Induced vs. Csection

cag11890 · March 2015

im finding out, due to my GD, there is a large possibility The dr will want to induce me 1-2 weeks early. I don't want to be induced. I have heard too many horror stories about the Pitocin /pain med combo and quite frankly I'm not interested in it in the least bit. Is it completely stupid to ask for a C-section because of this?

laurendutch · March 2015

I've never had an induced labor but I've had a c-section. C-sections are no fun! I was throwing up during the whole procedure and it continued throughout the night. I couldn't walk until the next day and even then it was just to the bathroom. A c-section is major surgery and I was on heavy pain meds for the first week. By the second week it got a little easier but it took 8 weeks to feel somewhat normal.

Katerina&Baby · March 2015

Not sure what horror stories you're referring to - do you mean because pitocin induced contractions seem to be more intense (at least anecdotally) and therefore women might be more likely to request pain meds? Because you're given an epidural for a csection anyway (unless you wanted or had to be under general anesthesia for some reason)...

btm013 · March 2015

I'm a FTM and if given the choice I would absolutely go the induction route than c-section. That is major surgery and shouldn't be taken lightly. Of course there are circumstances that require it but if you can try to avoid it you might as well try. I didn't know bc of GD they would want to induce. Is this common practice? I had a friend with it and she went into labor on her own. Good luck!

capeterson1 · March 2015

I was induced for both of my pregnancies, one at 39 weeks d/t supposed IUGR and then before 41 weeks for the other. I had pitocin for both and overall had normal experiences. I was able to have without an epidural but with a dose or two of IV pain meds. The pain is intense as with most labors but no horror stories from me!!
Also, I was able to see a c section in nursing school and it is no joke- I would def prefer vaginal birth but just my opinion. Best of luck!

klkonwi · March 2015

You need to sit down with your doctor and get yourself educated. Inductions vs. csections is a huge difference.

amhowell14 · March 2015

Induced with pitocin for DD 1 & 2. No issues at all. Will be induced this time as well. Definitely discuss with your doctor. I'd choose induction over csection any day.

lilitaliangirl · March 2015

I don't have personal advice on a c-section, but a really good friend of mine had one 8 months ago and ended up with an infection. She had a pretty long recovery too. I had an induction at 41 weeks with DS, as several of my friends and 2 sisters. I find it more common for inductions to go relatively smooth than not. I personally believe each woman has a different pain tolerance. So, I would recommend an induction over a c-section, but as PP said, I would discuss with your doctor.

auburnmamma · March 2015

Pitocin sucks but so does a C Section. It's major surgery that comes with its own risks and disadvantages.

delujm0 · March 2015

My friend was induced at 39 weeks due to the GD medication she had to be on to manage it. It's my understanding that if you can manage the GD through diet alone, induction isn't necessary. But her body required the meds.

Baby was well positioned when she was induced and was born with very minimal pushing (10 minutes) 14 hours later. She got the epidural about 8 hours in so that she could get some rest. Once she had the epidural she felt almost nothing and was happy as a clam the whole time.

On the other end, I have a friend who was induced at 42+ weeks and it still took almost 48 hours for the baby to come out. I think a lot depends on how close the baby was to coming on its own.

I would just do the induction in your position, but i plan on getting an epidural. If you don't want that, yes, the pitocin may make labor more painful than it would otherwise have been. But you'd have an epidural for the c-section too. Apparently there are serious risks associated with not inducing early if you are on GD meds though, so I'd rather have a day of more intense pain than risk the baby's health.

I'd gladly accept a c-section if the baby is breech or if there is an emergency...but otherwise the risks of general surgery are not worth it when induction would get the job done just as well.

BabyList · March 2015

Normally the reason people don't want to be induced is due to an increased chance that you might have to have a c-section. Being induced is not that bad, a c-section is major surgery and difficult to recover from. You can ask your doctor, but I'm pretty sure they will say "NO!"

sideboth · March 2015

I was induced and ended up with a C-section. Neither are a picnic. I agree that you need to sit down with a doctor and get pros/cons for both.

mrs1374a · March 2015

I've had both (in the same day). I've never been induced, I went into labor on my own and after hours and hours of walking, bouncing and whatever else, I was not progressing. They gave me oitocen and it did suck, it hurt, but I could have got an epidural. Hours after that I ended up with a c section, which was a lot worse than the pitocen. I was throwing up during the entire surgery and was miserable for the next 2 weeks. I would never choose a c section unless it was an emergency.

cag11890 · March 2015

The Pitocin makes labor happen epidural slows it down, so the combo going back and forth is what causes women to be in labor for hours upon hours. And. I can get a spinal
Block instead of an epidural if I have a csection

DolphinLover2002 · March 2015

I can speak from experience with both. With ds, I had to get induced because I had high fluid levels and went overdue. I was induced at midnight and already dilated to a 2. Things weren't progressing fast enough so I was put on pitocin. They kept having to up the pitocin because things weren't progressing. The pain got to be unbearable, so I got the epidural. I was able to get really good sleep after that. As of about 5:00 that evening, I had only dilated to a 5. The pitocin made my son's heart rate drop with every contraction. For both of our safety, they rushed me into an emergency c-section. I got super sick from it and was throwing up for hours. It is a major surgery. I was on heavy pain meds for almost 2 weeks, and it was at least 6 weeks before I started feeling normal again. If I had a choice, I would do the induction and go vaginally. Yes it's painful, but the c-section is much worse!

cag11890 · March 2015

If you guys haven't seen it look up "the business of being born" on YouTube and it will kind of explain the Pitocin/epidural dilemma I'm having. Not that csection is much better but as im hearing people in this situation sometimes end up with a csection anyway.

amhowell14 · March 2015

cag11890 said:
The Pitocin makes labor happen epidural slows it down, so the combo going back and forth is what causes women to be in labor for hours upon hours. And. I can get a spinal
Block instead of an epidural if I have a csection

Epidural doesn't always slow labor down.

cag11890 · March 2015

It may not always, that's just a trend I've been seeing when I talk with people about it. And every single test I've had so far I've failed so I feel
Like everything that can possibly go wrong, will. Lol

lovethatcolosun · March 2015

cag11890 said:
If you guys haven't seen it look up "the business of being born" on YouTube and it will kind of explain the Pitocin/epidural dilemma I'm having. Not that csection is much better but as im hearing people in this situation sometimes end up with a csection anyway.

I just watched this documentary the other day. I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of pitocin. I chose to do it with my first after 33 hours of labor without any meds because I needed to progress. I also got an epidural. His heart rate also dropped with the more intense contractions so they put me on oxygen to help him out. Total labor time was about 45 hours. I think many factors led up to this. One of which was my sons head was in the 95th percentile. With all of that said, I still would not have elected to do a c-section. I never felt pressured to do the pitocin, it was just given to me as an option. Maybe it was because I had a midwife in a hospital that prides itself on limited c-sections, but surgery was not brought up once. I know not all hospitals are like that, but that documentary pushes the fear factor birthing in a hospital. Hospitals are not enemy. Talk to your doc and ask specific questions about hospital procedures and the what ifs. That should calm your fears somewhat.

KaLikeAWind · March 2015

OP, just from your follow up comments it seems like you've made up your mind anyway, as anybody who is recommending not getting a c-section you are vaguely shooting them down with your replies (not officially shooting them down, just giving the vibe that you are, if you're getting what I'm saying. That's what it reads like to someone who has been gone all day, anyway). So. I recommend what @klkonwi said - sit down and discuss your concerns with your doctor. If I were in your spot, tho - I would go for inducement first. Good luck

MJMum524 · March 2015

I'd say if you have to have a c-section, have one. If not, avoid it! I'm a nurse who sees c-section infections in patients all the time and it's a huge recovery from a major surgery as well.

bowloforanges1327 · March 2015

I had an induction without an epidural. I was very upset when told I was being induced and worked out a plan with my doula and my ob. It ended up being a pleasant experience. I was able to avoid pain meds completely. My labor was no more overwhelming then my previous all natural labor and my son was born healthy.

I feel like you only hear the horror stories with inductions and not the positive ones. The buisness of being born is great and has lots of great information. However it is one perspective on a variety of complex issues. You need to talk with your doctor/midwife/doula to find the care that best fits you individually.

mrs1374a · March 2015

cag11890 said:
If you guys haven't seen it look up "the business of being born" on YouTube and it will kind of explain the Pitocin/epidural dilemma I'm having. Not that csection is much better but as im hearing people in this situation sometimes end up with a csection anyway.

I have seen it, a few years ago, and I didn't get an epidural with the pitocen but it still didn't progress my labor. However, I still would not recommend volunteering for a c section. Did you discuss that with your doctor? Will they even allow it? Because I know my doctor would never say yes to that.

TheEA · March 2015

I was induced at 39 weeks to avoid a c-section. My son was measuring very big and my doctor was afraid that with my small frame I wouldn't be able to deliver vaginally. I was induced with pitocin and didn't get any pain meds. It was painful but I could handle it. I progressed very slowly and couldn't dialte past a 7. Because of that my doctor suggested getting a c-section. I agreed. I had been stuck at 7 cm for over 3 hours at that point.
Recovery from the c-section sucked. It took about 8 weeks for me to feel somewhat normal. Even 6 months after the surgery my scar felt funny/numb.

8411mommy · March 2015

I would not willingly volunteer for a csection. I went to be induced for having high Bp at 39 weeks... Never progressed and they had to cancel the poticin due to it making my Bp worse. Ended up with csection.
But always try for that vaginal birth.
I'm trying for a vbac this time, lord willing.

auburnmamma · March 2015

amhowell14 said:

cag11890 said:
The Pitocin makes labor happen epidural slows it down, so the combo going back and forth is what causes women to be in labor for hours upon hours. And. I can get a spinal
Block instead of an epidural if I have a csection
Epidural doesn't always slow labor down.

Agreed. My water broke and I never went into labor. I was not dilated at all so they started pitocin. My body fought it until I got the epidural. I dilated 2.5 on pitocin in 4.5 hours. After the epidural, I was complete and pushing in less than 4 hours.

I spiked a fever and DS was stuck so I needed a C section. I don't regret trying.

ksimo6 · March 2015

My c-section was a piece of cake but you should know that they give you pitocin after the surgery to get your uterus to contract. It was not pleasant.

taboullio84 · March 2015

cag11890 said:
It may not always, that's just a trend I've been seeing when I talk with people about it. And every single test I've had so far I've failed so I feel
Like everything that can possibly go wrong, will. Lol

I was induced my last two and got the epidural at 5 cm ... Didn't slow it down at all.. Pain free labor after that. Loved it.

C sections are no joke.. Have you ever seen an infection from it ... Holy crap ..

lovemywildgirls · March 2015

@cag11890 - I was induced with DD1 and the pitocin wasn't bad at all. They turned it up a little every hour and my contractions gradually got more intense. I was stuck at 1.5/2cm for 12 hours and at that point opted for an epidural (I was trying to do no pain meds). Less than an hour after the epidural I was fully dilated. I think in my case the epidural allowed my body to relax and do what it needed to do.

With DD2 I went into labor naturally and it was WAY more intense than my first labor. Contractions started super close together and got super painful extremely fast. An hour after my contractions started I was at the hospital and dilated to 3.5. Got the epidural shortly after arriving and it didn't slow down progression at all.

You should definitely discuss your options with your OB. C-sections may be common but it still is major surgery. Also from what I remember from my birthing class, a vaginal delivery is healthier for baby.

cag11890 · March 2015

Thanks guys im definitely going to talk with my doctor and express my concerns about the different drugs and see what kind of options I do have. It's refreshing hearing that so many of you has ok experiences with pitocin, I guess what I had been hearing was only people that had bad experiences with it. I've never been a huge fan of pumping chemicals into my body, but I know that either way I'll end up with some.

mccall35 · March 2015

Just an FYI. If you go with a csection, you're body will be pumped with just as much (if not more) drugs. Not including the pain meds you may need post op.

laurendutch · March 2015

mccall35 said:
Just an FYI. If you go with a csection, you're body will be pumped with just as much (if not more) drugs. Not including the pain meds you may need post op.

I'm pretty sure my spinal had more drugs in it than an epidural since I couldn't feel my legs for over 12 hours.

quietsusie · March 2015

My first pregnancy my doc sent me in 2 weeks early to be induced because she said the baby had lost weight. I was so scared! But actually it was wonderful! I know my experience is different than most, but as soon as I had the pitocin it put me into natural labor so I didn't need any of that other stuff. The doctors said nothing would happen for a few days, but less than 10 hours later I had given birth to my little girl. I know every experience is different but I wouldn't worry too much if I were you!

Want a personalized experience?

Induced vs. Csection

Re: Induced vs. Csection

Choose Another Board

Search Boards