of the thought of an induction, and dont really want a c-section either, don't have either as the choice ultimately is yours at the end of the day! don't feel pressured into making a decision just yet.. see how things go & maybe just wait for your body to go into labour by its-self as it has done 5x before 😊 sorry for the long post but i sympothise with you & i know how it feels to be scared of the unknown as i have been their.. is their any other risks to baby? or are they just worried baby is going to grow quite big? if you want to private message me im here 💕

Thanks for your reply. He is measuring ahead (although they said this with baby no.5 and she was only 8lb 2 so not as big as they said she would be). I have gestational diabetes but ok otherwise so I think the risks are just the diabetes and growth. I’m worried about a lengthy induction (even just from a practical point of view with regards to childcare). But I think a csection just isn’t very practical either in terms do recovery. I have very fast labours in general, so I’m hoping they are able to let me go on my own.

@wingingit1987 when i had GD i had to control mine through diet only which luckily worked as i didn't need the meds but sounds like you have some sort of idea of what you want to do.. i agree just wait until your body goes into labour spontaneously.. and you could say to your midwife if baby hasn't come by 39weeks then i will have an induction

What are the risks of doing neither?

I had an induction with DD2 at 37 weeks (DD1 born spontaneously at 40 weeks). I’d heard the horror stories but it was totally fine. One dose of the internal gel and she was born 11 hours later with no further interventions.

I would go for the c section. I wasn't induced but I did go in to be induced, I was dilated so they broke my waters instead. Hard, long labour and many many hours later, I ended up having a c section. I'm looking forward to having a planned c section next time. It's hard recovery but if you have some support around you I would say go for that

That was me with baby 4. Grumpy junior doctor came to break my waters, asked if I'd had a pessary for 24 hours. Huffed and puffed when I said no but then breaking my waters was easy, no drip and 5 hours later I was holding baby and begging for more toast as I was hungry. He was 10lbs so I'm glad I didn't wait any longer.

Good luck OP.

Just wanted to add I was offered a c.section as baby 3 was a section. I desperately didn't want another section as I found the recovery hard and DH had an accident so he couldn't help as much as he would have liked.

In the nicest most possible way, it’s your sixth baby, you’d most very extremely likely be fine with an IOL.

Also you do not have to consent to an IOL, c-section or anything else they offer you. It’s your body, and you can do what you like with it.

Two totally different set of circumstances, if yours was your first baby an IOL has a one in four chance of failure. When you’ve had babies before IOL has a one in twenty chance of failure.

I had my 4th in October and due to my age and previously had GPS infection I was induced, I went in on the 2nd at 8AM and was finally taken onto ward to have waters broken at 7PM on the 4th baby was born at midday on the 5th after an epidural because the pain was so much more intense than spontaneous labour and baby’s heart rate was dropping so they offered me a c-section but I said no and ended up having a venous and stitches and a prolapse and I’m now having physio for incontinence.
I won’t be having any more now anyway but if I was to do it again I’d never be induced. Even the epidural took 3 hours to find an anaesthetist because the only one was busy.

Either way, I'd still go for a c section regardless of the chances of it working

That's interesting, my first was also an induction. It was the easiest labour and delivery.

Thanks everyone