Once a c-section, always a c-section?

[clucks]

I had an awful time with my first delivery as contractions would be intense and then disappeaar completely and come back erratically, this went on for 4 days after what was my waters breaking but midwives mistook for show. Anyway, foetal distress was detected and I had an emergency c-section. The baby was covered in meconium and did not have a very high agpar score. The whole thing was awful, the recovery the worst part of it. I had visions of being an earth mother and delivering naturally etc. etc.

This has left me wondering if I am anatomically unsuited to natural delivery (pregnancy was a sail). Should I try again or plan a c-section or even bother with a 2nd child. I would be grateful for any advice. I feel a bit selfish planning my family around an unwanted abdominal wound. Anyone else with similar experiences?

[clucks]

Sofia

I will ask for your email if that's OK. Being a role model and that, I have already searched for your postings and got 3-4. I'm booked in at Kingston, I suspect they are keen on c/s because rates are not low. It may be the top totty from Richmond who don't want to go private.

Mears

Yesterday, a midwife friend told me a ghastly private consultant story... she was looking after a lady of 38 labouring and progressing OK, consultant comes over and ignores that 6 cm dilated, says too slow, must have c/s. The horrendous part is that my friend says she is certain he pushed the baby's head back up. She was so upset she was in tears but refuses to whistleblow. Is this possible, can you push the baby back up so that you can go home for your dinner than hang around for progress. Is friend just being hysterical? I am aghast... hope it's not true.

[pupuce]

I have seen a consultant push back up a baby (mum fully dilated but they hadn't realised it because they forgot to check!.... which I think smells of bad if not mal practice!) ... but yes it can happen

[baggie]

Hello Clucks
I had a pretty awful time first time round. After 12 hours of induced labour the midwife told me to push whilst not fully dialated. This bruised the cervix to such an extent that Baby could not get out. The midwife explained that it was her fault and we had to have an emergency c section. I found it very shocking and had lots of flash backs etc. I was quite nervous with number two but had very laid back midwifes who let me go at my pace. Baby two was born without assistance (I had an epidural) after 9 hours. It was much better and the recovery rate was much quicker. I hope that you will have a much better experience this time. My friend had hypnotherapy prior to labour and envisaged a smooth labour and birth. It was her first baby and she found it very helpful. Worth a try. Best of Luck.

[mears]

I have seen babies needing pushed back up at caesarean where the head was wedged in and could not get through to deliver vaginally. Even when fully dilated, babies sometimes cannot deliver and still a C/S is necessary. There is no doubt that sometimes decision to do a C/S are made too soon by the medical staff. There are also times that, as a midwife I have felt that a C/S should have been done sooner than when the medics decided.
I am not sure about your story clucks. I would hope that this was a very rare occurrence if that was the reason. Sometimes doctors are not good at communicating their decisions. Perhaps the baby had a lot of moulding (bones of the head overiding each other) which is not a good sign at 6cm which might have influenced his decision.

[titchy]

DD was 'pushed back up' , or rather pulled back in from the inside! Dilated to 7cm but got no further so had a cs and she had to be pulled back as she was too low for Dr to deliver.

Afterwards loads of people said 'Oh at least with a caesarian the babies always have such nice shaped heads and pretty faces' then they looked at dd who resembled one of the Tefal men on the advert from years ago.....after ten rounds with Mike Tyson LOL.

I thought she was beautiful though!

[titchy]

Clucks - mine were at Kingston too. Was happy with both deliveries, and very nice, private room for post-op, with own bathroom and tv - luxury!

[clucks]

titchy,

you must be top totty too, might take make-up, I looked really hideous post-op last time.

[titchy]

Clucks - Top totty - I like it! Sadly not true I'm afraid!

[dm2]

sofiaAmes - I noticed that you had your second labour at the Active Birth part of Queen Charlottes. I had my ds by emergency section at our local hospital, if I can get pregnant again I would like to try for a VBAC and Queen Charlottes is the 'other' local hospital.
Would you recommend Queen Charlottes and did you have any problem with the active birth part accepting you for a VBAC?

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[clucks]

Bloss

I have recently searched your postings during your last pregnancy. you poor thing.

I am trying not to worry and I really do appreciate your helpful advice. I am trying to keep an open mind this time and won't kill myself if things don't go as I hope. won't bother with a birth plan, don't even know if anyone read the last one. keep well and thanks

[SofiaAmes]

dm2, I would highly recommend Queen Charlotte''s Active Birth Centre. It was the head midwife for the Active Birth Centre who really gave me the support to go for a VBAC. You should see her directly when you're ready. She organized everything and spoke to my consultant (a real creep) for me.

[bloss]

Message withdrawn

[Jimjams]

I'm interested in this as I'm currently debating whether or not to have a third child. Both deliveries have been sections. The first followed an induction- which started OK, but I think the junior dr broke my waters too early (everything was kind of progressing nicely- contractions getting stronger etc etc then she broke my waters when I was 1 cm- b*** painful and all hell broke loose- very quickly had stopped walking up and down the corridr and couldn't move). Anyway 18 hours later and less then 2cm dilated I had a section.

My first child's head was 95th centile- 2nd child's showed up as 98th (and was). As the consultant was worried about non-progression being due to the large head he recommended and elective section, which I had. First section wasn't too bad but this was a nightmare- I had very bad adhesions from the first section- bladder and uterus couldn't be separated and are still stuck together. Recovery was hard work! And they messed up ds2's birth- he got too cold and then started grunted so had to spend the first day in an incubator.

So now I'd like a third child- but I'd like to think there may be some chance of VBAC. I have heard of it after 2 sections- but would I have to fight for a trial? Is it really unusual? I assume if I did have a section then scar tissue would be even worse this time (although at least not a surprise to the medical team- so hopefully I wouldn't get a "quick call the consultant" exchange over the operating table (bit worrying as ds2 hadn't been born).

Any views/experience appreciated!

[bundle]

jimjams, sorry you've been through the mill with your births. I've had one c-section so may try for VBAC this time...don't know yet...but I've found articles like this one from
AIMS quite useful in weighing up the pros & cons. I suspect consultants would be reluctant to advise anything other than another c-section if you went for another baby. good luck

[Jimjams]

Thanks for that bundle- useful. Think I may stick at 2 kiddies

[mears]

Jimjams - here is another site of interest. Out of 1,586 women having 2 C/S, 76% had a vaginal delivery. There are figures quoted for women having 3 C/S as well.
The site is here

[mears]

Sorry - didn't work. It is www.vbac.com/

[Jimjams]

thanks mears- now i might go for another one. still have horrors about the placneta getting stuck and needing a hysterectomy!! How would they even do that when my bladder is stuck to the uterus???? yuck!

[ROBERTnCOURTNEYSmum]

My first was a csection due to her being breech my son was 2 mths prem and born entirely natrually not even gas and air.
So no not always do you have to have a section it depends on you I guess and your circumstances.

[clucks]

Well, here goes, I delivered a baby boy on Friday morning by c-section, unplanned but not exactly an emergency, a completely different experience to my emergency c-section and overall I have been hopping around feeling well. DS2 was admitted to neonatal unit for a couple of days and we came home last night. Am very tired as showed off a bit being over-active.

Will post more details on announcement, but you will now find me loitering on breastfeeding threads as getting neurotic about that now.

thanks everyone, good result for me in the end.

[Bekki]

Congratulations Clucks! Who cares how they get into the world as long as they are healthy. Baby boy how wonderful enjoy every minute with him.

[Tinker]

Congratulations clucks April has been a busy month (or was it July 2002? )

[bells2]

Well done Clucks!. Glad you're all home

[LucieB]

A friend of mine had an emergency c-section in Feb this year. She has received conflicting advice re when she can start planning on her second child. Is the two year wait she has been told, two years till the next birth or till she gets pg again?