Potxola I would also love to see your birth plan as I hadn't even thought about a c-section one until yesterday! I don't want to post my email address on the internet though (although I'd be more than happy to give it to you but it appears I have to pay to contact you privately!) so would you mind posting it here after all?
I was told the same as you about induction - they would definitely not induce me as it increases the risk of the scar rupturing (Kel78 I imagine you will be in the same position) so effectively if we were to go into labour then unless it was a textbook labour we'd end up with an emergency c-section anyway.
Re going into labour early - my friend asked about this and they said you just ring up and tell them you have a c-section scheduled and have gone into labour and they will take you in and give you an emergency one. I doubt they would refuse anyway - they'd know if it was booked there was a reason and they're not going to risk you suing them! But if you're worried ask the consultant. Have you got another appointment before the pre-op?
Re Strep B testing: it's usually done at around 37 weeks, the rationale being that if it's present then it will still be present during labour. So yes there is still time. In fact there is time as long as you have a few days before giving birth as they need those days to grow the cultures. You can get the NHS test free on request but as I've posted previously it returns false negatives in 50% of cases (as happened to me). Apparently the private test is different and far more reliable.
Kel78 I'm not sure what to advise you. I went into my meeting thinking I was having a VBAC and when the consultant told me about the increased risks in my case I found myself asking what she recommended, on the grounds that she was the expert and the most important thing is that Dougie comes out safely and hopefully it's also the safest option for me! If I went for a VBAC I might get it - if labour progressed normally - but when I weighed up the chances of ending up with an emergency CS I decided that they were high enough that I'd rather cut my losses and have the elective one - no antibiotics needed then for the Strep B, no risk of stitches breaking and no risk of getting the worst of all worlds - labour then a CS anyway! Recovery is quicker after an elective CS too. I think if you are having doubts I'd go back to see the consultant and talk through the risks and ask their advice. It's up to you in the end but they know more than we do so are best placed to advise you. If you had to fight to get a VBAC is that because they thought you too were at significant risk of the stitches breaking?
Mustsleep the drug you are talking about is Meptid - similar to Pethadine but apparently less likely to make the baby sleepy than Pethadine.
Slinkie I think it's 4 hours you have to have the antibiotics for before the baby is born. Everything you said ties in with what I was told too. Like you I would not take the risk because I KNOW I am a carrier. I guess having the test may pick up that you are positive so you can have the antibiotics but there is always the risk that it will flare up between the test and giving birth. Not much you can do about that! That's why they tend to do it at 37 weeks. I know what you mean about the canula as my DD had one too (though I was being stitched up so wasn't there) and was also negative - but I am glad they gave her the antibiotics as the idea of her catching my infection was terrifying. Incidentally she is the healthiest girl I know and usually fights things off while we are ill so it didn't do her immune system any harm!
Sorry for VERY long post - answering lots of people!