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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

they will let me have a section won't they?

46 replies

daisybo · 12/01/2007 19:39

i'm currently 37+2 and got a meeting with consultant on monday to ask for an elec c-section and i'm now bricking it in case he says no. this is baby number 2, had a horrific delivery with ds1, 32 hrs, failed ventouse, forceps, haemmorhage, in hospital for a week, blood transfusions etc. i then suffered post traumatic stress disorder and post natal depression after his birth. i also had pain in the episiotomy scar for around a year, which due to the weight of this baby has started again (ds1 is now 2.7) and i also had faecal incontinence for approx 2 yrs after having him. i am currently booked for a vaginal delivery but i just know i can't go through it all again. it's not so much the delivery as i know second babys usually easier etc, it's the fear of the pain and incontinence afterwards returning that i just can't cope with. my last birth experience effectively ruined the year or so after and i just know i can't do it again.
do you think consultant will agree to a section? i really don't know what i'll do if he says no, as i'm kinda running out of time (ds1 was born at 38+5) not sure if all of this really constitues a 'medical' reason for a caesarean or not. anyone got any advise?!

OP posts:

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nikkie · 12/01/2007 19:52

I would think you have a good chance but suppose it depends on your consultant/hospital policy

Hope someone more useful can help.Good Luck

tenbygirl · 12/01/2007 20:40

I think you have a very good chance.

Original poster

daisybo · 12/01/2007 20:47

i really hope so...
also anyone got any idea when they would do the section? my midwife thinks i'd have to wait until at least 39 weeks even though i went into labour with ds1 at 38.5 i really don't want to go into labour at all if i can avoid it. also, if i did go into labour earlier would they let me have a section if i turned up in early labour or not?
sorry about all the questions, but i'm starting to panic now!!!!

OP posts:

Toady · 12/01/2007 21:04

Yes they could do a section if you went into labour, in fact I have read somewhere that it is a good thing to labour for a while at least. That sounds a bit stupid as I can't remember why, will try and find it.

I would hope that your consultant will agree to your wishes. Did you ever speak to anyone about your first experience, sounds awful

waggledancer · 12/01/2007 21:13

The reason they like to wait till 39 weeks for elective sections is because the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome is reduced by that gestation. If you labour earlier than that you would be sectioned then.
Hope you get what you need on Monday

Original poster

daisybo · 12/01/2007 21:15

no i never spoke to anyone about it and i've not mentioned it to the consultant as yet (i mean he knows about the forceps delivery, but not about the problems i had afterwards) which is why i'm getting worried now that i've left it all to late, and if he says no i won't really have time to change consultants/hospitals etc.

OP posts:

lulumama · 12/01/2007 21:16

oh goodness me..i would absolutely say so daisybo..if you search the chldbirth threads, there have been some similar threads recently re 3rd / 4th degree tears/ incontinence...

there will be some support there for you too

agree with toady..have you talked about your traumatic birth

birth trauma associationbirth trauma association

DaisyMOO · 12/01/2007 21:19

I think it's highly likely they will let you have an elective c-section this time. If you do go into labour before, don't panic, you should still get your cesarean, you just might have to wait a little while for them to get the theatre ready. Good luck.

Original poster

daisybo · 12/01/2007 21:19

thanks waggledancer, didn't know about that, midwife didn't really explain, just said hospital policy was 39 weeks. would it make any difference that i've already had the steroid injections as i had a bleed at 31 weeks and they gave them to me then, would that reduce the chance of baby having breathing probs at 38/39 weeks or not?

OP posts:

mojomands · 12/01/2007 21:26

I'm having one for similar things - it's totally your right - if your consultant says no - see another. Its the midwives who gave me the hard time really pushing for a natural birth despite my experience previously. I'm 37 weeks today and am having the section at 39 weeks (earliest they'd do it!) I'm paranoid its all going to happen early too - I know just how you feel. Good luck and keep us posted.

waggledancer · 12/01/2007 21:32

Your long term pain and incontinence are more than good enough reasons for elective section.
Probably they would still want to wait for the 39 weeks mark, despite earlier steroids. They weigh the odds of having to do "emergency" surgery earlier against knowing thebaby is less likely to go to special care. Every pregnancy is different so you are not guranteed to labour at exactly the same time as before

ThisTime · 12/01/2007 21:39

Hi DaisyBo - I had a section at 38+2 as I simply could not house him anymore (i was feinting every other hour) as he was massive. They did stress that they would not normally do this prior to 39 weeks but as they guessed my DS was at least 11lbs, they went ahead.

He was 9 10.5lbs in the end!

Fingers crossed for you xx

Original poster

daisybo · 12/01/2007 21:46

thanks everyone, just worried as i'm not very good at standing up for what i want in the face of a doctor. do you think it would be daft to write down reasons why i want a caesarean and give him the list cos i know i'll get scared and shy when i'm sat there at the appointment.

OP posts:

lulumama · 12/01/2007 21:49

not daft at all !! and take someone with if you can , DH or a friend!

waggledancer · 12/01/2007 21:52

Writing stuff down is a good idea, also can you have anyone with you to give you back up and support? Were any of your postnatal problems documented or treated, so there is evidence of them? Having said all that I still think your experiences would provoke a sympathetic response from your consultant. Please try to ask all the questions you need to so that you can get some peace of mind from your appointment.

chipkid · 12/01/2007 21:53

you will almost certaintly be given the option of a section-given your fecal incontinence-I am assuming third degree or foruth degree tear. I had elective section after 3rd degree tear although I was asymptomatic after it. Not a bit of bother.

As far as timing-mine was booked for 39 and 5 days-my first child was born at 39 and 5 days!. They told me that if I went into labour I would have emergancy section. They were not worried.

Some labour is supposed to be good as it encourages the lungs to work

ThisTime · 12/01/2007 21:53

not daft at all - you could always read from it and then if you dont feel too confident let him read it. It will show that you have thought about it. Have you spoke to your midwife about it? (sorry if you have said that already)

Original poster

daisybo · 12/01/2007 22:02

unfortunately dh can't get time off and don't really have anyone else to ask. the pnd was recorded, as was pain in episiotomy scar, but i was too embarassed to mention incontinence to anyone

OP posts:

lulumama · 12/01/2007 22:03

bless you daisy..if you are by any chance in merseyside and going to Ormskirk i'll go with you !

Original poster

daisybo · 12/01/2007 22:05

oh lulu, thats so sweet. unfortunately i'm in west midlands, thankyou though xx

OP posts:

lulumama · 12/01/2007 22:06

oh shame......take a hug (hug) with you for monday x

lissielou · 12/01/2007 22:10

where in the midlands? i live in shropshire

dressedupnowheretogo · 12/01/2007 22:12

im sure'you will i line in notts and they do NOT give elective sections but i got one and i was a blubbering mess wen i went in for my talk and she was my first

just be concise and definate

mears · 12/01/2007 22:16

daisybo - please tell your consultant what you have typed here. Write it down so that you remember. Sounds as though you had at least a third degree tear with your forceps delivery - was that ever mentioned to you? Tell him about the incontinence you had - that is very important. It might be that it was not recognised that you had a third degree tear which is when the anal sphincter is damaged and there can be problems with continence. Women with that type of history are usually ADVISED to have a C/S.

Do not worry if you are told it will be at 39 weeks, - if you go into labour then it will be done when you are admitted. That isn't a problem. HTH

mojomands · 12/01/2007 22:16

I wrote stuff down too and got a bit teary as it bought it all back. I saw the midwife first and her response made me think I had no chance then in walked the Consultant and without a question he said he was happy to offer me a section. I was so so relieved and feel my pregnancy has been really relaxed because of having the anxiety taken away. Good luck.

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