Previous C-Section - Post Due Date

[missingmargarita]

I had my booking in appointment with the midwife this morning, and she said that as I had an EMCS with my dd, I wouldn't be allowed to go over my due date by more than a couple of days this time.

Since I have a history of going significantly over my due date, does that mean I am unlikely to be able to have a VBAC?

Does any one have experience with this? How long did they let you go over after a previous C-Section?

Thanks in advance!

You can go over for how many days as you want. Your body = your decision! No one can force you to come into hospital, can they?

I had my DS1 via EMCS, he was a week late (although labour started at 40+5). With DS2 I tried for a VBAC - problem was they had my dates wrong, making me a week further along than I actually was. So yes, they tried to push for induction/repeat section once I went past "their" due date, but I politely declined pointing out the due date error and due to the fact that induction massively reduces the chances of a successful VBAC. Consultant wasn't happy of course, and it wasn't easy to fight them off, but I finally went into labour on my own at 41+2 (bear in mind, according to hospital due date this was 42+2!). Ended up another EMCS but at least I'd given myself the best chances!

DS3 was born via ELCS, and as the others had been late I didn't want to evict him too early. Hospital policy is ELCS at 39w, but I asked to have it at 40w. No problem!

I think as long as you're informed, know what you want and make a good case, there's nothing to stop you from achieving just that.

No experience, but watching with interest as I've been told the same thing as you - due to previous CS, my hospital will only let me get to 41 weeks before putting me under pressure to have another section.

GreatJoanUmber - You are a star. You have made me feel so much better. I was really starting to get quite upset, but you are right, it is my body and I should have the right to decide.

As in your case, I truly believe the only reason I had to have an EMCS with my dd was because they got my dates wrong by a week, and then tried to induce me when I wasn't ready.

I've always thought that I should have stood up more for myself at the time, but it's so difficult when they are getting in a panic about you being so over.

She was eventually born at 42+5 based on their dates, but on my dates, I'm sure she was only 41+5, at which point they wouldn't have even started the induction process yet if they had listened to me.

You have truly given me the confidence to stand up for myself. That was the conclusion I was starting to come to, but to know that others have been there and made the same decision gives me so much more confidence that I will be doing the right thing.

I will of course be happy to go with what they suggest if it is based on true medical reasoning, but I do feel at the moment that all the panic about these artificially created due dates is now at danger of taking me down the path I ended up on with my daughter, and that's just not a path I want to take.

Everything ended up fine in the end, but I just felt I lost all control and ended up at the mercy of medical professionals who thought they knew best.

Thank you so much for all your help and advice!

My SIL was told that you can't be induced after a CS so if she went 10 days over she would need another CS.