are they likely to allow me to have a c-section?

[olivo]

i am only early days pg (9 wks) but today was chatting with my dr and said i was hoping to have a c-section. she has made me doubt whether they will allow me to. she says i should mention it at my first hosp appt then leave it and see. I had a traumatic birth with dd, she was op, i had a failed ventouse, and ended up with an em c-sec. dd was in a very bad way, not breathing for some time, had swallowed a lot of meconium so in scbu for a week but remarkably and thankfully, no long lasting effects. When i went through my notes with the mw, she implied that i could either have natural or cs in the future.

are they likely to go back on this? I'm now terrified.

I had a traumatic 1st birth i was 16 and was induced at 40+7 but it didnt work so was induced again 40+9 i was in slow all day until finally at 10.30pm i started getting strong painful contractions this went on until at 2pm next day i was given an epidural because g+a wasnt helping and i felt i couldnt cope with the pain after an hr and a half my ds still didnt want to come out and started getting distressed they thought he had the cord around his neck so i was sent for an emerg c-section and he was born at 4.30pm when i was 40+10

When pregnant on DD1 i was asked what kind of birth i wanted to which i replied i want to try for a natural but if i go overdue i dont want to be induced and would rather have a c-section i ended up having an elective c-sec at 40+5

On DD2 i didnt really have a choice as i had eclampsia and had an emerg c-section at 36wks

I never felt any negativity off the doctor or midwife when pregnant with DD1 and was glad to have been given the option

I also read the Green Top report and it did push me towards an elective this time round as I plan to have no more children. I have an elective booked for 39+3 in a weeks time, at first they wanted me to go to 41 weeks but I pushed back and got 39 weeks decided last week (took my DH with me - a tip from my MW). It seems in my hospital it really depends on your consultant they push VBAC until the last minute - I went armed with the Green Top report as I have lots of factors where VBAC unlikely to be successful - small stature, previous shoulder dystocia, male baby, I'm nearly 40, no previous VB. The consultant didn't argue back. You are entitiled to a second opinion if the first consultant refuses. Just be prepared that you may not have a decision until 37/38 weeks.

However I had 24 hours of cramping this weekend - luckily its gone, hoping to cross my legs for another week!

Hope your MW is more supportive than your GP. Agree with lulu that you need to talk through your previous birth but if you want to do that and still want a CS at the end then that's what needs to happen
at "oh, dont you want to experience giving birth" do people really think this? If you have or have had children than you've given birth! Idiots!

Can really sympathise olivo, have had a very similar experience to you. traumatic birth with ds 5 years ago, and was very anxious about facing all that again.

this time round the team they gave me a less than 50/50 chance of having an uncomplicated vbac, and were all fine about me having an elective cs - it was me that i had to argue with, thought i was taking the easy way out. true that without cs with ds, we both would have died (when i think of these women in rural 3rd world, days away from hospital or medical intervention...). but the obstetrician had to persuade me that i wasn't 'copping out' by choosing elective cs this time. anecdotally amongst my friends, most who had emerg cs 1st time ended up with one 2nd time if they went for vbac, but not sure if this is borne out statistically.

best decision i ever made - arrived at hospital at 7.30am and she was out by 10, healthy and beautiful. now i have 2 lovely kids, and nothing will ever make me do that again!

Good luck!

thanks for these new messages. interesting to see the info about being safer for 'final' baby.

Have an appt with my consultant tomorrow to broach the subject so hopefully, i'll have a clearer idea by then. The midwife at my booking in was really helpful and has arranged this as an extra appt, having scanned my previous birth notes.
I will report back!

Just seen your thread. I had an emcs first time round. And a lovely planned cs second time. Stick to what feels best to you. Good luck tomorrow.

just to report back, had long discussions today and ultimately, it looks like it will be my decision nearer the time. it was very helpful to talk about the previous birth though, and to hear that there were many things that did go right, and other things i had no control over.

I will have an appt and scan at 36 weeks and a decision will be made from there. this has at least stopped me worrying for the next 20 weeks!
many thanks for everyone's input, you gave me the impetus to say how i felt and that has really helped.

no it is your choice whether you have a vbac or another cs.
most hospitals make you fight for a vbac as they are too medicalised so you shouldbe fine

hi i trying to get preg again and i c section with my first pregancy i had twins. i want to choice one second time around am wondering if anyone can tell me is it my choice.