Crying at home alone because I'm so scared of a C/S...

[newmomma]

Hi,

I need someone to come and tell me I'm being ridiculous.

Have just had my 31 week appointment with the doctor (I'm 32 weeks tomorrow) and the baby is still head up.

I have until my 34 week appointment for the baby to move (22nd March) - at which point they will start scheduling me in for a caesarean.

I know some people would happily opt for a c/s over a 'natural' delivery - but I'm sat at home in tears because I SO wanted my water birth this time round it hurts. I enjoyed my labour (normal delivery) so much with DS1 that I've been looking forward to having DC2 and this is just spoiling how I feel about the pregnancy at the moment. I'm booked in at a lovely MLU that only has 5 beds and means I can have a water birth, aromatherapy oils, one-to-one midwife care and it all just seems like its slipping away from me.

I'm actually terrified of having a caesarean.

Please someone come and tell me it'll be alright...

Hi there newmomma

I just wanted to tell you that I elected to have caesareans with both my 2 kids and they were amazing experiences.

It was not scary at all and the atmosphere in theatre is so calm and chilled, its over very quickly and it does not hurt whatsoever, you will not feel a thing. You will be sore afterwards but you get offered so many painkillers you won't mind!!

your birth partner can be there with you and see the baby being born (although they put a screen up in fron of your chest so he won't see the actual cut etc) and once you have been stitched up you can hold the baby straight away. and the baby will be passed to your birth partner as soon as possible.

my DP loved the experience and so did I. it was so bonding, he held my hand throughout and both of us were blubbing like big babies!

Oh, and - bonus - with my youngest, we had sex 10 days post delivery as obviously nothing gets affected down below IYKWIM

Thanks holytoast for coming back and telling me how it went. It really doesn't sound like they're all that bad.

Its a shame that it didn't work - but a near 100% rate for the moxibustion is fairly convincing, and must be worth a try. I'll be doing the same after seeing the midwife on Monday - am convinced still that baby has returned to breech position.

When is your c/s booked for?

Best of luck with things over the next two weeks - if you can come back after your LO has arrived and let me know how it all went that would be great!

Superv1xen at ten days post delivery!! You go girl - sex was the LAST thing on my mind with a 10 day old...

But nice to hear about it being a lovely bonding experience for you and DP. I think any birthing experience seem to be like that - my DH was so wonderful last time I think I fell in love with him all over again.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see what Monday brings me!

Good luck, I will know monday if the second attempt (if I do it, in two minds really) at ECV works, and if the moxibustion does anything, will probably be decided one way or the other by then really - c section booked for the 20th of April, so I think better for my peace of mind to try everything, for a good week or so, and then just let it be and concentrate on getting ready for baby.
I am in the situation now where even if baby tuns, I am going to be in hospital anyway for labour, which I didn't want, because of group b strep, so almost more scared of that, and not being able to use water, and then all the possible interventions etc that could happen than actually, than the cs - my brain is totally scrambled at this point! I swing from being ok with the cs, to not, about 10 times a day!
I keep bursting into tears about it, but am hoping once I get it all out of my system I can get on with preparing for the baby to get here and then will feel better.
I think its the not knowing which makes it worse...once you have a bit of certainty then I'm sure it will all be easier too - good luck, hope your little blighter has stayed bum up!

Is this your first baby holytoast?

Try not to worry about being in hospital too much. You can't have interventions unless you approve them beforehand.

I had my DS1 in hospital and LOVED it. The midwife was very hands off - didn't do anything unless I'd approved it, and even then she didn't ask me some questions (e.g. episiotomy) as I had said beforehand that I didn't want one.

I'm assuming you're not allowed the water birth because of strep b? I didn't know that was the case. I've just had a quick read on the internet, and while I don't know the ins and outs of the repercussions of strepb - it does seem that it would be possible for you to push the issue - water birth or even a home birth if you really wanted...

Strep B & homebirth info

Have you tried googling and reading up on the subject a bit?

Anyway chick - I know exactly what you mean about your head feeling messed up; you get so many options and possibilities that it just becomes almost easier to book something firm such as a c/s and then stop stressing about it.

Best of luck on Monday (if you decide to go for it) - come back again and let me know how things are/have been going?

Oh, and I'm waiting on Strep B results too! Because of wanting a vaginal breech delivery rather than the c/s! The did a blood test and nose/mouth swabs? Is that the same for you?

So might go and read up a bit myself...

Newmomma,

Had emegency c section after monster long labour.

Before it al kicked off, everything seemed to be perfect for natural delivery. DD turned at 27 weeks and started engaging and moving down at 36. So I didn't read up on or listen to anything on c sections as I was convinced that I would have my water birth.

However DD was just too large to pop out on her own and after long labour and getting right to the finishing line I was advised to go for the emergency c section which I did.

Must say the actual section was just fine and my DD was out in a jiffy with APGAR scores of 8 and 10 which was excellent.

No issues with BFing or bonding at all!! She was on my chest within 3 mintues of being born and when I held her as they were popping my placenta out (sorry TMI) and stitching me, I talked to her and she instantly recognised my voice and stopped crying and I felt like mummy immediately.

As soon as they were taking DD and DH out to recovery with me to follow, DD was "rooting" and as soon as I got into recovery she was doing the rooting again and she was straight on the boob and latched immediately.

Please don't worry! I had DD at 6am and was up walking by early afternoon. It wasn't sore after and I didn't need pain killers. To be honest after a long labour you're just grateful when the contractions stop.

We were home after 36 hours.

Only small thing for me was that I had been sooooo sure that I was having a natural birth that I was unprepared for how disappointed I felt in myself for not "having managed to do it naturally". Which now, 9 months on seems silly but I was quite upset about it.

Honestly, if you need to have the c section, you'll be just fine. And as you're prepared for the possiblity you'll not feel like I did.

One small thing. I had epidural during labour but they also gave me a spinal block during the section as they felt the epidural wasn't effective enough. If you're offered the choice, take the spinal block only! Have had pain after effects of epidural which hasn't been pleasant and the spinal block is 100% more effective than epidural. So if there's a choice or you can ask, do ask for spinal block!

Wishing you all the best for your birth and your new DC :-))
XXX

I have just jumped in here after reading the first post (running out of door so not time) so excuse me if I am repeating what others' have said.

You still have loads of time for baby to turn. Breech babies at birth are only about 4-5% - so not all that common. The little monkeys can turn right up to the last day! Please relax about that. OK, so a CS may not be what you planned but think of it as an OPTION if you NEED it.

To get things moving, get on all fours (I know, I know, but it does help!) and scrub your kitchen floor (or read a book), sit on a dinner chair backwards (a la Christine Keeler pose).

Where are you based? A HypnoBirth practitioner can work with you. Yes, it does work - on one sesson. I have been doing it for a few years now (Cenrtal London) and it does work - the main thing is that stress does make it worse - the baby needs space to turn and if you are stressed, the muscles are tense! You need to try to relax (easy for me to say, I know!). Go for walks, swim, whatever makes you relax.

Going in for a scan/ECV on Tuesday as baby is breech AGAIN! Been told a c/s is a slight possibility afterwards as baby can sometimes get distressed so back on the rollercoaster...

Feeling a bit nervous but there is so little I can do to change anything now - what will be will be.

I'll let you know how it goes.