Honest stories of c-section at 36 weeks

[Blurby]

Hello,

I'm a high risk pregnancy and under consultant care. I've started to show signs of hypertension, which in my last pregnancy, lead to preeclampsia and induction at 39 weeks.

Anyway, I'm currently 35 weeks, but I've to see my consultant on Monday to discuss getting a c-section next week due to my symptoms. I'll be 35+5 at that appointment. But baby is measuring big at 75th percentile.

I am terrified. I've read many articles regarding early delivery and how it can have an adverse affect on the baby. The current situation and being away from my husband and child is also causing me anxiety as I don't know how long I'll be kept in for.

I had a vaginal birth last time, but due to complications was always having a c-section this time around. Just didn't think it would be this early.

Does anyone have any advice or positive stories having been in a similar situation? To be honest, I want to hear it all so I can try and prepare as much as possible.

Thank you

I had a c section 12 days ago at 36+6 because I had pre-eclampsia. If you are having a section before 37 weeks they might give you steroids to mature the baby’s lungs. I was visited by the neonatal team the day before (I was on the antenatal ward because of the PE) and they said babies could have trouble breathing (common in c section prem babies) and might need cpap for a short while whilst the mucous on the lungs cleared, jaundice, issues with temp control and feeding.

In the end twin one spent two nights in nicu for breathing/ feeding issues. Twin two was fine. We were discharged after 5 nights.

I’m not going to lie, it was quite tough on the postnatal ward but everyone was in the same position. I felt a bit silly buzzing the midwives but that’s what they are there for - you will be in bed until the next morning when the catheter is removed so need to ask for help to get baby out of the cot/ feeding etc.

Pack plenty of snacks, loose fitting dress/ nightie, peppermint teabags. I would also suggest colostrum harvesting a couple of days before if you plan to bf, it can take longer for milk to come in after a section.

My Csection was the complete opposite to what I expected. Was my first pregnancy. My DD is now 10 months old.
She was on 99th centile, I had a CSection at 37 weeks, it was the most relaxed experience. I was expecting to be so stressed and nervous but everyone was lovely and explained everything they were doing, midwife kept talking to me. My drip was messing up a little so they kept having to play with it which I think actually helped as it kept me distracted. They cut at 10:14am and she was out at 10:23am. The longest part is being stitched up but once baby arrives you forget all about everything else in the room. I had gestational diabetes and I'm only 4ft 11", she was born 8lb 10oz and they were worried she could have extreme injuries if I tried to have her naturally.
Take plenty of baggy t-shirts/nighties and lots of flannels.
I was so shocked with how small the scar was. I was able to have a shower the same night too.
Just try not to stress too much! Good luck op!

Thanks for the replies.

@GAW19 glad to hear it was positive. How long were you in for?

Also does anyone have any advice from experience? I'm currently having migraines and some swelling with some protien in urine but blood pressure is fine. Is this enough to get a c section at 36 weeks?

With my first pregnancy I had hypertension from 32 weeks, trace to 1 protein on tests and extreme swelling - no headaches or flashing lights, was monitored and to be honest seen by too many different doctors who all said watch and wait and eventually at 36.4 had a consultant appointment and she said enough is enough time to get baby out and felt it should have been earlier. I had reduced movements too in those last few weeks. I was induced immediately but ended in a section a few days later. This pregnancy I will be a lot more vocal and advocating for myself and will not be allowed to be fobbed off, my baby was absolutely fine at 37 weeks birth last time so I’m sure your baby will be ok too especially if a good size now. If I were you I would call hospital, explain your concerns and ask to be reviewed- if they refuse ask for true reasons why to be documented in your notes but ultimately if you are worried they insist on a review. I hope all goes well, you are so close to the end now xx

I had DD on the Thursday morning, would have been home Friday but they wanted to keep an eye on her blood sugars, we were home around 11am on the Saturday once I could feel my legs I just let them know and they helped me out of bed once the catheter was out.
Catheter was out the evening I had DD, they make sure you can go for a wee. Then they told me to go have a shower and take off the dressing hope this is helpful!

My Cs with dc2 at 36 weeks was no different to a Cs at 39 weeks (dc1). DS was fine (6lbs 13oz) and given to me immediately. He latched on within minutes of birth, fed well and continued to do so until 3yo. He was born at 3.30pm and by 6pm I had showered, been to the loo and was sitting in my chair eating dinner. Went home the next morning. He was treated exactly as a full term baby. He was a bit titchy, covered in vernix and remained curled up and asleep most of the time. At around 3 weeks old, he unfurled, looked around and seemed to accept he was one of us.

Thanks ladies. These are really helpful and putting my mind at ease.

@ShowOfHands amazing that he did so well and latched too. That's one of my concerns.

@Wudgy I'm glad you feel you have a voice now. Too often, we're lead down paths that maybe don't nessecarily benefit us in our pregnancies.

@Robs20 I've been able to express some colostrum but not sure what make shift storage options I can salvage. I'm worried about ordering anything as it might not arrive in time (like small syringes). What did you use?

@blurby they will weigh up the risks of PE v early delivery. My section almost happened at 36+3 because of high blood pressure/ protein but they managed it with medication/ regular monitoring. If babies had reduced movements/ bp was uncontrollable I would have had an emcs. Whilst 36 weeks is a good gestation, they will try to keep the baby in for longer (at least 37 weeks).

I used syringes - can you get some from your midwife?

Hi i had my twins at 36+4 via csection and it was the best experience. It was really relaxed and calm. Both twins were fine and didnt need any assistance. They were 5lb 5oz and 6lb 3oz. As others have said its likely that you will have the steroid injections to help develop their lungs. Both twins latched really well straight away. Although i ended up switching to formula (personal choice after i struggled with milk supply for twins).

I had headaches and high blood pressure but the protein in my urine would fluctuate from being +++ to a trace. When I was 31weeks it was +++ i was kept in hospital for monitoring for 3 days. Then i was seen every other day until my section at 36weeks.

I had borderline protein when I first went to hospital, but my swelling was off the charts. I had my DTs at 36+5 due to severe pe. They were trying to get me to 37 weeks but gave me steroid injections to be on the safe side. The day I had them the consultant looked at my charts and said they were coming out that day!

My babies were born weighing 6lb 6oz and 7lb 3oz. Ds was absolutely fine and was handed to me once he was cleaned up (I’m very squeamish!). Dd was struggling to breathe when she was born so was whisked away to scbu but joined us in the recovery room once she was ok. We each had our own team of medics, and whilst I shudder to think what could’ve happened had I had a vaginal delivery, we now joke that dd is such a drama queen that she was just making her entrance known as she was dt2!

We were kept in for two days afterwards to monitor their blood sugar (late afternoon section) and were out by lunchtime on day 2.

The section itself was magic, really calm and wonderful. If I have any more babies I’ll definitely have another section.

I struggled with breastfeeding (ds latched, dd struggled but did eventually) my milk never came in properly so I mixed fed by expressing them switched to formula only.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone.

I'm hoping they can keep me going a little longer but we shall see. I'll obviously do what's best for the baby and me.

I've been taking my blood pressure at home and it seems ideal and my swelling comes and goes so I guess it's what the urine says.

Thanks for all your well wishes