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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

please read - been told have to have c-section friday as cervix closed - I OPTED FOR VBAC

17 replies

mayte · 25/08/2010 07:22

hello ladies, please help/advice me..I was told yesturday (now 40+3) that if by friday my cervix doesnt start to soften,I had a sweep yesturday, that my waters will not be able to be broken and that I will have to have a c-section that I really didnt want following two emergency with previous 2 babies. and she has already booked me in !!!

Can waters not be broken if cervix closed??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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mamaloco · 25/08/2010 07:41

Sorry to hear that but surely they are doing what will be the safest for you and the baby.
If your cervix is closed they can't reach the waters to break them. If the baby is not engaged when they break the waters it will drop down and the cord is at risk of collapsing, it is a very dangerous thing to do.
Why did you have emCS before? if it is failure to progress you might end up with another emCS and having an elCS will be far easier for you to recover and the baby will be safer.
Are you in the UK? they are really antiCS there so if they are considering you for an elCS, I would think it would be for the best.
Good luck.

Lulumaam · 25/08/2010 07:44

you're waters cannot be broken with a closed cervix BUT the key is why are you being induced? at 40 + 3 you are barely over your due date... you can ask to wait until 42 weeks before you are induced or given a c.s

i am afraid i need to disagree with Mamaloco. very often women are told that a VBAC is too dangerous or impossible for various reasons, some of which are more spurious than others

obviously without knowing why yuou had 2 em c.s it is hard to comment, and also without knowing you why you are being induced

as long as you are making informed decisions, you cannot be forced to do anything

call back and cancel the booking

you cannot be mae to have a c.s but we need more info

there are pros and cons to elective c.s and vbac and em c.s

ime , the mother's emotional wellbeing can hinge on a positive experience at delivery and being backed into a corner does not help that

Original poster

mayte · 25/08/2010 07:47

I had emCS as yes failure to progress with long labours and big babies..been told this one normal size. Yes im in the UK, its funny because I think they are very for CS as when I mention VBAC the comments I get are You must be mad !!
So, if cervix closed, no breaking of water
(yesturday was bareley 1cm).

OP posts:

belgo · 25/08/2010 07:49

I see both mamaloco's and lulumama's point of views.

Mayte:
I do not think you should you should call and cancel the booking, I think you should call and ask to speak to your midwife again so that you have more information and can consider your options.

For instance: is the baby engaged, what monitoring will be necessary, what are the risks of having a VBA2C.

Agree with mamaloco that an elective section should be more comfortable and faster to recover from them an emergency section, from what I have heard.

Please keep your mind open, remember that the midwives and doctors are thinking of the safety of you and the baby, and speak to them again.

Lulumaam · 25/08/2010 07:51

why are you being induced?

why do they want to try to break your waters to start things?

i know some trust won't give prostin to induce after c.s, but why induction anyway

if baby is a normal size and all is well, you should really wait to start labour spontaneously, that, and being active mobile and upright will give you your best shot at a vbac

being induced, interfered with, made to lie down and be monitored constantly and feeling scared/pushed around absolutely will not help the correct cascade of hormones for labour. labour very often won't start or will be slow, and stall if a woman is panicky or afraid.

being left for your body to do it's thing is far prefereable if baby is happy in utero

belgo · 25/08/2010 07:52

She's not being induced, she has been booked in for a CS.

Lulumaam · 25/08/2010 07:55

in the op she's said that want to try to break her waters but can't so she has to have a c.s.

i am intereste dto know why this was being done at 40 + 2 and not waiting

CrispyTheCrisp · 25/08/2010 07:55

I don't know about ability to break waters etc, however I do have experience of an elective section (placenta praevia with first & elected for CS on second as i had a really good birth experience despite it being surgical) and can say that they can be very positive experiences with very reasonable recovery time (2 weeks to driving). From what i understand this can be immeasurably different from an emergency section. Just worth adding into the mix of your thoughts.

Good luck

Original poster

mayte · 25/08/2010 08:05

thank you again ladies.
My VBAC consultant doesn`t want to to go past 41 weeks as he said that after having 2 emCS I am now in a higher risk bracket for complecations during labour- tears etc.

It took me a very long time to dilate with previous babies and both emCS were due to fetal distress.

Consultant said my options for induction are sweep then breaking of water, nothing else as labour may come on too fast..
Phew, thanks again for talking with me, been up most of the night with this on my mind.

They have agreed to check me on the morning of CS to see if they can break waters, if not then CS at 7pm...Im scared to cancel,I worry they may think im being difficult or putting me or baby at risk...

OP posts:

puddlepuss · 25/08/2010 08:15

I had an emcs with ds in the uk due to no progression and his heart rate dropping to 40bpm, then with dd (in France) I wanted a vbac. I went into labour at 30 weeks and was in (mild) labour for 8 weeks (ouch!) with no progression. At 38 weeks I had to have a elcs. They wouldn't tell me why, only that if I didn't it would become an emergency. After I'd had her they explained that my 1st cs scar was rupturing due to the constant contractions and the baby had been in danger. They didn't tell me as they didn't want me to panic and cause further problems. In hindsight, I wish I'd been told upfront what was going on. Phone you mw and ask for the reasons why they are making these decisions and once you have all the info you can make an informed choice. I understand how much people want a natural birth - I was desperate for one and still feel like I've missed out but then I look at my beautiful kids and realise that they wouldn't be here if I'd dug my heels in. Good luck and I hope that whatever type of birth you have it's safe and you're happy with it. x

puddlepuss · 25/08/2010 08:18

Sorry - was typing that while you posted. good luck with it all. x

mamaloco · 25/08/2010 08:22

I hope everything goes well, and that you will be able to have your VBAC.
I had an emCS for slow labour and fetal distress and an elCS for DD2. It is easier to cope with the latest and I didn't have that "I failed to deliver guilt" I had with the emCS. Plus the baby was never at risk.

Lulumaam · 25/08/2010 08:31

why not compromise and ask for the same care plan but at term + 10 or 12 or 14 which give you more chance of labour starting anyway or your body being riper for labour ot be induced

have you done your own reading and research?

i had an em c.s for failure to progress followed by a vbac with no complications, so i suppose i am biased, but feeling pushed into a course of action for fear of being thoguht difficult is nt a good situation

there are loasd of threads on here about VBAC and pros and cons.. look into it and make peace with your deicions, rather than being pushed into something

Original poster

mayte · 25/08/2010 08:39

you ladies are wounderful....

will call MW today and asked all questions suggested and move the CS to next week maybe to give my body the best chance to labour naturally....

I and my partner will make this decision based on all of the above. thank you again..

Will keep you all informed...

OP posts:

belgo · 27/08/2010 18:44

Mayte - how are you?

Original poster

mayte · 01/09/2010 07:13

hi belgo, im fine....an update for you,I went ahead and canceled last weeks EC and im booked in for this friday as then I feel i would have given this baby the best chance of letting the baby come out on it`s own...So we now 41+3 and my hips are aching but fingers crossed two days to go and still hoping for a natural birth....but I do feel a little better than last week...

OP posts:

TwoCupcakes · 01/09/2010 13:56

hi mayte, will be watching your progress with interest as i'm in exactly the same boat! have had 2 emcs - first for fetal distress and 2nd for failure to progress. am still hoping for a VBAC but the hospital want me to have an ELCS at 39 wks (am 33 at the moment). They are not supportive of VBAC at all but i'm hoping to stand my ground - like you, i really would like the baby to come out on its own. good luck!

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