Elective CS - going into labour first question

[Alocin]

Hi

I'm currently 35 weeks and due to have an elective c section at 39+3 after traumatic 36 hour labour and emcs 5.5 years ago. V happy with this scenario - but - have been told cryptically by comm mw that if I go into labour before this date that 'I decide' whether I'm in labour or not and to go to hosp as early as poss for semi emcs. How?! Last time I baby was back to back and was in grinding agony for 24 hours before reaching the magic 3cm to be in 'proper' labour. Dont think I really know what real contractions feel like at all, it was all back pain and I would like to avoid internal exams if possible. How will they know I'm in labour or not? Is that a silly question?!

As soon as you start getting contractions then go in.

No, it's not a silly question, it's one that I reckon all ELCS mums wonder about.

I was informed that if I went into labour prior to the section date, to phone Delivery Suite, tell them that you're booked in for a section but you think you might be in labour.

Usually, they'll ask you if your waters have gone, if you've had a show, how long you've been contracting for, how far apart the contractions are and how much pain you're in. Talk to them to generate an idea of how established your labour is and what to do next.

They won't want to wait until you're 3ms, will they a contracting uterus isn't ideal one to perform a section on (which is one of the reasons why ELCS is preferable to EMCS).

If you are down for an elcs and really want it (i.e don't want to go anywhere near a 'trial of labour' scenario, or have been advised against it etc) then you go in AS SOON as you think ANYTHING may be kicking off.

The advice is the opposite for labour aiming for a vb, which is to stay at home as long as possible, and only come in when you have to.

if you do go into labour before your elcs date, they will aim to do the cs earlier, is all - but to give them best opportunity to fit you in (and that means getting you into theatre as a 'non-emergency' or 'semi-emergency', which is a good way of putting it!) then they want to get you on the list asap. having to fit you in at short notice is much more troublesome for them. It's just because as a non emergency, you can be bumped down the list if a life or death emergency comes in, which of course makes total sense.

A very small number of women labour so fast that they are too far progressed by the time they get to hospital for a cs. Don't be alarmed, it's something that hardly ever happens, according to my consultant mw - but it's one reason not to hang around waiting to see what happens at home.

Some advice from my mw - make sure that it is in your notes that you are to go to cs if you do start labour before your date, and make sure any mws you talk to if you ring the labour ward don't persuade you to 'have a warm bath/take paracetamol/see how it goes'. It's just advice that doesn't apply to you.

My waters went nearly 2 weeks before my cs date - I went into hospital, had the cs next day. All was fine! (i was over 37 weeks)

ps sorry, the short answer was - don't worry about wondering if you are in labour or not - if you have any reason at all to think you might be starting, no matter how small or weird, go in. They can always put a monitor on you and get a trace to see what's going on, you don't need to make an expert decision yourself.

thanks all - very useful advice! Cant see me having a dramatically speedy labour after last time ;))!

This is something that I'm terrified of. Booked for c/s at 39 weeks in October, so scared she'll come early! Fruitybread your knowledge is invaluable! :-)

I'm also booked for planned section in Oct and consultant told me if I went into labour early I would have an emergency section but only in the sense that they wouldn't leave me to labour.