To demand a caesarean

[angel772]

I’m 33 weeks pregnant and have gestational diabetes. I’ve been discussing birth options with my midwife and she’s adamant they should induce me early if the baby’s getting too big, or let me go to 40 weeks if not. I suggested a caesarean but she said induction was the preferred route with an EMCS if required.

Having looked into this, I came across this link and am now absolutely panicking that my baby could have oxygen starvation during birth, leading to severe disabilities:

www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/ceiras-story/

I can’t for the life of me understand why the hospital are even considering making me try for a vaginal birth given the huge risks to my baby, who is already on the large side (5.5lb!!) and so could very easily get stuck. I feel women are offered caesareans for much less and can’t see why it’s not been put forward as an option for me. Why are they risking my baby’s health and WWYD?!

Hey OP. You seem super stressed from reading one person's story - I wouldn't go by that information on its own. Have you read any medical studies that highlight an increased risk from having a vaginal birth?

As others have mentioned, you have request a c section as a personal preference. However, your midwife and consultant will have your health and your babies health as a priority.

I would personally go with my midwife/consultant's recommendation unless I had any strong evidence that suggested my baby would be at risk. At which point I would raise this with them and listen to what they have to say. That's just me though - I would trust medical professionals unless they gave me a good reason to doubt their advice.

but that’s nothing compared to being deprived of oxygen resulting in permanent brain damage!

Unfortunately that can also happen in an elective c-section. As stated previously, no birth is without risk. Please either do some reputable research or wait until your next appointment to discuss it, as you seem to be getting yourself more stressed than you really need to be.

I think you're right to be concerned, in a way. Anecdotally, among my friends, I've noticed that the NHS encourages women to labor with babies so large that they'd be automatically booked in for a C-section in other countries and sometimes there have been consequences for this. My own baby was massive, got stuck and very nearly died. It was appalling but no one knows how a c section would have gone either, with the different risks involved there.

No one can tell you a vaginal birth is necessarily safer if your baby is going to be very big. A surprising number of female obstetricians opt for a c section for no reason that would be considered adequate by the NHS. I wouldn't trust them just because they're medically qualified, going on what I and my friends have experienced. The NHS is a numbers game trying to keep costs down. You can insist on a c section and if you do that, don't try to out-argue anyone. Just say it's what you want for peace of mind after researching.

That's one case, though a terrible one. Hundreds of big babies are born vaginally without issues. Shoulder dystocia happens in about 1/150 vaginal births. They are not recommending putting your baby at risk to meet targets.

Particularly if birth partners/visitors are restricted, a c section is not something to be taken lightly.

Try and find some data-driven info, if you decide to have a c section, it will be based on your informed choice, not on one scary story.

I was pregnant with a baby who had a 5% chance of survival. I followed every single piece of advice from the doctors and midwives to the letter. He’s fine.
You can read a lot of horror stories online but the doctors and midwives still know more than we do.

I have had GD with all three pregnancies, ended up with two EMCS and an ELCS. None of them due to GD. They are major operations and I would have loved to not have had c sections. There is no such thing as an entirely safe birth. But the great news is that you are being subject to lots of monitoring. Try and work with your midwife and consultant and try not to get too anxious. One of the best pieces of advice I recieved about becoming a parent is that you could really worry your life away - it doesn't stop when they're born !

Is this your first baby? The only reason I ask is because if you have been pregnant before and suffered GD, and gone on to have a normal birth and a healthy baby they would definitely push you to try for another natural birth. If you'd had problems in a previous pregnancy and birth they would be much more likely to give you a c section this time round. If it's your first baby they will likely want to try for a natural birth, because chances are everything will be OK. Please don't read horror stories online, you will scare yourself silly. I hope all goes well for you OP.

That's one story op, sad though it is it doesn't represent a majority and a vagina birth for most carries less risk than a c-section. And a big baby doesn't mean a difficult birth for most.

If there was/is genuine risk you will be offered a section but your medical team know best. They wouldn't withhold or refuse anything necessary and panicking yourself with anecdotal stories rather than more objective research and statistics doesn't help you in the long run.

do have a discussion with your midwife or consultant about the options and risks/benefits of all of them. They will be able to answer questions and talk through your worries. I had GD in my 2nd pregnancy and worked myself up over the tragic stories I kept seeing too

The safest birth is by far a vaginal delivery

That is completely untrue. There are pros and cons to both, of course, and I don't know which is best for OP, but both c sections and vaginal births carry risks, and both are overall very safe.

OP, I know it's hard but try to stay calm, do some more research into birth options and gestational diabetes, and maybe have a look at the Birthrights website.

What you need are some statistics on the risks of either option of birth, taking into account your situation and other factors such as age and whether it’s your first baby. That may give you a clearer picture of what you’d prefer, one way or another. Also worth baring in mind is the risk of needing an emergency c-section if you attempt a vaginal birth.

I disagree that trying for a vaginal birth is ‘definitely’ the best option if medics have suggested it. You may go to a different hospital up the road and be given the option of a c-section because they have different guidelines. Drs sometimes have to recommend things they wouldn’t personally choose themselves.

If every medical professional has agreed on an induction (if necessary) and vaginal birth, then that’s the least risky..

C-sections do carry risks for babies too, they are major surgery and that will always carry risks with it for both mother and baby. Hospitals do have targets for vaginal births vs c-sections - but they also want to keep any birth injuries to a minimum too! They will not put you or your baby in a situation that is deemed unsafe, lots of women do birth bigger babies with no issues at all, equally many women have smaller babies and need more intervention.

I know it's scary to read about horror stories, and I know this is advice that you probably wont follow but I would try to stop reading all the scary stuff! I read far too much in my first pregnancy and worried myself sick, which was no good for me or my baby. My vaginal birth was far easier on both me and my eldest than my c-section was on me and my youngest.

The healthcare professionals do know what they are doing, you can and should trust them. You can of course ask for a second opinion though, and if you really are certain that you want an elective c-section then you are entitled to ask for that - it is your body.

Tbh OP it doesn’t sound like that story is relevant to you much at all.
I would trust the professionals who have trained extensively for this, who have plenty of experience and who have your and your baby’s best interests at the forefront rather than assuming I knew best, based on one story.

Both my children were suppose to be HUGE babies! Over 10lbs! They were 6lbs12 and 7lbs10. Don't be frightened by predicted weight.

plus your gd is a controlled (assuming you are following dietary advice)

I’m following dietary advice and am doing ok but not perfect! Some of it is trial and error as it’s all new to me.

Both my children were suppose to be HUGE babies! Over 10lbs! They were 6lbs12 and 7lbs10. Don't be frightened by predicted weight.

It’s not just the weight but the head measurement as well - 98th percentile!!

Drs sometimes have to recommend things they wouldn’t personally choose themselves.

This is what’s scaring me!

To the poster who asked - it’s my first child.

OP you don’t really need individual ‘horror’ stories from the web but likewise anecdotes and sweeping statements about ‘dr knows best go along with it’ on here aren’t helpful too. Try and do some proper research and get some real statistics- eg what percentage of first-time mums with GD having an induction end up with an EMCS at your hospital? What percentage of attempted vaginal birth end up with certain complications for women in your situation (shoulder dystocia/birth injuries/forceps etc) then compare this to the risks of having a planned C-section.

Also worth baring in mind how many children you plan to have in the future because repeat CS can carry additional risks.

You're worrying based on one bad story. C sections are not a walk in the park. I was induced at 38w, due to baby measuring big, bigger than your measurements at 32w. Predicted to be 11lb at term. Induction worked well, but unfortunately stalled at the end, so I had an unplanned section. I'd have much preferred to continue a normal birth. But listening to my midwives and doctors and their years of experience, we had the section. They monitor the baby regularly through the whole birth process, if they think things aren't going well they will discuss the options with you. Their priority is you and your babies safety, nothing else. My little girl was 9lb7, I'm glad I had the induction rather than waiting for term.

Recovery from section was tough, my friends who had vaginal deliveries were back on their feet in days. I had awful pain and was very reliant on my partner for weeks. Even 7 months later my scar is still sore and the skin around it is numb.

Trust your doctor's, you can always change your plan as things progress, but I wouldn't plan a section unless it's medically advised.

you can always change your plan as things progress

What’s the latest point you can book an ELCS - do they get booked up?

You are panicking and I understand that.

Try to step back and realise you have read 1 birth story there. You need to read some evidence based research and talk it through with the professionals involved in your care. They want the same as you, to get your baby out in the safest way for both you and them.

The measurements you have been given are estimates, and even between professional, are notoriously inaccurate.

You will not go in 'demanding' anything, because you will sound ridiculous. You can go and have a calm and measured discussion with the trained health professionals who see women in exactly your position every single week. If they say that a vaginal birth is safer for you and your baby, will you disagree with that? Even after it is explained to you? Because then it is you putting your baby and yourself at risk.

If they say that a vaginal birth is safer for you and your baby, will you disagree with that? Even after it is explained to you?

Probably not because I’m too scared to follow my gut instinct (even though we’re constantly told to) over the experts.

But like I say, I can’t see how induction followed by probable EMCS can possibly be safer than a scheduled ELCS. It doesn’t even make sense.

I had GD with my first pregnancy and had a perfectly straightforward birth like the vast majority of women who have GD. It's really very common!

I'm now in the position where my current baby is breech. I've been told I have to have a Caesarian on Wednesday as I need to be induced for the GD and they won't induce a breech baby. Which means major surgery in a hospital which is really stretched, in the middle of a lockdown when no members of my family can come and help out with the baby afterwards.

It's one story, most women in your position have straightforward natural births. Stop panicking.

My SIL is quite petite. My brother is built like a brick wall, My neice and nephew were both 10lbs at birth, and were both vaginal devileries with no complications.

If you want a C-section, that is your perogative, but there are plenty of women who deliver big babies vaginally with no harm to either mother or baby.

In that case why would anyone ever be induced ?
You really are making this more than it is, I appreciate birth is absolutely terrifying when it's your first but have had both an induction and an EMCS and an ELCS there is no way anyone wants to cause your baby any harm and their sole aim is to deliver your baby safely , by whatever method is appropriate at the time.
ELCS are costly, recovery is long, you need someone with you for the first two weeks because you can barely stand, so they are never taken lightly - I had failed induction, failed ventousse, and my baby was stuck but no one could have predicted this would be the case. Everything is unknown in giving birth an stressing will only make it worse