CSs - Transverse/Longitudinal - any choice?

[QTPie]

Ok, please excuse this question if it is silly...

... I am only 18 weeks pregnant and, so far, have no compications with this, my first, pregnancy. I fully expect to have a normal delivery, but I appreciate that sometimes you cannot control it and end up having an CS...

Have just got back from a weekend with the in-laws and my (rather nutty) mother-in-law was interrogating me about my obstetric care I will receive... Part of what she was asking included how the Obstetricians tend to do CSs at the hospital that I am going to. I could not really answer - I am on "shared care" rather than straight "Consultant care" - I assume that the Obstetrician (I will have the on-call one present at the birth, not a chosen one) will do whatever is appropriate...

Is that normally a transverse CS these days? Does it vary? Is it worth having a "request" for a transverse cut (if necessary) in my Birth Plan (and get my husband to voice that request if necessary)?

Thanks and, again, my apologies if it was a silly question...

QT

[reikizen]

Not a silly question at all. A transverse cut is pretty much universal now, a 'classical' I think it is called cut may be used if a woman has had several sections and the usual site does not seem appropriate. Hopefully you won't have to worry about that though!

[QTPie]

Thanks reikizen

Sounds reassuring. This is my first birth, so shouldn't be an issue (i.e. haven't had a CS before). I will probably raise the question with the MW, anyway, but it sounds as though I will get a transverse cut routinely (if need be).

Yes, certainly hope that I wont have to worry about it. MIL said that she had to have a CS when she had my husband (because he was a "lazy baby"...). But my mother-in-law is a LITTLE nutty...

QT

[Northernlurker]

Afaik a tranverse cut is standard and they only do something else if the emergency circumstances require it - and in that case who cares anyway?

[QTPie]

read the other thread I started about my mother-in-law...

No, if there is a better way to cut, then it is worth having (if possible). Definitely who cares if it is an emergency and they cut the way they feel is best to cut....

QT