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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

AIBU to want to have my baby this week even though it means having a CS?

27 replies

Pinkflipflop · 27/01/2013 12:32

Firstly I don't want to start a natural birth versus CS debate and I am speaking from my very limited experience as a first time mum to be.

I'm 38w 2d and last week the doctor discovered my baby was breech and it was agreed that this incoming week I would have a CS. I had never considered a CS before as all along everyone involved kept saying "baby is in great position". For some reason the baby turned, I think I was aware of it but cannot be sure.

I am aware of the risks of a CS but when the doctor said that a CS was best, I was happy, relieved almost. I explicitly said that a planned section was much preferable to me than a crash one and this way I knew what to expect and could plan ahead. (Incidentally it was only a chance scan that revealed the baby was breech, as technically I was not due any further scans- community midwife requested a hospital scan due to her concerns about size.)

I was never very keen on the idea of a natural birth; fear, intense dislike of internal examinations, feelings of panic, smear tests going wrong; but I just had to blot these things out during my pregnancy and adopt the attitude of face the fear, no other option etc.

Now I will get to the point and thank you if you have read this far! AIBU to hope that my baby stays breech so as I can go ahead with the CS? They absolutely won't go ahead if baby has turned (and I fully understand this) but I am driving myself crazy thinking that I could arrive in the hospital and just be sent straight home again.

I know I'm not unique to be in this position and so many other women have had to face this and much worse. It is consuming all my thoughts at the moment because I just feel that I don't know what will happen.

Sorry for the ramble.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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oscarwilde · 27/01/2013 12:59

No, YANBU , have had CS and VBAC. Natural childbirth is a highly over-rated experience IMO. I would read up on both to be on the safe side, in case things change as you will be floundering if you've forgotten all the technical stuff.
Best of luck

Sneezingwakesthebaby · 27/01/2013 12:59

YANBU to hope that you get your CS. I think some people need that sense of control over how their baby arrives into the world and its not unreasonable to hope that baby stays breech so you can have that certainty of when everything will happen especially if you had fears anyway.

McNewPants2013 · 27/01/2013 13:03

If you want a c-section have one.

OHforDUCKScake · 27/01/2013 13:07

I thought the laws changed and you could request a csection now?

hellocatty · 27/01/2013 13:07

of course not. Good luck

dreamingbohemian · 27/01/2013 13:11

YANBU

Throughout most of my pregnancy I wanted a nice natural homebirth, then I found out toward the end that I was carrying a humongous baby, I learned about all the potential complications from this, and suddenly a planned CS didn't sound so bad!

I think you are in a good position actually. I was asked to 'give it a go' rather than have a CS, all this meant was that I went through 36 hours of excruciating pain before finally having an emergency section.

So go ahead with a section if that's what you want, I agree that natural birth can be a bit overrated

Moominsarescary · 27/01/2013 13:12

Yanbu, I wasn't a candidate for vbac until I developed complications with my cervix. Now the consultant has decided as long as no intervention a vbac is fine, however I'm having trouble walking due to pain in my cervix, have a history of quick labours and large babies anyway and I'm worried that a large baby/quick labour may cause complications.

I'd much rather have a vbac but will be talking to the consultant tomorrow about booking in for a cs at 39 weeks if it hasn't happened naturally by then.

If your happy go with the csection.

Original poster

Pinkflipflop · 27/01/2013 13:16

I would be more than happy to go ahead but my fear is that if the baby turns they won't do it and will just send me home.

I can't really demand a CS if there is no reason, can I? Particularly as I have not voiced any concerns before now.

OP posts:

dreamingbohemian · 27/01/2013 13:31

Yes, they changed the guidelines so that they are supposed to give you a CS if you ask for one. I don't know whether this is actually happening in practice though. Try googling 'maternal request' and CS for your local trust and see if you can find their most recent guidance (they changed the rule in 2011 I think).

AbbyCat · 27/01/2013 13:44

Yanbu but c/s for maternal request is usually something discussed antennatally and needs to have been ok-Ed by a consultant. Chances of baby turning at this stage are slim anyway so you'll to ably end up having one! Good luck! My elcs was a wonderful experience! My emcs on the other hand was not one I'd want repeated.

shartsi · 27/01/2013 13:54

I requested a C Section for my DD for no medical reason and I got one. Actually my waters broke a week before the date for the C section, I went into the hospital and was still given the C- Section. I was not kept waiting because they did not want me to go through labour pains when i had not "planned" for them.

When you request the C-section they will try to persuade you otherwise but you stick to your guns.

countrykitten · 27/01/2013 14:03

Tell them what you want and you will be ok. Be forceful if they try and argue. Both of mine were elective CS and I loved it!

MisForMumNotMaid · 27/01/2013 14:06

I absolutely back what you say about planned over emergency csections. I've had three. First was an induced labour, i was exhaused after two days labouring then everything went wrong and i ended up with an emergency c-section. I was just so tired and concerned as everyone was runing around looking serious. 2nd was very overdue so they insisted c- section again. Third was planned c-section. I was rested, my bags were all together the others new their little sister would be arriving. It was a lovely birth.

If you express to the consultant your concerns that baby will turn again and increased fear of labour they will take it all into account and most people seam to get their way.

My only coment about planned c-sections is that you get bumped for the emergencies. If you're unlucky it can be a boring day of waiting around excited about your baby but being bumped out the way by emergencies going to theatre first so take some reading material and distractions with you as you'll be nil by mouth.

Good luck and don't be affraid to firmly state what you feel is right for you.

RooneyMara · 27/01/2013 14:08

Oh blimey, you're totally reasonable to want this!! I just had my third VB and it was horrible, I'd recommend to anyone who is pregnant to have a CS or a jolly good epidural.

Good luck poppet. Let us know what happens!

Original poster

Pinkflipflop · 27/01/2013 14:20

Thanks so much for the positive responses, I was expecting a bit of a flaming to be honest. I'm still very anxious about the possibility of baby turning.

Would I be likely to know if it turns before the day of the CS?

OP posts:

dreamingbohemian · 27/01/2013 14:29

Try not to worry too much -- fingers crossed for you!

Maybe you could look up all the advice for getting the baby to turn and then do the opposite

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 27/01/2013 14:31

Hello there OP
we shall move this thread into our childbirth section
LOADS of luck with the impending arrival

RedHelenB · 27/01/2013 14:36

Don't worry about a vaginal birth though - as a first time mum there really is NO WAY you can imagine what it is like & all 3 of my births were very different but at the end of the day I got a 3 gorgeous babies. I was the opposite of you & dreading a C section for dd2 & luckily after being prepped for c section they manage to get her out ventouse delivery.

Original poster

Pinkflipflop · 27/01/2013 15:27

dreaming should i be sitting on the sofa with my legs up/crossed and eating ice-cream and lots of other sugary foods?!

I just wish I could fast forward through the next day or so!

Still confused over whether or not I would expect to know if the baby turns in the meantime

OP posts:

ARightOldPickle · 27/01/2013 15:46

I don't think you need to worry that you won't know if the baby turns. My last DD was breech until 38 weeks and then turned one night, the first sign was my bladder emptying where she pushed against it and I thought it was my waters going. For a while after that I was literally pinned to the bed - I thought I was being split in two All I can say is ... Ouch!
Once I could move (DH on nights at the time) I called the hospital who said it sounded like she was turning and to come in first thing in the morning to be checked over. Everything fine but I lived in fear for 2 weeks that she would try to go back!

GingerJulep · 27/01/2013 16:35

Not unreasonable. But wanting something because it seems best rather than because the stats back it up. Many emotional responses are 'unreasonable' in the sense of not being backed up by facts.

But at the end of the day stats are based on large numbers of births. And you are just one person.

On average you and baby will be better off if baby turns and you have a VB (or even doesn't turn and you have a VB). But that doesn't mean you'll be average.

There seem to be hundreds of women on here terrified of childbirth/things going wrong during pregnancy/parenting/etc. You might be unreasonable but you're certainly not the only one!

countrykitten · 27/01/2013 17:44

Don't worry - you do what you feel is best for you and if you want a CS then stick to that. Best of luck.

Teapot13 · 27/01/2013 22:27

I totally understand -- you don't want to go to the hospital and then come home without having had the baby. It would be an emotional roller coaster.

I had the opposite happen -- I went in for induction on a Friday night and it was determined DD had turned sometime in the 40th week without me noticing, so I had a CS (for breech) the next morning. I joked with the consultant that I didn't want another scan, and he didn't scan me. (It was private though, so a bit different.) I felt the same as you.

Original poster

Pinkflipflop · 27/01/2013 22:44

It's good to read other people's views on this; I have to admit that I have been driving myself crazy at the unthought of going in for a CS and coming home without my baby. teapot you put it so well.

It will be a long wait; I just wish I old enjoy my last few days without this hanging over me.

Sorry if I sound like an old moan.

OP posts:

rainrainandmorerain · 28/01/2013 10:19

This is a harsh situation for you - I think I remember you a while back posting about your fears of a vb, and considering elcs as an option. If you've spent your pregnancy reconciling yourself to the idea of a vb you didn't want, then having this planned cs dangled over you as a maybe is not ideal!

I have no idea what percentage of breech babies turn before a planned cs for breech - I think it would be possible to have conversations about your preference for a cs over a vb now, but in all honesty, if they at this late stage have you down as a vb candidate, only having a cs for breech, then (a) I don't know how successful you would be, and (b) that's very much admitting to yourself that you really don't want a vb. If you haven't flagged up any real anxieties and objections to vb before now, then at this stage it is possible you'll be written off as having late stage wobbles.

The idea that you can now just have a cs for maternal request on the nhs is the result of some very bad reporting in the media, and some scaremongering by natural birth zealots. The NICE guidance says that where a woman has a strong fear of vb, she can request a cs - whereon she should be offered counselling for her fear. If this isn't a solution, she should in theory be offered a cs, and be allowed to ask for another consultant if she is refused one.

in practice this is a total lottery. A woman might get a referral to a consultant early on, who agrees to her request easily - another woman might be stonewalled by mws, and get told she won't see a consultant until 36 weeks, at which point it is assumed they are having a vb and no one is interested in discussing an alternative - you might get a hospital or consultant who is very pro vbac, for example, and will railroad you into a vb.

It is a lottery.

I think op for you it depends how much you want to go down the road of pursuing a cs at this late stage. you can ring your mw and say you are panicking, you really want a planned cs, and talk to her about the likelihood of getting one even if the baby has turned. I think you would need to be very proactive about this if you have not already flagged up issues antenatally. If you do this, of course it is the opposite of what you have been doing throughout your pregnancy, which is to reconcile yourself to the idea of a vb. It is a tough situation and I do feel for you.

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