Induction with sytoncin or c/s better for mum and bub?

[Feueriosa]

Hiya,

So as I have GD and after being scanned 4 times in 8 weeks they have determined that her little tum is just growing WAY too fast and is now off the charts, so I have been advised by my OB that we should really get her out next week. I have read all the articles etc about this and as my main priority is getting her out healthy, and it is obvious that dispite me thinking I am controlling my sugar well, too much is still getting through to her, so I am fine with this even though it is definitely not what I was planning.

I had a natural ish birth with DS however I did end up with a vacume extraction at the end and this resulted in a lot of damage to my pelvic floor which has wrecked my sex life and involved some very 'personal' physio in order for me to even be able to have sex at all (even though I get no pleasurable sensation at least it is not unbearably painful now.).

So my question (sorry to be so long winded!) is this, am I better off to let them pump me full of sytocin with the increased likelyhood of needing an epi and another assisted delivery, plus the concern that if she really is big getting more damage 'down there' on the way out, or should I just op for a c/s which will at least not damage me any further.

I am thinking better in terms of the effect on my hormones (ability to bf, risk of pnd etc) the effect on my body and the effect on my baby.

Any thoughts much appreciated!
Feu

[Traveller]

It really depends on how ready your body is for induction. Ask them to check your bishops score for the likelihood of a vaginal delivery if induced now. It you score poorly then the chances are high that an induction would not work and this may help you make your decision. Conversely if it reveals that your cervix is ready to go and so is your baby, then the induction could go smoothly with minimal synto. Also a vaginal birth need not mean a repeat epis and damage to your vagina and pelvic floor. Your last baby could have been in a poor position, whereas this baby might not be. Basically ask a million questions and take time to make up your mind.

[Midwife Melissa]

It's a very personal decision - one that you have to be comfortable with. C/S is not without its risks too; how would you feel if you opted for C/S and experienced severe complications from it? The other issue with having a C/S is that you will always be considered high risk going forward - and might be excluded from birth centres, midwifery-led options of care and homebirth.

Syntocinon doesn't automatically mean needing an epi; there are many techniques you can use to help manage the labour wihtout an epidural. Even if you have an epidural, being your 2nd baby there's far less chance of needing an assisted birth.

There's pros and cons on both sides ... probably the best thing to do is to tune in and ask yourself what you really feel is the best option and go with it. There's no right or wrong, just what feels right to you at the time.