How often does an induction end in a caesarean?

[mrsmac]

I was induced with my 1st due to high BP, on my due date, I had a very traumatic birth which ended up with epesiotomy (Sp?) and forceps but no c/s. With my 3rd i was induced 12 days early again high BP and I had an easy vaginal delivery.

[Tinks]

I was induced all 3 times and none of them resulted in a c-section.

[Sterla]

I was induced and ended up having an emergency c/s. I think in my case it would have ended in an emergency c/s anyway, as bub's heart rate was dropping before I was even induced. They induced me to give me a chance at a vaginal birth, but told me that it was possible that it could distress bub even more - which it did. Because there was already something wrong before I was induced, my chances of ending up having a c/s were already higher.

[Miss E]

Glad to hear there are lots of positive induction experiences... Clearly the odds aren't nearly as bad as I thought they may be. Thanks for sharing

[Snacks]

You've made some interesting points, Miss Excited. I haven't been induced before (and don't want to be if I can help it) but I think I'd rather give induction and VB a go over going straight to c/s.
There's still every chance that you can have your baby vaginally if you're induced, and to me, that's preferable to surgery and it's potential problems. JMO. All the best for your birth!

[DiannaQ]

2 inductions due to failure to progress - both time my water broke on its own.

1st time resulted in Epi and Vaccum extraction = 14 hours labour
2nd time no drugs = 50minutes labour

2 completely different births but definitely give the thumbs up for birth no.2 - very full on but over in a very short time - although baby had issues with the lungs due to too fast labour

[Glamourcide]

I think every birth, and every woman, is such a different experience from the next that it all really falls to fate in most cases, kwim?? Others have said that induction increases the likelihood of the mother wanting pain relief too early, or asking for more pain relief than they would otherwise have considered... I used gas and was very open to the idea of it well before being admitted to hospital (I have a great pain tolerance but I knew birthing was going to be very hard on me and I was happy to use pain relief if I felt it was needed), but although it was extremely intense and very hard on my body, I refused an epidural purely because I'm terrified of catheters lol... After going through what I did, and reading about the experiences of other mums (who weren't induced), I do realise that my experience *was* actually quite traumatic, but as it was my first baby I really had no idea what to expect so I assumed at the time it was all completely normal to feel what I felt, and I thought everybody had the same experience, kwim? If anything, the knowledge that an induction is so much harder on a mother's body has made me feel much stronger and more confident, as I know now that I got through it okay, and a perfectly healthy daughter at the end of it, so if I have my next one spontaneously I think I will handle it better than if I had gone into labour spontaneously, purely because by all accounts it will be a bit easier on my body, and I'm actually looking forward to labouring this time so I can get a taste of what it 'really' feels like.

I suppose the key here is educating yourself - I knew quite little about the risks associated with inductions until well after DD was born - I'd never even HEARD of PPH until I lost over 3L of blood within minutes and, to tell the truth, I thought *that* was normal as well until I saw my husband's face after speaking to a midwife and I knew something was going wrong. I didn't know that inductions weren't all, 'We'll just pop your waters and bub will be here soon', I didn't know that inductions had such a high rate of ending in c-sec, I didn't know exactly how they worked or what effects they had on mums and babies... I just knew that the pain in my back and hips in the weeks before having DD were so bad that I just wanted her OUT, I didn't really care how!!
I think if you're aware of the risks, the statistics, and the facts, you can make a much better-informed decision - as you've seen, some of us have had quite positive experiences with induction, some haven't, but if you know the 'tricks' to help you through it it may be an option that leads to a good outcome for you (eg, I avoided an epi for totally different reasons, by the time I started yelling for one DD was crowning lol, maybe if you know an epi ups the risk of a c-sec you could say 'no' to it, kwim?).

I'd best be sitting down to complete my birth plan too lol, all I've written so far is, 'No epidural, no episiotomy/forceps', good luck with yours, great to see you're arming yourself with as much knowledge as possible and that us BB members are able to help you in some small way

[Trillian]

Naturally the figures are going to be different when you're looking at two different 'studies' and you also have to take into account the type of hospital the women are having inductions in and the reasons. Some tertiary hospitals take on many 'high risk' cases which would include inductions for medical reasons etc so it will probably be something that you would never get a truly reflective figure on. It's also slightly higher for first time mums who get induced to have a c/s in the end too.

You will hear of many inductions that go perfectly fine, but the stats make it something to be wary of and you do need to be prepared that once you succumb to it, then there could be further intervention etc.

GothMum, FYI, syncto induction can cause PPH as a side effect of the drug. I had a PPH requiring a transfusion after my one and only induction. This is an updated 'adverse reaction' list on the synctocinon from the main site JIC you haven't seen it;

This is taken from the packaging of Syntocinon which has been recently updated:
?ADVERSE REACTIONS
The following adverse reactions have been reported in the mother: Anaphylactic reaction, Postpartum hemorrhage, Cardiac arrhythmia, Fatal afibrinogenemia, Nausea, Vomiting, Premature ventricular contractions, and Pelvic hematoma.
Excessive dosage or hypersensitivity to the drug may result in uterine hypertonicity, spasm, tetanic contraction, or rupture of the uterus.
The possibility of increased blood loss and afibrinogenemia should be kept in mind when administering the drug.
Severe water intoxication with convulsions and coma has occurred, associated with a slow oxytocin infusion over a 24-hour period. Maternal death due to oxytocin-induced water intoxication has been reported.
The following adverse reactions have been reported in the fetus or infant:
Due to induced uterine motility: Bradycardia, Premature ventricular contractions and other arrhythmias, Permanent CNS or brain damage, and Fetal death.
Due to use of oxytocin in the mother: Low Apgar scores at 5 minutes. Neonatal jaundice, and Neonatal retinal hemorrhage.?

So it's not something to be taken lightly as they are quite serious complications that can arrise. So it is best to avoid an induction at all costs and only used as a last resort before a c/s

[Fleur]

I was induced and ended up having an emergency c/s. I think in my case it would have ended in an emergency c/s anyway, as bub's heart rate was dropping before I was even induced. They induced me to give me a chance at a vaginal birth, but told me that it was possible that it could distress bub even more - which it did. Because there was already something wrong before I was induced, my chances of ending up having a c/s were already higher.

- Exactly the same situation with my DS2, when they did get him out, he had severe cord entanglement which would have accounted for both the failure to go into labour / progress and the heart rate dropping... I can't see how he would NOT have been a CS.
Having said that, it is not an experience I am keen to repeat.

One question that continues to arise for me, is , WHY if a 'normal gestation' is 38 - 42 weeks are babies routinely being induced at 41+10? My DS1 arrived all on his own at 42+1 (I refused to go to hospital - not that I recommend that) after a 3hr labour, and he was perfectly fine.

This time around I am hoping for a VBAC, I have asked the OB to be allowed to go past 41+10, and she agreed to 41+13 , possibly with a CTG & Scan to make sure everything is ok, and I'm pretty happy with that. I also have the option at that point to elect for a CS rather than induction, and I am not sure yet how I feel about either option - I do not want another CS but I don't want to be induced either! I will be trying everything I can from 38 weeks to bring it on

and finally after re-reading all of the above, and considering some of the posts from Mums who have had inductions ending in successful VB's, I think it would be better to try the induction rather than just opt for a CS - at least to give it a chance to happen, kwim? and keeping in mind that some labours just do end in CS for whatever reason, things don't always go to plan.

Hey with a bit of luck it won't even be an issue for you..
Good Luck

[Visitor7]

I was induced with the drip with Nina after my waters broke and labour didn't start naturally. I had a 9 hour labour with no complications.
When I was induced, the OB let me know that approx 70% of women who get induced end up having an emergency c/s Pretty scary stuff.
I know of 3 other people who have been induced, all at 41+ weeks and they've all ended up having emergency c/s.

[sweetpea678]

I was induced with my first to pre date due to pre e.

1st was 17.5 hrs labour gel 3 times, arm, drip, morphine, epi, vg birth no help there.

2nd was 3.45hrs gel twice, arm, drip gas and peth vg birth no extra help

3rd post date induction, arm as was already 3cm, gas for contraction pain and peth for pelvic seperationpain, 3.5 hr labour, vg birth no extra help.



Only advice I can give if you do get induced is to stay mobile and upright as much as possible, I did even with monitors on.

[Taurean]

My two cents worth:

My sister was induced with both her boys. First one she was put on the drip as the gels alone didn't work and labour was intense but quick (about 5 hours) but she did have an epidural and forceps. Second son was induced by breaking her waters and she went on to have a completely 'natural', drug free water birth in under 4 hours. She RAVES about her wonderful second birth!

I have 4 other friends (that I can think of right now) who were also induced and only one of them had a CS which was due to complications with the bubs before she was induced. The other three all had epidurals but quick labours.

It is good to do the research early though in case you find yourself being induced (and I'm doing the same). Knowing how the hormones work in a 'natural' labour, what your options are and what to expect with an induction really help you deal with the situation as best you can IMO.