Induction vs. c-section ....

[Circe]

I'm now in the home-stretch of a high-risk pregnancy, and I'm facing a bit of an unexpected conundrum: if I go past my due date, should I let them induce me, or should I just go straight for a c-section?

A little bit of (depressing, sorry) backstory: I lost my first pregnancy at 5 months, and had to be induced to deliver the deceased fetus. All emotional issues aside, it was a nightmare: I went into shock from the pitocin and spent 5 hours shivering violently, the whole thing lasted 18 hours and then when I got a second dose of pit, I went into labor very quickly and delivered in the room by myself while yelling to a nurse over the intercom that my water had broken and if they could get in there ... no? And then after that had been dealt with, it turned out that my body wasn't ready to deliver the placenta and that I had to have a D&C anyway ... a D&C which they screwed up, which caused me to hemorrhage violently a month and a half later, and take Cytotec for. Good times.

It was a party all around, and as you might guess, I have some psychological issues surrounding it. If possible, I'd prefer not to overlay the memories of one of the worst days of my life over what I'm hoping will be one of the best - but if that's what I need to do for the baby, that's what I need to do. I have no problem putting on my big-girl pants, but I'm sort of wondering which set to get, if that makes sense.

See, eventually (by which I mean "a year and two more miscarriages later, after seeing multiple specialists") I was diagnosed with Protein C deficiency, a blood-clotting disorder that can affect placental function. I've been on blood thinners for the whole pregnancy, and my doc - who is great, and experienced with high-risk patients, and whom I trust - has told me from the get-go that if I go 4 or 5 days past my due date, we'll want to get the kid out so as to not risk placental deterioration.

The thing is, I'm due the week of Thanksgiving, and 4 or 5 days after my due date puts us squarely during the holiday weekend. My doc has expressed concern over the hospital being hectic, and suggested we just schedule me for an induction the day before Thanksgiving, and, as Bartleby the Scrivener put it, I would prefer not to. This is partially because of the aformentioned experiences, and partially because, well ... from what I've read, inductions result in c-sections roughly 40% of the time anyway in first time mothers (and the doc isn't sure if my body was far enough along the first time for it to process this as a first time or second time situation). If I'm going to wind up being cut open and dealing with the good-fun-awesomeness of recovering from major surgery on blood thinners anyway, I'd sort of rather do it without putting myself through 20 or so hours of emotional hell first, y'know?

So. I'm trying to decide if I should go for the induction early, ask him to delay scheduling the induction to within medical constraints but not worrying about the holidays, or go straight to a c-section either before the holiday or after. If any of you have experiences being induced, or recovering from surgery on blood thinners, or just some psychologically reassuring advice to offer, I'd appreciate it. My pragmatic husband is being all we'll-cross-that-bridge-when-we-come-to-it, maybe-you'll-go-into-labor-tomorrow, but me and my anxious personality sort of want to formulate a game plan ....

 

[Loves Vintage]

A few questions. Do you know why you went into shock after the pitocin??? What is the likelihood that this may occur again? Sounds like they stopped the pitocin, and then restarted it after you recovered a bit? The pitocin is a constant drip, so just wanted to be sure I understood that part correctly. What did your doctor say about going straight to a c-section? Have you discussed your 40% concern with him? Will your dr be there to do the induction?

Honestly, I would go with the pre-holiday induction because (a) it doesn't sound like there's any specific reason to conclude you will wind up in the 40% group, (b) you would not risk any delays that might put you at increased risk of placental deterioration, and (c) you will likely have an easier recovery. This all assumes that you are not at any heightened risk for abnormal reactions to the pitocin.

I was induced, 9 days after my EDD. It was not a short experience for me because I did not react to the pitocin (after being on it for the better part of a day) until the dr broke my water. Labor was hard and long, but baby was great during the whole thing, which is why I was able to avoid a c-section. Not sure there's much of a pep talk in there, but I think it's hard to say anything past my own experience because every birth story is so different. You can do it!!! (Did that help? )

 

[Circe]

LV, it *does* - thank you. Truth be told, I have no idea why my body reacted so badly to the meds - I'll have to ask my husband if anybody told him what was up with that. I'm no longer in touch with that doctor, so I can't call her to ask.

I had mentioned not wanting to be induced to my current doc in a general way, but I was sort of blindsided when he raised it as a concrete, immediate possibility - I don't know if he remembers the details of my file, or understands just how averse I am. I'm definitely planning to discuss this with him at my weekly appointment tomorrow: I guess I just wanted to think out-loud here, and maybe hear some pro-con arguments from people who'd been through induction and/or c-section under normal circumstances. So, thank you for sharing your experience - it's definitely reassuring to hear that an induction can go well from somebody who's been through it!

 

[Logan Sapphire]

I wasn't outright induced but did have a "pitocin-augmented labor" as technically labor started on its own with my water breaking. I never had contractions and the furthest I got without the pit was 1cm dilated, though I was 90% effaced. I was GBS+ and had meconium, hence the more pressing need to use the pit and get him out.

I had a great experience with the pitocin- checked in at 5:30, tried to labor on my own for a few hours, got the pit maybe around midnight, and delivered him at 8 the next morning with 20 mins of pushing. He was also 5 days early, which surprised me for a first time pregnancy.

No real advice for you on which way to go because everyone's body is so different, but it does seem that women who have c-sections after a long labor sometimes have a much harder recovery than from a planned c-section. I do have a friend who was induced twice in the same pregnancy and did need a c-section in the end, though her recovery seemed pretty good, aside from the bruised lungs from sitting too long during the failed inductions.

Good luck and congrats!

 

[Pandora II]

I ended up being induced when labour wasn't progressing after 40 hours with 20 of them being with full-on contractions. I did end up with a forceps delivery but that was because the baby was malpositioned (deep transverse arrest) rather than as a result of the induction.

My sister was induced with her first baby - she only found out she was PG at 7 months (long story) and no-one knew exactly what her EDD was. She went to what they thought was 42 weeks and so they induced her over the course of 2 days. She delivered a 9lb 8oz baby after 5 hours start to finish.

My other sister had her second induced - a 10lber with no problems at all.

Both of them went med-free, I opted for an epidural as I was exhausted by that point and I'm glad I did.

I had a traumatic birth (massive haemorrhage, 2 days in ICU and 5 blood transfusions, plus being unconcious for a couple of hours) and they have said if I have another baby I have the choice of an elective c-section (they don't like to do them in the UK so being offered is rare) - I discussed it with an OB friend of mine and even though the risk of another haemorrhage is high, I'd opt for another VB.

Ultimately you should go with what will make you happiest and calmest, and take the opinion of your doctor (and maybe a second opinion into account).

I hope that everything goes smoothly - you've had a very rough ride so far and deserve a very happy ending!

 

[Lottie]

I have no medical knowledge whatsoever so this is just my experience. I was induced with our first child as my waters were leaking at 40+2 using the Oxytocin drip (I am in the UK). The induction itself was actually not too bad - I felt nothing for the first four or so hours and even made jokes about making it look more painful or I wouldn't get any jewellery after the birth! My contractions became very painful very suddenly which I am told is common with induction and I had an epidural. All in all Neve's arrival into the world was I think about 12 hours, pushing at the end seemed to take a long time and the consultant came in twice to try and intervene but my midwife asked him not to which I am glad for. I did have some problems with my placenta not coming completely away (I'm told I was extremely generous with my blood) and that was traumatic but I believe quite unrelated to the induction.

For our son I went into labour naturally at 40+12 and I have to be honest, the experience was a million miles apart from Neve's, I had just gas and air, it was a good labour with no problems afterwards, despite him being a pound and a half heavier. My gut reaction is that my body just wasn't ready to go into labour with Neve whereas with Henry I was all guns blazing and my body coped much, much better.

I had a couple of miscarriages inbetween N & H and I do understand a little of how emotionally tough this must be for you. I think you need to have a really frank discussion with your doctor about the possibilities of you reacting to the drug again and how to make this as positive an experience as possible for you. If you think that a planned c-section is going to make you feel better then there is nothing wrong with that at all.

I'm not sure that my reply was particuarly helpful but I wish you all the best for a really, really positive birth.

 

[nfowife]

If you are not having problems with this current pregnancy, and the baby is still hanging in there and showing no issues, I wouldn't be induced unless necessary. If you have to be induced for some reason, and then, if the baby or your body for some reason is not tolerating the induction, then go for the c-section.

I know being due during a holiday is worrisome, but rest assured the hospital will have the staff needed to attend to you. And you may very well go into labor on your own and not need to worry about any of it at all. It might not be "your" dr, but then it might not be your dr. no matter what. That's the way things go these days and I wouldn't worry about that part. I wouldn't have an induction before 41 weeks for convenience's sake. My feeling is that babies come out when they are good and ready and it isn't always right at 40 weeks.

Plus, an elective c-section with no medical reason isn't to be taken lightly. It is a MAJOR abdominal surgery. Your abdominal muscles and uterus are cut, and they will never be back to what they were after that, even if you heal well. And the recovery is not easy. And pretty much you are destined to any future deliveries having to be c-sections.

My first 2 children were born at almost 41 weeks. My 3rd was 39w4d. I was surpised, I thought she'd be late too!

 

[phoenixgirl]

I wouldn't let the doctor induce you before your due date just because of the holidays. Is your doctor trying to make sure that s/he'll be the one delivering you? Is that important to you? I'd wait until you are at least 41 weeks to either do the c/s or try an induction if there is a medical reason why you can't wait any longer.

I was quasi-induced with my first (doctor stripped my membranes at 40 weeks - she wanted to do it at 39! - and then went in and had my water broken). When they broke my water, it made the contractions really intense, so I asked for an epidural, which didn't go particularly well. When they redid the epi, one of my legs went numb, and stuck on my back with a baby in occiput transverse position and a platypelloid pelvis, I was not able to get her out and had a c/s.

This time around I'm trying to decide if I'm going to try for a VBAC or do an elective c/s. As long as my pelvis opens up at the end (it did last time) and there are no mitigating circumstances, I'm going to try for the VBAC. I suspect that last time my doctor was just trying to get me to deliver when she was on call. I like her and all, but I wish I had let things go naturally the first time around. That's your best shot for a vaginal, low-risk delivery.

Even with the risk of uterine rupture, there's compelling evidence that a VBAC is safer than a c/s. So if you don't even have that risk and your body might remember doing all of this before, then I'd aim for a vaginal delivery without induction. If it comes down to you needing to be induced right then, then you can weigh the c/s, I think. Unfortunately I think this is just one of those things where you have to wait and see where you are when the time comes. There are a lot of things you can try, like stripping the membranes, walking, lunges, DTD, stimulating the nipples, etc., instead of pitocin. I personally wouldn't let the doctor induce me using pitocin just for scheduling or because you might go into labor naturally at a busy time. Let them induce all the other women due at the same time then! (J/K, but my point is that the logic isn't really there.)

This pregnancy I got very sick and have been diagnosed with POTS, a cardiovascular issue where my heart overreacts to the pull of gravity. I'm dizzy and fatigued a lot, and occasionally can't get upright at all. So I have wondered if I should just schedule a c/s this time, and I might, but ultimately I'm going to let my body (and not my doctor's schedule) make the final call.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I was induced with cervidel (sp?). It was enough to throw me into labor w/o pitocin. I was 6 days past my EDD and miserable! All said and done my labor was 8.5 hours. There were complications but not because of being induced. I would happily be induced again!

 

[amc80]

Let me start out by saying my personal child bearing experience is zero, so take this for what it's worth. I'm also fairly against inductions in general, same with scheduled c-sections.

But in your case? I would 100% go with a scheduled c-section. There's no way I would want to risk going through again what you already went through. Your due date is basically here and you are full term. I think at this point a healthy baby outweighs...well, everything. You will be so much less stressed out when you are holding the baby in your arms and not freaking out over the "what-ifs" of labor. Just my two cents

 

[megumic]

Let me start out by saying my personal child bearing experience is zero, so take this for what it's worth. I'm also fairly against inductions in general, same with scheduled c-sections.

But in your case? I would 100% go with a scheduled c-section. There's no way I would want to risk going through again what you already went through. Your due date is basically here and you are full term. I think at this point a healthy baby outweighs...well, everything. You will be so much less stressed out when you are holding the baby in your arms and not freaking out over the "what-ifs" of labor. Just my two cents

I ditto this. I have very similar feelings to amc, but under these circumstances, I might just go straight for the C to remove all of the stress/anxiety around an induction. However, I think the 60% success of the induction is attractive if you think emotionally you can handle the process.

In any event, I wish you mucho luck and lots of dust for a healthy labor and delivery!!!

 

[DivaDiamond007]

Circe: I am so sorry to hear of your troubles

Given your history and use of blood thinners (Lovenox?) I would go for a scheduled c-section. Your doctors will be able to control bleeding more effectively in a controlled environment than during a vaginal delivery. Has it been discussed to deliver you closer to 38 or 39 weeks?

After my first pregnancy but before my second I was diagnosed with MTHFR C677T (hetero) and also have something going on with protein C and protein S so with my second pregnancy I was on Lovenox until 34 weeks and then switched to unfractionated heparin. Unfortunately, I had a placental abruption at home and my daughter was delivered via emergency c-section at 35 weeks gestation. From the start of the pregnancy I was advised that I would not be allowed to go past 39 weeks due to the risks of being on the blood thinners. Toward the end of the pregnancy (around 30 weeks) it was changed to 38 weeks due to my health and the health of my daughter.

Also, make sure you are put back on blood thinners within 24 hours of the birth for at least 6 weeks to avoid clotting - especially if you have a c-section.

 

[GreenBling]

i was overdue for a week, induced and eventually had a c-section.

Not a medical expert but in my part of the world, c-section is almost always recommended for mothers who have had complications in past pregnancies.

Whatever your decision, I wish you a smooth, uneventful delivery. God bless

 

[nfowife]

Just wanted to add, if you do decide to induce, ask your dr. What your bishop score is or calculate it yourself. It can help you determine how successful the induction might be, or help you decide if a c-section is a better option if your bishop score isn't favorable.

 

[dreamer_dachsie]

Circe in your shoes I would have a scheduled c-section. Yes it has risks above vaginal birth, but your psychological state matters just as much. Do what makes you feel safest. Your baby will be ok either way.

 

[hawaiianorangetree]

Another 'vote' for you to just go straight for the scheduled C section. I was induced, nothing happened, 24 hours later I was having an emergency c. oh how I wish they had just given it to me to begin with!

I think with all the trauma you have had in the past it's enough of a reason to bypass the induction and go straight for the scheduled C. The recovery is longer, but it's not that bad. Good luck getting the delivery you want.

 

[Loves Vintage]

The thing is, I'm due the week of Thanksgiving, and 4 or 5 days after my due date puts us squarely during the holiday weekend. My doc has expressed concern over the hospital being hectic, and suggested we just schedule me for an induction the day before Thanksgiving, and, as Bartleby the Scrivener put it, I would prefer not to.

Hi Circe , It's me again. Glad to hear you have an appointment today to go over all of this with your doctor. Another point that I'd really want to clarify is: what does your dr mean re: being concerned about the hospital being hectic? Is he just concerned about his Thanksgiving plans -OR- is he genuinely concerned that you might not be able to get your induction (if you decide to go that route) scheduled in the timeframe he recommends. My drs told me that all of their patients are induced on day 10 (due to increased risk to the baby after day 10), and if I was not at 3 cm, I would have to go in the night before, so the night of Day 9. As we approached Day 9, and discussed the technicalities of scheduling the induction at the hospital, I was told that I would be called the afternoon of Day 9 to make sure it was a go because the hospital could be "too busy", they only have so many beds, etc. It never entered my mind that they wouldn't have me come in on Day 9, but as luck would have it, no one called me on Day 9. It was approaching 5 pm, and I became a whirling dervish of emotions as I was trying to get the right person on the phone to confirm I was scheduled! Eventually, everything worked out just fine, but the hospital was VERY BUSY. They had to double up some recovery rooms, and had to send a truck out to a sister hospital to get more bassinets because it was clear they were going to run out soon!!!

My point -- is your doctor saying that in his experience, this holiday weekend is always super-busy and there is a *chance* you would get bumped, putting your baby at greater risk because you shouldn't go past 5 days??? That was how I interpreted the bold language above, clearly colored by my own experience!

Also, I read the above to mean that you would still be past your EDD on the day before Thanksgiving, by just a day or two.

And, I also wanted to encourage you to discuss the possible reasons for your bad reaction to the Pitocin with your current dr. Even though he doesn't have your medical records, I hope he can offer some insight as to why that might have occurred. Perhaps one of the potential reasons would be enough to tip the scale toward having a C, and then your decision is made.

I hope you have a good discussion with your dr today and leave the office feeling like you have a good game plan in mind.

 

[Puppmom]

Circe, I don't have experience with either induction or C-section but I agree with the sentiment that your psychological state is of the utmost importance. C-sections do have risks as with any surgery and I'm generally not a proponent of elective C-sections because of that but I've heard an induction can be difficult to endure emotionally because of the length. Add to that your previous experience and it could be a rough ride. So, if I were in your shoes, I would probably just go for the C-section.

Baby will be fine either way so I say do what's best for mama. I'm sending you hugs and dust. I know this must be such a difficult time filled with mixed emotions. Here's to hoping you're able to make a decision that makes you most comfortable and then you go into labor on your own!

 

[SandyCheeks]

Hi Circe! Yeay you're in the home stretch! With my 3 pregnancies I was on blood thinners too, heparin (baby 1) lovenox (babies 2,3). I'm sure your Doc knows to get you off the medication before you deliver, or you can't get an epidural for risk of spinal hematoma. That was my main concern when I delivered---timing the delivery out. With 1 and 2 they were induced and that went fine I was able to get the epidural as I got off the blood thinners days before induction. However, I too had uncontrollable shivering and teeth chattering. I think this was because I was so scared. With baby 3 he came on his own, I was about 24 hours without heparin (I switched to hep a week or so before my scheduled induction as it clears the system faster) however things went fast no time for an epidural. Delivery without any medication was the best. However, obviously the most painful at around 9-10cm mark but barely any recovery and no side effects like the shivering and numbness/prickly sensation in my legs for hours after the epidural. I also had to get back onto the Lovenox for 6 weeks post delivery.

With the bad reaction you had to the pitocin I worry about an induction for you. However a C section is a lot to recover from. When you have your new baby in the maternity ward you're going to want to pick him/her up, cuddle, walk around, feed the baby, check/change the babies' diaper, etc. It's going to be hell doing this with while recovering from surgery. It's a lot to consider, if you are to be induced can they start you on a low dosage of pitocin? Usually when you've delivered 1 baby the next labor/delivery tends to goes faster. Let us know what you decide.

 

[Jennifer W]

Circe, you have some good advice here, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyway...

If it was my decision, I would schedule a c-section. I would personally view that as the safer decision given what you've outlined. Plenty people would disapprove of that choice, but I don't think that actually matters - only your choice and decision making process is relevant here. I don't get why anyone has a view on how anyone else gives birth, but that's another thread. You had one bad experience with pitocin, and it could have been a complete fluke. However, the only way to test that would be to try it again. Personally, I would not want to run that experiment in the last hours of a high risk pregnancy. Every nerve ending in my body is screaming "c-section" at this point.

My own labour was induced when we needed to get baby out quickly (meconium in amniotic fluid). It did absolutely nothing, had no discernible effect, and although we gave it a good try, it turned into an emergency c-section situation when her heart rate plummeted. So, the worst of both worlds... Even then, it was absolutely fine. That's the other thing - I went home 24 hours later, it was not as traumatic at the time (it was actually quite interesting) or as hard to recover from (I forgot about it, to the point where I had to be reminded to have the stitches removed) as I had feared beforehand. My experience of a c-section was entirely positive and the alternative at that point was too horrible to contemplate.

However, every situation is different, every woman is different, so the other thing I would do is speak again with your Dr - get his or her opinion of the pros and cons, the risks and the benefits in miniscule detail and listen closely to the recommendations, made in the context of day in day out experience and with the detailed knowledge of YOUR case. There are obviously some questions still in your mind, so I would go back and talk again, focusing on the safety of you and the baby. Err on the side of caution for the baby, would be my instinct.

Scheduling to fit around holidays, either a c-section or an induction initially made my feminist hackles rise. However, I'm now thinking that if an experienced high risk specialist in whom you have placed your trust is recommending this, it might be about more than convenience, might be about giving you and your baby 100% of every tiny scrap of things that could go right, and planets-well-aligned sort of luck...

 

[Mrs]

Circe, I'm so sorry your past experience was so terrible! I think if I were you I would opt for a scheduled C-section. I've had 2 scheduled Cs since my first was head-up and never turned and I opted for a second C instead of trying for a VBAC. Both experienced were very good. It was comforting knowing when my children would be born and I didn't have to deal with the stress of labor. Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a great experience of delivery!

Mrs

 

[Bliss]

Circe, CONGRATULATIONS on your coming baby!!!!!

If it were me, I would go in for a scheduled c-section. I would be going in mentally prepared and ready for it - and I feel like this is more healing than having it sprung on me in the delivery room. A lot of births don't go as planned and I think it can be traumatic for the mother in many ways. I have friends who are still very sensitive about what happened when they gave birth. If I knew there was a real chance of a c-section, I would rather have it done when I was ready and on my own terms. Then, it can be a joyful thing rather than being a fearful thing...kind of like taking the power back. I would feel very scared and helpless if I was in labor one moment and the next I was being rushed to an emergency c-section. I would just want to accept it ahead of time and be ready for it in the case that it was a very real possibility.

Either way, you will be over the moon with your angel and this is such a blessed time for you and your husband! But knowing your history and the out of control feeling you have experienced before, I would want my birth experience to be planned. I say this as someone who also experienced a traumatic miscarriage, so my heart and prayers are with you for a smooth and beautiful birth!!!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi,

Circe - in your situation, I'd go for the c-section. It seems like your risks are much lower and you'll know what is going to happen. Recovering from a c/s is difficult but it's MUCH easier, emotionally, if you're already aware you're going to have one.

My experience was I was induced. One week past due, high-risk, and had pushed for 3+ hours before my midwife told me my son hadn't budged. He was basically stuck. They moved me into the e/r and I had the c/s. For my second pregnancy, I opted to have a repeat c/s.

 

[Circe]

So. I saw my doctor yesterday and laid things out for him as rationally as I could ... and as rationally as he could, he said he really felt going more than two days past my due date would be risking a stillbirth.

Not what any woman wants to hear, really.

SO. Now I am examining my options as clinically as I can. I figure I have four possible courses of action:

1) Jump up and down until I go into labor.
2) Suck it up and act like a big girl and get induced and hope the gambler's odds of 60% that the kid gets born vaginally for my trouble are in my favor.
2a) Suck it up and act like a big girl and get induced and hope the gambler's odds of 60% that the kid gets born vaginally for my trouble are in my favor, lose, and have an emergency c-section.
3) Have a scheduled c-section, which is more controlled and safer for kiddo and me both than an emergency c-section - but both 2a and 3 carry the probability of my having a much longer recovery time than a normal lady because of the blood thinners.
4) Profit?

Downsides to the induction are emotional badness and the chance of fetal distress (leading to a c-section, and thus basically providing the worst of both worlds): downside to the c-section is that sometimes there's fluid in the baby's lungs, and the recovery.

So, yeah. I am currently scheduled to be induced next Wednesday. I figure if I do that, I will pass on the epidural, so as to better be able to push: but I hope that I will just go into labor naturally between now and then and be able to bypass the scary decision. The doc said I could always change my mind at any point ... but if I held off too long, I'd spend Wednesday waiting around all day for the surgery, unable to eat, and delaying delivery further and further (no pressure!). So I'm trying to decide by this Thursday. Given NFOWife's good advice about the Bishop score - I'd never even heard of that! - I figure I'll ask what mine is when I have my last appointment the day before, and go from there?

You have all given such wonderful, caring advice - I appreciate every word of it. Individual responses forthcoming.

 

[phoenixgirl]

I'm glad your doctor was able to give you more insight. I'm sending you dust so that the jumping up and down will work and you won't have to worry about anything except option 1. But if that's not the case, it sounds like you are in good hands whatever you decide. I know lots of us have had c/sections after labor and it was really not bad at all. I was on my feet about 12 hours later and don't remember any difficulties in the following weeks except for a lack of ab muscles when climbing stairs (which basically happens from pregnancy anyway). Best wishes and lots of PS dust!

 

[Jennifer W]

I'm glad your doctor was able to give you more insight. I'm sending you dust so that the jumping up and down will work and you won't have to worry about anything except option 1. But if that's not the case, it sounds like you are in good hands whatever you decide. I know lots of us have had c/sections after labor and it was really not bad at all. I was on my feet about 12 hours later and don't remember any difficulties in the following weeks except for a lack of ab muscles when climbing stairs (which basically happens from pregnancy anyway). Best wishes and lots of PS dust!

+1.

C-section after induction was fine by me too. Not what I planned, but oh well. I hosted a lunch party at home 48 hours afterwards. It wasn't up to my usual standards - the 6 invited guests had to bring pot luck dishes and the 5 unexpected drop-ins had to share, but I was up for a bit of a party, so it can't have been that bad. I don't know what effect the blood thinners will have on recovery, but hopefully it won't be too severe.

I had a lack of abdominal muscles when climbing stairs long before I even conceived, damn it.

I'm glad you spoke with your Dr again, and that the risks were laid out so clearly. It must have been frightening to hear, but at least you have the information you needed to make a decision you're comfortable with. I wish this was an easier process for you, and you are very much in my thoughts. Big hugs.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

Just to echo what others have said...everyone responds so differently to whatever their birth experience was like. I have lots of friends who had c-sections and no one has had a difficult recovery. Then of course there are women who've had a very hard time. I had an easy vaginal delivery, though I did have a 2nd degree tear. But my recovery was really, really hard b/c 3 days after DS was born, he had to go back into the hospital for jaundice and (long story short), we got lost walking around an enormous hospital campus and had to walk several miles back and forth. I think that totally did me in and I was in a lot of pain for a long time- certainly not commensurate with how easy his birth was.

 

[swimmer]

Circe, how goes the jumping up and down?

Hopefully since your cervix has now been there and done that labor will be much much easier this time than last. I have no idea how blood thinners would complexify a c-section, but they seem like an awful combination that I hope you can avoid. My doula told me when I was early in week 42 that sometimes they suggest putting an otc seasickness patch behind the ears to naturally help soften the cervix but after consulting doctor google I am unsure of the veracity of this tactic. Anyway, I was desperate to avoid induction so I feel for you so much and hope that this baby gets here as easily as possibly.

 

[Enerchi]

Good luck Circe over the next week... I hope it turns out with the best possible outcomes for both you and your newborn! We are fortunate in this health care era we live in, to be able to plan for and avoid a lot of risky situations.

I am a former Labour and Delivery RN and a mom who had a helluva time delivering my first child (in the dark ages... 23 years ago), I ended up with a C/S after 31.5 hours of non progressing labour, which also included a pitocin drip and a bad reaction to the epidural (it went "high"; I lost sensation in my face/upper chest; then lost sensation in my arms and the ability to swallow, during the actual surgery). My next 2 were both vaginal births and no inductions... and all my children were late. Oh well.. they come when they come...

But in your situation, I would defer to your Ob/Gyne's expertise, especially since you are a high risk pregnancy. The end result is a healthy baby and mom. How you get there is often (and I'm going back to my nursing experience here) more of an emotional hang up than anything else. There are a lot of pro's to a C/S and a lot of pro's to an induction. Please don't add the stress of "I want a (insert_____ here)" to an already tumultuous time.

Some of the tricks of the trade "way back when", to induce labour included lots of walking and exercise and having vaginal s*x, as the semen contains a protein that helps to dilate the cervix. Just throwin' that out there for ya, if you are looking for something to do this weekend!!!

All kidding aside, best of luck. Look forward to hearing about the new little person in your life! Good luck - big hug for you!

 

[lliang_chi]

Circe, just wishing you luck this week. Hopefully everything will go smoothly.

~LC