Doc advised me to have a cesarean. What do you think? Have you had a cesarean before?

[syl1985]

My 2nd and 3rd child had shoulder dystocia. Means that at the end of the birth they were stuck with their shoulders behind my bones and couldn't come out without any help.

In this state they suffocate, because the baby's head is out and they can't or barely can breathe at this moment.

My 2nd they forced his arm out of me and with this his arm broke. But he came out. Had some oxygen, but wasn't even unconscious. He had some pain killers and 2 weeks later his arm was healed.

I lived in Holland and there the care during pregnancy and birth is totally different then over here. It's normal not to have any pain relieve during birth. And they don't quickly do something because they want nature to do his thing.

With my 3rd I did had some scans for to see how big he was going to be. At 36 weeks he was already around 3.5 kilo. The average size of a newborn baby born at 40 weeks.
He also had his umbilical cord around his neck.

But they did nothing. I wasn't induced, no cesarean, nothing. Same thing happened as with the 2nd one.
Birth went well and quick, but when he came out he was stuck and had his umbilical cord around his neck. He went unconscious. He had a heartbeat, but wasn't breathing.

It took them 2 minutes to get him back. He had to go in an incubator. The first 48 hours they couldn't tell us anything on how he was.

Thankfully everything went well with him and he has no brain damage.

I don't want that to happen again. But at the same time I'd prefer a natural birth instead of a cesarean.
My first was a normal large baby (3.7 kilo) and he was born without any problem. Except one:
At the end he came out to quickly. Yep, one came out to quickly and the others got stuck in there.
I guess it's one of the other with me ;)

Because of this his lungs had still a bit of water in them. It's not serious at all. But I had to stay in hospital with him. He got some extra oxygen when he was born and was put under a lamp. Not to much later he joined me in my room.

They checked him for 2 days and nothing went wrong with his breathing and we were allowed to go home.

If the baby is not to big I'm capable of getting him out. My 2nd was 4.5 kilo and my 3rd was around 4.8 kilo. That's way to big for a newborn!!!!

I'll have another scan at 36 weeks for to see how big my baby is. I had a chat with the doctor about it. He said that his advice was to have a cesarean. But I need to make the choice of what I'd like.

I find that so hard. I've been reading about it. There're guidelines and they say that if a baby is expected to be more then 4 kilo's it's best to start the delivery as soon as possible.
Because a 4+ kilo baby has more change of shoulder dystocia.

It also happen with normal sized and smaller baby's. Because my first came out fine. I think I should be able to do that again. As long as the baby isn't to big.

If the 'little' one is still under the 4 kilo's at 36 weeks. I'd like them to keep an eye on him and before he gets to big and be induced.
If he's 4+ kilo then I'll go for a cesarean.

Because not much is known about shoulder dystocia. And it also happens with normal and small baby's my doctor's advice was to go for a cesarean.

Is it wrong to hope for a normal delivery? Is there anyone who'd like to share her story of having a cesarean?

I guess it's not possible to deliver in the operation room and if things go wrong they start the cesarean straight away.
Would be nice if that's possible. Then I would at least be able to give it a go.


Sylvia

[Ladybee]

The thing is, to get an idea of size you'd need to have regular scans for the last weeks, would you be able to get them? One late scan on its own can give an idea but there can be a large margin of error. Having a series of scans would give ou a better idea.

Starting delivery in theatre I don't think would help as the dystocia happens when the baby is fully descended, so if it happened again I don't think they'd automatically go to c-section but would do the fairly traumatic procedures to get baby out with all the risks that involves.

I've had c-section and vbac. C-section was absolutely fine, very relaxed, calm, jolly, I got skin-to-skin straight away, breastfed in recovery, up walking the next day and home after 2 days. No problems with scar and obviously nether regions were completely fine. Had to take it easy and eat lots of meat, take iron for a while but after a month or so I felt normal.

VBAC was also fine and I guess I'm pleased I did it but my first thought after giving birth vaginally was 'I can't believe anyone chooses to do this more than once'.

In your circumstances I would choose a c-section. Why not read about 'gentle' or 'natural' c-sections on here, there are lots of threads with tips and see what is possible to achieve at your hospital.

[Ladybee]

P.s. I don't think it's wrong to hope for a normal delivery. But it is possible that its not the size of the baby that causes them to get stuck but the combination of something about your pelvis bones and them that stops them being able to rotate properly. And there might not be much you can do about that.

[LadyMedea]

I'm with ladybee two births with shoulder distocia sounds like it could be the shape of your pelvis. I think you are brave for considering a vaginal birth but I think you should seriously consider the doctors advice. Ceseareans don't have to be scary and clinical, you can still have a good brth experience.

[5madthings]

Would they consider inducing you early so the baby doesn't get too much bigger?

But given your history I can see that a c section may be better if they think baby is big.

How much is 4.8kg? My babies were all big one was 10 lb 13oz no problems, often the position of the baby can make a difference as well.

[meglet]

I've had an EMCS and a planned CS. The planned CS was a straightforward procedure and no recovery complications. All I can say is that when I've seen a complicated natural birth on TV (and I've watched a lot of 'One Born...', then my planned CS was a walk in the park in comparison.

[MoaningMingeWhingesAgain]

I would bite their hand off for the section personally though I understand it is not appealling to everyone.

I've had 2 emergency sections, one a proper emergency ER style, one a 'normal' EMCS. Both were attempted homebirths. Turns out I am great at having low risk textbook pregnancies and crap at getting them out at the end. With the shoulder distocia, as others have said, labour is too advanced to change to CS by the time it is apparent, so do have a good think about it. It was my smallest baby the got stuck- not SD but a brow presentation, she was only 6lb 4 but wedged in. Was very frightening

[DoodleAlley]

I've had emergency c section followed by elective so I've never known any different.

The emergency was scary and left me traumatised. But it was necessary because things were going wrong quickly. I'd have lost DS otherwise.

The elective caesarian was amazing. Calm and friendly and really positive. No trauma, no panic, no fear. The recovery was brilliant, far faster than the first.

In many ways this second section being such a positive birth has healed many of my leftover issues about the first birth.

Obviously this is just my experience and all operations can go wrong. At my booking in appt for elcs the dr did a spiel on how when things go wrong with an operation they go more wrong.

The anaesthetist who I saw the day before was very relaxed and positive and said given having it for non physiological reasons it would be fine.

I am so pleased I went down the elcs route. We are stopping at two children and I really feel its provided closure and healing and has given me lovely memories of DDs birth. No regrets at all.

[Jollyb]

I'd definitely go for a caesarean in your position.

[MaMaPo]

My experience was with an emergency CS when fully dilated due to poor head position of the baby, and forceps didn't turn her. Even though it was classed as 'emergency', the experience was fine. I felt supported by the medical team and my husband, I got skin to skin as soon as possible (after the baby is checked by the paediatrician), she breastfed within about 4 hours, my recovery was straightforward and I was walking the next day and home 2 days later. CS doesn't have to be a scary, clinical, 'artificial' birth experience.

I hope it works out well for you. Good luck, and congratulations!

[dreamingbohemian]

I would also go for an elective CS in your situation, although I agree it would be good to have more than one scan. I had three in my last trimester as DS was measuring so big (99th in everything). I was worried about dystocia and other things and asked for a section but they said no... in the end I had an emergency CS. It was really not bad at all but would have been nicer if elective!

Just like no two labours are alike, no two sections are alike... no one can guarantee yours would be nice but certainly a lot of women have good experiences with electives.