To be petrified that I am now facing a C Section? Any advice, hints or tips gratefully received

[SadAndWorried1]

I am currently 35 weeks pregnant with my 2nd child. My DD will be 2 years old at the end of January and I know that we are so blessed to be in this position now after a long history of infertility and recurrent miscarriage. I had a natural (and long!) back-to-back labour with my daughter, ending in epidural and ventouse delivery.

However, this time I have excess fluid and the baby is still breech. The consultant thinks that it is unlikely he will get into a good position for birth as he has too much fluid to move around in. They have said that my options will be ECV (turning the baby from outside) and then a quick induction to try and get baby out before he turns back or a c-section.

I don't fancy the ECV as I have read it can distress the baby and I have also read that inductions often end in c-sections anyway. All that matters to me is that the baby is safe and well. Therefore, I am facing a C-section and it absolutely terrifies me. I think it is the thought of the operating theatre and being cut open as well as, what I imagine to be, a very painful recovery and long hospital stay.

The baby also has to go to special care to have a tube passed down his throat to make sure there is nothing wrong with his digestive system (hence causing the build up of fluid). This is also a really upsetting thought for me as I imagine he will be taken away from me straight away.

Does anyone have any similar experiences or any advice regarding C-sections. Anything at all would be very gratefully received.

Oh, just to add - I know a couple of consultant anaesthetists. One of whom opted (adamantly) to have her first (and second) by elcs, with no standard medical reasons for it to be 'necessary' and the other whose daughters have both had 2 or 3 sections (think in this case the first was breach). My gp had also had three c-sections (not sure of reason for first) and my gp friend has had two (first due to complications).

In none of these instances had any one of these medically trained people opted/encouraged a vbac - straight to elcs all the way. I bore this in mind when I was dithering over the idea (first was emcs after long, induced, useless back to back labour). My second, like my first, was swimming in fluid and when I was totally at a loss as to what to do, I put my consultant on the spot - he eventually admitted that if I were his wife in same situation he'd strongly encourage an elcs.

Oh, just to add - I know a couple of consultant anaesthetists. One of whom opted (adamantly) to have her first (and second) by elcs, with no standard medical reasons for it to be 'necessary' and the other whose daughters have both had 2 or 3 sections (think in this case the first was breach). My gp had also had three c-sections (not sure of reason for first) and my gp friend has had two (first due to complications).

In none of these instances had any one of these medically trained people opted/encouraged a vbac - straight to elcs all the way. I bore this in mind when I was dithering over the idea (first was emcs after long, induced, useless back to back labour). My second, like my first, was swimming in fluid and when I was totally at a loss as to what to do, I put my consultant on the spot - he eventually admitted that if I were his wife in same situation he'd strongly encourage an elcs.

I had an emcs, did no reading or prep for c-section as quite frankly it terrified me and I stuck my head in the sand- turns out there was nothing to be afraid of! The op doesn't hurt at all, just feels weird, recovery can be painful, however it gets so much better so quickly, I couldn't believe it! Will be electing for a cs next time. Just think of it this way, you can have a date all planned and no stitches anywhere else to worry about!
Also, my dd was whisked straight away, and although it is undoubtedly tough, in the long run it did not effect out bonding process, it not ideal but you know you and baby are in the best position for a safe delivery.
Good luck and try to start getting excited!

I've had four cesereans (medical reasons , not "to posh to push") and main thing is that when they get you on your feet you make sure you pick up the cathetar (prob spelt wrong) as with my first I did not , and it fell down and I thought my insides were coming out lolll. Seriously though, hold your back as straight as possible and your belly area and take little baby steps . You will walk further each time . .
And you will be fine .. .

Cote - an ECV is not a CS, it is manually manipulating a breech baby into a head down position, usually done under gas & air.

Please don't be frightened. Here's my 2p worth: first deliveries are petrifying - nothing can prepare you for what's about to happen and many women have tough times (sounds like you did too). Forward to delivery #2 and the only good thing to have come out of that first delivery (apart from the baby of course! ) is the fact that you are prepared. You know what's going to happen. You won't have that horrible out of control feeling again.

But that's now been taken away with you, by having the CS. So it's completely natural to be scared - the known has been replaced by the unknown. But it will be fine and you can do it

Lots of lovely replies which I won't repeat, but hope you feel more positive soon.

My experience chimes with Signira's. I know a lot of medics, and women married to male medics, and CSs are heavily over represented among birth methods for those with children.

Tips I got for afterwards which helped me were:

• get high rise knickers as low rise will sit on scar
• wear leggings and dresses as jean waistbands may hurt
• get up and move often, sitting still for too long will make you stiff and it is the stiffness that is painful

-you improve in leaps and bounds each day. I went on holiday 12 days after my CS with dd and DH

• I used paracetamol and ibruprofen for 6wks afterward but less and less each week.

Good luck. The actual CS is fine, I had about 10 staff in the room with me all very calm.

Scanning through, there is one other option, which is what i was going to do before DS2 turned the right way up - viginal breech birth. It suprised the mw, but she was very supportive.

herethereandeverywhere have you got the data for ECS is safest delivery method for baby?

Loads of good advice has already been given, here's what I wish I'd known....

That I would lose all sensation in my bladder (but retain control). I didn't wee for a whole day after they took the catheter out. Then when I stood up, it was AGONY. Worse pain ever, which made it hard to "let go"when I finally made it to the loo. Set a reminder on your phone to go every two hours.

Also I didn't poo until five days after. I was farting though, so they weren't worried. When I did go it was fine. A doddle compared to the wee!

Both consultants referenced it in my appointments addicted (even the one that refused my CS).

Fact is that although breathing difficulties and short spells in scbu are more common with CS there are zero cases of brain damage due to oxygen starvation during delivery - so overall you are more at risk of serious permanent damage to baby through VB than CS. It's mum who bears all the major risks of an operative procedure in CS.

That's not the same as there being no risk at all BTW. Some babies struggle with respiratory issues for the long term.

The majority of litigation costs to the NHS which relate to childbirth are for VBs not CSs, due to the long term cost of care of brain-damaged children. Payouts are often in the millions. I'm pretty sure that's in the NICE guidelines re: opting for a CS.

Not yet had cs (have that pleasure in 4 weeks time!), but did have major abdo surgery 2 yrs ago and I rember then reading on here then that using a hairdryer on yr wound is a really bad idea - think of the dust and dirt in the average hairdryer, and suddenly the idea of blowing it all forcefully onto a fresh wound suddenly doesn't seem so sensible...

I also say don't worry about it.

Of my three babies, the first two were vaginal deliveries whilst the third was an emergency c-section. If I am honest, the c-section turned out to be nothing at all to worry about and I actually preferred it to the vaginal deliveries. One of my vaginal deliveries (My first) really bashed me about badly. I recovered faster and more easily from my c-section that I did from that so-called "natural" birth!!

Another vote for the granny knickers here too. You really don't want knicker elastic dragging across your wound as it starts to heal, so go for comfort over anything else.

I wish you all the best, and hope things go as smoothly as possible.

I had a c section and all was fine. Don't worry. I would say take care of your core muscles afterwards with lots of Pilates as I've had back problems because I didn't. Good luck x

Agree with all the positives! Knew my DS was breach very early on. Tried to turn him but no luck. Thank goodness as cord wrapped around his neck. So elective booked for 2 days before due date. Everything calm and lovely and because he had no trauma at birth he looked picture perfect when he arrived! Of course, massive credit to mum's who have a natural birth but if it's not safe for either of you to attempt this then enjoy the alternative

Thanks herethereandeverywhere. Interesting.

hello

look at the child birth section too there are millions of threads there about sections.

I had a good first birth, so called, but the section was wonderful, truly fantastic, because its controlled, you know if something goes wrong they are there already in, you don't have a baby half stuck down the middle of you! Its calm, controlled and painless, it should be totally painless except minor, minor pain after.

I think you will really enjoy it actually and wish you had had one for your first. I think they are civilised and wonderful!

What showy said.

Mine was actually an emcs for me being ill with severe complications, although not so much of an emergency That I had to have a general, they let me have a spinal block. It was all done with haste due to me not being so well but the staff were so calm, so damn good I felt in safe hands.

I had the added bonus of a totally hot anesthetist to distract me, and as said up thread they chat to you throughout and reassure you.nhe was incredibly distracting :) they also played music in theatre, which was another nice distraction. I have a really nice special song for me and dd now, that they were playing as she was born.

Because dd was prem they already had a bed in nicu/ scbu ready for her and whilst prepping for surgery the nicu nurse came and had a very reassuring chat with us, jut to let us know what they were planning to do to look after her. As it was dd was so strong when she came out that they let me cuddle her for 20 mins before taking her to scbu to monitor her. Dh went straight with them and stayed with her.

All in all a very positive experience.

Agree with everyone else though. Do not your dose of miss painkillers, keep yourself topped up. I could move round fine, but froze up like the. Tin Man if I tried to skip a dose.

Good luck.

Well, from my POV you've hit the jackpot in not having to do labour or natural birth again. Apologies for the flippant start, that's genuinely my reaction to ELCS though.

I totally agree with this too. You have hit the jack pot think yourself lucky.

I always recommend this cot as this was amazing for me, and really helped my recovery and with sleeping it was worth every penny we got ours second hand and loads of ebay i would strongly recommend this cot or one like it.
www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/cots-cribs-cotbeds/9963-arms-reach-universal-co-sleeper-bedside-cot

I had an EMCS under GA after an incredibly long, traumatic labour with my twins, so obviously can't comment on the actual procedure for that one, but recovery was a breeze. I stayed in hospital for a few days because I was anaemic and DS wasn't feeding, but that was inconvenient more than anything. The only problem was severe constipation from the painkillers. I needed massive, massive granny knickers for a while afterwards as the CS scar is exactly where the waistband of normal knickers goes, so stock up before you go into hospital. Also, stock up on Dulcoease (or similar). My first wee after the surgery was a bit weird, too - couldn't seem to relax my urethra(?). It started up after a couple of minutes, though.

Second time round, I was offered natural birth but DD turned at the last minute, so the doctor advised a planned CS. Oh my god, what a lovely way to give birth. I was petrified, totally petrified, but everyone was so calm and confident and kind - they made it a really positive experience. DH was in with me holding my hand and we had music on. Just lovely.

The canula in your hand is a sharp scratch and the epidural is a sting, nothing more. The operation itself just felt like the baby doing a really big wiggly turn - you're aware of something going on, but it's not pain, just movement.

I was offered skin-to-skin, but I honestly can't remember if we did it! I was so elated at the sight of my tiny, purple daughter, all other memories have just flown out of my head. Again, recovery was a breeze. I was turfed out of hospital next morning, 20 hours after the op and had lunch at Pret a Manger that day! CS didn't hinder BFing, either. Didn't need a special pillow or anything, just balanced her on my weird, deflated-football tummy. I had blood thinners after my second CS. I detest needles, but they were fine really - very short, thin needles, with all medication already inside them.

As a comparison, I am currently recovering from a bunion operation and am finding that far more difficult than the CS!

"Cote I think the OP is saying that she doesn't fancy an ECV and an induction"

I replied re thread title which says "AIBU to be petrified that I am now facing a C Section". OP also talks about advice re C Sections etc.

Your consultant may be wrong. My baby was breech - she turned at 38 weeks. I did have an emergency c section anyway. Try not to worry too much, I was up and about right away and stopped painkillers after 2 days, iI was feeling fine. I realize I was lucky though.

Please don't worry, I am the most squeamish petrified of needles person going and had to have a planned csec, I worried myself sick beforehand and honestly it was a great experience, the planned sections are so different to the emergency ones, all the clinicians there were calm and relaxed, the only part I found painful was having the spinal put in, the junior anaesthetist couldn't get the damn thing in properly and rather than the senior guy taking over he let her carry on, I since found out this part should not be painful or go on for 10 mins - did anyone else have this problem?! I think that was just me as nobody else I know had any probs with that! Honestly you will be fine, the tips from everyone else are great so I won't repeat them, def ask for baby to be shown to you as soon as he's taken out and then in my case dd had to have suction but then was straight back on me for skin to skin. Get up and moving as soon as you can, the longer you wait the worse it hurts, keep meds topped up as I found the pain the next day was the worst where the midwives were so busy and understaffed, my meds kept coming an hour late. I wish I'd buzzed them and been more assertive as it would have saved me all that day of pain. Yes ask for the disolvable stitches they were fab and the granny pants that come over the top of your tummy are a must, keep up your pain relief the first few days at home and just potter about. After a week I didn't need the pain relief and I think the only thing I found painful was lying down in bed, where it stretches your body right out it hurt so I propped myself up with 2 pillows to stop this. I could have driven after 3 weeks but waited 5 for my dh as he's such a worried! If you have a good support network with in laws then get their help with cooking, cleaning, driving etc as it is a major op and you do need to take care of yourself, plus with a new baby and all the sleep deprivation take all the help you can get! Xx

Cote I meant that by the first couple of lines of your response it sounded as though you were saying that an ECV involved a door being opened and a baby bring taken out- I just wanted to verify that an ECV is nothing to do with a CS, for anyone confused.

My 3rd was a cs. I cried and cried and cried. I felt like a failure. I worried the baby would be scared. I was in a terrible state about how I would look after the other two (3 and 2 at the time) post op. I worried about everything. I was frightened of the pain and of the surgery too. And guess what? It was all fine. We managed. She is here in the bed beside now, aged almost 3 with a cold! Don't expect the worst and don't expect the best. It will be fine.