To ask if you'd accept or reject early caesarean

[Helpplease14]

I'm booked in for a caesarean at 39 weeks but my consultant has now suggested pushing the caesarean forward to 38+2 (tomorrow) due to me not currently being able to feel the baby move. On the monitor the baby is fine, but I've had an issue with movements since day one and an anterior placenta and go through periods of feeling the baby move lots and then some days, nothing.

The pros to pushing it forward are obviously the baby being here safely, but the cons are having steroid injections, the baby not quite being 39 weeks, and the whole situation feeling a lot more rushed and stressed whereas everything felt calm having a set date next week. I'm just really conflicted about what to do. I may well start feeling the baby move again tomorrow but if I didn't I would go to the ward twice daily until I do begin feeling him again, or my section next week, whichever.

Can I ask what anyone on here would do? I'm really conflicted, and obviously want to meet my baby ASAP and I feel like that's clouding my judgement.

My consultant brought my ELCS forward to 38 weeks from 39 due to my anxiety (previous stillborn baby). I had no qualms, I felt my mental and in turn physical state for that extra week wasn’t up to it.

I’m very much in the ‘minimal intervention’ camp. I didn’t even want gas and air when I had my second dc. My obstetrician discusses an early induction for me as well due to various risk factors. I asked lots of questions, but at the end of the day there is no right or wrong. It’s about balancing risk.

Having said that, I would ask the obstetrician lots of questions, make sure they were justified and had thought through their recommendation well, and then I would go with what they were recommending.

The consequences of not having the induction as recommended could be catastrophic. Not wanting to alarm you, but that’s just the reality of it. So it’s up to you. Obviously most people would decide that they would prefer to have the early induction to obviate the risk of a stillbirth. But then others find it much more important to have a natural birth.

So after all my rambling, what I’m trying to say is make your own decision based on what you’re comfortable with. But do it in an informed manner. And understand that the consultant is trying to minimise the risk of a stillbirth

I gave birth at 37 and 38 weeks, both ok, no problems at all.

What are your worries about your child being born 5 days earlier than planned? Does the thought of baby possibly needing extra care scare you? Would seeing/ visiting the nicu unit help your anxiety? Or make it worse? Your consultant might be able to arrange that. Mine did (but I had c-section at 33 weeks, don't know if they do it for full term babies). You won't know till you ask.

Dm asked me when consultant recommended early delivery, what will do more harm and avoid that. I took one night to decide I wanted him out, I knew if I went in for another monitoring I would be offered c-section, which I took.

Would asking for steroids only for now help you? It might buy you time to make a final decision. The midewife at monitoring place gave it to the lady next to me (with ds1).

I’d bring it forward. My consultant told me my baby was fine as they could see movement on the monitor even if I couldn’t feel it. He died. Definitely bring it forward

I was given steroid injections at 38w.
I even had a thread on here, my baby stopped moving at 31w. On the monitor and scans she was fine but I couldn't feel anything.
The consultant wouldn't budge on bringing my c section forward.
Everything was okish in the end. Baby required a 4day scbu visit for extra oxygen and antibiotics.

Please bring it forward

Everyone questioning the steroids - it's different in different trusts. Some say anything before 38 weeks you need steroids, and some say anything before 39 weeks you need them. My trust is the latter and I am currently in hospital receiving steroid injections for my planned c section next week at 38+0. In c sections particularly they are important as the lungs don't get squeezed as they should during the birth process, which helps to clear mucus off he lungs which helps baby to take first breaths effectively.
And OP, bring it forward. 100%

Steroids speed up the maturation and development of prem babies lungs. By 37 weeks they’re are fully mature and so steroids are largely not needed. They don’t help with respiratory distress due to csection and gunk in the lungs.

With all due respect, I was told they do, by my obstetric consultant... please OP take and believe medical advice from your doctors.

Deffo have it out. 38 weeks isn't even classed as premature.

sitting here with IUGR telling myself babies do fine at 32 weeks cos that's when I've probably got to have mine

Bring it forward. So much safer. I had my daughter at 35 weeks for safety reasons and my partners a doctor and he was was rellly clear, alongside all medical practitioners, that it was safer option with lessening movement. We spent 5 days in nicu but that was so much less risky than the alternative. Best if luck to you x

Do it. Consultant will know what they are talking about, and would never suggest it without good reason.

I'd bring it forward too.

I'd accept.

I would too. Dd was born at 38 +4. It was an emcs due to non movement and she was fine. No need for any intervention after.

The surgeon actually apologised to me afterwards as it hadn't been necessary, but I was happy that they had seen a risk and averted it.

I had a c section at 38+4 due to cholestasis - in Scotland you’re not allowed to get to 39 weeks with the condition as risks seriously increase. My DS was born at 8lb 12oz, and had no problems. They monitored his breathing as he was grunting for the first 12 hours or so (just at my bedside) which I believe is common due to the fluid not being pushed out as it would with a natural birth. He’s now 14 months and had no problems at all. Good luck whatever you decide!