What happens if you do into labour before ELCS?

[Tranquilitybaby]

My friends gave spooked me today by asking me that question.

What do you do? Just phone the maternity ward and go in for an EMCS?

[Anotherdayanotherdollar]

I suppose it depends on the reason for the elective section. if you need to have a section they will do an emcs. If the reason for the elcs was, for example, breech presentation, you would probably be scanned and if baby was head down you would be given the option to continue to labour.

[TobikkoRoll]

I was booked in for a c section due to the baby's position, my waters broke a few days before the set date. All that happened was that we called the maternity ward, they told us to come in to be checked and the section was performed later that day. No panic, everything went very smoothly fortunately. Good luck with yours.

[TobikkoRoll]

Obviously it would depend on how early your waters broke, before your due date... Check with your midwife or consultant at your next appointment to be sure.

[seaoflove]

I booked an ELCS last week and the midwife said not to worry, if labour starts beforehand they would still do a section. Which was a relief to hear

[Tranquilitybaby]

Wonderful thanks everyone. X

[TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams]

Yep - get yourself to hospital asap so you get in the queue. Any emergencies or twins for example will go straight to the top so you could be waiting a while.

I had an EMCS [failure to progress] with DD1, so opted for an ELCS with DD2 which was booked for 39 weeks. Waters broke at 37 weeks and I laboured much faster though not in any sort of crazy 2 hour baby in the back of the car style. Was almost fully dilated before the theatre was free and was encouraged to go for a VBAC on the grounds that I was almost there.
3 hrs later I was pretty fed up that there was still no frigging baby. All successfully delivered and healthy baby but for various reasons I wish I'd had the planned ELCS.

Just be warned that its worth reading up on the birth process again. I had NO CLUE whatsoever as to what I was supposed to be doing when we got down to business. Bless the midwife though - she stepped up into full coach mode at that point when I bellowed "Just tell me what to do and when"

[LadyCatherineDeTurd]

It does happen. Obviously sometimes a section can't be done in time, or the reason for the section might no longer exist once you're in spontaneous labour. But sections can be done when a woman is in labour, of course. I guess it just turns into an EMCS rather than an ELCS!

[NanoNinja]

Happened to me. Waters broke day before ELCS (for breech) scheduled. I just called the hospital, went in, baby out 24 hours ahead of schedule and five hours after waters broke. All absolutely fine.

[Tranquilitybaby]

Thanks everyone