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Childbirth

Turned down ECV, so c section next week... but if baby turns by him/herself...

19 replies

christiana · 10/06/2009 17:46

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zanz1bar · 10/06/2009 21:45

cry, lots and plead on your knees.
keep talking up the lingering horror of first birth etc.
my first was a nightmare, my second a c-section pain free, joyful experience with a cup of tea.

But second babies often through out the guide book and do their own thing. you could have the perfect vaginal birth with no intervention.so keep your options open(just don't let the consultant know)

christiana · 10/06/2009 21:50

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MrsHappy · 10/06/2009 21:58

I don't think (but may well be wrong...) that maternal preference alone is considered a reason to have a section (in the absence of some sort of medical reason). But you might find that your consultant is sympathetic and if he/she doesn't agree the NICE Guidelines say they are supposed to refer you for a second opinion. I do sympathise - I am sure it would be hard to get your head around having a section and then to have to get back into a vaginal delivery headspace.

Something that might not hurt is to make sure you are aware of the risks of section in advance of speaking to the consultant. If you do end up essentially asking for an elective without medical reason it might help strengthen your case to be able to say "I understand the risks are x, y and z, but..." And if that doesn't work, go with the crying!

FWIW, if the baby does turn and you end up going for a vaginal delivery everyone I know who has had a bad first experience has found things much easier second time round - and one of them just produced an 11lb whopper. It may well be very different this time - your body knows what to do and you are likely to be less shocked by it all!

Good luck - I hope it works out for you either way.

christiana · 10/06/2009 22:05

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WhatFreshHellIsThis · 10/06/2009 22:11

We had this situation with DS2, and the consultant said if we booked the c section and the baby had turned when we got in, we could still go ahead with the csection anyway. He said it would be cruel to send us home when we'd got our expectations all based on the csection date, childcare sorted, etc etc etc.

You might find your consultant is as sympathetic.

christiana · 10/06/2009 22:13

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pandagirl03 · 10/06/2009 23:59

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my dd was breech. The morning of the section i was scanned before going in to have her. I asked why i was being scanned they said that if baby had turned they would not perform section. But saying that if your baby turned you would feel it thats for sure and my dd never. I had a great section but am 38+1 at the moment and am trying for a vbac. Good luck with everything.

christiana · 11/06/2009 08:59

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WhatFreshHellIsThis · 11/06/2009 09:11

Don't panic. Big doesn't necessarily mean difficult, there's lots of stories of women on here delivering large babies without problems. It's not down to overall size but to the baby's shape and your shape. DS1 was 7lb 12, DS2 was 10lbs 5.5, and both of them were sections due to getting stuck despite completely different weights. Nothing to do with weight, but their dad's extra wide forehead

Scans can be and are often wrong, by over a lb sometimes!

Given your previous experience I'm sure the consultant will be sympathetic to your request - when are you seeing her?

and as for babies turning - they do sometimes, but on the whole where they are by 37 weeks is often where they stay.

Good Luck!

christiana · 11/06/2009 09:16

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MrsHappy · 11/06/2009 09:17

I am no expert but don't think that is necessarily true if you are able to stay active through the birth. If there is a suggestion that the baby won't fit through your pelvis that is a different matter, but as noone knows how your pelvis will behave during this labour (and you managed last time in what sounds like very difficult circumstances) it is hard to judge. Plus scans are not always right, babies heads are malleable and whilst your might be big at 37 weeks it might not grow so much from now and and could be more average by the time it's ready to be born.

You could try starting a thread for SympatheticConsultant or Mears (a midwife) who might be able to give you the stats on the possibility of baby turning by itself.

The other thing is, I don't know whether Panda's section was her first baby or not, but I would not be surprised if consultants are a bit more flexible on agreeing to perform a section when it is your second baby than when it is your first. Wait and see what yours says - you might be pleasantly surprised.

christiana · 11/06/2009 09:25

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WhatFreshHellIsThis · 11/06/2009 09:25

You're right, head size is important, but there's still other factors. If your baby has a big head but it's not because of a wide forehead but the sides that are big, iyswim, then it can compress more on the way out. Also you have already had one baby, so you know your body can do it.

My sections were both emergency but both were absolutely fine, no problems afterwards and up and about very quickly.

Have you considered hiring a doula to help you if you do end up having a natural birth? Someone to encourage, reassure and help you can make a HUGE difference to your birth experience. It sounds like your last one was deeply traumatic, so you might want someone to give you that extra reassurance.

Highlander · 11/06/2009 14:01

I was breech (apparently - no scans in the 60's) but turned the week before my mum was due for a section. She had a normal birth.

Interestingly, DS1 was transverse then oblique and DS2 was t/s or breech.

both were maternbal preference sections anyway, so their position made no difference.

Anyway, take heart!! Your baby may turn!!

christiana · 11/06/2009 16:37

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Ktay · 11/06/2009 20:04

Hi Christiana, glad your consultant was sympathetic. Not sure I will add much of value at this late stage, but your post struck a chord with me as I was in a similar boat a couple of months ago. My baby was transverse and then in an unstable lie up to 38 weeks and I didn't particularly want her to turn because growth scan had shown her to be huge (9lb odd at term) with head on 95th centile. (First baby so no previous experience of labour I could refer to - but prospect of a vaginal birth with huge-head baby terrified me).

Anyway, as others have said, growth scans not always accurate. My baby turned just before an elective c-section became an option so had to quickly face up to the fact that I would have to go through with a vaginal birth. She was born just before her due date at 7lb - and her head was on 50th centile precisely...

Wishing you a straightforward delivery, however it comes about in the end.

christiana · 12/06/2009 07:16

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Lulumama · 12/06/2009 07:22

morning, i had a friend recently who gave birth 5 weeks ago, her baby was turning ( usntable lie ) up until 39 + weeks. turned the day she went in for her section and she was offered induction instead. have you had more than one growth scan?

christiana · 12/06/2009 08:32

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