Worried about elective section

[Gangle]

I am 38.5 weeks and booked to have an elective section on Friday when I will be 39 weeks. I had an emergency section for DS, 23 months, due to breech presentation, so was offered a section this time although they did try to push me towards VBAC. Pretty sure an elective section is the right option but as Friday gets closer I am getting more and more nervous and feel guilty for having the section when not in labour. Last time was so much easier as I was in labour and had no choice as DS couldn't be born naturally. A few people have also made comments about how I should try to have this one naturally which has made me feel like I should and that having a section is cheating. I had sort of left it that I would get the section booked in then see what happened as I thought there was a good chance I would do into labour early and, if all went well, end up with a VBAC. Looks like I will last til my section date though and unless I change my mind in the next 48 hours that he will be born that way. Just feels so weird to be effectively picking his birthday. Also, I had a very very good section last time - quick recovery, no problems breastfeeding, but this has made me even more anxious as I keep thinking another section won't be as good as that something will go wrong. Sorry for the rant, just really not sure what to do.

Please don't listen to people who have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to not having a VBAC. They weren't there at your last birth were they, and they are not you so why on earth should they have any input into how you will give birth this time. A section is not cheating, and if you and your doctors are happy with the decision to have an elective, then who cares what anybody else thinks.

I had an elective second time round after a crash section and it was lovely and calm, and my recovery was good.

Obviously you will be nervous, there is no easy way to get a baby out, but trust your instincts, and good luck

Please don't worry, I've had 2 elective CS and they were great, very calm and happy occassions. When DD was lifted out everyone in the theatre gave us a round of applause as I they knew I had 2 boys and would love a girl. It was one of the best moments of my life

The recovery was a doddle too in comparison to ds1 who was a ventouse delivery, lots of stitches and I couldn't move without wincing for a month

After both CS I was up and about within 12 hours, no problems BFing, no pain, I promise it was a doddle.

Good luck

No no no, don't worry and don't listen to ANYONE who makes you feel guilty about how you have your baby. It's your baby and your body and no-one else's business.

I had two elective sections as dd1 was breech and dd2 11 days late and I chose another section over an induction. They were both fabulous births - I watched them both being lifted out and with dd2 in particular had a brilliant view. I would do it over and over, especially the bit straight afterwards when I was lying in the recovery room with my new baby tucked in with me, totally wrapped up in the momenbt.

You will be absolutely fine, recovery for number 2 was much, much easier than for number one (which was fine as well).

Good luck - oh, and don't do what we did and forget a cd for #2 as we were so much more distracted thanks to #1 and ended up having to listen to Elton John and Kiki Dee on the radio when dd2 was born

Don't let them cast shadows on your DC's birth - you have thought through your options, you recovered well from the c-section last time and no reason why this would not happen again.

I am having an elective this time, am 26 weeks pregnant now, after horrific theatre forceps birth with distressed DD and months of very painful slow recovery. I still have a traumatised bladder now 16 months on.

There are many worse things than knowning what day your wee one will arrive! I went 12 days over and did start naturally, but if I hadn't that would've been my induction day anyway so I also 'knew' the likely birthday a week or so before I gave birth.

Hope it goes wonderfully well for you - and that you enjoy the arrival too.

Also meant to say - go with your gut feeling on this. I know of a woman whose baby was stillborn at her VBAC, absolutely fine labour and delivered onto her when they then realised the heart had stopped in the last moments of birth. No reason found.

This may well have happened whatever method she chose for delivery, but if you were thinking an elective were best and then were swayed to a vbac against your instinct and something horrific went wrong I think it would be much harder to live with than if a vbac was YOUR choice to start with.

Hope that's not too scary or depressing to mention, but I would hate you to devalue your instinctive gut feeling on this birth.

Don't worry about what anyone else thinks; the main thing is that your baby arrives safely. I had a gut feeling about having a section (wanted one) which proved to be right. Good luck - hope it goes well for you.

thanks all - feel a lot better after reading your posts. They are cooked at 39 weeks aren't they? Just feels too soon!

They are well and trully cooked at 39.
Please enjoy your section and don't worry about what others say. Your birth not theirs.

I feel weird about 39 weeks too - DD came at 40+12 - but I know that second babies are often a little earlier and a little bigger anyway and I don't think they ususally grow much in the last few weeks as there is no room left!

Tons of research says 39+ is a great stage for them to be in great health. All ready to be woken up and shown the other world!

Loving the positive threads- sucking up the reassurance too

I had my elective at 38 + 2. He was a bouncing 8lb 2oz. Mine was a calm experience too. I was pretty much fine from 4 days. Remember to keep demanding the drugs - I had Voltarol which has a cumulative effect so it's better to keep taking them even if you feel ok.

I had an elective at 39 +5, baby was diagnosed as quite big at 34 weeks and was 10lb 12oz when born, so I was pleased with elective.

1st was emergency section after 30 hours of getting nowhere, sick every 20 mins, on a drip, not dilating enough and generally knackered for days afterwards.

Second was calmer, easier, went home on day 2 (double room but too noisy) and I thoroughly loved having her that way.

My waters broke in the morning of the booked day so she was "cooked" (loving the expression).

Enjoy your experience - don't listen to everyone else. I think we get lulled into thinking everything has to happen in a certain way, it doesn't. What's right for you is right for you.

I had a planned cs following an emergency cs and the op and recovery were so much easier. I was very nervous (ie; crying ) walking to theatre that morning and didn't relax until DD was whipped out crying loudly .

The theatre staff were great and the midwife held my hand while they hooked me up to all the machines and did the spinal block, IMO it was much scarier knowing what was coming than the mad rush of an em cs when you don't get time to think. But afterwards it was less painful and I knew the drill, and was much 'bossier' with the midwives and asked for help more.

All the best for friday.

I have recently had my 3rd baby (2nd elcs) and it was wonderful and beautiful. I held him immediately and was breastfeeding within 20 minutes. I had no pain just tightness and was out and about driving up and down to the school within 2 weeks. Good luck

good luck gangle. I had my elective at 38 and 5, babies were def cooked! It was amazingly calm and serene and went great! I was pushed towards a vb too, but I didn't want to take that risk. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty, it's YOUR choice. I felt a bit odd pickign their birthday and writing it on the calendar, I knwo what you mean!

Having done both a cs def isn't cheating, liek others say, there is no easy way, you jsut have to do what you feel is right. Enjoy it!