I have to decide on whether to have a planned c-section, help please!

[jersey]

Hi, due to past complications in vaginal deliveries I can have a planned c/s this time if I want one, but I am not sure what to choose.

Reasons I am considering it are:

Last 2 deliveries had complications and very nearly ended in emergency c/s both times! 1st vontouse, 2nd forceps in theatre with spinal block as baby in wrong position and got stuck.

Also have childcare problems so knowing when going to deliver would help as would have to get my parents down (2 hours away!).

But, will have a 3 year old and a 1 year old to look after, although DH should be off work for 2 weeks. After that have to get DS1 to school everyday!

Do I go through a vaginal birth and fingers crossed everything goes right this time?

Has anyone else had to make this choice, and what where your reasons?

Thanks

I will have to make this choice too. I think I'm going for a planned section purely because then you can plan. You know you will be in for three days after surgery (versus five for an emergency section - don't ask me why but that's how it works at our hospital), I recovered from my cs last time and was walking two hours later and driving three weeks later (with my GPs approval).

It is major surgery, with risks attached but in my case I'd rather not spend many days in pain to be told 'nope, it's not happening' and have an unplanned cs.

Maybe worth getting copies of your birth notes to read through with a midwife, might make it clearer on why your labours went the way they did.

Also worth looking at this link to check out optimal foetal positioning.

Jersey, do you intend to have more than 3 children, say 5 or more? If so, then better to go natural as doctors don't tend to recommend more than 3 cs.

I had a planned section after an emergency one. It went well and I recovered quickly.

i have had 3 sections - 1 emergency and two planned.

with dd2 - I went home to a 2 1/2yo with special needs and a new born - no family to help and a dh that started a new job the day after dd2 was born so no time off. Did what I would without lifting dd1( 2 1/2 yo with sn) and was fine within three weeks lifting her, carrying her and driving with GP's blessing.

with dd3 ( 6 weeks ago) came home to a 2.5yo and a 4.5yo. I had dd3 on the Fri and was home by sun lunchtime. I got more rest etc at home than in the hospital. Dh had two weeks off and I took it easy caring mainly for dd3 whilst he looked after dd1 and 2 as well as doing the school run, therapy, swimming etc. Again by three weeks - absolutely fine to be driving - wound etc healed really well.

For us especially with dd2 - we needed someone who could come and care for dd1 for the 5 days I was in hospital. My SIL - lives 3hours drive away was able to come with her two children and care for dd1 for us. We knew when and where etc.

with dd3 - again - could organise childcare - don't have ready childcare, dh could organise his time off - not easy to get at times. We could prepare dd1 for all the changes etc... so she knew what was happening. I could also reorganise some of dd1's medical appts etc.

Having said all that - I think I am one of the rare ones who heal really well in a short amount of time. The GP has been mildly surprised each time with dd2 and 3 how well I had healed in just 3 weeks. Having said that I am well aware of my limitations after surgery and do not do anything silly iyswim.

Hi Jersey,
I am in a very similar situation to you. Not particularly worry free about the prospect of my first c/s hence up at 3.30 in the morning!

My history is two previous vaginal births with difficult second stages (one failed ventouse and forceps and second forceps and close to emergency c/s). My children are now 5 and 2.

I'm due in a few weeks and have opted for a planned c/s this time for the following reasons:

1. Baby is apparently very big especially the head and I don't want to risk any long term pelvic floor damage. Have read some very helpful posts on MN from women who have suffered this and it helped to make my mind up.

1. I'm a big believer in "safety first" and feel that the long term health of the baby is more important than my own birth experience. Again, reading some of the special needs posts on MN (from mothers whose children suffered as a result of the birth) has confirmed this view.

Having said that, the practical issues surrounding a c/s are my main worry as well.

How will I manage to get a 5 year old to school and a 2 year old to pre school on time if the baby demands a feed?

How will I cope with in laws staying for a long period when MIL drives me insane for a few hours?

How on earth will my DH cope with daily laundry when he's hopeless at it?

And finally and most importantly, how will I cope with two very physical and affectionate boys jumping all over me every 5 minutes?

Sorry if this is no help to you whatsoever except to say that I share your worries, but am still opting for a planned c/s.

rosetip - my dd1 ( almost 5) who has special needs an dd2 9 almost 2.ryo) understood that mummy had an "owwy' tummy and that she had to be careful of it - she learnt not to lean on me or try and jump on me etc.

You will be able to do the laundry - not sure of they have them in the UK - get yourself a laundry trolley - I still did the laundry from when I got home from hospital - dh carried baskets downstairs and put them on the trolley - I thenjsut transferred them to the washing machine - top loader. If you have a front loader - sit on the floor. it is about working out how you can minimise lifting for a week or so.

Another hint - ARNICA - i took arnica tablets post 2nd and 3rd section and I am sure they helped me heal so well in a shorter time. ALso tea tree oil for bathing wound - few drops in warm water and bathe wound - helps ward off infection and helps with healing too.

as to getting places - strangely so far we have not really been late yet - dd1 attends school and kindy as well as therapy sessions etc so we are out every day of the week. I decided though that if the baby needed a feed then and there - well she got a feed. I think only once was she wanting a feed around the time we would leave for school - just gave her a quick feed - took dd1 to school and then finished feeding dd3 in the car after we had dropped dd1 off. Thankfully the car can soothe dd3 even if she is hungry.

hth

Thank you eidsvold, very helpful and reassuring.

I chose a planned c/s in February, for very different reasons to you but I was thinking of the same practical consequences.

I can't make the decision for you because everyone has different criteria, but it was really useful to know the date in advance so we could book my parents in to babysit my ds. Also, my dh's job is one where it's difficult to take time off suddenly, so knowing the date in advance made it much easier for him to take time off.

I recovered very quickly this time, and I'm sure part of the reason was arnica. I started taking it 2 days before the c/s and took it every 2 hours just after the operation, then carried on taking it 3 times a day for a week afterwards.

Thanks, my in laws are in and out of hospital and my parents are a minimum of 2 hours away when i go into labour! I am worried that DH might not make the birth if parents can't get here in time. We don't have any other help afterwards.

The experience of the c-section went very well, very relaxed and I had excellent care. I was very uncomfortable for several weeks especially in the evenings. Everyone is different though but I wouldn't have been able to look after other children. I had my husband home for weeks luckily (he gets three months leave at a time). It was my first baby though so very overwhelming! You could hire a maternity nurse or post-birth doula! Just a thought! (obviously depends on finances)

Hi Jersey, I have seen your name on the October 2007 thread too...

I had an emergency section with my son and although it was pretty stressful because he was distressed I was really happy with the care I received. I was surprised that it was a lot less painful than I expected. I was out of hospital after 3 days too and could probably have left after 2 but my hubby talked me out of it. I didn't drive until after 6 weeks (think I was being very cautious) but am lucky that I live near enough to walk most places. I was out going for short walks (very slowly and only where there were ramps on the kerb so I didn't have to lift the pram!!) the day after I went home. My mate who had an elective section was totally back to normal and driving in 3 weeks.

I am having the same dilemma as you about whether to go for a section or vbac with my next baby. I have to say that the main thing that puts me off a section is needing to look after my son who will be 20 months although I will have a lot of help. I am sure the recovery will be harder than the first time because of this but then if I try for a vaginal delivery and have either a complicated instrumental one or an emergency section that would probably be worse than a planned section!

Have you seen a consultant at the hospital to chat through your options? In my case there was nothing to make them push me one way or the other so it didn't help me decide (although it was really helpful to go through the pros and cons) but in your case they might recommend one option more strongly? Of course than only helps if you trust the staff at your hospital!

Thanks alicet the consultant would prefer me to try a vaginal delivery but has said that due to the bad probs I had during last delivery and pain from hundreds of stiches from a forceps delivery he would back me for a c/s if I want one.

Its a really difficult decision I think. I would never have chosen a section the first time around but having had such an easy time with mine its very tempting to go for it again. Plus lots of my friends had really awful experiences of vaginal deliveries which puts me off!

Sure you have plenty of time to think about it and get lots of information - I don't have to make a decision until 36 weeks which I presume is similar for you? I know that mine will probably be a more gut feeling decision though rather than based on any hard facts! I think its very hard to be given the choice - I keep thinking I've decided (and it flips from one to the other!!) then have a 'but what if...' moment!

Jersey,

I would need to know what the complications were in your previous deliveries before I could give an answer to your query.

Personally I would find it extremely difficult to contemplate an elCS except in exceptional circumstances having had a traumatic emCS. And have researched a lot about birth for and since my VBAC (with forceps assist).

Depending on the previous complications and your mindset about birth would it be possible to look into improving your labour and birth choices? This depends on how important a normal VB might be to you.