Induction after a C/S

[BeautifulMadness]

What are the "laws" of induction when it comes to previously having a c/s? ill be 40wks +3 when i go in on monday. do i have any chance of going into natural labour before hand?

should i have any worries or concerns? What are my chances of another c/s? how long will they leave it before deciding that? Bubbs is head down i was 2 cm last week and the membrane was wobbling and they couldnt feel my cervix unless they reached under his head.

[Danni]

Hey Jess,

as far as i am aware, they will not induce if you have had a c/s prior. The only thing they have offered me is to rupture the membranes if they can reach them

[BeautifulMadness]

Thats what alot of people have told me, But i have been booked in on monday for an induction.

So i am not too sure what is happening.

[sweetpea678]

Maybe they are going to break your waters to see if that will start something since you are already dialeted a little bit. I would call them and ask what they are going to do so you can plan and not be shocked about anything.

[~Trish~]

Yeah, I agree, give them a call to find out exactly what they plan on doing. Knowledge is power

And good luck

[Danni]

Hmmm I woul definitely be calling them to find out exactly what is going on. Do they know about your previous C/S? Was it done at the same hospital?

[Sarah_H]

They can induce after a c/section as long as it's taken very very slowly and carefully, my guess is that it's not tried often because inductions will often lead to a c/section anyway so what's the point IYKWIM. But anyway, this was the plan for my induction last year.

I was to go in to have my waters broken at 7am. At the time it was booked in I was 3cm dilated & effaced 0.5cm. I would be given around 8 hours for contractions to start, which meant I would be walking the hospital grounds to get things going. After that time I was then going to be given the lowest possible synto drip dose. If contractions started the drip would be stopped & I'd be left to labour away, if they didn't it would be turned up a maximum of twice. I think they said that it would still be less than the starting dose of a normal induction. If contractions didn't start I'd be sent for a c/section, if they did the drip would be stopped & nature would take it's course. I think after that I would have been given 24 hours to have the baby because of the infection risk after the ARM.

Prior to that if you are dilated less than 3-4cm you should be able to ask for a Foley's Cathetar induction. Essentially the insert the cathetar into your cervix & blow up the balloon part to force your cervix to start to open. It can take around 24 hours but from everything I read it works really well to get to that initial 3-4cm.

You can also try a stretch & sweep, acupuncture or clary sage oil to try to get things started.


Just so you know there is no reason why you couldn't go into labour beforehand. I had my appointment on the Friday & booked the induction for the Monday, at 10pm the Friday night my waters broke & contractions started around 1am. So you never know you might not need to worry about an induction at all

[BeautifulMadness]

its being done at the same hospital i had my c/s at. thats the bit that worries me, if its more risky to induce me and more likely to lead to a c/s anyways, why not just go for the c/s?

[Emmy83]

At the hospital I work at they induce people who have had previous C/S. The only thing different is you can't have the prostin gel if you were to need it but if your already 2cm you wont need it anyway. With a previous C/S you would have your waters broken and hopefully your labour would then start on its own. They usually let you go several hours (about 4-6 where I work) and if thats not bringing contractions on they will start the drip but low. We also check the C/S scar for signs of heat and redness and pain and our policy is for more monitoring then usually but doesn't have to be continuous. Hopefully your labour will start before the induction. Nothing like a date to scare bub out before hand.

[Emmy83]

Originally Posted by BeautifulMadness

its being done at the same hospital i had my c/s at. thats the bit that worries me, if its more risky to induce me and more likely to lead to a c/s anyways, why not just go for the c/s?

I think sometimes it depends on why you had a C/S before hand and the likelyhood of having a vaginal delivery. Obviously you never know now what exactally is going to happen but for some women they are more confident that they will birth vaginally and want to give them every opportunity to do so without opting for the C/S first.

[BeautifulMadness]

So it depends on why u had the c/s to start with? mine was pre- eclampsia @ 37 wks 5 days. does that make a difference?

4-6 hrs gosh, hopfully i wont go mad by then lol

[Emmy83]

Every hospital is different. You wont go mad if breaking your waters starts off the contractions. Its only the waiting for something to happen lol
I know some women who have C/S for reasons like failure for the baby to descend are usually advise against labour due to the likelyhood of a repeat C/S but other reasons like a breech presentation they are more encouraging due to the increase likelyhood of a VBAC. Good luck. I hope you have a great birth experience regardless of what way it comes out.

[Sarah_H]

Jess once they break your waters you need to keep active & try to get the contractions going. Walk around the hospital & things like that, it's supposed to really help the contractions start.

[BeautifulMadness]

thank you emmy.

All so confusing, am trying to be as informed as i can be


Thanx sarah, good reason to annoy the other ladies,

might need my ipod

[Sarah_H]

My suggestion would be to find out exactly what they are going to do at your next appointment, or maybe even ring the hospital tomorrow to find out what the plan is.... If you're not happy with it, you can refuse all of what they're planning or some. It's your birth, it's your choice. One of my midwives said to me (on the quiet) "you know sometimes people just don't show up for their induction & there's not a lot we can do but call & remind them."

[BeautifulMadness]

would it be likrly they would tell me on the day, what is going on.

[julie_ann_jules]

I had a successful vba2c after induction with a foley catheder, ARM and drip. My ob put the drip in and once contractions started he took it out!.
The only thing they can't do is use the gel