If you had an ELCS booked did you still read up on VB labour techniques?

[Aworryingtrend]

I have an ELCS booked for 39+2 and have been told if I was to go into labour before then I need to get to hospital PDQ so I can still have a section. I haven't been reading up on what happens in a VB in detail at all (though I have seen OBEM and read people's birth stories on here).

Am I being irresponsible not to be a bit more knowledgable about what to do in a VB, just in case?

On a similar note, we are due to attend antenatal classes, will people think its strange us going to ante-natal classes if I have an ELCS booked?

TIA

Didn't read up on VB at all and didn't feel irresponsible at all. Went to ante-natal classes but skipped the one on delivery plans + pain relief.

I had had one VB (2009) and one ELCS (this April). Although I'd been through labour and delivery before, I felt rusty and so read up about birth techniques again. I did this from about week 25 until my head was around the fact that DD2 was going to be born by ELCS (week 32).

Go to your antenatal classes - breathing techniques will be just as useful because nerves might get the better of you on the day of the birth! You need to look after your pelvic floor - no different to a non-cesarean Mum - and if you plan to bf, you need to learn those techniques.

A cesarean section is no 'less' of a mode of delivery, so dot feel that you don't need as much guidance. It's just guidance with a different focus.

Best of luck, and enjoy the birth! C-sections can be amazing. Mine certainly was :)

Forgot to say that if you want to readsomething with a cesarean focus, this book is the best:

Cesarean Birth: a positive approach to preparation and recovery by Leigh East

I think it's available from amazon x

I went to ante natal classes with my first, he was in breech position, could still turn but I thought it may be ES. It was useful, not sure it really prepares you for a VB anyway, they did cover what happened in an ES birth just in case plus how to bath, change nappies, explain how your life would change. (I think that was the bit that shocked most people). They did a separate session on BF.

I would still go to antenatal, you meet people in a similar situation etc plus it does provide useful advice.

I don't know if your course will do it, but looking round the hospital, rooms, delivery rooms and theatres was useful, one less thing to think of when the time comes.

Good luck with ES, I got to choose the music that time, I think it was to take my mind off it. The anaesthetists talked to me all the way through also.

Thanks all. Yes we will b doing both NHS and NCT ante-natal classes so that should cover what I need I think. Thanks for the tip about that book Mamma, I'm going to order that, there is so little information in the usual pregnancy books about caesareans.

We did a role play of a cs at my nct class which was reassuring for my emcs. Gave me an idea of how.many people there would be in the room, what equipment timings etc. My friend requested it as she was emcs for breech and out of 7, 4 of us ended up with cs.

Agree that antenatal good for meeting friends and covering non labour stuff too.

I have had two ELCSs. Neither time did I entertain the idea that a VB was possible, attended no antenatal classes and was really quite ignorant of everything bar the C Section process itself.

I guess I was naive looking back.

I laboured for 24 hours then had an emcs first time round so I opted for elcs this time.

My waters broke at home 3 days before my section and was soon having contractions every hour with loads of pains

It helped that I knew a bit about breathing and coping with the pain and what pain relief I wanted as I waited for a crash section to be done before me. It was 5 hours before I could be seen and I was in agony.

I had gas and air and when that wasn't cutting it I had diamorphine which was really shit cos it wiped me out and I was too woozy to take it what was going on when I went to theatre. It spoiled the birth a bit really and I was really sick afterwards.

So yes I would do a bit of research just so you know what to expect if your cs can't be done straightaway.

Good luck

Hell no! No interest in VB. No ante natal classes. Went in as scheduled for ELCS.

Contractions every minute not hour! That would have been much nicer!!