to request elective section for large baby

[Miriama]

Currently 9 days overdue and grown massively over last week, indications from growth scan, and measurements is that baby is 11lbs, and I'm an older first time mum. Terrified of trying to birth such a large baby and have an appointment with consultant to discuss section. Any advice on how to make my case for a section?

Sorry that was 'big babies in the right position'

And iPhone hasn't told me there were 4 pages in thread and so I missed you are hanky a section, very best of luck OP

Miria, all the best, I had 2 wonderful, happy relaxed c sections. Of course you will be off your feet a couple of days, but you have hubby to help and will be fine! (Don't take any notice of the no vacuuming for 6 weeks though!! You will hopefully be up and about in no time like me) xx

Miriama, good on you for insisting you wanted to speak to a consultant. I was a lot younger then....my baby is now 11!...and I was just a bit naive and trusting. It was very clear in my notes and even ther radiographer commented on how big he was. It should have been them, as professionals, who should have spoken to me about the dangers, it shouldn't have been up to me, so I felt very let down.

Saying that, at the birth I had the most wonderful midwife who anticipated what could happen and she called in the team before I was about to deliver, just in case. I'm a good labourer anyway and had my first pretty quickly so I'm sure that helped. But there's not one day that goes by when I look at my gorgeous, bright, sporty boy that I don't count my blessings that everything turned out well. I watched 'one born every minute' a while ago, the episode where the baby has shoulder dystocia and goodness, I couldn't stop crying. You've done the right thing, good luck with your section

yourma....I fully understand what you went through. My experience was not as bad as yours but it took me a long time to come to terms with the danger my baby and I had been in, I remember it as if it was yesterday. The only thing I can suggest is maybe talk to your gp?

Weasel, this has been recommended as the safest option for me and my baby, so I am going with it. Following my gut instinct. There are no prizes for giving birth whichever way you do it, and what is right for you may not be right for everyone else.

I read your OP and tried to give you some advice based on my experience. I didn't read 105 posts and I also wasn't expecting a prize. I was trying to be helpful. Like you asked? Maybe next time don't ask?

OP can you come back and tell us how big your baby is after the birth?

My biggest baby of 9lbs11 was the easiest labour, though he did get shoulder dystocia. My last baby was induced and that was painful, I swore at the time that had I known I should have opted for a c section, but now I am glad I did put because my recovery was so great and quick. The growth scans were not very reliable for any of my three.

I was going to say similar to weasel, having had 2 emcs, they are not a walk in the park.
The recovery time is much longer.
I couldn't do simple things like put a wash on, put shoes on, twist in bed, carry my baby, bend down.
It felt for weeks as if I had been cut in half.
I wanted to be active and couldn't.

There are health benefits for baby with vb, something to do with getting squished on the way out.

Part of my tummy is numb because of the CS, and I also had adhesions, where everything stuck together as it healed.
At certain times of the month I can be in agony because of this, cold sweat, immobile.
I also have cs overhang.

Weasel obviously I misread your response and tone. No need to get your knickers in a twist! Thanks to all for responses.

www.pregnancy-and-giving-birth.com/vaginal-birth-benefits.html

I had a planned section with dc2 and loved it, it was so relaxed, and was a genuinely happy experience. Far from my experience with dc1- induction at 10 days overdue, labour for 3 days resulting in an emergency cs under general anaesthetic and needing blood transfusions while baby was sick in neo natal due to infection because of the long birth!!

You are 100% doing the right thing OP, there is no right or wrong way to give birth, as long as there's a healthy baby at the end of it who cares what way it comes out!!

Is it today OP?

Good luck!!!x

Good luck from me too...

Yes ask for a c-section

My last baby was induced and that was painful, I swore at the time that had I known I should have opted for a c section, but now I am glad I did put because my recovery was so great and quick

Your lucky I have two friends torn assunder below suffering a myriad of issues down there, with ops and stuff going on for months.

On the other hand a nice and straight forward elc with plenty of rest for two weeks, you can be up and about as usual.

I had a VB with a big headed baby (39.5cm, 9lb 3oz) and second degree tear following a 36hr labour.

Then I had an EMCS and felt shocking afterwards - tired, lethargic, very sore. I was on the sofa in PJs for around two weeks, pootling around the house was the furthest I went and it seemed to take ages before I felt like myself again.

I had an ELCS this time around and it was a slightly more complicated surgery. I had a lot of adhesions and scar tissue that they tidied up while they were in there. I lost more blood than expected. DS was fully engaged and stuck, he had to be pushed/pulled about a lot to free him from my pelvis so they could pull him out. My blood pressure went very low during the surgery and they had to stop to bring it back up, was 40/80 at one point (think I've got them the right way around!), I was in recovery for ages with bags of fluids hung up, a bag of drugs to keep my womb contracted to lessen the chances of a PPH (would have been very bad in the circumstamces). My womb was very thin and my previous scar was close to rupture, very good job I didn't attempt a VBAC. But even with all of that, it was my favourite delivery of the three. So relaxed, everyone chatting, music playing. They left a good length of cord on DS so DH could cut the excess if he wanted to. I got skin to skin within a minute of birth and then for the entire time we were in recovery (around six hours). I was very, very bruised and swollen because of the extra rummaging - from my belly button to my thigh tops was livid purple and yellow and took around three months to fully disappear. But I was up in my feet next morning, in the shower an hour later, and that was that, no stopping me. I was out shopping by the time DS was seven days old!

EMCS and ELCS are world's apart in terms of recovery and, ultimately, it's the means to end so if you have the choice you should choose what er is best for you and your baby regardless of what anyone else thinks.

Good luck OP, I hope it all went well today and that you're enjoying squishy newborn cuddles right now.

OP?

Hi, just home from hospital and feeling good. Baby weighed 4.7kg in the end, about 10lb 7oz I think. Elective section was definitely the right choice for me,I am recovering well and breastfeeding my beautiful baby. In quite a lot of pain yesterday, but loads better today. Wound is clean, and healing well, and baby doing well. Overall a very positive experience which I enjoyed. Staff at hospital were great too.

Congratulations

Congratulations!!!!

Take it easy, do slightly less than you think you're capable of and listen to your body, it'll soon tell you if you've overdone it.

Mostly though, enjoy your baby. Sniff that little baby neck as much as possible, stroke his/her head, take lots of pictures and have lots of cuddles.

squeeeeee!!

Congratulation Miriama, so pleased to hear you are home and doing well breastfeeding

yourma I had a similar experience and felt the birth went way out of control of the "care" staff who thumped lumps out of me, paniced and argued with each other, yelled at me and threw parts of the bed around the room. Like you, I feel grateful to have been given a healthy baby, who at the time of birth had possible permanent paralysis but I grieve for the distressing birth experience and the permanent nerve damage done to me, which can't be rectified. You really aren't alone x

Well done, miriama !!!

Congratulations Op.

I wish I had seen this thread earlier so I could have provided some support. I had an ELCS Dec 2013. You will be sore/uncomfortable for the first week and then recovery is amazingly quick. I was driving after 2 and a half weeks and back at the gym at 4 weeks with full GP, consultant and insurer approval.