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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Anyone had an elective c section at 37 weeks due to medical conditions

46 replies

KaylaBmummy · 21/09/2007 15:23

Hi, I have a c-section booked at 38 weeks due to Hydrophronosis of the kidney and back problems. My GP and midwifes have questioned that due to care at home and extreme pain that it should be earlier possibly 37 weeks and to speak to the consultant again. I have concerns about babies lungs and wellbeing and if they actually do do c-sections that early? can anyone share any experiences or knowledge of this to put my mind at rest as I feel I would rather put up with pain and have the baby safe and well. Any advice please.

OP posts:

TheDuchess · 23/09/2007 23:47

I had a c-section at 37 weeks for medical reasons. DS was fine and weighed a whopping 8 pounds 11, although he did develop jaundice.

I was mobile after a day or so and driving after 3 weeks.

Original poster

KaylaBmummy · 23/09/2007 23:57

EllBell- Thanks for that, OMG it must have been tuff being in hospital for all those weeks. Glad to hear you and DS are doing fine. I will ask about the steriod injections or pills when I see the consultant on thursday. I am 34 weeks now so if he agrees with GP and midwives then I only have 3 weeks to wait till LO arrives, I dont mind not driving just glad to hear the recovery is not to bad and baby is healthy. Thanks again Ellbell

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KristinaM · 23/09/2007 23:58

kayla - they take the catheter out as soon as you are mobile, about 12 hours later i think

the drip even earlier i think

dont worry about the pain - they give you strong meds to take, you dont need to be in pain.honestly, i am the biggest wimp in the world

the biggest hassle IME is not being able to do things, like lift your baby. but all the more oppertunity for your Dh to have a turn, lifting and changing the baby

dal21 · 24/09/2007 12:15

No worries Kyala - hope all goes well. Plus; I was able to lift the baby from the word go....am sure all will be fine. and as others say - 37 weeks is full term, not premature!

Snowhite · 24/09/2007 20:19

Hiya I was very upset about not seeing dd enter the world I begged the consultant to let dp into theatre put they said no. It was a bit strange going to sleep and waking up with a baby ! Dp was waiting outside the theatre and as soon as she was born she was taken to him. I came round in recovery about an hour later I was a bit spaced out when I came round, the first thing I remember was hearing dd crying and she was placed by my side and I was able to feed her I also remember asking the midwife what time will I go to the ward because I wanted to watch footballers wives I think that was the morphine taking effect. I was in hospital for 5 days after the op mainly due to my scar being from my belly button down and not the usual bikini line cut. The only regret I have is that I wish dp had taken pictures as soom as he seen her, the earliest pictures we have of her is when she was about 1 1/2 hours old.

Original poster

KaylaBmummy · 24/09/2007 22:53

Snowwhite - Hiya, I have the same worries but a few ladies on another thread said the same as you and looked at it positively that at the end of it you get a healthy baby and that the birth is only a small part and the begining of a life with your child. They also said the same about the photo's and some had actually asked the anethetist and nurses if they could take a few pics of baby first born and being weighed. So I have made my self a list of things to do and ask and have put the camera on it. DH has promised to be waiting for the baby, so I think all my worries are covered so far. I can only wait now and see what the consultant says on Thursday, hopefully he will agree with other professionals, also if this happens I will have my DH home for nearly two weeks after c-section for help with recovery, if he leaves it at 38 weeks then he is only with me for 6 days. My GP thinks the care afterwards is also very important and to definately mention this! I have had pain again today and feel so grumpy round people, I dont think family and friends understand that its hard being so heavily pregnant and having a nawring toothache pain in your rightside constantly. I dont know if you felt like this but sometimes I just feel like closing the door on the world. Anyway enough of my moaning ha ha. I am so glad you explained everything from start to finish and the good and bad parts. snowwhite you just seem so positive with life and everything you have shared, makes me sound a little bit of a weed . Keep in touch if you can and I will let you know how I get on on Thursday.

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Snowhite · 25/09/2007 21:02

KaylaBmummy, I only sound positive about it now because it was 4 years ago. When I was going through it I felt exactly the same as you infact you sound very positive I just sat and cried all day every day (might have been the hormones as well! ) my only turning point was when they gave me the cs date and that was only when I could see the light at the end of the tunnel so you are not a weed. Just keep thinking it will all be over soon and you will have your lo with you. Good luck at your appointment on Thursday I will be thinking of you.

Original poster

KaylaBmummy · 27/09/2007 21:17

Hiya Snowwhite- Well Saw consultant today and due to another stay in hospital last week with the kidney infection again, he said it would definately be the best option to bring c-section to 37 weeks. I have agreed to do this and I should receive a date by MOnday. I gathered he knows best for me and baby so thought it best to go ahead with it and thanks to all the kind information and your experiences I feel quite calm and prepared. So looks like LO will be with me in three weeks (I cant wait) I saw physio yesturday who fitted me with a fembrace, looks like a white girdle with alot of velcrow, it was quite good today, seemed to support my back well and warmed my kidney, she also thought it best that I get baby born asap. I was thinking of making myself a birth plan even though I am having GA, as as you said dont want to forget things like camera etc and I would like baby in my own romper and hat not the hospital ones if possible. DH is looking releaved today as he just wants pregnancy to end safely and healthy. Hope you and DD are well and I will post again closer to time, as I will probably be badgering you again with questions or worries, do hope you dont mind, Kind regards and thank you so much again

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TripletEm · 27/09/2007 21:30

Just to let you know, due to high blood pressure and some other problems I had to have a c-section booked at 34 weeks,all my babies(had triplets,did you guess by the name?!!)were born very healthy.I know that they can give you an injection a couple of days before your section that will mature your baby's lungs if born early, which they did for me. Only one of my babies had to have a little extra oxygen because of sticky lungs(48 hours and she was fine),but there were no major problems

Original poster

KaylaBmummy · 27/09/2007 21:50

TripletEM - Thanks for that. He said baby was measuring smaller than dates today but was slightly bigger 2 weeks ago, so not sure why that is. OMG Triplets, bet their gorgeous. I do feel a whole lot better about the section since this thread and Snowwhite and all others have been great, but I think it is just a bit of fear of the unknown and how I will feel afterwards. He said today that LO should be around 5lb weight so that sounds quite good. What did you triplets weigh? and how did you find the c-section and recovery? if you dont mind me asking? [smile}

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TripletEm · 28/09/2007 13:01

Do you know what? The worst thing about the c-section was all the worry before hand!! Honestly I know it dosen't feel like it now,but when you get to hospital you will be so caught up in the moment and excited to see your baby you won't even have time to think!! I had to have a G.A. and I was so disappointed,but depending on what sort of hospital staff are with you they are quite fleaxable on how they can make it better for you. Some even offer to film it, and mine let my husband stand in the room next door and watch(Warn partner might be a bit messy!!)through the glass window. I spent most of my pg not worrying about having triplets but having a cath. put in!! So weird,but toatally understandable what everyone worries about!! I can't honestly say that i was in severe pain at all after the birth. I came round, there are people with you who get you comfortable and morphine is the best drug in the world,you'll be happy and pain free, trust me!! i spent two days in bed then i was up and walking about, slowly and a bit uncomfortably, but not major pain. People say it takes at least six weeks to recover,but i think everyone is different and I just got on with things just at a slower pace than normal,and don't worry they'll be lots of mothers there to support you as they will be going through similar experiences,I made a lot of good friends.My babies weighed 3lb 13oz,3lb 7oz and 4lb 5oz, but remember there were three at once!! Not a problem if you want to ask questions even if you think they sound silly,it's better to have peace of mind

dal21 · 28/09/2007 15:13

agree with triplet em. the worse part of my section was fear about having the spinal block go in. nothing else. was absolutely fine!

Original poster

KaylaBmummy · 28/09/2007 16:10

TripletEM and Dal21 - Thanks. I am feeling pretty positive today and hoping to get a date through post by MOnday. C-section will be under a GA so reading through it looks like I will be awake to see LO in about an hour. Did you both have to have a drain, catheter and drip and if yes, how were they and for how long. Did they hurt coming out? . Like you said TripleEm, it is going to be so exciting to finally see LO that I will wonder why I worried. Thanks again for your kind words and reasurrance .

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sparkybabe · 28/09/2007 16:23

I had 3 c-sections (one GA and 2 Spinals) and yes the worst is the fear beforehand. During the proceedure you will be apprehensive, after it you will be a bit sore, but I was out and looking after the other two only 2 days after number 3. No the drips/drains/caths don't hurt coming out. The stitches/staples don't hurt coming out. Just take it easy - no hoovering/driving/picking up heavy things for 6 weeks.

TripletEm · 28/09/2007 18:04

Honestly, you don't feel a thing. They usually attach the catheter and the drip while you are under the G.A so you don't even know about that part and taking them out dosen't hurt at all. Those were the things that I most worried about. You just feel a little tug with the drip(no pain) and belive it or not the catheter actually tickles when it comes out!! Take it from me i am such a wimp when it comes to things like that!! I had stitches that were sort of like beads and all they do is snip one end,snip the other and gently pull them through. walking about with them in is not a problem either and by the time you are mobile they will probably be out anyway, just depends how you feel in yourself about getting up.

dal21 · 28/09/2007 19:09

Kayla -

IV/ Catheter etc were all fine. Catherter inserted after spinal block had been given and didnt feel a thing. That was removed after 24 hours - was a good thing since I was very dehydrated after the op and drank gallons of water. I tell you - after having to get up to go to the loo when pregnant 5 times a night - was bliss to not have to pee for the first night in months. Not remotely painful being removed.

IV remained in for slightly longer as I had needed some anti sickness injected via IV after the op and they wanted to check that i was still ok for a while longer.

My stitches were dissolvable so no feedback on that area. The only other thing that you worry more about than you need to is the removal of the dressing over the wound the day after the op. I was worried that it would really hurt and leave my wound exposed and initially you do feel exposed - but it is a mental thing, not physical, so again - nothing to worry about.

I can honestly say that none of the things i worried about (including trapped wind etc) warranted me worrying about them. Everyone is different and recovers/ reacts differently. So stay relaxed and I guarantee that everything will be ok.

jalopy · 29/09/2007 16:46

I had an elective c-section for medical reasons at 37 weeks exactly. Baby was 9lb 6oz!

Bennj · 30/09/2007 20:19

I had a c-section at 37 weeks due to baby being breech and low platelets.

Midwifes treat a baby born at 37 weeks full term so there shouldn't be any growth problems etc with the baby.

My son weighed 8lbs and very healthy!!

Original poster

KaylaBmummy · 04/10/2007 21:35

THanks for all your positive comments, especially Dal21. I am waiting for a date to come through the post now for the 37 week section, but consultant said it is very busy that week and he is trying to fit me in with another consultant, so hopefully I only have to wait 2 weeks, 3 at the most. Feeling really positive after speaking to you all so again thank you.

OP posts:

jcscot · 05/10/2007 08:59

My baby was born by elective c-section at 37 weeks. There were a few problems (he was born flat and had to have a little help in intensive care with his breathing for the first 48 hours) but, as far as I know, this could have happened whether he had been full-term or not - it's a common risk with a section.

I also had a complications, but these were 'expected', if you like, due to my medical condition.

My son weighed 6lbs 14oz and is a healthy and thriving one year old now.

Good luck!

Snowhite · 17/10/2007 12:48

Hi KaylaBmummy

How are you sorry not been around much lost internet connection for a while all fixed now. Have you got your date yet ?

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