another C section question....

[dinny]

what do you do if you want a section and senior reg tries to dissuade you? can you ask to see the consultant or 2nd opinion?

thanks

You can certainly ask for a 2nd opinion but it may be worth to consider the reason why the registrar refused. Do you really truly need a section? It is major surgery with a hefty recovery time.

My consultant refused me an elective C-S despite giving me 70% chance of needing an emergency one! Listen to the advice but if you are convinced shop around.

I agree about listening to why they are saying no. Sections are OK if you need them, but not great if you dont need them. I've had 2, and it was alright, because they were needed, but I wouldnt have wanted to have one if I didnt have to.

I think she was trying to dissuade me as have had two normal deliveries (except most recent one had an - easily resolved - shoulder dystocia)

I have banged on about this loads - am just in such a flummox about it

Why do you think you will need one this time? I would write it all down and run it past an honest friend to gauge their opinion (ie 'is this persuasive enough') and then request a 2nd opinion. Some consultants are more willing to operate than others.

just generalised fear - and disbelief that I have to go through it again...labour, that is

I don't blame you! I had an emergency c-section this time after a very traumatic and non-productive labour so I will def go for an elective next time but the recovery was also tough.

Some consultants will take fear as a valid reason - maybe ask your midwife which consultant is the most pro-section and then ask to see him/her

oooh, good idea, PPM

I do have another consultant app at 38 weeks, can I ask to not see the same senior reg?

I just don't know what to do - both my labours have been fast and never torn etc, no drugs but I AM more scared this time....suppose my track record means a straighforward birth is quite likely?

Perhaps you could get a referral to psych to address your fear - with your birth record I'd be surprised if a consultant agreed an elective section.

What are you scared of? Pain? Speed of labour? The unknown?

It is probably very likely that your birth will be straight forward

You are perfectly within your rights to request to see someone else (and I think without having to explain why...). The worst thing that can happen is that they also say no, but at least then you've tried and hopefully 2 no's would help to allay your fears a bit too...

MissisBoot - am scared of something going wrong (mainly because ds's shoulders got stuck after his head crowned - shoulder dystocia)

also scared as I think this baby will be at least 9 and a half, ten pounds (going by my other two kids)

and I am scared of labour in general - more transition than contractions...

PPM, yes, that makes sense to me...

Dinny- Ask yourself the opposite question. How would you be feeling if someone told you that you had to have a C-section this time around.

Would you be totally thrilled and feel like all your problems went away? If your answer is yes then totally push for it, and don't stop until you get what you want.

If not, then think of alternatives like demanding an epidural as soon as you get to the hospital.

After all this worrying watch this one be your 6 lb baby and the easiest of them all

I think if you really want one you can have one but they will try and persuade you otherwise.

I have a friend who had a emergency c-sec first time round for failed induction (when induced at 42 weeks) and wanted an elective second time round because she couldn't see how second time round anything would be any different. The first couple of regs she saw told her to go for a VBAC but eventually she just kept saying she wanted an elective c-sec and they agreed and she had one.

That said though, as we've said on the March thread - a section isn't all its cracked up to be especially (I imagine) with older children who need to be places and won't wait for you to be able to drive etc. One of my main reasons for wanting a VBAC (and being stubborn and wanting to see if I can do it).

I thought you'd find me MKG

God, you are so right - think if I was told I had to have section atm I'd think "Er, well I can do this no problem actually"

God, I am a loon

Of course I found you this thread stunk of dinny

Seriously though, you just need to relax and trust your body. Get your mind out of it. You've done this twice before with no pain medication to whoppers of babies, you can do it again.

lol, thought it might have done

actually, dd was a littlie (6.7lb) but only cos she popped out 5 wks early for some reason

I'll reach a point of acceptance some time soon (I hope)

Hi Dinny,

Have you been tested for GD?? 6.7lb at 35wks is massive!!! my nephew was born at 35wks and about 4.2 IIRC, both my girls were 6.8 at 41wk and 39+5 !

Another option would be for you to push a growth scan and then if DC3 is on the larger side then push for an early induction. As this is your third its quite likely that you would labour really well even with an induction.

Oh and FWIW im also now getting really scared about labour !! for me its the whole 3rd babies are unpredicable stuff i keep hearing that scaring the shit out of me.

Hi, TCD

she was 35+5 to be precise....is that massive for that gestation? I think perhaps so, as she was on the top centile iirc

ds was 9.3 at 40+1

tested for GD with ds (neg) and at 28 weeks with this one (neg)

am measuring right for dates (at least I was last week) so they aren't doing growth scan (unless I start measuring big)

Hi Dinny.....was just wondering how you were doing the other day and if you had had your baby yet

chances are you won't see the same registrar next time; I've never seen the same person twice on any of my AN appointments.

I agree that you should find out who your consultant is and what their stance on elective sections is. If you have a fear of childbirth then your concerns should be taken seriously.

Good Luck

actually Dinny ive just had a google and its not big 6lb (ish) is the average for 36 wks according to this.

here

I dont really trust the whole measuring thing though, i just dont get how it work tbh. I mean we are all different shapes sizes ect but yet most women measure within the guide lines i have always measured a week ahead of my dates both with this pg and with the girls, but yet i have only had small babies?? tis probably me LOL i am not much better at getting my head around theses things even without the hormones!!

Personally though i would push for a growth scan, just for the fact that your DS got stuck!!

well enough of my ramblings im off to bed to try and get a better nights kip xx

What position were you in when you had shoulder dystocia?

Size of baby makes little difference as 48% of SD cases have babies who are UNDER 4kg

LackaDAISYcal - hellooooo! no, not yet - 33 weeks today..... how are you and littley? am still here, going on and on about the same thing!

TCD - reg said fundul measurement more accurate than growth scan... (?)

Klaw - I was kneeling on the floor for delivery, leaning forward on a double bed - had spent the rest of labour standing up/walking round

oh so wasn't a lying flat on your back dystocia then....

hhmmmmmm...

Have you done a birth debrief of your
previous birth with a cons mw?

nope, Klaw, which is why I worry - had really good labour, 4 hours, no pain relief, in control etc
reg has arranged a debrief with mw for me - waiting for app

worry it could happen again - I think it was due to ds's size (9.3, not HUGE, but big for me, I think)

it was resolved v fast with McRobert's (are you a mw btw? seem to remember you are...?)

No, I'm a doula

and believe that if you can do a debrief with someone well versed in normal labour and sensitive to women's emotional needs you should be able to come to some sort of peace with previous birth and be able to plan best birth for YOU in circumstances.

I do believe that a normal birth should be doable for you but appreciate the mental health aspect. Would support you in planning a elCS if that was you informed decision, even if I disagree personally.

Think a doula could make a huge difference, maybe I'm biased