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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Labour before ELCS

12 replies

Amber2023 · 28/05/2023 22:04

I am being booked in for a c section at 39 weeks but told if I go into labour before depending on the circumstances i could have to give birth "naturally". I had a EMCS with my last pregnancy as I ended up having an abruption and it was horrendous. After my consultant app I'm feeling really nervous now as I felt she was pushing a VBAC and has even booked me in for a telephone call to talk about a VBAC even though I said that isn't what I want. My husband totally threw me under the bus saying he thinks i should consider it, it's safer blah blah blah and obviously her going over the risks for me and baby have worried him. Safe to say he will not be attending my next consultation. I've also just found out the hospital I'm attending has no gas and air! I heavily relied on this last time. So my question is has anyone experienced going into labour before your c section date and what was your outcome? Do I need to be a bit more assertive at my next appointment as she caught me a bit off guard and then with my husband there I felt a bit ambushed. TIA

OP posts:
biscuitcat · 28/05/2023 22:29

I had an unplanned VBAC in these circumstances last month. I was booked for an ELCS after an emergency with my first, but went into labour the week before. Hospital would theoretically have been happy to do the section as an emergency but I was too far along when we arrived so I ended up with a vaginal birth - but that was only because it was a very quick labour, they were getting it all ready for me to be next into theatre before it became apparent that baby wasn't waiting that long!

During my pregnancy I turned down the referral to the birth choices clinic as I knew I wanted a section and that was no problem, the consultant booked my section in at my 34 week appointment, so don't feel you have to have that conversation if you know what you want.

Original poster
Amber2023 · 29/05/2023 06:58

Thank you that's really helpful. I understand if I'm too far gone it's the safest option but if I'm in early stages I don't want to be pressured into seeing how things go kind of thing. How did you find recovery after VBAC compared to your last birth?

OP posts:
wp65 · 29/05/2023 07:01

I had an ELCS too, and was worried about the possibility of going into labour early. I asked about what would happen then and was told I would still have a section, only it would be classed as an emergency section rather than an elective section. So just make it clear you still want a section. Obviously people have sections during labour all the time - as a PP says, it would only be an issue if your labour progresses very quickly

wp65 · 29/05/2023 07:04

Also, you might have to be more insistent about wanting a section. Some doctors/ midwives can be weird about it, due to hospital policy and cost. But a VBAC is not safer, according to the data (I did A LOT of research, and read pretty much every study available...!). An ELCS is a very safe option. Tell your husband to bugger off.

slowrunner07 · 29/05/2023 08:07

I went into labour before my ELCS date. I was asked if I wanted to try for a VBAC when I got to hospital and I said no so I went to theatre for the c section. So basically they gave me the option but there was no pressure or anything, as soon as I said no to a VBAC they started prepping for the c section.

slowrunner07 · 29/05/2023 08:08

Also, the consultant who asked if I wanted to try VBAC told me (after I said no) that the c section was a safer choice than VBAC.

biscuitcat · 29/05/2023 09:23

@Amber2023 I'd say the recovery was comparable in level, but different. I was out of hospital much more quickly, and it's great driving and lifting my toddler more or less straight away. On the other hand, I had stitches for a second degree tear and they were really sore while healing, which took 10 days/2 weeks - that was probably worse than the section as the location of the stitches compared to the section scar meant sitting was really uncomfortable. Overall, if we have a third I'd probably try for another VBAC because being up and about has been great, but I was lucky and the birth was straightforward which I think means there's a good chance of that happening again. It wasn't different enough that if I was likely to have complications or an instrumental delivery or anything, I'd still be wedded to a vaginal birth, and I'd want a low threshold to move to a section.

bowzen · 29/05/2023 09:23

wp65 · 29/05/2023 07:01

I had an ELCS too, and was worried about the possibility of going into labour early. I asked about what would happen then and was told I would still have a section, only it would be classed as an emergency section rather than an elective section. So just make it clear you still want a section. Obviously people have sections during labour all the time - as a PP says, it would only be an issue if your labour progresses very quickly

Same as this. My hospital reassured me they would still respect my wishes for ELCS and would give an injection to delay contractions to make that possible (?)

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 29/05/2023 09:38

I went into labour ahead of an elective with my 2nd. Got to hospital and the midwives made noises about a vbac or at least trying. I asked to speak to a Doctor. They asked what I wanted. Told them that I had been reasonably open minded but I had the same overwhelming sense of doom I had with dc1 (81 hours after my waters broke, after they tried everything including forceps, they finally agreed with me that he was stuck and that I needed an emcs) and I got my section.

I was six centimetres by the time I got to theatre and dilating fast so had they already been doing a section not sure what would have happened. Apparently the way she was tangled in her cord would have been problematic with a vaginal birth assuming her equally giant head would have made it through my suboptimal pelvis. Got a proper intake of breath from the Doctor when she saw the cord.

I refused my birth choices appointment.

Original poster
Amber2023 · 29/05/2023 10:29

Thanks for your replies. That was exactly the phase she used be "open minded" but it's good to hear you got your sections even with some insistence. I have another appointment at 34 weeks so I'm going to make it VERY clear and I have told my husband to bugger off! So he's to keep quiet or not come with me. I had my DD at 37 weeks so I do have a history of early labour. I'll also tell the midwife on the telephone call my mind is made up. Thanks ladies

OP posts:
Lillybeth81 · 29/05/2023 21:55

Don't panic!

I was booked in for an elective CS tomorrow morning, I would have been 39+3. I was told the same as you, if I labour beforehand I'd have to birth naturally.

Baby popped my waters at 1.30am last night, I didn't really register it until a bloody show at 6am and by the time we'd dropped kids with my mum and got to the hospital I was in the worst pain of my life. After being checked I was told they were gunna check if there was space in theatre for my section, went through consent forms with me again and off we went. My little chunk was born at 9.20am and the section was amazing.

I think they give you the worse case scenario just incase!

Good luck!

Original poster
Amber2023 · 30/05/2023 09:22

Thank you! That's reassuring. Congratulations on the birth of your baby.

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