Previous C Section with Extension

[babymartin2]

Good morning,

I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with my second child, I had an EMCS last time and needed an extension, because of this is have to have another section this time, not allowed to go naturally.

I don't have my consultant appointment until I'm 34 weeks to discuss how early they want me to have the section, was wondering if anyone had any experience with this, and at how many weeks did you have your c section if you had complications last time?

I remember them saying it could be as early at 35 weeks depending on risk factors but then some midwives reckon it would be up to 39? Just after some experiences!

Thanks in advance!

I had an EMCS with 1st, 2nd section was last week and that was at 36 weeks. They said to me it would be between 36-37 weeks to avoid natural labour

@Ireallywantsomechips thank you for your reply.

Congrats on your second! Hope everything is going well for you.

Did you have any complications with your EMCS? Everyone else I've spoken to had theirs at 39 if there was no complications but haven't managed to speak to someone that had complications like I did

I had my second section with extension and this time they are booking me in for 37 weeks. I’m due in July 🥰

@Jadeelx thank you very much and congratulations!

I'm due in May, so annoying that I don't have the consultant appointment until 34 weeks and no one will give me a straight answer. Going to book mat leave for 36 weeks and hope this leaves me enough time! X

I didn't have the complication that you had but something else (that meant no way could I have a VB due to high risk of rupture). I had mine at 38 weeks exactly. Even though the surgeon who performed my previous section said absolutely no way can you go to 39 weeks I felt the hospital would have let me had I not requested 38 weeks. If you're not comfortable going to 39 weeks just tell them. They'll give you steroids so chances are baby's lungs will be fine.

It really stressed me out how chilled the midwives were about the complication despite the surgeon at the time being quite concerned about it.

@poppy865 thank you for this, this is exactly how I feel. I remember them being really strong saying it would be early and I'm under no circumstance to get pregnant within a year because it's so risky etc, but now everyone's just like meh see what happens😂

I'm not bothered when the section is, I just want to know purely from organising etc as if I have the appointment at 34+5 and then want me in a week and a half later that doesn't give me much room!

One of the midwives in theatre told me she wouldn't have another so fair to say I was so anxious.

I had mine booked in at 25 weeks because I told them it was causing me massive anxiety. The first section was done at 39 + 5 because that was the earliest slot they had so I told them I'm not waiting until last minute again. I'd request an earlier appointment with a consultant - they did mine over the phone.

@poppy865 yeah I've got a midwife appointment tomorrow and going to try and push for an estimate at least

Do you know what type of extension you had? Was it

• upright T where the stem of the T goes down towards your cervix
• Inverted T where the stem of the T goes up on your uterus
• J incision (confusing as it doesn’t go straight up the middle but curves round more to the side, Google images explains better then me)

I only ask because that might impact when they want to do it. Also how long the extension is too and why it was done. And if you have any other risk factors.

I am 32 weeks and I have an upright T scar from my emergency section. I am getting a date for my repeat section next week but there’s been some debate on when to aim for between midwife and consultants. I have no other risk factors and at first they wanted to wait until 39 weeks as it’s best for baby, this is what the midwife thought was most likely too. Then they saw I had a Long extension down to my cervix with a “low threshold for future caesareans” so said maybe 38 weeks or even a bit earlier would be better however now they are consulting a second opinion and that will be discussed next week. So it really is individual and also what your consultant recommends based off that. Like you I’ve been trying to work out if it’s going to be early early (37 weeks) or if they will go longer with a bit of increased monitoring perhaps. I had an advocate midwife at one of my appointments who was surprised when the consultant changed to 38 weeks or maybe earlier, honestly I think it’s a bit of minefield! I feel like every day I debate if she’s going to have to be delivered early or can I ask to carry to 39 weeks or at least near it. I’m hoping to get an answer next week 🤞🏻

@Gilm0reGirl

So I've googled it and my scar doesn't really fit with those. It looks like a normal straight across scar, but then on the left side extends way out and curves downwards - they needed more room to get him out and I lost a lot of blood but that's as far as I know.

Hopefully you get your answer soon, it's so hard to plan these things around it. I'm going to push at my midwife appointment tomorrow for an earlier consultant appointment or at least an estimate as to when it will be

update for anyone concerned.

my midwife said today that she doesn't usually see people that have had an extension at their 38 week appointment as baby is already out.

will be earliest week 36 and latest week 37. I will have a scan at 36 weeks where they'll assess how ready baby is to come out and how my scars look internally, and make a decision then when it will be.

keeping consultant appointment at 34 weeks for confirmation and rough date.

Aaaahhh this does not fill me with good feelings 😩 will have to wait for my consultant appointment next week. Thank you for the update

@Gilm0reGirl

I think it massively varies from trust to trust and doctor to doctor, my midwife said if you get one that's more cautious they'll do it earlier so can always ask for second opinion.

Let me know how you get on at the appointment if you remember!

Glad you've got a better idea now. They'll give you 2 steroids in the days before the section to help baby be ready

@babymartin2 I had a different outcome than expected today. I had my consultant appointment and they are happy for me to go into 39 weeks, if anything changes then they will bring the section forward but otherwise they aren’t worried about the scar compromising before spontaneous Labour, they’d just like to avoid labouring on it.

@Gilm0reGirl hi, sorry I just came on to update mine and I didn't see your last post!

Had my appointment today and they're letting me go until 38 weeks! Very unexpected. Did they end up bringing yours forward at all? Have you had the baby yet?

This is good to know, I’m 29 weeks currently and I have a J cut from a difficult elective c section where baby got stuck (thankfully all was well). They did say the risk is low of a rupture but they will schedule a c section for 38/39 weeks. I think baby is going to remain transverse like my first so might be earlier. Be great to hear how you all get on x