oh cr**p - postponed my elective c/s - now having major wobbles

[marymillington]

Sorry this is long....

After weeks of being wracked with indecision I was booked for a VBAC to take place next Monday.

Everyone - consultant, midwives (various), DH, mates - have been very encouraging about VBAC, I've been reading a lot and my head says its the right thing to do. Baby's head is 3/5 engaged, good position and was having strong Braxton Hicks. So on Monday my elective was postponed until Feb 8th (which is 3 days after my due date). But since then was made I haven't slept at all, I'm feeling horribly negative and unbelievably anxious, I'm totally daunted by the idea of labour and my mind is going through all the potential problems that could happen however slight . And weirdly, all my BH's have completely stopped, almost as though my body is saying, right we'll just have to hold on until the 8th then....I can't help thinking all this means that I have made the wrong decision.

DH is now saying, ring them up and get the section brought forward again. He's worried that I will go into labour and freak out.

btw..the pelvic floor is affected by pregnancy itself, not just vaginal delivery..although delivery has more of an impact, obviously

The elective was very clinical and very uncaring. During both other sections I was cared for, talked to etc. During the elective I felt like a piece of meat. There was also a slight complication (adhesions from the previous section)- this is a common complication during 2nd etc sections-I knew that, it wouldn't have worried me, but they wouldn't tell me what the complication was they were just shouting "quick get the consultant, where is he, he needs to be in here now". Then they let ds2 get cold, he also had breathing problems (was prob born a bit too early at 38 weeks).

A lot of my problems with it may just have been from the particular people I had that day, but ds2s breathing problems continued for a number of days and after reading the Odent book I felt happier having an in labour section, rather than an elective.

mary...hope you are ok....you know where i am , and how to reach me...xxx

despite the stooopid SHO's words ringing round my ears about seeing lots more problems with VBAC babies

You have to work with them to see how totally clueless most SHO's are.....truly frightening

Bit less wobbly today. Thank you all for your help, I appreciate it. A lot.

I think the problem is that I feel I am choosing from two not-so-great options, and I need to change my mindset and decide they are two perfectly acceptable options. Unless the forceps get brandished at me again,

Jimjams, thanks - that's really helpful to know. That's one thing the Odent book made me feel too - after all I've had one "emergency" section (though it was beautifully calm and we had skin to skin straight away, breastfeeding in recovery, all lovely) and i know that i can cope with that.

Lu - will email you today, fancy a bit of virtual doulaing and looking at my birth plan? Feel free to say no....

I think you are definitely not keen on going straight to elective and would always wonder if you should/could have gone through labour. But I have to say, I found my elective with no labour to be the most fantastic, moving, wonderful experience - just for anyone out there who is frightened by the idea. Was on a total high and ds was great - 10/10 Apgar.

And I am with you 100% on the forceps thing

am here , my lovely......as always !! happy to be of any help at allll xx