in June 2025 Babies 🇺🇸

Induction vs. Scheduled C-section?

So, due to already established type 2 diabetes (not gestational), my doctor wants to induce me about 2 weeks earlier by late May. So far, baby is average size, which is more common with those with already established diabetes vs. gestational (where they usually are bigger). My question is, what has your experience been and what do you suggest? I am a first-time mommy. I am 36. I am already having lots of pelvic pain. I am deadly scared of child birth and being in pain. My doctor mentioned she will use Pitocin to induce labor. I read a lot and this could mean a LOT of intense pain due to stronger more frequent contractions. I even read that sometimes a lot of ripping happens and 1 out of 5 mothers end up needing an emergency C-Section anyway which isn't good because they were already in so much pain, are now in distress, and the baby is distressed too. After reading all this, I am now considering a scheduled C-Section. I understand the recovery can be extremely difficult but I AM taking off for 3 months from work and so is my husband. I also have my mother living with me to help out. I am just so confused. I have epidural just takes care of the pain, but then I read that sometimes it doesn't work enough. History: 1. PCOS but never tried to conceive, and when I did try, got pregnant right away 2. Always had painful periods 3. Have had LOTS of polyps removed during hystrescopy in Aug 2023 revealed simple to complex hyperplasia. I took Megace for 10 months and kept getting biopsies, and I was declared clear in May 2024. 4. Have had symptoms of abnormal bleeding throughout my teenage years and recently found out the cause was the polyps. 5. I am on insulin (short and long acting) for diabetes and have been for a while.

Show your support

I was induced 2X and it went fine (39 and 1 day due to large babies). I’ve heard c sections are rough. I thought vaginal birth was fine.

I was induced with Pitocin and the contractions came on extremely fast. I got an epidural and then I felt nothing I had my son within 6 hours of checking into the hospital and only pushed 3 times. He was my first baby and I had a great experience.

Ask your provider how they operate in the hospital that you are planning to deliver also ask about alternative induction methods if pitocin makes you nervous. See if your provider is open to giving more epidural if needed ie if you run out. Also see if there are other pain management methods outside of the epidural so you’re able to put it off to the last second to avoid it running out. Think about your dream birth neither recovery period is the most pleasant. I had an unsuccessful induction due to my daughter being large where we ended in cesarean because her big ole head would not descend fully. BUT it wasn’t as painful as I imagined and I think it’s because I heard soooo many people tell me it was the most awful thing ever so I just kept waiting to feel some type of torture that never happened. Pitocin did cause her heart rate to drop as well.

@Marie Thank you for this information. Makes me feel at ease.

@Meagan Oh I hope it is as less complicated for me as it was for you. Thank you for sharing!!!

@Reagan Thank you. I see my OBGYN next week and I will ask these questions. I am registered with Houston Methodist Hospital and they are one of the best here so I hope they have a lot to provide me. 🙏 Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Monitoring the baby's weight is on the radad for my OBGYN as well as the high risk OBGYN that I see.

I was induced with Pitocin and after a while I got a epidural. Next thing that I knew. My blood pressure was high and my baby heart rate was low. I had emergency c section. I later found out that the placenta detached. I hope you have a safe delivery. 🙏

If you’re nervous for a C-section, I would prepare your body for a natural labor. Dates to help soften the cervix and raspberry tea helps with labor also (I forget what specifically). Then if it’s too painful get an epidural? Labor was so long and painful for me with my first that I ended up doing epidural and wish I did it sooner. Second baby, prepared with dates and raspberry tea and she came in 4 hours (of labor) the next day (39 weeks & 6 days).

@Tammy Thanks for telling me about your experience. I am sorry you had to experience all of that.

@Kaity Thank you!! I have to be careful with dates due to my diabetes but I surely love them. I am nervous about both things, induction AND C-Section. I have a deadly fear of child birth and it was one of the many reasons I avoided it for so long. Thank you for sharing with me what you experienced.

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌

‌

‌
‌