Terrified of potential C-Section - help!

[hallamoo]

Currently 37+2 with Pg4. First three DC all born naturally with no major issues, DD3 born at home. Was hoping for home birth again this time, but baby is breech. Scheduled to have ECV on Friday (also had ECV with DD2 - successful, born naturally).

Am hoping and praying ECV will work, but getting myself worked up about the possibility of a c-section, which I desperately don't want for various reasons; fear of unknown, longer recovery with 3 other DC, have never had any surgery of any kind before in my life, will feel like my body has 'failed' me in some way.

My other complication is that I've also just tested positive for GBS and M/W said I can't have IV Anti-biotics at home, so it looks like my home birth is slipping through my fingers.

Can anyone reassure me?

Thanks.

I had a EMCS 4 months ago, due to a badly presented giant of a DD getting well and truly stuck, it was all very rushed due to DD's distress. I assume yours would be planned and much calmer; but even mine was totally fine.

It was completely unexpected as my birth with DS was of the lolling around in water variety and was easy peasy with just a bit of gas and air.

I had to stay in hospital 4 nights which was the worst bit, with a planned section I believe you only stay 3 nights.

After wards I felt in no worse shape than after my easy birth and have never felt any real pain. Just a bit sore and achy if I did too much in the early days.

I had to stop myself doing too much as I really felt able. Its not treally that much of a struggle to let someone else (DH) do the housework for a few weeks, I just lowered my standards a bit .

I was also desperate for a home birth and it was denied me in the end as they thought DD was a whopper ( I didn't believe them).

Good Luck

Hi,

I understand your fears. I had them too but they proved to be unfounded.

I too had a planned section after a failed ECV.

It was obviously a strange experience in that you walk into an operating theatre and are then wheeled out with a baby.

However, the op itself was fine and recuperation was a LOT better than I anticipated. I actually had fewer complications after the section than my long, augmented "natural" delivery of DD.

To be honest, the worst thing about it all was my own fear that something would go wrong.

Whatever your outcome, I wish you all the best.

I had an EMCS 5 months ago as DS became distressed and was brow presentation. It was all very manic at the time. I was kept in for 2 nights. I did have to take it easier than I did with my natural birth but it wasn't too bad really, I was driving again in 4 weeks (after speaking to Doc). I believe a planned one is calmer.

I had an emcs after a long labour with a malpositioned baby.

It was fine physically. I was discharged after 12 hours and needed no pain relief.

And I did not fail. It is not just you that has to go through producing the baby. The baby has to play its part too. And if for whatever reason it's not in the right position/can't come out naturally then that's not the mother's fault. It's sheer luck.

Don't be terrified, c-sections are really not that bad!

As you say, fear of the unknown plays a big part. With my first birth, my biggest fear was that I'd have to have a cs (as I did, after a long labour). With my second birth, my biggest fear was that they wouldn't let me have one!

Elective cs is a very different experience to emergency, with much better clinical outcomes and quicker recovery times. I didn't feel any pain at all with my elective - not a single second - how many births can you say that about? Honestly, having a filling at the dentists would be worse.

So don't worry. Whatever happens, it's not going to be as bad as you think.

I had a semi-elective CS after a failed induction and although I really really didn't want to have to have a CS, it was honestly fine. The op was calm and lovely with a great team who supported us to get the best birth experience we could (used natal hypno, had my music playing, etc). The first day afterwards was hellish, but DD had to go to SCBU so I was getting wheeled around in a wheelchair as soon as the catheter was out and didn't get any advice or help on moving until 36 hours post-op. After getting some proper help and advice, I did so much better and was mobile and moving fine by day 3.

You do need to be careful about wound care and not straining yourself by doing too much too soon, but recovery really isn't that bad. I was amazed at how fast my body recovered - we've got photos of me walking the dog in the snow pushing a pram 2 weeks after the CS!

FWIW me not wanting to have CS was largely about this being DC1 and us possibly not being able to have any more (loads of complications) so I may have missed out on the experience of giving birth - for me personally I feel that DD was born but I didn't "give birth". I know not everyone feels like that - and you've done it 3 times already!

What about having a natural breech birth?
Perhaps you coud speak to Mary Cronk who is an expert on natural breech births:
[email protected]
Telephone 01243 670382
mobile 07860 726662

www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol10No3/handOffbreech.htm

Have you also tried acupuncture / reflexology / moxabustion?

Thanks everyone. I have been thinking about a natural breech birth, but obviously wouldn't want to do that at home, and tbh, that scares me too!

I have read some of Mary Cronk's stuff on line and makes alot of sense - just not sure I can do it!

If the ECV doesn't work, I'll definitely be going down the acupuncture route.

Thanks.