going into labour before booked ELCS

[ConnectedtoMS]

Just that really.
What the hospital will do if I'll go into the labour before my booked ELCS? can I still have section or will I have to deliver naturally? Is there a cut off point with ELCS (dilation)?

[LOL7]

Have you signed your paper work? If you have signed it all then they will give you a section still, but if you haven't got to that stage yet then they will encourage you to try naturally, depending on your reason for the section.

[Weedinosaurus]

I went into labour before mine. I still had my section. It just ent down in paper as an emergency section rather than a planned even though it was still very much calm and as planned. I don’t think there’s a cut off point for dilation- could be wrong though.

[Roomba]

I was told that if I went into labour beforehand to ring them immediately, so that it wasn't too late for them to do my section as requested. It was an elective so no medical need, but they would honour my request if at all possible and it wasn't too late.

[Roomba]

I don't think there's a cut off with dilation per se, but if you're fully dilated, pushing and the baby is on the way down the birth canal it is usually safer and much easier to deliver naturally. Otherwise they'd have to manoeuvre the baby back up into the uterus which isn't usually feasible. But I don't imagine you'd get to that point very quickly.

[sohypnotic]

My waters broke 2 days before my booked elective section (for non medical reasons). I went into hospital, they asked if I still wanted the section, which I did, and it happened about 5 hours later. It might have happened sooner, but I wasn't having proper contractions and they were dealing with an emergency. I went on antibiotics as soon as I got to hospital as there was a risk of strep b infection, which I had self tested positive for. It was technically classed as an EMCS, but they jokingly called it 'semi-planned' - as a PP said, it was still very calm and controlled.

[DuskyMoth]

I went into labour two days before my elective. I was in theatre within 10 minutes of arriving at the hospital. But I guess it depends on your reasons (they really didn't want me to labour at all as high risk) and how busy the hospital is. Clearly in my case they had an empty theatre, but I expect I would've had to wait longer if the theatre was in use.

[TuckMyWin]

You'll be prioritised on the day against other people needing c sections. If it's elective, depending on the reasons, they may ask you if you want to continue with a vaginal delivery, but, in my experience, they honoured my decision not to (second birth, first was a crash forceps delivery and did a fair bit of damage, I didn't want to risk it again). If there had been other people more in need of c sections than me that day I may not have got one, as my Labour was progressing fast. But to be honest, that's as it should be.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

I went into labour before my repeat section. On arrival at 3 in the morning they confirmed I was in labour and asked what I wanted to do. I was 6 cms when they checked just before surgery started. When I told them I wanted the c-section, due to staffing in the middle of the night, I was told that we would have to wait if any emergencies popped up and I think we were there about 3 hours before she was born.

In the end, I got a very calm lovely semi emergency section at 6 am with lots of skin to skin and watching her come out was absolutely amazing.

[legocardsagain]

This happened to me. DS 2 weeks early. I went to hospital as I had a leak. They said I had wet myself, I said I was in slow labour. 2 days later I had a bleed, community MW sent me straight in. I was 3 cm dilated on arrival, 45 minutes later I was 9cm.

DS was breech. I was put under a hideous amount of pressure while contracting every 2 mins to go for vaginal birth. I'd made a decision for a section after researching it thoroughly and also having a dislocated hip made me more vulnerable to hip injury during vaginal childbirth. I was not supported enough with my decision and DH is not very good at being firm.

My advice - have your rationale written out and available for your DH to refer to and hand over. It's not easy to discuss while contracting.

[overagain]

I'm terrified of this. DS was born at 37 weeks so I do think I risk going before my section date. I won't cope. I'm absolutely terrified of any labour this time (unplanned pregnancy, termination considered as I don't want to labour again). And DH was shit last time.

[TuckMyWin]

Overagain, I felt the same. But it might not happen to you, and when it did to me, I found people were lovely. I had every reason to think they'd try to persuade me to continue vaginally, as I'd had to fight to get the c section approved in the first place. But in the event they asked me to confirm I did still want a c section, and when I said I did, set about making it happen. I was progressing fast so they moved fast. I remember them basically throwing surgical stockings at me and making me put them on while the anaesthetist talked me through the consent process, all while I was contracting every minute or so! It sounds mad and like I should have been panicking but I was weirdly calm- the end was in sight and their urgency made me feel like they were taking my wishes seriously.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

overagain, I found the same as TuckMyWin. People were lovely and as horrible and scary as I found labouring/the mad dash with dc1 in tow because I couldn't wake anyone up, I think I actually got the better experience as my terrifying consultant was planning on delivering dd had I made my elective date (something they had forgotten to mention to me). Instead I got an amazing midwife and a lovely consultant who had been dragged out of bed for an emergency earlier on and stayed in.

TuckMyWin So glad I didn't get my stocking until recovery...I struggled getting my pants off so I think I'd have stood no chance of putting the stockings on.

[thismeansnothing]

I'm only 18 week but had my consultant appointment RE birth options and she Agreed I could have an elcs and my appointment is already booked for 36 weeks to arrange my date. I queried what happened re going into labour before that date is agreed and she said to call labour Ward and I'll be given the choice and if I still want a section then that's what I can get.

Most importantly (I feel) I got a summary letter from my appointment with what was agreed and discussed. So I feel tons better that I have it in writing should I need it!

[Hopalongcassidy]

This happened to me - I was booked for a planned csection at 38 weeks after a 4th degree tear following forceps delivery speedily getting DS out after placental abruption at 35 weeks. When I went into labour at 37 weeks with DD in the middle of the night, hospital were fab, midwife even came down in the lift to meet me, and (on a monitor) I was told to lie still as poss, and put first on the list for the morning. Csection was a breeze in comparison to what went before, though I was baffled when my GP expressed sympathy for my ‘emergency’ section at my 8 week check! My experience was that the hospital took the care plan seriously and understood why.

[RoomWithALoon]

Happened to me! Section booked for week 39 for breech baby, waters went at 36+5. Phoned them and explained, went in - they initially planned to do it at 8am next day but my labour seemed to be progessing faster than anticipated so they brought it forward to 5am. Still all very calm and relaxed, although it was technically an 'emergency' section.

[mommybear1]

I went into labour before mine. I still had my section I think if it's for non medical reasons they may ask if you still want it good luck