C section on due date, scared!

[DwangelaForever]

Ok so my first birth was an emergency section after two days of being in hospital trying to be induced, all in all very traumatic for me and I don't want to go through labour again to end up with a section any way so I've decided to opt for a repeat section which is all fine and dandy.

Except, they've booked me in on my due date, I was expecting 39 weeks so I'm really panicking in case I go into spontaneous labour!! They've told me if I do present in labour I can have a section but I'd rather not be in the situation (terrified of uterine rupture)

Anyone have any experience of booking for a repeat on your due date? Am I likely to go into labour before my date?

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

It's apparently pretty rare although I did. My Trust won't do them before 39+1 and I went into labour at 39 weeks exactly. It was fine though, I got to hospital, they confirmed I was in labour and then offered me the choice of breaking my waters/seeing what happened or going to theatre. Given that dc1 got stuck at full dilation, following pushing and failed forceps and dc2 looked like they had an equally big head based on my 37 week scan, I went for the section. I still got all the elements of the section which were important to me, dropped curtain, delayed cord clamping, skin to skin almost immediately etc we just had a slightly panicked trip to the hospital at 3am and dc1 got to visit the labour ward/eat half the vending machine.

When did you go into labour with your first?

[DwangelaForever]

@Dinosauratemydaffodils I didn't actually go into labour naturally with my first, I was induced at 39+5 and my body was no where near ready to give birth!

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

That might be a good sign? Both mine ended up being born by emcs in the early hours of 39+1 so dc2 pretty much followed dc1's pattern, if that happened to you, you should be fine til 40 weeks.

[DwangelaForever]

@Dinosauratemydaffodils I'm hoping the fact I wasn't ready for labour that close to my due date is a good sign!

Oh god just re reading you had to bring your first into hospital with you? How did you know you were in labour, just contractions or did your water break? I'm really freaking out haha!

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

Contractions, I'd been having twinges all day but by 2am they just ramped up out of nowhere from maybe 1 every hour to 3 in 10 minutes. Phoned the hospital who said come in. Tried phoning various friends/the child minder we use but everyone was fast asleep. Got my PiL up but they live an hour and a half away so we woke ds up, shoved him in his car seat and took him too. He loved it, they had a really fancy vending machine and so when I felt uncomfortable with him being there, dh took him off to wait to be picked up whilst I talked to the midwife/dr etc by myself.

[Lindorballs]

I had my first c section at 39+5 and my second one at 40+1. They said they do it any day that week so could have gone another day if I’d wanted to. Not a twinge of anything. Both of mine were electives. I think you’ll find the whole experience alot calmer and more restful than your first. Both of mine have been lovely. I was told if I went into labour just to ring them and they would squeeze me in as quickly as possible for an “urgent” c section - not quite the same as full blown emergency obviously.

[Sandstormbrewing]

I'm also worried about this, I went straight 38+1 with DC1 so worried about going early this time. My worst nightmare is having to labour for hours before my section.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

Sandstormbrewing If it helps, I arrived at the hospital around 3 in the morning. My dd was delivered at 6 am. They offered all the pain relief the labour ward usually offers whilst we waited.

[littlepooch]

I'm nervous about this too! Mine is booked for next week when I'll be 39+6. They couldn't fit me in any earlier.
I keep getting twinges and mild period pain and absolutely panicking that something is going to start! Just hoping so hard I get to next week!

[DwangelaForever]

@littlepooch how are you? After writing this whole post I've been diagnosed with OC so deffo don't have to wait til my due date, have a date for 37+5 but could potentially come earlier now!!

[littlepooch]

Oh my goodness that's a change of plan!!

Well my fears came true and I went into labour at 39+1 at about 7am. I went straight to hospital and they were amazing. Everything moved quickly and DD was born at 11am by section. It wasn't how I planned but I got my section so in the end it was fine. The most stressful part was having to arrange childcare for my older 2 kids as I had it all arranged for my actual section date.

I hope everything goes well for you and the little one stays put until it should!