Birth Choices Questions - ELCS vs Vaginal

[fr4zzledmum]

I have a birth choices meeting next week to fully have chance to decide which route to go down. For context, baby is measuring HUGE (I know this should be taken with a pinch of salt) and my previous labour went by fine, vaginally, with no birth injury other than a very small labial graze - baby had estimated to be big but was onlt 7lb 10oz. I've been compiling a list of questions to ask about both options - just wondering if anyone thinks I've missed anything:

C Section
• What is the recovery process like?
• Can I pick up my baby during recovery?
• What kind of dressing will I have? (PICO?)
• What kind of pain relief will I have access to, post section?
• How will my milk be affected? After section & with medication.
• How long will I be in hospital for?
• Can I have skin to skin? If not, can husband?
• What kind of stitches will be used?
• What preparation takes place prior to section?
• What's the difference between epidural and spinal? Will my hair colour affect anaesthesia?
• How long can husband stay with me after section?
• Will I have a timeslot for the section or just wait until there is space that day?
• Will baby require any interventions?
• Any long lasting affects to baby after having a section?
• Any alternatives to injectable blood thinners?

Vaginal
• How likely am I to tear considerably with a big baby?
• When should I ask for an epidural?
• Can I not consent to forceps and instead request an EMCS if it comes to it?
• How often are episiotomies done?
• What kind of stitches are used?
• What's the recovery time and process expected for any tears requiring stitches?
• How likely is baby to become stuck if big?
• What are the likely interventions needs if I have an epidural/induction?
• Could I opt for an induction at 39 weeks instead of a section?
• Would I be waiting a while on the ward until an induction slot became available?
• What are the induction process options?
• If induction is unsuccessful, could I have a section or would I be sent home if pre 40 weeks?
• What support is available should I have a significant birth injury?
• Are there statistics on the reliability of growth scans?

Everything I've read varies wildly from trust to trust (policies and attitudes), so not necessarily looking for answers from anyone, just if there's anything further you would ask, given the opportunity.

i think they'll struggle to answer quite a lot of those questions.

If you haven't already seen the labourpains website then that may help answer some of your questions about anaesthesia (the site is run by the Obstetric Anaesthetists Association).

I have three kids and all three of them were really big and I had them all vaginally. My son is the eldest and was the biggest, he weighed 10.4 pounds. I was ten days overdue and they decided to induce me. However, that did not work and the staff was getting ready for cesarean, but my doctor would not allow it. They finally broke my water and that initiated the birth. My doctor cut the opening (so it did not tear), no idea what kind of stitches were done on me but I definitely was stitched. I recovered really well. My girls were both around 9lb and again, natural birth. I did tear a little with the second one and the third one just came right out. 🤣

I did not want the epidural, but if you are considering it you have to agree with it in advance. I hope this helps.

I did not want the epidural, but if you are considering it you have to agree with it in advance.
No you don't (in the UK at least). The only way in which it'd make a big difference to decision making in advance is if you were strongly thinking of having an epidural then there's probably no point in starting off in a midwifery led unit or planning a homebirth. Most of our requests for epidurals just come on the day when the woman feels like she might want it.

This is way too many questions. They probably will not have time to go through each of these. I would condense these to the most important ones.

Questions like 'how likely an I to tear with a big baby?' Is probably impossible to answer and depends on a lot of factors (position of you, position of baby, induction etc)

I would suggest focussing your questions on the ones that are specific to you and that hospital (eg skin to skin), and the rest (eg tearing) do research online.

For what it’s worth, I chose the ELCS in this situation. I felt like I had too many indicators that it would not be a simple vaginal birth, and I was more emotionally able to cope with the certainty of a c section. As it was baby was in a terribly awkward position and natural would have been horrendous!

Everyone is different. DC2 was an unexpectedly large baby, 10lb9. My pushing stage was 14 minutes, I had a second degree tear (same with my first). I think it’s too many questions. I’m not sure you’d get any helpful info. You’ve laboured before: you’ve got this.