Need help AVOIDING CS!!

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Hello all Just needing some guidance if poss please? Have my 34 week Consultant appt with DH on Thursday and reeeeeally unsure of what to aim for...

Expecting DC4. Midwife/Cons/Anaeths all recommend I have an ELCS due to several vascular issues, massive vulval swelling & previous embolism. They'd prefer it as all the vitals can be monitored more closely. I've been stubbornly demanding a VBAC after hating every second of my ELCS with DD3 2 years ago. I reacted badly to the anaesthetic, lost a great deal of blood, couldn't handle the pain & DD had terrible respiratory/feeding issues afterwards. AND I suffered Pulmonary Emboli afterwards. Was in hospital 10 days. Hideous. Plus recovery time is a huge issue with 3 DDs.

I had refused ELCS up until the huge vulval swelling hit when I was put on back-rest & advised (by cons & gp) to opt for the CS as they were concerned labour/del could cause rupture (I have big 8.5-9lb babies, dd was 9lb at 39w). The thing is, I still feel that on balance I would prefer to attempt VBAC & that the risks of problems are much higher after CS in my case. The swelling is becoming more bearable (run about after 3 DDs so rest has been impossible!) and I'm sure I would like to at least attempt a natural delivery.

So. I wondered if I was to present the Consultant with the option of inducing me at 38+weeks on the condition that if it fails I agree to CS...does this sound reasonable? I know they won't want me attempting a VB at 40+ but want a chance to labour if at all possible.

IOL seems likely as Ive never gone into labour myself, always had one single dose of Prostin & been off like a rocket! DD2 was 6 hours Prostin to natural birth! Apparently my consultant has no issue with using ONE dose of Prostin on VBAC ladies.

The midwife joked that they normally have to talk women OUT of CS instead of INTO one

Am I being totally stupid? And is 38w a reasonable time to expect IOL as they are concerned about me birthing a little mammoth and causing more damage??

Would give anything to avoid CS.
Sorry for the long post

SOunds like you should talk to AIMS here who can advise.

Be aware that inductions have risks and are more likely to lead to snowballing interventions. Is there really a good reason why you can't go into labour pontaneously? The fact it took so little pitocin suggests it would have happened of its own accord anyway.

Educate yourself about big babies; no one can accurately predict the size of your baby, how much its head will mould and your pelvis will expand. Take a look at www.bigbaby.org.uk/ 8/9lbs babies are not uncommon these days. People can birth 12lb babies without a problem when they are upright, mobile and relaxed.

It really is up to you not your doctors. I would have thought that the risk of emboli is far far greater in a major op like a csection. Educate yourself on risk/benefits of each option then make an informed choice that's right for you. A HypnoBirthing course would also be great to give you confidence in your own body and the amazingt hings it can do all on its own. Good luck

Have they been able to say how they would avoid the reaction you had and probs you had with the previous c-section?

I can understand your worries - I think it's time to make an old fashioned list of pros and cons for each.

Personally, if I trusted my consultant, I would take his/her advice. I probably wouldn't listen to a MW as my experience with them isn't great (hopefully I'm alone here but my mw was truly rubbish.).

I would get as much info as possible so you can make a fully informed decision - the baby's health is your priority but your's is very important too (easy to forget sometimes)

Good luck, whichever route you choose.

I was induced at 38 weeks due to SPD and back problems. Apparently with subsequent children (this was dc3 for me) you are quite likely to be a little bit dilated from 36wks on so induction is often easier.

Having said that, he was back to back which I believe is more common with induced babies.

Have you requested a meeting with an anaesthetist? They may well be able to give you a reason for your reaction to the anaesthetic (ie was it a blood pressure issue or something like that? That's workable generally).

I do understand how you feel though. DS was breech and despite the SPD and back pain I insisted on having him turned so I could have a natural delivery, against consultant advice (they thought it would be too much for me, nothing to do with ds). I proved the buggers wrong though!

You're making me slightly more worried than previously with the varicose vein issue now - though I've been following a lot of your advice from my thread, thanks!