Help please, C section or Vaginal delivery?

[Blhuitt]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some advice please. I am currently 28 week pregnant with a baby girl, this is my third pregnancy. My other two deliveries with my boys both ended in assistance,
My first son- dropped heart rate with back to back delivery and cervical lip, rushed to theatre for epidural, forceps and episiotomy.
My second son- almost identical, his heart rate dropped, cervical lip and ended in a suction cap and episiotomy.
With my second son I was under cardiology for the vast majority of my pregnancy with tachycardia and palpitations which couldn’t be explained. Stayed 3 nights in hospital as I lost a lot of blood and my heart rate remained abnormally high. Strangely it all resolved within a few weeks of not being pregnant.
This pregnancy, all cardiac issues have returned and I’ve also got a low lying placenta that needs rescanning at 32 weeks to see if I can even attempt a vaginal delivery again.
But the thing is, I don’t know whether to opt for an elective section regardless to if my placenta moves or not! I’m worried about my heart rate and the reoccurrence of another assisted delivery and another episiotomy. Both labours resulted in my boys having low heart rates. But on the other hand I’m worried about the recovery time from a section and not not being able to pick up and hug my two boys (who will only be 3 and 1). I know matters may be taken out of my hands if my placenta hasn’t moved but I know I’ve been lucky twice before and don’t know if I’d be foolish to risk a 3rd. At least with a planned section I can organise childcare especially with everything going on with COVID but then I don’t want to be stuck in hospital for potentially longer with no visitors.
Sorry for the long post but it really is taking over everything I think about. I just want what’s best for my unborn baby, family and myself.
Thanks in advance everyone ❤️

What are you childcare options for the older children? If it’s a bit limited and people are going to have to rush a c section might be better which goes hand in hand with how fast have your labours been? Super fast definitely pick a c section

However alright labour, easy access to oldest childcare you could opt for a natural. I would sway more towards c section for the types of birth / strain on your heart. It will be difficult for the other kids to understand for sure buts it’s a small amount of time till you heal.

Section for sure.

@Ilovesugar

From waters to birth my first was 9 hours and second 6 hours. I have never text book starts and labour it’s the end part that always goes wrong. And my mum has already said she will take time off work for the boys while I’m in hospital and then use some annual leave to help me once my partners back at work. My partner would get 2 weeks paternity then 1 week annual leave if I opt for section x

You can go home the day after a Cs. I was discharged 12hrs and 36hrs later respectively.

I've had two and the recoveries were absolutely fine. My DH could only afford a week off with our second and the first 2 days, I was in labour, then 2 days in hospital. I was fine looking after both children on my own so with help, I reckon you'll be just fine.

I've had an EMCS and ELCS because I was scared of a repeat performance.

The recovery wasn't that bad, a bit restricting for a week or so, more noticeable with #2. 3 nights in hospital and my Mum helped looked after #1 whilst DH worked so he could start Paternity Leave when I got home meaning there was someone around for 3 weeks by which point I felt (almost) normal.

Sounds like you would have a similar set up. Good luck with whatever you choose :)

Have you arranged an appointment with a consultant obstetrician for a debriefing on your previous labours? I think you really need to do this and to get their honest opinion on whether they think you will need an assisted delivery again.

I had two very difficult labours - needed syntocin with both due to failure to progress and both times I was told they would probably end in section. I responded very well to synto though and ended up delivering ok. 2nd degree tear 1st time and a bit of continence issues because I’d pushed for 2 hrs. My labours were 72 hrs and 27.

I had a debriefing appointment while pregnant with number 3 as no.2s delivery had been so traumatic. I was amazed when the consultant told me I was still considered low risk.

Anyway, 3rd birth started contracting about 6 am. Got up got the kids off stop school, sat on the sofa and watching homes under the hammer. Headed into hospital about 11:30 - was 8cm when I got in and baby was out by 12:30!! It was so easy compared to my previous births! I was fit as a fiddle afterwards. No interventions, no drugs - I felt totally fine by the next day. I had to stay overnight for baby obs as I had group B strep and seeing all the poor woman hobbling around after spinals and sections, needing to be passed their baby and not able able to get out of bed made me grateful that I’d managed to deliver vaginally.

I think it’s defiantly worth a chat with a consultant though as your medial history is more complex than mine but 3rd birth can definitely go smoothly even when the first two have been difficult.

I had an EMCS and recovery was fine, I guess it's totally individual. (I was NOT 'fit and healthy' to start with ).
Having a newborn with two young toddlers is going to be tough whatever you do - good luck.

There's obviously a spectrum but I was not a "poor woman". I didn't hobble around, I wasn't unable to get up and nobody needed to pass me my baby. I had feeling back when I was back on the ward, got up 3hrs post surgery and showered/had my catheter out. I was only in bed to sleep and I looked after dd on my own. There were women who'd had vaginal deliveries who were crying in pain and unable to get out of bed. I helped the woman next to me quite a lot and she'd had a textbook delivery.

You can't make assumptions.

As always, plan for what you can control but don't assume outcomes.

I would definitely speak with your midwife/ consultant about your options. I believe every woman has a choice on how she gives birth but personally I would opt for a vaginal birth if I could and if it was safe. C-Sections are major surgery.

@ShowOfHands That’s great you recovered so well. I’ve given birth 3 times and stayed overnight with all of them and I have noticed that it tends to be the post section woman who are struggling on the post natal ward. Of course there will be those who do brilliantly like you and those who struggle after a vaginal delivery - especially if they’ve had interventions.

I was just putting forward my perspective that I considered an elective section due to previous difficult labours and was grateful not to have gone down that route.