Birth choices and returning to work

[ImBoredAgain]

I know plans often go out the window but I’m now 34 weeks (I know I’ve left it late)

Since the start of this pregnancy I haven’t considered any other option than just waiting to go into labour naturally, but in the last few days I have considered elective csection. My main reason is that if I have a section booked in at 39 weeks that gives me 3 weeks longer to recover before having to return to work than if I was to wait for natural labour and be upto two weeks late.

Can I request induction rather than a section and how early? Is that also 38/39 weeks?

I was induced at 37 weeks last time due to preeclampsia but it was very traumatic, 3 days on the drip before he came out in theatre via forceps as I refused emcs, I haemorrhaged badly, ds spent 2 weeks in NICU with sepsis and I didn’t see him until a few days old due to my condition.. so far I have no signs of preeclampsia but as much as I want to avoid a similar birth to last time, I also need to return to work ASAP and considering my options.

Do I have to have a spinal/epidural for csection or can I have general? My lasting back issues from the last epidural really put me off having an epidural again

I’m going to speak to the midwife at my next appointment about induction or csection but just wanted to hear others experiences.

I’m aware that my own and baby’s health are a priority but my situation is complicated at the minute and hoping to only have an absolute maximum of 2 months off, hopefully less.

Ime second births are in no way comparable with firsts. Dd I was in labour at 42 weeks for 17 hours. Pethidine knocked me out. Pushing was almost impossible as I was virtually asleep. Dd didn't feed for about a week properly as so drowsy. We had our own room due to mystery rash caused by the drugs.
Dc 2 arrived in under 3 hours from being asleep and waters breaking to holding a 9'3 huge ds!! No stitches, no drugs.
Have you considered some therapy /midwife discussion regarding the fear you have got from an obvious bloody awful time? Hospital did a thorough chat through with me post emcs with last dc...

Ime second births are in no way comparable with firsts

Totally agree with this. Both my first and second were induced. My first was a 5 day stressful, tiring ordeal, which almost ended in a csection twice. My second was a fantastic experience (albeit excruciating with that bastard drip ). A bit hairy at the end but really positive.

I would speak to your mw to go through your options.

Thanks. That’s reassuring! Definitely going to have a chat about options at my next appointment but it’s only really the last few days I’ve realised that this baby will also have to come out

Why did you refuse emcs?

@isitmethough

Why did you refuse emcs?

I was 18 last time, I was absolutely traumatised by the thought of having a scar, I was terrified of hospitals and doctors and the whole process had been awful, I begged in theatre for them to try once more with forceps which was successful. Their next step was to sedate me and give me a csection as I was literally a screaming crazy person. Looking back I wasn’t thinking rationally at all. This time my phobia of hospitals and all things medical isnt a thing anymore and I’m already booked in for a tummy tuck later in the year so the scar isn’t an issue this time.

They're unlikely to give you a section or induction before 39 weeks, unless it is for a serious medical reason. As you said the health of the baby is most important.

If you don't want to take too much time off work couldnt you work right up until the baby is born, if you had a scheduled date for a section then you could work until that date and then have 2 months off.