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Childbirth

Labour before ELCS

5 replies

Blahblahblahyadayadayada · 19/12/2016 09:16

I've posted related to CS somewhere else but this question is more about going into labour before the ELCS.

I understand that if I do go into labour before the date then they treat it as a semi-EMCS. However, if I have labour pains but am not in established labour (or they do the usual go home and have a bath and some paracetamol....that old chestnut...) then what? I am also terrified they will have a staffing crisis or a spate of EMCS that day and I'll be left to be in labour. I'm really terrified as I had an awful birth last time and stupidly did not have an epidural, something I really regret. Gas and air was a waste of time and pethidine did nothing other than hurt at the injection site. I am so traumatised by the last birth that even if I get any kind of abdominal pain when not pregnant, such as wind etc(!) I feel very distressed. I understand ELCS is generally quite calm but all I seem to do is think about everything that can go wrong and I feel I just won't cope with being in labour. I'm also really worried about after the delivery- newborns are not easy. I'm not having a great pregnancy, either. I've had bleeds from an ectroption on my cervix causing a few trips to maternity triage; thankfully that was nothing to worry about, just a nuisance. Then I threw my back out, ended up on crutches and got admitted to the antenatal ward, had an MRI etc and it turns out I've disc issue. I'm still on crutches and am not able to go to work. Then got a cough and cold, tonsillitis and conjunctivitis. None of this is serous, but cumulatively, it is wearing me out!

I suppose this is a conversation to have with my midwife at the next appointment but some positive stories would help. Thanks.

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Blahblahblahyadayadayada · 20/12/2016 19:08

Hopeful bump!

OP posts:

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PenelopeChipShop · 20/12/2016 19:14

You need to speak to your midwife as obviously each hospital has its own policy but I suspect she will reassure you.

I remember stressing about this before my ECS and I think they said that in that case you would be treated as an Emergency section just like anyone else in labour who starts to show a clinical need. So it wouldn't be a really long wait and if it was there would be pain relief available.

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AbbeyRoadCrossing · 20/12/2016 19:15

Ask your consultant about it but usually they book an elective for 39 weeks to avoid too many women going into labour.
If you do it depends what has been agreed but it would be an emergency technically like you say.
They have categories of emergency so those that are life and death would be done first. Most hospitals have more than one surgery room though so I don't think you'd wait too long

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Oscha · 20/12/2016 19:27

I don't know if this will make you feel better, but there's evidence that going into labour for a while before an ELCS is actually better for the baby. However, it it's causing you a lot of anxiety then it might be worth asking your consultant to review your ELCS date to try and prevent it happening? I'm sorry your last birth was so traumatic :(

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Blahblahblahyadayadayada · 20/12/2016 19:59

If by pain relief they can find an anaesthetist to give me an epidural if I do go into labour, then that will do, I'm sure. It's just that if the anaesthetists may also be tied up doing other things....
I understand the 39 weeks thing and I don't want my baby to be at risk of respiratory problems, so from that pint of view I don't mind waiting. With my previous baby I went into labour at 39+4 andDC was born the next day. I know that there is no guarantee that this one will want to come earlier than that. this pregnancy has just been quite difficult in general and I just don't feel like I'll cope with more unexpected events!