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Childbirth

having second thoughts about planned c section

11 replies

fedupandlookingforchange · 01/08/2020 14:22

I'm booked in for a c section next week and I'll be just 39 weeks. It will be my second c section. Ds was born by EMCS after a week on contractions, I got 6 cm on my own and the drip got me to 7cm. He was too big to exit.
Theres no medical reason why I can't try a VBAC but they won't let me go overdue, at least that is what they said when I was 24 weeks.
Last time I recovered really well, was in the shower after 6 hours, home 36 hours later and driving after 2 weeks.
A few weeks ago I was really dreading the thought of having to labour but now I've got very cold feet about the c section. I'm worried about not recovering as well as I did last time, the actual operation terrifies me (I was exhausted and past caring and rather out of it last time), how I'm going to manage my lively just turned 3 year old who is playing up for everyone apart from me.
Has anyone felt like this before their planned section or had an emcs first time and a successful VBAC second time?

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Billyjoearmstrong · 01/08/2020 14:38

I’ve got my third planned section coming up in three weeks and I am crapping myself!

My first was planned (maternal request) but I ended up going into labour a few weeks early so it was a case of off to the hospital and into theatre. Second, the worst part was turning up at 7am and having to wait four hours. I got dressed twice to walk out the door I was terrified.

I’m really hoping I go into labour again this time because my god, I can’t imagine the panic I will be in while waiting.

I’m not helping I know, but I know how you feel!

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DeltaFlyer · 01/08/2020 14:39

A friend of mine was due for a scheduled section with her 2nd child. Like you it was following an emergency section when the first child was too large and the labour couldn't progress.
She actually went into labour on her own and was too advanced to revert to the section so had baby naturally. She was worried about tearing but all was well. She said she recovered well.

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fedupandlookingforchange · 01/08/2020 20:13

I would really like to go into labour first now. I think/know its the wait before hand that will be hard and I'll cry a lot. I've got a few days before my pre op and I might ask for an extension!

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fedupandlookingforchange · 01/08/2020 20:13

I also keep thinking what if this one is smaller and I could have managed without the c section.

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Babyboomtastic · 02/08/2020 05:17

Given how well you recovered from your emergency section, and that people tend to find planned ones much easier, I personally think you're better off having the section. I found the recovery a doddle tbh.

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mintich · 02/08/2020 06:06

Same, recovery from my planned c section was easy. I felt right as rain in 2 weeks and also had a toddler. A lot easier than recovery from forceps and episiotomy the 1st time which took 11 weeks!

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JamHearts · 02/08/2020 06:20

I had am EMCS with first after a very long induced labour. Recovery was long. Had 2nd 20 months later and wanted VBAC. Consultant agreed that I could try. Birthing plan included having a spinal so I was prepped for CSEC and I was only allowed to be in active labour for a set time. Natural delivery was successful and the recovery was so much better, quicker and easier. I’m having my third child and plan another natural delivery all being well. Speak to your consultant about different options. I was really happy with the plan going in and was more relaxed knowing there was a back up plan

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Bmidreams · 02/08/2020 06:27

God no! C section every time! Similar to you. My first labour was the most horrendous and painful thing I've ever encountered, and then to have to go through a section!! But there's no way I was doing labour ever again! I was nervous second time obviously, but dh managed to get 2 weeks annual leave following 2 weeks paternity leave, so all I had to do was recover basically.

We were all having babies at that time and my c section recovery was much better than the vaginal births: tears, blood loss, surgery for god knows what...some still suffer now. C section was definitely the best choice for me, but a large part of this was the element of control due to trauma. I completely changed my view on childbirth.

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fedupandlookingforchange · 03/08/2020 10:26

Thanks for all the replies. I'm alternating between c section or try, however I've been very crampy for over a week and this morning had a bloody show so nature might take it out of my hands.

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Luna321 · 08/08/2020 17:19

Hope are you getting on @fedupandlookingforchange ?
I'm having the same dilemma at the moment. Had an emergency c section last time. Found out this baby was breech between 27-36 weeks so got myself all mentally prepared for another section which I booked for 40+2 and now the baby is head down I'm really hoping I go into labour before hand naturally. They won't induce me either. I've convinced the midwife to let me have a sweep at 39 weeks so 🤞 that gets things going.

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fedupandlookingforchange · 11/08/2020 17:42

I thought I'd update. I went into labour 2 days before by planned c section and after 12 hours ( I laboured for longer last time without success) had a DD. She was a pound lighter than DS was. It was a straight forward birth and I had a small episiotomy and some pethadene but that was it. Recovery has been much easier than a c section although there was a point I wanted to change my mind but it was too late!