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Childbirth

Third section imminent - scared I won't make it that far

48 replies

nearlythree · 04/05/2006 21:17

My third section in four and a half years' is due at the end of the month. I am the size of a small family car and my g.p. doesn't think I'll make it - it's booked for 39 and a half weeks. He says if I go into labour I'll probably need a g.a. as I'll be too far gone for an epidural, and as our dd1 nearly died during my first section with a g.a. I'm keen to avoid this. Now my scar is pulling for the first time this pregnancy and I'm terrified I'll go into labour and my womb will rupture and the baby will die. This is our first ds and I love him so much. I've already been in hospital a few weeks' ago with a virus and still have fatigue, anaemia and loads of silly niggles and I have had enough. We live 45 mins from the hospital and have no family nearby and I am really scared.

Can anyone offer help or advice?

OP posts:

Report

fruitful · 31/05/2006 16:36

Its the end of the month now! Where's that birth announcement?

I'm hoping you're home and having a nice time with your baby, and not still stuck in the hospital...

MaryBS · 13/05/2006 06:00

I'm with you fruitful..... can't wait to hear how you are nearlythree.... prayers are being said for you!

fruitful · 12/05/2006 10:08

Nearlythree - I guess you are in hospital so won't see this till you are ActuallyThree. But you might manage to log on from hospital somewhere... so good luck! I'll be praying that you have a nice restful time, and that your dds have fun with whoever is looking after them.

nearlythree · 11/05/2006 21:45

Ds is transverse so am going in tomorrow until section at 39 weeks or so. There is a risk of cord prolapse. Will miss the dds so much and feel like shit.

OP posts:

Uwila · 08/05/2006 08:13

In case anyone is interested, the \link{http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=cg013niceguideline\NICE guideline, 2004}.

jamiesam · 07/05/2006 16:30

Oh, thanks for that Mears, was just thinking of starting another thread on the timing of c/s...

And IlanaK, my ds1 had got incredibly stuck, such that they had to call a stronger consultant in to heave him out of me (that definitely did not feel like washing up in my tummy, it HURT!). I subsequently had vbac with ds2 and scar was fine. Will have elective c/s with this pg.

nearlythree · 07/05/2006 15:32

ruty and mary, I can get assessed before Thursday but unless there is a very pressing medical reason for my section to happen immediately all that will happen is that the results will be passed onto my consultant for her clinic on Thursday - it would still be her decision and I would therefore need to make two trips, arrange two lots of childcare etc, and in reality I don't think there is any need for me to be seen earlier, however panicky I am getting! Thanks for your good wishes, I think things will be okay, I'm probably just getting into a state for nothing.

OP posts:

mears · 07/05/2006 15:03

Jimjams - NICE guidance issued in 2004 states that C/S is better after 39 weeks \link{http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=cg013publicinfo\here}

It has been known about before that though.Takes a long time to change 'traditional' ways of doing things.

IlanaK - the size of your scar makes no difference to your next delivery really. Babies with high heads can be more awkward than engaged ones to deliver and they need forceps too. All depends position of baby rather than when C/S done. HTH.

ruty · 07/05/2006 14:07

nearlythree sending you lots of love and good wishes. It must be so difficult for you at the moment. i was HUGE with ds [he came out very big too] so i know how uncomfortable you must be feeling, though i didn't have a C section scar at that point. I agree with Mary BS, could you get to see the consultant before Thursday? But glad you are feeling better - I know it sounds glib but I am sure you're both going to be fine...xxx

MaryBS · 07/05/2006 06:48

Is there any way you could get to see the consultant before Thursday. My complications in pregnancy were different (I had OC both times), but when I phoned the hospital with problems, they always got me in that day for monitoring, and never kept me waiting longer than the next day to see my consultant. I realise I was probably very lucky, but in this life, if you don't ask, you don't get!

{hug} thinking of you....

nearlythree · 05/05/2006 21:42

Thanks again everyone. I will just have to see what the consultant says on Thursday, but I am so uncomfortable (to the extent that I can't get upstairs or hold a conversation without getting out of breath) that I'm starting to feel panicky again. And watching Have I Got News for You was a big mistake.

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Rochwen · 05/05/2006 20:38

Just to reassure you, my dd was born 5/6 weeks early by c/s without labour and she was fine. No ventilation or incubator needed and she breastfed beautifully from day one.

I can understand your fears. If I was pregnant again I would also want to avoid going into labour before my scheduled c/s date. Go and speak to your consultant. I'm sure it'll all go fine. Good Luck !

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 05/05/2006 19:39

mears that's really interesting. When did they change the dates for electives? DS2 was elective at 38 weeks (consultants decision- no pressing need to get him out he was just big headed) and did have the problems you mentioned- including needing special care- but there were no beds so they had an argument about that in recovery- with one person saying "he needs special care definitely" and one saying he'll be alright on the ward in an incubator thingy as long as the peadiatrician keeps checking him. nice- not. The argument went on for quite a while, with the person insisting he needed special care (who was midwife) sounding the more convinced. Do you know whether there are any long term effects? DS2 is the only one with an inhaler, although I wouldn't say he was asthmatic as such- not in an allergic sense he just can't cope with running around or having colds.

I didn't know it had changed to 39 weeks until I met the consultant with ds3.

I found Michel Odents book fascinating. I hadn't realised what a difference labour can make to breathing. DS3 was 40 + 4 when he was born (so I think I have long pregnancies- which may be why ds2 was not cooked at 38 weeks- he was also incredibly sleepy fpor the first 2 weeks and then got a cord infection!), I did get panicy before the end with ds3, but the actual birth and the days after were so much better than with ds2 (who had breathing problems for quite a while after birth).

IlanaK · 05/05/2006 19:27

Not to hyjack this thread, but I have a question. I have also had two previous sections. I am not pregnant now but do plan another. My last section was problematic as my baby had engaged far enough that they had trouble pulling him out. They needed to cut my much wider than normal and use forceps. Does this wider scar put me at greater risk next time around?

mears · 05/05/2006 19:16

Glad you are feeling better nearlythree. Also glad that feeding worked out well for you both last time around. I understand that you would prefer your baby born earlier but I have to say the longer they are in there the better. Babies can be notorious at 38 weeks - they can often catch us out and need admitted to special care with transient tachypnoea of the newborn (TTN). That is very distressing for parents. The other problem is that sometimes 38 week babies do not establish breastfeeding so well, so that is another consideration. If you happen to go into labour at 38 weeks then that is a sign your baby is ready to come and the stimulation of contractions can prevent the breathing and feeding problems.
I am glad you have a good relationship with your GP which is important. Unfortunately they are not always up to date with current obstetric practice. Hope you continue to feel better. It really isn't unusual to get a case of the 'wobblies' when you get near to term. I remember with my last baby, she was to be induces early because on antibody problems. The doctor wanted to get to 37 weeks as my son before her was delivered at 35 weeks and needed ventilated. At 36 weeks I panicked and wanted her delivered as soon as possible because I dreaded something going wrong. My consultant was very reassuring and persuaded me it was better to wait another week which I did. She did not have breathing difficulties at all but I had laboured which is a stimulus. Elective C/S babies need to be more mature hence why the date is nearer 40 weeks now. Good luck with whatever you and your consultant decide

nearlythree · 05/05/2006 15:34

Thank you for all your posts and info, I have found it really helpful. Am feeling much better today -probably because dd2 slept through for once!

The reason I see my g.p. and not the mw is because our local ones aren't very good (no offence to any mws) - the one at my booking-in appointment spent the whole time chatting about her new house and her boyfriend whilst leaving me to fill in my own forms - at least my g.p. takes the time to talk to me. I saw him this morning and he is happy with how I am so has made an appointment for me to see my consultant on Thursday (the only day she does a clinic.) Ideally I'd like my section at 38.5-39 weeks, I had dd2 at 39 and she was fine.

The reason dd1's birth was so horrible was due to a botched induction so not directly linked to the section, but it left me traumatised for a good year (dd1 was fine very quickly ) and I don't want to go there again. Also the pain when I came round from the g.a. was indescribable, whereas with dd2 I hardly had any, and we managed to bf for nearly 2 yrs (even during this pregnancy!)whereas I didn't with dd1. It really means a lot to me to have as smooth a time as possible because there are some things I just don't want to revisit. I'm married to a gambling man and I know a bit about odds, and a 1% chance of a rupture is unnacceptable - for that reason I've always declined the triple test as I'd never risk an amnio (not that I'd terminate a baby anyway.) 100-1 shots do come in. Having said that, I've been pretty relaxed until this week - I just seemed to have reached the stage where I can't even get my own knickers on.

Thank you all again, for taking so much time and trouble. I realise this is an emotive subject but please don't get cross with each other; everyone has helped just by caring enough to reply. I will keep you posted!

OP posts:

pupuce · 05/05/2006 13:02

I know that Uwila.

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 05/05/2006 12:25

DS2 had breathing difficulties when he was was born (elective) at 38 + 3 weeks. It wasn't much fun.

Uwila · 05/05/2006 12:07

But, Pupuce, that's not relevant because she isn't considering a VBAC. She wants monitoring and she wants a section. She's just worried about going into labour ahead of the section. And 3rd child at 39+, let's face it the chances are more than remote.

pupuce · 05/05/2006 12:01

Uwila - i know what you mean but the fact that they "force" women into monitoring and limit the labour and call it "trial of scar" does NOT make them low risk
Anyway nearlythree has had 2 sections so she will be classed high risk.

Uwila · 05/05/2006 11:59

My post should begin "This 39+5 crap is..."

Uwila · 05/05/2006 11:58

HThis 30+5 crap is all about the current nice guideline that tells OB's to gran sections after 39+0. I had an elective at 38+4 and I had to beg for it. My biggest concern was distance to the hospital and toddler in tow while husband works 2 1/2 hours away. I thought blimey how will I get to the hospital. So I begged and paniced and exxplaine that I understood there were increased risks of breathing difficulties but they were in my view far outweighed by the potential of making it through west london traffic... and just what were we going to to with the toddler when we arrived?

I also am wondering why it would be too late when you got there for a local if you should go into labour. Have you had a previous quick labour?

Pupuce, in theory a previous section classifies you as high risk, but not always in practice. I was treated as pretty low risk. They didn't even want to discuss a section with me until 36 weeks, and I thought that was way too late to be planning it.

I definately think you need to talk to a consultant. Tell them you will take 39+0 and othing later. If that day is not good for them, ask for 38+x weeks.

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Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 05/05/2006 09:15

sorry ffm, forgot to say vax = vaccination

Jimjamskeepingoffvaxthreads · 05/05/2006 09:07

Yes but nearlythree is perceiving it as a much bigger risk than 1% (which is also the "official" figure given for the risk of losing a pregnancy from having an amnio- and is a risk many are prepared to take). I am not trying to downplay risk, or say that doctors are useless (although I do not understand for one moment what her GP has told her- but a consultant will be able to give a clearer more reliable picture) but just to reassure nearlythree that she is overestimating it in her mind. I can understand how she feels as reading her opening post I felt the same, I was convinced that I was going to die. I didn't think I had a 1% chance of rupture I was sure I was going to not make it.

One thing I did find out from reading nearlythree was if rupture occurs it is most likely to occur during birth, rather than labour. Even if you went into labour there's no reason why you couldn't have a section then (Michel Odent's book is very reassuring about that- and is the main reason I chose to trial labour rather than have an elective- even though I thought I was very likely to need a section, and did.).

I'll put a link to ds3's birth announcement- there you'll see that even though my scar was very thin (they really commented on it, and said if I ever had another (no way!) then I was to have an elective)- and even though I had 7 hours of labour- there was no rupture. I'm not downplaying the risk, just wanting to reassure you that it doesn't have to happen (even though I was convinced it would):
\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1370&threadid=52051&stamp=050214234021\ds3's birth announcement here}

Ellbell · 05/05/2006 00:32

The figure I found out (in more than one source) for scar rupture in non-induced birth was 0.02%, which is much better than 1%.

But I agree with everyone else, nearly3. You should try to talk to your consultant asap, and certainly not wait for your GP to refer you. I'm sure you could ask for an earlier cs. I had an elective cs at 36 weeks (for placenta praevia, so they couldn't risk me going into labour). Baby was small (but placenta very dodgy, so she had been undernourished) but otherwise absolutely fine. Good luck with everything. I hope it goes smoothly.

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