Booked for ELCS next week. Worried about going into labour before then and not having time to get to hospital for cs!

[messylittlemonkey]

Hi

I'm 38+2 with DC2. Had EMCS 4.5 years ago with DD1 and am booked for elective next Tues at 39+3 with DC2.

Thing is, as the time comes closer, I'm getting more and more worried that I won't make it to ELCS date.

My waters broke with DD1 at 39+4, although I had to be induced 24 hours later as labour didn't progress. DD was born by EMCS at 39+5. I don't really feel as though I know what a normal labour process is.

I decided to go for ELCS this time as I didn't want to be worrying about the same thing happening again, but the first slot they had after 39 weeks was at 39+3. They told me to ring if labour starts before then and they will do me a semi elective cs.

As I said, I'm just not sure what labour really feels like if it does start. Obviously if my waters break I'll know, but contraction-wise, I've been having really strong, regular BH since week 30 and sometimes I wonder how I would know the diffference btw those and proper ones.

Sorry for long ramble. I'm just at that point now where I want it all over with, but am also scared witless!

Don't worry. If you go into labour you'll have loads of time to get to hospital.

I had quite strong BH last time from 30 weeks which intensified at time went on. I knew I was in labour as:

• they followed more regular pattern than BH (ie every 10 mins)
• they continued even when I rested
• I had a show & diahorea
• I needed me to breath through them as they were more uncomfortable than BH

It still took me around 2 hours to work out I was actually in labour...

I still had a futher 6 hours (and this was 2nd labour) of procrastinating at home waiting for them to be strong enough to be considered established labour before I went to hospital. Am going to buy some DVD box sets so have something to do this time!

If you are lucky enough to go into labour and its really fast (seems unlikely bearing in mind what happened to you last time) - you'll be so happy it was quick that you will not mind you missed out on your CS.

Messy, I am 38.4 and booked in for an elective section this Friday. Have been worried about the exact same thing and not getting to the hospital on time for a section and wondering what they would do - they also said they would just bring the section forward unless I was in advanced labour and all was going well. I only managed to get booked in this Friday (when I will be 39 weeks exactly) because I asked to be booked in at 34 weeks instead of 36. When I had DS 2 years ago, they booked me in at 36 weeks and there were no slots left until DS's due date so ended up with an emergency section.

I am booked in at 39 plus 5 as other slots booked. DD was induced at 41 weeks, but share your concerns. I am avoiding all the usual birth-inducers - pineapple, sex, hot food, raspberry leaf tea etc (not that they worked last time!)

Thanks for all of your words of wisdom.

It seems nigh on impossible to be booked in at a time which wouldn't lead to worry! Believe it ir not, my ELCS was booked at my 20 week scan (ie 19 weeks ago and 39+3 was the best they could do even then!!)

I too am avoiding birth triggers. Last time I ate about 5 pineapples and had sex the night before my waters went with DD. Keeping legs crossed now!

Good luck to you all! See you on the other side in a few days time.

I'm due a elective at 39+5 (because we're breech, can't be turned and there are other complications) and was told they won't usually do them at my hospital (Shrewsbury) before 39 weeks because they want to be sure the baby's lungs are fully developed.

You're right that they don't tend to book ELCS before 39 weeks without a good reason.

It's just that my waters broke with DD1 at 39+4 so I'm worried that the same thing might happen again. I'm 39 weeks exactly on Saturday and of course they don't do planned cs at the weekend, then they had no free slots next Monday either, so it went to Tues - 39+3!

I was booked for an ELCS at 38 weeks last Feb ( i am diabetic ) and i was really worried about going into labour beforehand and given the fact that i had had three DC's before this section and they were all VB's then i was concerned that it would be pretty quick if it did happen.

Midwives kept telling me that if i thought i was in labour to get to the hospital and that my CS would be brought forward. Of course that is dependent on whether or not i know i am going in to labour i suppose.

I still reckon you will know if you are in early stage labour (hopefully!) so if you are sheduled for a CS then hopefully you will still go forward on that basis.

Good luck to all of you however you deliver

Hi,
I could have written this post OP!
I am currently 35 weeks and booked in for CS at 39+2 due to breech presentation and placenta previa.
I'm panicking about making it till 39 weeks as my first son was born at 34 weeks. Nowt I can do about it tho!