40+ with GBS, what to do? Natural v ELC

[SwivelHips]

I am so confused with everything I dont know which way to turn, sorry for my ramblings in advance. We have appointment next week with Consultant, I'd like to have things straight in my head so I can argue my case for ELC or not. We lost a baby 2 years ago at 24 wks, Consultant will be sympathetic to our wishes (or at least I get that impression).
I've kind of came full circle with this. Originally I felt 'safer' and more in control with ELC, but more recently I've read the Hypno Birthing book and all of that makes perfect sense to me; I think that's they way I'd like to go or at least give it a bloody good go. I know I need IV anti-biotics but I'm hopeful to remain mobile.
Then I start to think about my age (43) are they likely to induce me early? If I refuse am I putting the baby at risk? Plus I'm a 2 hr commute away from our hospital. Then there's the GBS...gah!! Sorry I'm just off loading now I think...

I feel like a fairly healthy 43 yr old, I think I'm low risk but not sure. I seem to have lost a lot of my fears after reading the hypno-birth book but I remain anxious about stillbirth and having an EMC but ELC I think I can handle.

Any advice, thoughts greatly appreciated. I know the consultant will arrange a 1-2-1 with the consultant midwife but I get the impression that they'd push me for induction rather than ELC. Is it ridiculous if I say okay option 1 natural childbirth and if its not happening then option 2 ELC (assuming baby is still far enough up birth canal or whatever) Obviously I wouldn't put my baby at risk I'm just terrified of something going wrong.

Hi swivel
I think someone will come on here who has more knowledge but I hope you don't mind me replying.
I am so sorry for what happened and hope this is helpful.

I suppose you need to be clear in your mind what you are asking for. I wrote all my outcomes out on a chart( stupid I know) and was brutally honest.
Vaginal
C sec
Em C sec etc etc
Intervention

Having sadly lost your baby at 24 weeks this will be fresh in your mind and its important that your fears are acknowledged and you are monitored in a way that allows you to feel happy.

You need them to be clear about your needs and reassurances so maybe discuss all the possibilities with them and what your options are too.

In all healthy woman in labour chances are things go swimmingly but its not always the case.
Go to your meeting with all ears listening but also making sure your questions are answered.
Digest what they say and see them again once you have had time to think things through.

My 1st appointment the midwife dismissed me so I demanded to see the consultant, the registrar said c section not necessary, but then I went onto the see the consultant who delivered my DD and he went through everything with me.

I felt 100 % that my wishes were being taken on board and for you that's key, just having a consultant/ midwife who was there and saying look this is what were doing this is the reason why and keeping you informed is very important.

I think you are right to consider everything, are you worried about your age, induction if you go over, not going over, sounds as though you need to just see what they say and come back to us here because your idea for hypnobirthing sounds fantastic but it will only work if you are not worried that you should have had the c section.

In the end I had a natural delivery in the delivery suite with the high dependency unit with an epidural in preparation for a c section as they were taking no risks.
I hope this is not too confusing

Hiys :)

I have been in your shoes completly I lost my little girl at 26 weeks almost 15 years ago now. It was gbs infection that killed her and caused me to go into premature labour and sadly she was stillborn. We had a pm done and basicly were not nothing was found for the reason she came so early. I went full term with my first born.
So some 20 months later I was pregnant again blissfully unaware of the GBS infection that had killed my much missed little angel. At 16 weeks booking in visit to the hospital I was dropped the bombshell news about GBS and what had KILLED her. Some doctor strolled in and said right we need swabs to make sure you dont kill this one with that infection your carring.I had no idea what they were on about and to be told in such an appalling manner was dreadful. I sat there sobbing my heart out asking/begging for a termination as my world had been turned upside down I rememmber saying so in 10 weeks time this baby will be in a grave too then.

Any way swabs were done that day and HELL they came back positive and was sent a prescription from my doctors surgery with a note to take them asap. Now I was even more scared no one would explain things to me and we had no internet bck then. After this I was swabbed monthly and I managed to get to 33 weeks when DS was delivered by C/sec my choice he was breech.

Baby number 4 I had a vbac he flew out IV antobiotics were only given 20mins before he was born even though I had been at hospital 3 hours before he was born. YES I said he flew out it was such a fast labour.

No one can make your mind up for you only you know how you feel about the birth. But let me tell you this I have more respect for a c/sec mummy than anything else they go FAR MORE than a women who has a vaginal birth. They have major abdominal surgery which take far longer to recover from. Plus you have a baby to look after post surgery. Good luck with your hospital appionment and CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy I know how and what your feeling right now is a whole mixture of emotions but ENJOY IT PLEASE I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS really I do ((((((((HUGS))))))))) take care

Thanks for the advice ladies, I will be going in armed with questions, thankfully my consultant is lovely and was there 2 years ago so she saw first hand what we went through.
It must have been horrifying for you pumpkinpie to find out how you lost your little angel in such a way, I had no idea there was a risk whilst in the womb. GBS has almost been brushed under the carpet for me, I have a flag on my notes but its never discussed.
You are so right, it probably has taken everything away from the pregnancy, even at 32wks I cant visualise a baby at the end of all this