Going into labour ahead of ELCS date

[MrsMeSeeks]

I feel a bit stupid asking about this because it happened to me last time! But last time, DD was breech, so there was a physiological reason for going for a section. My waters broke at 36+4 and I just went in and they did an emergency section (though very calm and chilled) a few hours later, when I started to get regular contractions.

I've opted for a repeat section, but I'm a bit nervous about what will happen if labour starts early again. As there is no medical reason for a section this time, are they likely to press me to try for a natural delivery? I'm fairly confident about asserting myself, but obviously (necessarily and reasonably!) I would be a lower priority than any real emergency cases. I'm particularly nervous about them dragging their heels to the point where it's too late for a section.

Has anyone had any experience going into labour ahead of an ELCS date that was oblt booked for preference, and not medical reasons?

I went into labour ahead of my second having had an emcs with dc1.

I got to hospital, had a bit of argument because they wanted to break my waters and see what happened. I asked to speak to a doctor, they produced one and they said okay but that I wasn't high priority as baby was fine and so was I. They delivered her about 3 hours later when I was 6 cms (at 6am). Obviously if the hospital had been really busy things could have been different.

Same here! I had a section at 38.3 last year as DS was getting a bit big so after a 3 day failed induction I had the section, I chose an ELCS this time and it's booked for 39.1 and getting nervous about starting naturally, before the section I wasn't scared of a natural birth but really nervous now! They said to me if I start they will try to go ahead with the section but can't guarantee it and that if I start dilating quickly they will want me to go ahead with natural. I'm 34.4 now

This happened to my friend - emcs with her first, booked elcs with her second but went into labour before the date. She laboured for hours before they decided she needed an emcs again!

I'm terrified of this happening to me - I'm 19w now but consultant has agreed to a cs at 39w. Hoping and praying baby doesn't budge before then (I tore badly with my first and so scared of it happening again and ending up incontinent!!!).

Ugh. Really hoping this one doesn't come early! I'm prepared to argue the toss, but you're sort of at the mercy of circumstances - and the mood of whoever you happen to speak to when you rock up! Hopefully the fact this one isn't breech and I'm finishing work early will mean she stays put!

Slightly different situation for a couple of reasons (twins, first successful pregnancy, really old for FTM, low placenta - possibly praevia) but I’m going through this pregnancy as a planned section between 36-37 weeks - if they can get me that far!!

In one discussion the Dr asked what I wanted to do if I went into labour before planned section date (this was before they discovered the placental position) and agreed that it would be best still to plan for section, although he said the midwives on duty ‘might’ try to persuade me to try labouring for a few hours and ‘see what happens’ but I could refuse; and that they would only deviate from this plan if I arrived already extremely dilated (+8cms) making it more unsafe to proceed with surgery or if labour was progressing too rapidly once there.

I would have a discussion with the hospital about what they would do in similar circumstances and ask for your preferences to be documented in a similar way especially if they’ve already agreed to ELCS based on previously medically required section.

I'll definitely get my midwife to write in my notes that I still want the section if I go into labour early Remember, that's a good suggestion. I think I'm starting to make myself overly anxious thinking about it now! Which is daft, because it would never have occurred to me to ask for a section the first time without medical reason. But having had a good one, I don't want to risk a scary uncontrolled situation and birth injuries when they're already at least prepared to offer me a repeat section!

It just worries me that I can confidently refuse any treatment I don't want - but I can't demand treatment. That's up to them!