C section before 39 weeks? Chances?

[jamoncrumpets]

36 weeks now and struggling. It's been a long and crappy old pregnancy. HG started up at 5 weeks, and I still have it now (I threw up in the supermarket yesterday just because I coughed too hard), I'm on the strongest meds you can get but they only work some of the time.

RLS and itching is keeping me awake and I'm averaging four hours sleep a night.

My mental health has taken a real downturn this pregnancy and I've had lots of extra monitoring by midwife and consultant. I have a big, embarrassing 'BABY ALERT' notice on my hospital notes as a result of this, and am under perinatal mental health.

Physically, and mentally, I am done, and I'm struggling to look after 3yo DC1.

I have a consultant appointment on Weds and was thinking of begging them to move my c section forward from 39 weeks, to just a week earlier. Tbh I'd take a few days earlier if it was all they could offer.

Has anybody else been in a similar situation? Did you ask? How did it go?

[zaalitje]

My bean has had me in hospital a couple of times, and I need a cs for medical reasons, but they've refused to get baby out before 39 unless there is a good medical need.
I even asked about 38+6 and they said nope. Apparently there's lung development till 39 weeks which is more important if having a cs as they don't get the squeezing through vaginal delivery.

It'll depend very much on your individual circumstances though and your consultants opinion.

[CatchingBabies]

The rates of respiratory distress syndrome in babies born by elective c section are much higher if it’s done before 39 weeks, there would need be a serious medical reason to get them out before the consultant would potentially risk their life by doing it early.

[RexManning]

I think it's very, very unlikely, I'm afraid, except in a medical emergency such as pre-eclampsia. Sorry.

[SamanthaH92]

I'm not sure but you can ask. First DD born by c section just after 37 weeks. She was a tad on the small side but not as small as they said she was going to be. Estimatied 4lbs, born weighing 5lb 12oz and breach. I was told no later than 38 weeks this time but haven't seen my consultant for ages and don't see her again till 34 weeks x

[Ceebies]

I was initially booked in for 39 + 4. My baby is measuring big and there is a lot of fluid round him. I wasn't happy with decision as I felt Dr didn't give me a chance to air my views (similar to you I have had mental and physical health issues during this preg). Booked another appt with a different Dr and now planned c section is at 38 + 3 which I am much happier with. Had to get steroids injected to help baby's lungs come on as baby will be delivered before 39 weeks. Hth.

[jamoncrumpets]

I'm going to make it very clear that I'm not sleeping and in a lot of discomfort and that it's becoming untenable. They might give me something else to take, short term, to get me to 39 weeks - which I'd be ok with if it were better for baby than an earlier c section. As it is I'm on ondansetron 3x a day and omeprazole 2x a day AND my usual SNRI antidepressant - and I don't particularly relish taking all those meds every day when pregnant, but it's the only way I can function and care for my DC. I'd rather not take ANY more meds if I can help it.

[User12879923378]

They might do it after 37 weeks if your mental health would be compromised by waiting longer. For various reasons I was desperate to give birth by 35 weeks (had every complication you can think of and strongly felt that my baby was better out than in) - they wanted to wait until 38 weeks and I did wait until 36+5. They had said that they would deliver earlier if my mental health was at risk but that would have been a bit of an overstatement at the time. Then one of my complications worsened dramatically and they delivered her at 37 weeks exactly, so just term. Baby was fine, on the small side but not dangerously so, needed a bit of oxygen after birth but again they weren't seriously concerned and she has caught up in spades since.

They do usually really want to wait until the baby's term - the way they put it to me was that a day in utero is equivalent to a week in intensive care. But I do understand the feeling of desperately wanting it to be over and whilst your situation and mine are quite different I can totally see why you've had enough!

[jamoncrumpets]

Never again, I tell you. Never ever again. It's going to take me years to get over this.

[jamoncrumpets]

Oh and I also inject clexane every night. The fun just goes on and one.

[User12879923378]

I really feel for you. I can't understand how some women just drift through pregnancy in a rose-tinted haze. Mine was brutal - I won't go into why; I didn't have HG so probably didn't feel as rotten as you day to day but there honestly was not a moment where I was not worried sick about either the baby or me. It is true that they're reluctant to do C-sections before 39 weeks but if you're at the end of your tether physically and mentally you really need to make that clear as 37 weeks is term and they can give you steroids for the baby's lungs.

[jamoncrumpets]

The one thing I KNOW, from having HG with DC1, is that within hours of delivery I will feel 'normal' again. I cried into a hospital lasagne the day after I had DC1 because it tasted absolutely delicious, and I could actually taste food and stomach water again.

So I'll be knackered and sore but I know I can cope with that. I was almost this bad with DC1 and everybody expected me to have PND, but I just gave silent thanks every day that I wasn't pregnant any more.

[User12879923378]

Me too! I didn't have HG but I did have bad morning sickness for the first four months and food aversions that lasted up until the moment of delivery, basically. Then it all just stopped as if it had never happened. I remember sucking down a plate of hospital garlicky pasta and inhaling about six pints of coffee. I also think the sheer relief of no longer being pregnant (plus a relatively easy going baby) kept me from having PND which like you everyone expected me to have.

[Dinosauratemydaffodils]

No chance I think. I have ptsd (non childbirth related originally but re-triggered during ds's arrival), I had a psychotic episode after he was born and several suicide attempts. My father died in March when I was around 28 weeks pregnant with this baby which meant my mental health support and trauma therapies have been put on hold as they won't do it whilst you're dealing with a close family member's death. I asked for an earlier section on the grounds that my anxiety is just getting worse and worse and worse and have been told categorically no, I just need to hang on to 39 +1. Currently 36 +4 and struggling, also with a 3 year old. I can't sleep (uncomfortable plus nightmares/flashbacks), I'm exhausted, feel sick half the time due to position of baby but none of that seems to matter.

[Rockandrollwithit]

I really feel for you as I had HG too. It's bloody awful!

However I also had a baby in NICU and that was far, far worse. Wouldn't wish it on anyone. Try to hang on til 39 weeks if you can.

[Jammycustard]

I had a c-section at 38 weeks but that was due to the size of the baby and gestational diabetes.

[jamoncrumpets]

I have a growth scan on Tues. Lets pray DC2 is a whopper!

[missyB1]

My last C section was planned for 38 weeks as it was third baby and I had never got as far as 38 weeks with the previous two. They were born at 30 and 37 weeks. As it was my waters broke the night before I was booked to go in.

[ichifanny]

I had my daughter at 38 weeks but I had a t incision previously and they didn’t want me to go into labour at all , I had to go get steroid injections a few days prior .