Section Booked - Now how Do I stop myself going into Labour?

[sharonE]

Hi!

I have just booked my elective section for when baby is 39 weeks and now I am terrfified I am going to go into labour before hand - I know many ways of how to start labour (castor oil, sex, curry, etc) but are there any old wives tales on how to stop it from happening?

I have 3 weeks to go so any advice on how to keep DD in? I know that dehydration is a cause of prem labour so am drinking loads of water - now won't be able to tell if my waters break!!

Thanks for any advice!

Sharon

I'm not sure you can... most women are desperate to get that baby out by now - hence no wives tales of "keeping them in"

Is this your first baby? Surely if you went into labour, you could be given a section anyway if that's what's agreed? Talk to your midwife.

I wouldn't worry too much. Esp if your first - they rarely come along early.

Hi Snickers!

Thanks for your message - this is my second baby - had my first by elective section and it went so well I want to make sure that I am lucky twice!! DS was born at 39 weeks with no signs of labour so I am hopeful but just want to make sure I don't go into labour, esp after a scare last week when I thought I was!

Cheers

Sharon

There is nothing you can do to stop going into labour. Infact, it is not uncommon for women who are booked for elective section to go into labour the night before the op! If that happens then the section is done earlier. That is true if labour starts at any time if that is the agreed mode of delivery. HTH.

sharonE - if your elective section is because of medical reasons then I am sure that snickers is right and they will take you straight in and give you a section asap. If this is the case I guess you don?t need to worry and just let nature take it?s course either way.
If it is down to personal choice and not for medical safety then I guess it might not be so clear cut and they could well ask you to try for a vaginal birth. If this is the case and you do end up having a normal birth - don?t worry about it, it won?t be the end of the world, believe me. I had a heavy going difficult birth and it didn?t go exactly as planned but it was worth it and I would go through it all again as I have such a wonderful little girl at the end of it all.
Rather than worry too much about when it is going to happen and how, try to enjoy these last few weeks, get lots of sleep and do plenty of girlie relaxation things like long baths and pedicures! (I know that relaxing and not worrying is easier said than done but worth a shot!)
Whatever happens, I hope that you are able to enjoy the next few weeks and not worry too much. Good Luck.

I had a c section booked and had a week to wait it was for medical reasons (breech/Tranverse 10.5lb baby) I was told if I went into labour that I should go in straight away for the section.(went into labour that morning would you belive).So it depends why you are booked in I would call the midwife and ask where you stand.Oh and don't have sex because I know you will be craving it right now.

There is nothing you can do to prevent the onset of labour, however it won't be a problem. My friend had two children by c-section (her choice, due to a horror of labour, not medical reasons). She did go into labour with her second baby and just went into hospital and they performed the section there and then (but not before trying to persuade her to have the baby vaginally, which she declined!). It was all absolutely fine and afterwards she said her brief experience of labour made her even more glad to have had the section but also that it meant she absolutely knew her baby was ready to be born and that was comforting.

I had an elective due to medical reasons. I'd booked the Op for two weeks time at 38 weeks, went home and that evening my my waters broke, phoned the hospital and they said come straight away. They gave me something to stop any contractions (didn't have any) and performed the section the next morning. I think now days you can 'demand' a section and they have to give you one, whether you are in labour or not.

Good Luck