At what point does it become too late to have a C-section?

[DimpleHands]

My aim is to have a natural birth but I have a terrible fear of the baby getting stuck and being in distress. If that happens I want a C-section rather than forceps/ventouse or them having to break the baby's shoulder which I've heard they sometimes have to do if they get stuck (I think it's called shoulder dystocia or something?).

My question is, when does it become too late to have the C-section? Is it when the head has already come through the cervix? I want to be completely clued up so that the midwife/doctor can't fob me off!

My baby was stuck....they tried ventouse...no joy...my pelvis is too narrow basically so I had a section...emergency. DH could see DD's head as they tried to get her out...so I assume it was through the cervix.

It was too late for me in that they needed to get the baby out now so there was no time for anaesthetic to be administered. Had forceps with no pain relief (not even gas and air as I didn't understand it/was too far into labour to feel any effect) and it was honestly absolutely fine.
My birth plan stated absolutely NO forceps, I would much rather a section, but when it came to it and there was no time, you just trust in the doctors and you can't really argue with 'this is what we need to do to deliver a live baby'.

Honestly it was fine and nothing to worry about! So glad I faced my fears.

Actually I won't say it's nothing to worry about. Shoulder dystocia, babies getting stuck, pulling your baby's head etc - those are scary thoughts! I'm sure you'll be in good hands though and it's rare for things to go wrong I think.
good luck, hopefully you won't even need a section or forceps

With my son there was shoulder dystocia and ventouse used. It's scary, yes. At the same time, I would have found an emergency C section much scarier because of the extra time involved. When the alarm is buzzing, the baby's in distress and people are running from all directions, every second feels like a lifetime. For us, there wasn't time to talk about it or state preferences, it was a case of doctors barking 'this is what we have to do' as they were doing it. There just wasn't the time to engage and certainly not time to explain why what they needed to do was the best option. It helped that the medical staff seemed to care very deeply about getting DS out alive. To their surprise, his shoulder was fine - though he still looked a bit delicate for a while.

I would just add that DS's arrival into the world was not typical and it's highly unlikely that you will have anything to worry about when it's your turn.

I think the midwives and doctors monitor every second if things start getting abit hairy. You're in safe hands. My first dc came out with cord round neck and d cells during labour I had two midwives and a doctor in there I felt very safe tbh

My DD was "a finger length away" but it was decided she wasn't budging so I had an EMCS and she was pulled back up and out. It probably depends on the circumstances, it took about 30 mins from the decision being made to her actually being born (mostly because they struggled to get the spinal into me because I couldn't/wouldn't bend over far enough!)

I had an emcs last time and ventuous this time.
So far I'd say I prefer the ventuous . The Dr was very gentle guiding the head out (so my mum says!) and I did most of the pushing.
She did cut me but I had a look today and it's all very neat so hopefully won't be obvious when it heals.
My csection took ages to heal and looked dreadful for a year.
This baby was actually born healthier and happier after ventuous than my ds, after the csection but you never know.
In reality I didn't need ventuous my contractions were strong enough but the midwives were in a panic because I was a vbac.
I do understand your fears though
I was terrified of a 3/4 degree tear.
The Dr stuck her finger up my BH and seemed satisfied so I think I avoided that but there is always a risk with these kind of deliveries.
I would say it us very hard to say no in these situations. I was in so much pain and off my head that if she suggested shooting me I might consider it!

I wanted to avoid that scenario so I refused epidural/induction etc- the 'cascade of interventions' that lead to forceps.

My attitude was I'd rather go straight to elcs if there was a problem rather than a medicalised VB.

It wasn't a risk I was prepared to take.