C-sections?

[waitingimpatiently]

Is there any way of avoiding them, or at least reducing the risk of possibly having to have one? I really don't want to be cut open.
Thanks.

Hi waitingimpatiently. I really don't think there's any way of avoiding one if you have to have one. For example, I followed all the advice for perennial massage and tbh, most of the advice given me during pregnancy but when the time came I didn't dilate. Which obviously meant that there was no way DS1 was putting in an appearance that way I had an emergency c-section which produced a lovely healthy DS. Without that c-section we wouldn't be here.

When I was pregnant with DS2 I was quite prepared for having another c-section but I went into labour and 10 hours later out he popped - no c-section, no intervention of any kind. I'm still at a loss to understand how it happened

Congratulations btw and try not to wind yourself up too much, it might not be something you ever have to consider

Don't forget, there is more than one way of being cut open. I tore badly in my first labour and ended up pleading for an episiotomy because I could feel I was going to tear again- so I had two lots of scars in the most sensitive part of my body.

In my second labour, I could have hugged the person who regretfully announced that a caesarian would be the safest option: a small cut on the stomach was a doddle compared to what I went through the first time.

It depends what the reason for the c-section is really. I am currently dreading having to have one for dc3 because it is still breech at 36+2, but am trying various methods to get the baby to turn to try to prevent it (moxibustion, hanging upside down off sofa, seeing consultant tomorrow to ask for ecv).

With dc2 I tried to avoid one (and succeeded) by not rushing ahead with all of the steps of the induction that the hospital wanted to proceed with, as having the drip before I had dilated, for example, would have greatly increased the risk of things ending up that way.

Not a lot that you can do if the baby becomes distressed in labour and an em c-sec is required though.