Is induction worse than ELCS for older mum IVF pregnancy

[Dontknowwhattodoatalllll]

IVF pregnancy 39w5d. FTM, 38yo tokophobia and autistic. I have a huge fear of childbirth since I was a little girl and mum insisted on regularly retelling me her traumatic birth story.

I am scared of massive tears and pain. I don't care about the control bit or needles, totally fine with them. What helped me a lot is using Epi-No. I got to 10cm and feel pretty confident about the pushing and tearing at least. I'm also pretty fit and strong.

I just want to come out of it not traumatised and easy recovery. The plan was to try going into spontaneous labour with epidural. If that doesn't happen on its own then c-section, which is booked 2 days from now.

But I don't like the idea of a surgery one bit and now that it's nearly here I'm reconsidering. It would be better than complex birth and then EMCS though.

I never considered induction because most horror stories I hear are induction stories.... But now that would be the only alternative to C-section as with my age and IVF they don't like pregnancies going much being 40w.

Can you tell me an honest story if you had both - induction and C-section... What was better? Also how bad is induction pain and did you manage to get the epidural on time?

I'm giving birth in St. Thomas', London

What type of induction?

Is your body showing any signs of being ready to labour naturally?

I had an induction followed by an EMCS and it was the worst of all worlds. The ELCS I had was a comparative breeze.

I had an induction and epidural which was wonderful but the birth didn’t progress and the baby was distressed so ended up having a c section anyway. C sections are great, I went on to have two more including a third one at 40 years old. I’m not having any more children but I wouldn’t hesitate to go for a c section again otherwise.

I havnt had a C section so I cant compare however I have had 2 inductions and they were both great. I felt very calm and very in control and it went really smoothly. The thought of a C section scares me as its major surgery and I know someone who nearly died from it where the doctor made a huge error and it’s put me off however millions of women have them and are absolutely fine!

No sadly not a whiff of natural labour. Baby is still high up.

I think what they would offer me is a sweep and propess first and then potentially oxytocin drip, but not sure what kind.

Why did yours end up in EMCS (agree it's worst of both worlds)? Was there any preexisting conditions?

I had an induction a couple of days before 42 weeks and it failed, the hospital staff were negligent and I ended up with a EMCS.

Go for a ELCS a million times over. I had one for my second DC.

I would have an ELCS. I went into labour in triage in the hospital you are going to. I asked for an epidural early. They came in to do it four hours later as his head appeared.
If an early epidural is very important to you and you wouldn’t birth without one then go for the ELCS.
Personally I’m glad I didn’t have the epidural, used gas and air and actually after that don’t remember his or my subsequent birth as painful at all but that is just luck!

Be aware that some senior staff in St Thomas are extremely disparaging about autistic people as was revealed when I requested all my notes and their emails later. However they have may have changed staff and updated attitudes in the last few years I hope!

No C Section but a v positive induction story. I had already given birth twice.

Pessary 1, Pessary 2, no action
Declined them breaking my waters
12 hours later they wanted the Syntocynon drip which I agreed subject to having an epidural first
Whilst waiting for the epidural (not long) my waters broke naturally
Epidural in
Pressure and wanting to push was swift
Waters broke at about 9, Epidural in by 9.30, baby born at 11.50, 8lb 13oz, no tearing or stitches.

Two things op, she was breach and initially an Elective CS was planned but she turned at the last minute. Induced at 41 weeks. When it was decided the elective was no longer required, I agreed on the basis that I woukd have a v experienced midwife with me. (Complex history).

Secondly, whether you have an epidural or not, when the perineum stretches there is a painful burning sensation that you just have to push through. I don't think that can be avoided so if you don't want it perhaps consider the elective.

Nothing preexisting, baby got stuck and distressed so it was a very quick EMCS after 24h of induction.

With no natural signs I'd be after an ELCS.

I would just point out op that induction is more likely to work if you have given birth before as this op has.

TBH if you are not favourable for induction, and it sounds like you are not, go straight to surgery. My electives were so so much easier than my EMCS with my first.

Thank you.

I also add that the drip was never switched on and it was suspected that eventually labour started spontaneously, notwithstanding the two pessaries.

Honestly @Dontknowwhattodoatalllll that baby is 28 now. If I had my time again I'd have had an elective CS every time (they may have saved my pelvic floor). Maternity care has deteriorated and it wasn't great then.

DIL has just had a baby by elective and that's likely to be the route DD goes.

I have had 2 c sections at Tommy's after IVF pregnancies in my late 30s.

With the first my labour disabled to progress and so it was a choice of c section or induction. I went for c section and I am very glad I did.

They are so very experienced at Tommy's. They do so so many c sections ans they are very good. You get a strong waterproof plaster type thing that comes off after 5 days. They deal very well with any pain. I honestly found recovering straight forwards .

obviously doesn't mean it is right for you, but I found it very positive and professional

I had a straight forward induction.

I was brought in for induction at 36+6 as I was unwell. There wasn't a bed on the induction ward until the next day so they did a sweep at 36+6 which caused contractions to ramp up. I had been having contractions since 32/33 weeks due to an irritable uterus but with a closed cervix. I had the pessetry in the next day for about 4h. They removed to because I was starting to hypersimulate which they wanted to avoid. I was now 2 cm. I had 2 paracetamol. I stayed in the induction room for another 4h when I had another dose of paracetamol and was then moved to the labour ward and started with gas and air. I was 6cm with my waters close to going by this point. Unfortunately over the next 4h my physical condition deteriorated and I couldn't stand any more. This was due to the issues I was being induced for. This meant my labour stalled after another 4h they did another exam and I was now only 5cm and the head had moved up and was no longer providing pressure on the waters so they decided it was best to break my waters. Things accelerated quickly from here. Baby went into distress about 30 minutes later and it was close to requiring an urgent c section - this was due to the cord being tightly around his neck not the induction. They did another exam and I was now 8cm and they expected that I would give birth very soon. Half an hour later I had a baby in my arms. Je had a lot of bruising to his face which took 4-5 weeks to resolve but was otherwise completely fine.

I had a small graze that didn't require any stitches. Pain relief was the 2 doses of paracetamol and gas and air. I was able to sleep through a lot of the labour. I had a water birth with my first and her labour was at home with 2 paracetamol until 10 cm and gave birth in the pool with gas and air. I needed a couple of stitches so my induction was quite similar to my non-induced water birth

I'd probably go ELCS.
I had the drip and epidural part way through labour after I hadn't dilated further for many hours - it got me some much needed rest and got me to 10cm without even noticing. but i did need forcep delivery as i couldn't push enough, i think it's pretty common with epidural you can't stand up to push which is more effective plus i was so knackered after 3 days labour. but you can't feel any tears or the episiotomy.
it's so hard with recovery as I have friends whose CS recovery has been so easy and some so hard, and same with vaginal birth. As least ELCS you don't have the uncertainty, particularly with your trauma.

Had 2 births, 2 inductions, 2 rounds of pessaries both times that did nothing and then the drip induction. Both births were very positive felt in control and calm throughout. Pain managed with tens machine and comb until the last few hours when I used the gas and air. Both babies born within 6hrs and was home the next day. Small tear on the first birth and then nothing on the second. I watched lots of positive stories on YouTube and read positive stories. I am a nurse so I do think feeling comfortable in a medical environment helped. Gave birth at 38 and 40yrs old at 40+3weeks