First time LARGE mum, LARGE baby, C section likely - terrified!

[DoesntChristmasDragOn]

Another thread with no initial post!

the thing to remember as well artyjoe is that with a midwife you like and trust even a hospital birth will be really magical.so,if things didn't go the way you want them,if you have his support it can still be great.dyswim?
don't bank on the raspberry leaf tea !! i took them religiously and ds2 wasstill ten days late!!!

just noticed that you know you are having a girl.have you chosen a name yet?

Hi, I was 38 weeks pg with dd and was scanned as it was thought that the baby was v. large. They estimated taht she would be around 10lbs. I was examined by consultant who said that the combination of my pelvis and a large baby could result in the baby's shoulder getting stuck and displacing. The thought of a labour followed by complications and an emergency c section terrified me and when a elective c section was recommended, we took that option.It was just as well because dd was 10lbs 13oz! Everything was fine - I was (and still am) a large girl and with a bit of help in the first 24-48 hours, I was managing well. I healed quite quickly and 5 days after was taking dd in her pram for long walks into town. This worked for me but you must do whatever you feel is the right thing to do. Good luck

Hi Alexsmum

Unfortunately he is a community midwife so won't be on the labour ward if i go into hospital, but hopefully the homebirth will work!

As I was told 9 years ago that I would never be able to have children we have decided to call our little girl Faith After this pregnancy if we have another she'll be called bloody lucky!!!

hi artyjoe, only just caught up with this.

aloha is right - i'm a size 14 and had dd at home 4.5m ago. she was 10lb 8oz. had a pretty easy labour and a miniscule tear which didn't require stitches.

having skimmed this thread, i agree with others who say that just because you are a certain size or the baby is big, that doesn't automatically mean you need a c section. from what i've read (and experienced!) it is not the size so much as the position of the baby that makes the difference to your labour. my first baby was over a pound lighter but the labour was a lot worse because he was OP.

i hope these comments have reassured you somewhat and that you feel able to try the birth you want.

ds2 was delivered in hospital by my community midwife.they just called her in.but anyway, i'm sure the homebirth will be great.lovely name!
when we preg with ds1 after2 years of trying we thoughtm of the name Hope...similar sentiment!
9 years..wow.you must be delighted!

I'm about yout size had elective cs because of gestational diabetes anbd large baby. He was 10lb 9oz and needed forceps! It was really fine and I was walking easily and out and about pretty quickly. Went on a bus on my own when he was 2 weeks old. 2 friends who were much slimmer had emergency c sections and said they had problem walking with discomfort which I never did. Despite my size I am pretty fit though but then so was one of my slimmer friends.

artyjoe, I don't know anything about the weight of the woman but a good friend's wife of my dh's has had two children. The first (wait for it) was 11lb 3 and the second around 11lb 10. She delivered both at home, vaginally. She is not massive but her husband is tall. I think she was offered ceasareans but had a fantastic, supportive midwife and a fairly slow labour which helped to stretch everything into place. There were no problems with the births at all (both babies were long and thin - in fact, my first who was only 7lb 10 had a larger head than her first!).

I really think a lot depends on the midwife/obstetrician and what you feel. I would be tempted to go with your gut feeling or speak to another senior midwife to get her opinion.

Artyjoe
well done letting your midwife know how you feel. good luck with your home delivery..let us know how you get on...Tattie

Hi ArtyJoe, just read this thread and was interested as I had two C-Sections. My first baby was breech and second normal but I chose an elective C-Section.

I remember being soooo scared in the hospital lift at 6am for my first. A midwife came into the lift and knew I was in for an elective C-Section cos of the time I was being admitted and aked me how I was feeling. I told her I was terrified (I was as white as a sheet) and she told me to only think of the baby. That's exactly what I did and I can only describe this as a very positive experience. The whole thing was wonderful. I just lay there waiting to meet my baby. When I was preg with my second,I watched the video of the first op one week before the second op date to see if I would get butterflies. I didn't. And I skipped into hospital at 6am for the second baby. Again, another wonderful C-Section. Not terrifying at all. The day after, the catheter was removed (feels like a tampon) and I got out of bed. Felt like I had been doing abdominal exercies and a bit tender.

What I am trying to say is, if you do have a C-Section, please don't be so scared of it. It's the emergency ones which are unpleasant (if unpleasant at all) not the elective ones. I noticed on one of your postings that you have SPD. I think whether you have a large baby or not, Consultants prefer to do C-Sections with that condition. Are you in any pain?

Hi chicpea, the consultant is now saying to wait for yet another scan as he now doesn't think I should have a c section...i got the distinct impression last time I met with him that he had just come from a budget review! In the meantime I am planning for a home birth now until they tell me different. He tried telling me that the last scan I had, which was off the chart, was 'probably' just a blip and he really doesn't take SPD seriously at all, or my other gynae problems relating to my cervix...he also told me that no one would believe my cervix was giving me pain so I'd get no pain relief for the first stages of labour...as you can imagine, I'm not amused.

I'm currently measuring 49 weeks and I'm actually 37 weeks..but if they say I can have a vaginal birth in the hospital then I'll bloody well have one at home rather than let him terrorise me as he has for the last 6 weeks.

I'm still secretly hoping for a New Years Eve home birth, but then this is probably just wishful thinking!

Had the final growth scan today (am 38 weeks) which put the baby at 8.5 pounds but the head circumferance at 36.5 cms...higher than the 95% charts, so still have no idea whether a C section is likely...the consultant will tell me tomorrow no doubt.

Fingers crossed a decision is made soon as I'm beginning to fear a home birth again due to the head size

Frankly I think I would be more scared of a vaginal birth with measurements like that!!! Honestly, as a veteran of two C-Sections, I wouldn't be worried about it. It can be a pleasant and peaceful experience and the certainty of timing and just seeing your perfect baby emerge is great. Good Luck whatever happens....

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Happymumof2, that's made me feel much better about trying a natural birth, I'm 5'4 so not as petite as you...looks terrifying when you put it together on a tape measure though!

hi I am 5ft 6" and my little boy weighed 9lb 10 oz his shoulders got stuck but only for a short time. I am due on 15th Jan and it is another large baby soam hoping they don't let me go over this time. Last time 10 days over and was induced. Had epidural last time and have opted for one this time was offered the choice of c.section but am a coward and hate having to spend time in hospital.

Definitely having a c section tomorrow but can't get certain questions answered to prepare me...

1. Will I still need maternity pads (assuming so but wanted to check)
2. Will I be up and about enough to change nappies and babygrows?
3. Will hospital sterilise bottles etc and give me the formula I want?
4. Will the stay be 3 or 5 days (st peters hospital)
5. Will baby be sleepy/dopey or alert?
6. Can I have a bath the next day?
7. Will I be able to pick up baby unaided?
8. (totally vain question!) Can I wear makeup!!!

Any advice would be great, can't get anyone to talk to me at the hospital until the morning I go in which feels too late.

Thanks - Joe

1. Will I still need maternity pads (assuming so but wanted to check) Yes
2. Will I be up and about enough to change nappies and babygrows? Not sure, probably not immediately
3. Will hospital sterilise bottles etc and give me the formula I want? Usually have pre- sterilised bottles and teats but may not have a particular formula available

Definitely having a c section tomorrow but can't get certain questions answered to prepare me...

1. Will I still need maternity pads (assuming so but wanted to check) - You will need pads. I hated maternity pads (like bricks!) and used night strength normal pads with wings
2. Will I be up and about enough to change nappies and babygrows? - I was - I think (!) but happy to let dh do nappies too. I dressed ds. Actually I dressed him in the recovery room about an hour or two after the surgery - it's all coming back now! I wanted him to have skin to skin before then and just bundled him under my gown and a blanket. Lovely.
3. Will hospital sterilise bottles etc and give me the formula I want? My experience was of pre-sterilised little plastic bottles and teats - disposable ones, and the formula that the hospital uses. It's all pretty much the same though, really.
4. Will the stay be 3 or 5 days (st peters hospital) Don't know about your hospital but usually you will stay between 3-5 days depending on how you and your baby are. Often women go home earlier esp with second babies, but you may not want to.
5. Will baby be sleepy/dopey or alert? Depends on the baby!! No rules here.
6. Can I have a bath the next day? No, iirc, normally showers are advised for a few days until your stitches come out. I just washed down until I got home, tbh.
7. Will I be able to pick up baby unaided? I could. In fact I was holding him within five minutes of his birth or therabouts, had him all to myself in recovery and carried him (in bed) back to my room.
8. (totally vain question!) Can I wear makeup!!! For the procedure? They said no (so they can see if you suddenly go white as a sheet, for example), but I sneaked on a bit of lipgloss and mascara - after all, eyelashes don't go white! I'm vain too. You can't have coloured nail varnish or jewellery either so don't take anything precious in with you.

It WILL hurt a bit afterwards, so don't be at all shy about asking for painkillers. Also sitting up can be tricky - you'll need to hoist yourself up using your arms. I had an excellent electronic bed so I could sit up at the press of a button, but that's a private room for you!

Oh, and good luck! It's so lovely to see your baby for the first time.

How exciting!!!

Agree with the answers but wanted to add that a good tip I had was to put a maternity pad against the scar so that it provides extra padding when you are holding your baby.

I got thrown out on the Sunday morning after DD was born Friday lunchtime. She was my second baby though (still felt a bit early!).

IME you have to have a shower but there are usually plastic chairs in the shower so you can sit if you want to. I felt very dizzy when I had my first shower so it's a good idea. I am a bit of a fainter too so I only showered when someone was visiting just in case I passed out! The two hospitals I was in no one would have noticed.

Do ask questions of the staff at any time. I found the delivery staff were really helpful.

Have a lovely day. My DD's birth was one of the best days of my life (DS's 'natural birth' was traumatic) - just wonderful.

I must admit I'm very frightened of the scar as I'm big anyway and the baby sat exceptionally low for a long time and has now left a large piece of skin flapping and hanging below my pubic bone - gross I know but I'm worried that this skin will sit over exactly where the cut is...do you think they'll cut it off or is that wishful thinking

Maternity pad is a good tip, and I'll definitely be using mascara and lipgloss!

With regards to the pain I've been in so much due to SPD and both kneecaps 'going' the last two weeks, swollen legs, toes and ankles that I'm actually looking forward to getting a huge amount of drugs in my system

Hi, just to let you know you will def. need pads, after the surgery you will have a catheter until the next day and also a drip in place.

I got up the next day with help from DH with the idea of going for a wash. I walked behind him with my hands on his shoulders dragging my drip with me. To be honest I didn't feel at all well when we got there (quite dizzy) so we turned round and came back.

I came home after 4 nights for my second section and didn't feel well enough before then. Don't expect to be running around straight after. It's a major op. don't forget.

Don't forget to take BIG knickers for the pads, I also took ear plugs to help me sleep at night (you'll hear the baby, don't worry). They are handy as they'll stop you waking when everyone else's baby cries.

I took my own pillow in for comfort. Take some drinks and snacks and make sure your visitors bring food with them. My Mum was really cross when all they offered me was a curled up corned beef sandwich.

You may want to shave yourself before you go in too (not completely bald but just the top bit).

Ask them not to put the catheter in until you've had the epidural.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

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