To c/s or not to c/s with a total hip replacement?

[Pipsytwos]

37weeks pregnant with my first child and I had a total hip replacement 9 years ago. All the way through my pregnancy I've been dreaming of the perfect natural waterbirth... but the closer it gets the more reality sinks in. My little one is fully engaged and I've started to loose bits of the mucous plug. I'm also getting god awful back pain and weirdly enough god awful hip pain! I saw a consultant the other day who wanted to book me a c/s but from some emotional desire to give birth naturally I refused. I think I've made a big mistake. I'm not able to have an assisted birth ie forceps, ventouse, epistomy because in my hospital policy I'd have to have my legs in stirrups which isn't physically possible with my hip unfortunately. This means it's either a beautiful natural all-goes-well birth or a c/s. I've heard planned c/s are just as safe as natural birth but emergency ones can be a bit scary! I can honestly say I have no idea if I'll manage naturally, no idea if my hip will dislocate but I do know it's going to really bloomin hurt... do I wait to see if the hip pain outdoes the labour pain and ask for a c/s or do I just get on the phone and book it? Argh!

Advice? :s

I don't think any of us can make the decision for you, but I feel for you and couldn't read and run. I will be having a section with this one (assuming all goes well) as I had a terrible time with DS and ended up with ventouse and 3rd degree tear - bad enough with perfectly healthy body parts!! I just don't feel like I can risk it this time and consultant is happy with that. I guess you just have to weigh up the risks and make your choice.

Sorry if that's not at all helpful!

If I was in your position I would opt for an elcs and not risk any extreme pain and/or damage to yourself, or the stress of an emcs. But then I had an emcs which actually wasn't stressful (if you've hit the G&A by that point you're probably just grinning wildly at everything anyone says to you anyway!) so I am pro-cs if available. If you would like a natural waterbirth then only you know how disappointed you will be if you don't have one, though. Its really a weigh up between disappointment at not having the birth you imagined vs stress of an emcs.

Good luck!

OP, I had to answer as that was me. I have a total hip replacement and had a c/s with both of my children. Years ago my doctor told me that giving birth wasn't an option with a total hip replacement and to be honest I never questioned him, I just did as he said. Obviously it's your decision and only you can make it.
I don't regret c/s as I know it took a little longer to get over the birth but I figured that it was still preferable to dislocating the hip and needing further surgery which would take longer to get over and being on crutches for 6 weeks with a new born didn't appeal! Please also consider if you do have a natural birth and you dislocate your hip etc what does that mean for future surgery on your hip? Good luck with it all whatever you decide to do :-)

Thank you for your responses, I think I am going to go for a c/s. Hopefully they'll just sort it out if I ring on mon. My DH and my Dad sat with me and pointed out some limitations I already have with regard to my hip that I seem to ignore to be honest. It does seem a bit unnecessarily risky when you really think about it. I would hate to have my hip dislocate during the birth and would hate even more to make it sooner that I'll need my next hip replacement.

Hopefully the midwives will be supportive when I call, they were all for a natural birth but they did admit to never having dealt with this complication before :) And I'm really pleased to hear that you all didn't regret your c/s esp lovechocolate it's nice to know that I'm not the only one! :)