Head spinning, from home birth to caesarean....advice\stories

[Firstimefreaked]

I've been measuring in the 95th percentile (fundal) and went in for my 37 week scan to be told she's small 5,06lb and breech they want to induce or caesarean this week! I'm leaning towards caesarean and have started steroids but I'm scared as its early. Just feeling so shocked!

Induce a breech? That's unusual.

C sections are fine. 37-38 weeks is generally fine, with steroids doubly fine. 40 weeks is an average, plenty of babies arrive naturally 38-42 weeks. It'll be ok :)

I certainly wouldn't consent to inducing a breech baby (why are they saying this is ok? I've never heard of such a thing) and I would NEVER consent to a manual turn.

They want to turn than induce X same day no weeks wait. I think it's because she's small and they don't know why and they can't tell if it's the placenta until she's out.

I wouldn't have an ECV so I'd be having the c section. I had a section for a 5lb baby that wasn't growing at 35 weeks, it was a fabulous birth and DS was fine (I'd had steroids). At 37 weeks you baby should be fine, but if there's possible placenta issues I'd want baby out asap.

Op I'm sure you're feeling rocked by this. I didn't have a small or breech baby but I had planned a home birth only to be advised otherwise very late and ended up with an emcs after a long labour. I then chose a planned cs for no 2. Cs is major surgery but I recovered so much better after no 2 because it was planned. Given your options I'd choose CS. I was devastated at the time that my home birth wasn't to be, but, over time, the significance of how I gave birth has really faded. Medical professionals are advising what's best for your little one. Good luck. You will soon be snuggling your little one!

Jffajiffy thank you X total freaked going on been crying since 5 am, I just can't believe it going from 95th percentile and being to,d she's head down to 8th and breech. I have to get the rest of my hospital bag things today...I'm a crappy organiser. Thanks for talking to me so early in the morning!

I personally would never consent to an ecv. Imho, Too much risk of placental abruption, cord compression or physical damage. Nope. If they've not turned there may be a reason.

Ive had a c section and it was fine. Surgical team responded efficiently and safely to the complications and baby delivered safely. There's a recovery period, it is surgery, but I'd have another one again .

I wasn't able to have an ECV with DC2 because of an EMCS for DC1. DC2 was breech/transverse and my waters broke at 37w. She was born by CS before labour started and it was a fabulous birth. I recovered so quickly, DC was healthy and it was just so peaceful.

My fear for you (and I'm not a doctor, so take this with a grain of salt) is that if they are flagging potential placenta issues, I'd want the least stressful birth for the baby. An elec CS is way less stressful than a failed ECV/induction... But that's just my opinion.

Good luck!

That's what I was thinking about when having the CS but aI wasn't sure if aI was selfish as aI want a sense of control which aI feel you get in a planned CS. The thought of a failed induction or turn sounds nightmarish and then what if something happened in labour?

Sorry I'm on the iPad and everyone's sleeping.

Your advice and stories are certainly improving my mood X

I am another who would refuse the ECV and ask for a section. I have had two (both Placenta Previa and one v premature- both went very well- for baby and me). Both my sections were calm. My second because of the Preemie was tense because he was v v early and tiny (26 weeks/2 lb) but the first was so relaxed and fun. I took all the painkillers afterwards and was at 90% in 7 days.
I breastfed the first for a year and had enough milk to express and then breastfeed the second.

You might want to read up on gentle c sections and see if there are things that you could ask for, e.g. Having the baby placed on you skin to skin straight away rather than washed and wrapped. May not be possible but worth exploring if there are bits of the birth you wanted you can manage even with a section.

Yes I had baby latch on on the operating table.

Hospitals are under pressure to reduce c section rates, and in my opinion that can cause women to be pressured into less safe options. Several friends have been refused c sections when there was a clear clinical case for it ( one with bicornate uterus which is actually against rcog guidelines.) It's target driven and cost driven.

You choose what YOU consent to. Good luck. You don't have to consent to ecv and induction. I certainly wouldn't

Sorry to clarify friend with bicornate uterus was railroaded into an ecv (thy told her they'd be gentle, ffs.) against all guidelines.

That's interesting @Anatidae as I've been told I have a bicornuate uterus (mild) but bubba has measured below the 5th centile using Fundal Measurement at 30 weeks so I've got a scan on Monday to see whether an early C sec would be the way forward... whilst I'd originally hoped for a midlife-led waterbirth I certainly wouldn't like to be told I couldn't have the C sec over an induction. (For the same reasons as you OP if I'm honest, there's no shame in wanting some control over what feels like a very uncertain and out of control situation). In your shoes OP I'd be going C Sec xxx

have you had the chance to discuss this in full with the consultant & have all your questions answered? DS was low birth weight and they could do a lot to monitor the placenta function/blood flow in utero, but if they can't with you then CS sounds like a good option. Your baby is already over 5lb, which is great.

They were pretty nice at the consult, the said if possible I could have skin to skin etc I think they do want it to be gentle as poss. OH agrees I think he wants the control aspect too really, felt tearful telling my mum she couldn't be there but I want my OH not to regret seeing his daughters first moment. @Luchiemangoco I'm glad to hear your lil preemie is doing well and you had a speedy recovery X @Anatidae I didn't think of a table latch I might ask them today about the as if possible it sounds great. Mummabus I hope yours go well, I think it was the speed of the whole thing and the fact no one realised until now...kinda glad for the speed now as I feel edgy about the whole thing and just want her out and safe X X X

OP I don't fully know your situation but I know so many who have been wrongly told baby is measuring too big or too small, and surely if you're 37 weeks the best place for baby to grow anyway is where she is?? She's obviously been doing well up to now. She might need a bit more growing time and not be ready to come out for another 4 weeks +! And in that time she could turn?

However like I said I don't know your full situation. 37 weeks isn't too early so please do don't worry and I'm sure whichever option you choose your little one (and you!) will be absolutely fine and well looked after. Echoing una - however you end up giving birth you can still plan for a calm environment for her to arrive into with plenty of skin to skin etc.

Good luck

@lifeofpies I'm not sure I've had the full consult yet but they wanted to start the steroids etc so their wouldn't be any delay just in case X

It all happened sooo fast, but I've made questions etc to ask X

My second shot is this evening so hopefully someone will be there who I can talk to.

CS all the way. No way would I have ecv. Nor an early induction (had with my first and ended with a CS). My second and third had to come early due to reduced movement and suspected placental failure and although they wouldn't do an induction due my previous section(s), certainly with my second they said that there was a real risk that he wouldn't survive labour anyway. Actually he was born at 35+5 at 5lb3 (very good weight for gestation). He did have respiratory distress (a known complication of a CS, though my other two who were term did not have it), and didn't have a proper suck/swallow reflex till 36 weeks (exactly what the text books would suggest). The actual deliveries were all fine.

Personally I'd not want the ECV and would have looked for vaginal birth.

However your baby has dropped percentiles. No idea if placenta is issue or something else happening.

If be asking for a calm planned c section with a preference towards skin to skin/gentle procedure unless medical need meant otherwise.

Do not fear your mother. If suggest if you are worrying about telling her then she probably wasn't the right person to be supporting you in childbirth. Birth support isn't about spectacting its about advocating for mum and baby and enduring needs are met and wishes respected where possible.

I have had 2 elcs for breech babies. And declined 2 ECVs. Both times I said no it wasn't a problem. The first time I was actually in the maternity suite booked in. It wasn't until they came with the pethedine injection I decided against it and they were absolutely fine and came back 10 minutes later with a date for the c section.

The first c section was fine. Very calm. I recovered well but was in a bit of pain for the first week.

The second c section was lovely. Ds was delivered straight to my chest and they delayed cord clamping for about 10 minutes until he was nice and pink again. He was on my chest while they stitched me up and then when I felt slightly odd due to a painkiller up my bum (apparantly, I didn't have a clue until anaesthetist told me) he was passed to dp for skin to skin.

I was up and walking to the loo later that night and home for lunch the next day. A bit sore but definitely manageable.

I've had both a home birth (baby over 95th centile) and an emergency section (premature baby below 2nd centile). It's a big shock when you realise you'll be having the opposite experience to the one you'd expected. I couldn't even have anyone in the room with me as I needed a general anaesthetic! But honestly, you can still have a great experience and a beautiful bond with a c section and a tiny baby. And the tiny ones stay easy to carry around for much longer!

I hope you get some answers to your questions today!