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Childbirth

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

Original poster

What is earliest hospital will agree to caesarean

19 replies

BabyboyAug · 30/05/2022 16:18

Hi,
I am currently 28 weeks pregnant and the pregnancy has been extremely difficult from the beginning. I have 2 children already but we have suffered 8 losses. I have been extremely anxious and struggled every day to function.
I have now recently been diagnosed with DVT which leaves me extremely short of breath, in pain and uncomfortable constantly and I get the impression not much will improve before my due date in terms of breathlessness and swollen legs.
Due to already being high risk (before my DVT diagnosis) my consultant had agreed to a caesarean at 39 weeks (I had both my children naturally at 41 and induced at 36+3 but I mentally can’t handle the thought of a labour potentially going wrong with the trauma of our losses so I asked for a c section).
My question is, has anyone been given a caesarean earlier than 39 weeks for similar reasons? Because I really can’t handle another 11 weeks of this I’m barely functioning and making it through each day and I’m scared of going into natural labour and potentially needing an emergency c section (I almost needed one with my youngest) as I’m on blood thinners for the DVT.
I am incredibly anxious and negative and have been for months my mental health has never ever been like this I just need my baby boy out where I can see he is ok and I need my body back to normal because it’s like its falling apart after so many pregnancies, numerous surgeries, hormones, injections, dozens of courses of antibiotics and more.

OP posts:
Garman · 31/05/2022 11:56

The very earliest they'd be likely to agree to for non urgent medical issues with the baby or you would be 37th week. The baby will benefit so much from the last important weeks and days of lung and general development.

Johnnysgirl · 31/05/2022 11:58

It's 39 weeks unless medically indicated otherwise, I'm afraid.

MeanMrMustardSeed · 31/05/2022 12:00

I had multiple very heavy bleeds and was in and out of hospital but they wouldn’t consider a planned birth until 37 weeks. I did have an emergency section at 36w6d in the end. The hospital were brilliant. It’s a lot to do with lung development.

If they feel everything else is okay then they don’t like to go before 39 weeks.

Pepperama · 31/05/2022 12:06

39 weeks without complications. I had placenta issues and had to have it at 37 weeks but it wasn’t ideal for baby. He wasn’t quite ready to feed and regulate as well as if he’d had the extra couple of weeks

Rrrunrunrunrunrun · 31/05/2022 12:11

I am 28 weeks too. My consultant wants to deliver at 37 weeks due to my anxiety (dd1 was born very ill and died a year later).

LittleFeet178 · 31/05/2022 12:12

39 weeks is the preference due to lung development and they'll try to avoid doing it before 37 weeks if at all possible. That said, if your health is at stake and they think it would be better for both you and the baby to do it earlier than that then they will. Good luck x

LittleFeet178 · 31/05/2022 12:13

Also of it's helpful I had DC1 by c section at 37 weeks because my waters broke before the booked date. Lung function was fine and no other ill effects

littlemissalwaystired · 31/05/2022 12:20

37 weeks is full term but there's a difference between vaginal and caesarean birth before 39 weeks. Babies born

YouWhatLove · 31/05/2022 12:32

I had my cs at 36 and 4 days but my surgeon had to apply to be allowed to do this via the GMC.

rainbowplease · 31/05/2022 12:38

I had one bang on 38 weeks. They give steroids to help the lungs.

YouWhatLove · 31/05/2022 12:58

What was the weight of your child born at 36+3 and did they require much assistance after birth? When I had my early c section approved the main reason my surgeon was happy to go ahead was that dc1 was born at 36+5 at 7lbs and we were well enough to be discharged 8 hours later. There were concerns I would once again go into labour early, confirmed by my scans showing he was big and healthy at 24 weeks, yet if I didn’t have a c section it was highly likely I’d haemorrhage. My first was born within 20 minutes of my first contraction so I was terrified of being more that half a mile from the hospital (I lived 20 miles away so not ideal!)

Original poster
BabyboyAug · 31/05/2022 14:05

Thanks everyone.
My youngest who I was induced early at 36+3 with was 7lb and absolutely fine no issues at all (I don’t even remember having the steroids tbh but it was chaos so it’s very possible I just can’t remember as it was a blur) they offered to let us out the same day but I opted to stay in for a night as I was exhausted after a bad labour.
I just feel as whenever I broach it with my consultant I get fobbed off and it’s 39 weeks but my body can’t take much more the thought of going another 11 weeks majorly panics me, will bad anxiety be enough for them to consider 37/38 weeks do you think? My children need their mum back because Iv been a mess since December 😢

OP posts:
LittleFeet178 · 31/05/2022 14:41

Can you ask to be referred to the perinatal mental health team at your next appointment?

WorryMcGee · 31/05/2022 14:56

I had one at 38+6 because of my extreme fear of childbirth - I was petrified of going into labour. The closer it got to 37 weeks the more anxious I got and the MH team did say they could arrange for it to be done at 37 weeks if I really couldn’t cope. I wanted to keep her in as long as I could cope with though so we went for 38+6 as I was convinced she’d come at 39…

Good luck ❤️

Original poster
BabyboyAug · 31/05/2022 15:42

I have been thanks but it’s not been much help, I have counselling currently but I don’t think much could help at this stage to be honest my anxiety is that bad I’m surprised I still have a job. I have completely convinced myself there’s something wrong with the baby and just can’t seem to accept otherwise. Iv had all extra tests because we are high risk for certain abnormalities which have all came back ok but until he’s here and I can see him and know he’s ok I don’t think any amount of expert reassurance or counselling will help me trust things will be ok. I’ve had some seriously traumatic experiences with previous pregnancies and surgeries and things have been missed by the drs which has left me struggling to trust them, Iv recently moved hospitals in the hope that helps.
i just hope they can see how much I’m suffering because I feel like they’re very dismissive at the minute.

OP posts:
daisy2002 · 31/05/2022 16:30

I've had 3 babies by planned c-sections at 34 weeks but not due to the same issues as you. I'd previously had two grade 3 abruptions. All 3 times I was given steroids but all my babies needed some help with their breathing, only for between 2-4 days.

LemonSwan · 13/06/2022 11:35

Hi OP,

I hope you don’t mind me posting a couple of weeks after.

I had a maternal request c-section for mental health reasons.

They will absolutely not do it before 39 weeks because the baby does not get squished in the same way as in vaginal birth. Their lungs need to be as developed as possible and they need to be as strong as possible because they need to have the strength to clear any liquid/mucus etc. from their airways.

That aside I am really concerned that this is a c-section you may regret and I really wouldn’t want that for you.

I need my body back to normal because it’s like its falling apart after so many pregnancies, numerous surgeries, hormones, injections, dozens of courses of antibiotics and more.

‘I need my body back to normal’ ASAP is really the polar opposite of what a c section will give you. And ‘falling apart’ is literally what your insides feel like.

If you have had a major abdominal surgery or similar before and really do know what your getting yourself in for then I apologise. But after reading your post it didn’t sound that way and I really didn’t want you thinking a c-section is wham bam baby out and body back to normal.

I am 6 weeks into recovery, super super fit prior to this (could lift tonne bags of wet leaves by myself). I have absolutely no idea if or when my body will go back to normal.

Risk of long term pain/ complications is much higher in c section than natural birth.

Saying that I have no regrets. I had a csection to be well rested to reduce the risk of a post partum mental health episode. It succeeded on that front so I can’t complain but I so still think quite often how much easier things would have been if I had a relatively complication free natural labour. And that is as someone who had a text book c section - low risk, could rest as first child, perfect healing, lots of help from partner home as self employed.

I don’t know if natural birth would have been possible for me, this unknown helps me accept the c more ; but you have had 3 natural - in all likelihood you will have a good birth again.

Please talk to the mental health nurses about your anxiety and take time to think through your decision.

I really want you to make the right choice for you.

SinnermanGirl · 13/06/2022 11:43

37 weeks

inthegarden94 · 13/06/2022 11:47

My friend has been told she will be induced at 37 weeks with any future pregnancies due to her loss at 35 weeks - I am sure they will consider your request OP

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