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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Elective C Section

13 replies

Hardy1988 · 09/04/2015 13:54

Hello

Does anybody have any past experience with C sections?

I have been booked in for an elective C section on the 30th @ 39 weeks because my baby is measuring in the 99th centile (7lb at 33 weeks Shock ) I also have polyhydramnios (excess amniotic fluid) so I am the equivalent of a baby elephant at the minute :)

I just wondered if anybody had been booked in for a ecs and instead asked to be induced, if so, did they agree? was it worth it if the baby is so big? im not adverse to having a section I would just like to give natural labour a go - but if there is no point and he is just going to get stuck/be put under too much stress etc then I would rather just carry on with what is planned.

thanks in advance

E x

OP posts:
SisterMoonshine · 09/04/2015 14:03

I imagine that the c-section was a decision made with a consultant with better info re measurements etc than us.
I had to have an elective section due to placenta praevia.
And I don't feel I missed out in any way re childbirth.
I would think twice about going against medical advice - but it depends on the whole picture.
Some things could have been disasterous during childbirth, not even that long ago in history. We are lucky problems can be so routinely spotted and monitored.
I would say to have a conversation with your midwife about it, it may be they are being over careful, but Don't be disappointed if it does work out you should have a section. An elective is a better situation than an emergency.

Original poster
Hardy1988 · 09/04/2015 14:10

Thanks sistermoonshine :)

I am totally fine with having a section - as long as he comes and he is happy and healthy I don't mind what mode he is delivered.

I just wondered before I went trundling off to the midwife whether anybody had asked before hand if they could try get induced maybe a couple of days before and if the labour doesn't progress, then to go ahead with the section as planned. I would never go against their advice - just wanted to hear of anybody else's experiences xx

OP posts:
Carterama · 09/04/2015 14:22

The last thing that you want to be is exhausted due to a trial of labour and then have major surgery!
I had an ELCS due to a massive baby and I was up and about the next day, home within 2 days and recovered really well.
I am convinced that this was helped by not having spent hours, possibly days in pain prior to having the surgery.
If the Dr recommends a section I would not put yourself through an induction, it's not fun!!

Good luck, however your baby arrives, I'm sure they will be a blessing and a delight Thanks

seaoflove · 09/04/2015 14:24

If baby was estimated at 7lb at 33 weeks, what is his estimated weight at 39?

Tbh, having had one natural birth and finding it terribly overrated - and I tore badly - I am delighted to be having an ELCS second time around. And you have a few factors pointing towards ELCS, so I honestly would go with medical advice. A friend of mine had an eleven pounder via forceps and she tore from the cervix all of the way down the vagina. Not trying to scare you, but not many people are able to deliver very large babies and emerge unscathed.

Jackiebrambles · 09/04/2015 14:24

I had an EMCS after 16 hours of pain in labour. The section was a blessed relief.

So much so I'm going for an ELCS this time!

Jackiebrambles · 09/04/2015 14:31

And of course I missed a nights sleep as my labour started hard at 11.30pm. I am looking forward to a reasonable night's sleep pre my C-section. I've heard recovery is much better when you aren't so tired!

Original poster
Hardy1988 · 09/04/2015 14:34

Thanks ladies - all your advice is GREATLY appreciated!!

Seaoflove: they have estimated him at over 10lb/ nearing 11lb - again we all know that these efw from the scans can be off and it could be due to the fluid too but they have tested for GD and that came back clear. we wont know until he arrives. ;)

With the ELCS did you get to have skin to skin contact as soon as he was delivered? also - can hubby cut the cord?

xx

OP posts:
seaoflove · 09/04/2015 14:35

The last thing that you want to be is exhausted due to a trial of labour and then have major surgery!

I've had two different community midwives say it's much preferable to have a caesarean when you're well rested and in reasonable shape, as opposed to exhausted after a long labour and having had no sleep. Makes sense, of course!

Jackiebrambles · 09/04/2015 14:37

My DH cut the cord at my emcs. He wasn't that keen as he's a bit squeamish but did it anyway! :)

I had a very quick cuddle as I was still laying down being stitched up, and then skin to skin as soon as I was in recovery (30 mins later I guess? the stitching up takes a bit of time as there's a lot of layers!).

He fed when i was in recovery and I breastfed til he was 13 months too.

Tranquilitybaby · 09/04/2015 23:44

I'm guessing the hospital is concerned about risk of shoulder distocia etc. As they don't recommend a section for the sake of it. I'd get some more advice if you'd teally like to ne induced though x

Zahrah5 · 10/04/2015 05:35

OP i am the opposite, althrough a bit smaller baby, polyhydramnios as well, 7lbs at 35w, i have asked for section but they insist on vaginal birth via induction.
My diabetes was not picked up by 3 tests as they all were still in normal range.
Undiagnosed diabetes is bad. I would go and insist they give you trial blood monitoring for couple of days.
There was new NICE guidance from Feb 2015 which significantly lowers the thresholds for diabetes diagnosis. My hospital uses much higher thesholds as they " havent switched yet".

NoseyParka · 10/04/2015 06:04

I've had 3 C-sections. First was after being induced (was over due) and so went through labour (with an epidural) and about 12 hours later had the section due to failure to progress. The other 2 were planned.

IME the first was definitely the hardest to recover from as was just so exhausted, totally drained. The others were still major surgery yes, but much calmer affairs and just much more straight forward.

Guin1 · 10/04/2015 17:07

Both my DC were C-sections. DS had to be delivered at 30 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia and was too tiny for me to be induced. In fact, he was so tiny that I had to have a classical C-section, rather than the normal bikini C-section. Having a classical C-section means that all future births have to be C-sections as well, so we always knew that DD's birth would be that way.

I was mildly disappointed at first at 'missing out' on a vaginal birth, but not any more. I found both C-sections very straight-forward and could get around pain-free after a few days, although took a bit longer to be able to lift heavy things. It does feel like surgery rather than giving birth, especially as you don't actually see any of it happening or physically feel anything, but it was calm and stress-free, and most importantly, best option for the babies. (Well, only option really!)

The doctor cut the umbilical cord from the placenta as the baby was lifted out, but quite a lot of it was still attached to the baby and then DH cut this off. DS had to be whisked straight off to NICU, but DD was put on me for a quick skin-to-skin and then back for a breastfeed after I'd been stitched up.

Both DC were born in Australia, but I imagine things would be done the same way in the UK.

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