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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Anything you can do throughout pregnancy to reduce need for C-section?

50 replies

ttcsolomumtobe · 19/11/2023 09:27

Hi,
Firstly I want to say I have nothing against Csection and fully understand some people need them in advance, on the day and some have them planned for a range of reasons.

my reason for asking is I'm currently in first trimester after a successful IVF FET, I'm doing this solo and although I have great friends who will and can help I do not have any family support that would be for a prolonged period of time after a C-section. I would need to be driving myself and baby to appointments, will need to be lifting baby and car seat, could hire a cleaner for a few weeks if needed but after reading a few posts around Csection I understand it can be restrictive and painful afterwards (understandably) so would like to know if there is anything I can do now and throughout the pregnancy to make the chances of being able to have a vaginal birth higher and more likely? Be it exercise things/food etc, open to anything.

Although my solo fertility journey has been in the making for 5 years I've never allowed myself to look into the pregnancy side incase it never happened and now feel like there's a whole world of new stuff to be known.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
wokbun · 19/11/2023 09:29

Drink lots of water and stay hydrated so there's enough fluid for baby

wokbun · 19/11/2023 09:30

If your baby is breech and caught early enough they can sometimes try to turn it

Sturnidae · 19/11/2023 09:31

Probably there are things that could potentially reduce the need, but my now 7yo didn't get that memo and got completely stuck after 36 hours in labour. I was very active throughout my pregnancy with her, swimming most days for the first two trimesters and continued regularly after that, lots of walking and being active, good diet. I suppose I could have procreated with someone who didn't have such a big head (actually has a large head, as do our children).

maslinpan · 19/11/2023 09:31

No, you have to accept that there's a limit to how much you can control in this situation. If you need a C section, then it doesn't mean you have failed.

Londonscallingme · 19/11/2023 09:35

I think if you can avoid pain relief (aside from gas snd air) you are less likely to end up having an CS. The drugs help the pain but make you less able to push the baby out effectively too.

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 19/11/2023 09:36

Londonscallingme · 19/11/2023 09:35

I think if you can avoid pain relief (aside from gas snd air) you are less likely to end up having an CS. The drugs help the pain but make you less able to push the baby out effectively too.

Not always true, sometimes the opiod injection/epidural can give mum a chance to rest before pushing stage so they're better able to push effectively.

wokbun · 19/11/2023 09:39

Oh and to echo this. The drinking water isn't some sort of magic solution- it's just something to do to reduce the chance of baby not having enough fluid and needing to come out via c section.

If you need a c section it is not a failure. I had people tell me it was a shame it wasn't a natural birth. There's no shame in it, you do what you have to do.

ConfessionsOfAMumDramaQueen · 19/11/2023 09:39

Honestly there is very little you can do. C-section rates are about 1 in 3. Anything can happen. You have to accept its a very real possibility and plan accordingly.

Katrinawaves · 19/11/2023 09:43

It’s also worth bearing in mind that other than not being able to drive for a few weeks - it depends on your insurer but the maximum is 6 weeks and other insurers say fine to drive once you feel you can safely do an emergency stop - other recovery from a c section is pretty quick. (I’ve had two, and was pretty much back to normal within a couple of weeks).

You will be up walking within a few hours of the surgery (once your spinal block has worn off) and able to pick your baby up immediately. It’s important to stay on top of pain relief for the first 2 or 3 days but after that you are likely to need nothing stronger than OTC meds if anything at all.

I agree that lifting a baby in a car seat is likely to be beyond you for the first couple of weeks but will you need to be driving anywhere in that period? Or could you rope in your friends to help if you do need to go somewhere by car just for the first few weeks? Once you feel comfortable lifting baby in car seat, even if not yet able to drive yourself, you could use Uber or taxi as required. But in the first few weeks most of us spend most of our time at home feeding fairly constantly so how many “appointments” are you really expecting to have? Presumably you can organise home delivery slots for all your shopping needs.

What I’m really trying to say is that if you end up having a C section you are likely to cope just fine even as a single parent so try not to get too anxious about this now.

witmum · 19/11/2023 09:43

wokbun · 19/11/2023 09:29

Drink lots of water and stay hydrated so there's enough fluid for baby

I am sorry but have a day off!

I had a c section to save mine and my sons life! No amount of Evian or Highland Spring would have stopped that!

MariaVT65 · 19/11/2023 09:44

Honestly no.

I’ve had 2 healthy pregnancies, been eating well, taking vitamins, drinking plenty, exercising.

My first was an EMCS as i never went into labour naturally and got to 42 weeks, and still didn’t progress much after induction or waters breaking.

I’m having my 2nd baby next week and although i’d opted for an elective anyway instead of attempting a vbac, my baby is transverse so would still need a c section.

KMM87 · 19/11/2023 09:45

Some things are unavoidable. Unfortunately I don't think there's anything you can do to guarantee not needing a C-section.
I had an emergency section and recovery wasn't horrific so if you do need one you'll manage 💪🏼 My baby was on the neonatal ward so I had no choice but to get up and walk about straight away and I think this helped.
Good luck. You will be fine whatever happens 🩷

mynameiscalypso · 19/11/2023 09:48

Honestly, I had the best recovery of all my friends who have had babies in recent years and I had an ELCS. Most of my friends ended up being induced with long labours, some resulting in EMCS and they all really struggled.

BuffaloCauliflower · 19/11/2023 09:48

I’d suggest doing the Positive Birth Company online course, it’ll really prepare you to understand labour, your choices, and how things can go, as well as giving you tools to get through labour - vaginal or Caesarian. Sometimes a Caesarian is what’s needed whatever you do and it’s absolutely amazing that we have this option now, but there are things that statistically increase the risk of needing a section, such a having an epidural. The course is a great place to start.

witmum · 19/11/2023 09:49

I personally would just get practical plan that if you have a c section.

Ask your midwife if they could visit at home and the same for the health visiting team if you have a c section.

Could you get a taxi to appointments?

Get meals pre prepared before the baby is born.

Get Amazon Prime so you can have next day delivery of anything you have forgot to buy.

wokbun · 19/11/2023 09:50

witmum · 19/11/2023 09:43

I am sorry but have a day off!

I had a c section to save mine and my sons life! No amount of Evian or Highland Spring would have stopped that!

Show quote history

Yes of course! And I'm not saying it's guaranteed! I had a c section as my child was breach and didn't have enough fluid to turn. I wish I'd drunk more water than I did - no one had stressed to me how important it was. It might have been the same outcome anyway but it would have been nice to know.

wokbun · 19/11/2023 09:51

BuffaloCauliflower · 19/11/2023 09:48

I’d suggest doing the Positive Birth Company online course, it’ll really prepare you to understand labour, your choices, and how things can go, as well as giving you tools to get through labour - vaginal or Caesarian. Sometimes a Caesarian is what’s needed whatever you do and it’s absolutely amazing that we have this option now, but there are things that statistically increase the risk of needing a section, such a having an epidural. The course is a great place to start.

I absolutely wouldn't do this. It make me feel shit when I couldn't do all the vaginal birthing stuff.

MyLadyTheKingsMother · 19/11/2023 09:54

There's nothing you can do to guarantee anything. But staying fit and healthy won't do any harm and will support your labour and delivery and recovery in general however baby is born in the end.

witmum · 19/11/2023 09:54

@wokbun thank you for clarifying. If your baby is breech then water may help turn the baby.

People have c sections for many reasons and your advise needed that context.

MyLadyTheKingsMother · 19/11/2023 09:56

If it were me I would be preparing things on the assumption I WILL be having a section and then if you don't need the support, great!

wokbun · 19/11/2023 09:59

witmum · 19/11/2023 09:54

@wokbun thank you for clarifying. If your baby is breech then water may help turn the baby.

People have c sections for many reasons and your advise needed that context.

Yes apologies, I did try to clarify later.

I agree sometimes it has to be c section. Gotta do what you gotta do OP

Topseyt123 · 19/11/2023 10:03

There is really nothing you can do. If you need a caesarean then you need one. You can't always influence or control everything and what will be will be.

A caesarean isn't the end of the world. I had two vaginal births followed one caesarean and the caesarean was by far the best of them. I recovered the fastest too.

You go with the flow and see what is needed. See how both you and your unborn baby cope with labour. You cannot know this in advance and no amount of research can completely prepare you.

olympicsrock · 19/11/2023 10:08

There is really nothing you can do in advance.
The only thing is to know that epidurals can reduce pushing ability so may make a c section more likely. Inductions for first birth are incredibly painful so need early epidural

My path with DS1 was induction, early epidural , cery emergency c section.

ThomasinaLivesHere · 19/11/2023 10:08

Having an induction increases the likelihood but then there are other risks in not doing one if you’re well over. I hope you get your wish but unfortunately there’s a lot out your hands. If the baby is back to back apparently there are some exercises to do so there might be some things. Best of luck.

Sometimeswinning · 19/11/2023 10:14

maslinpan · 19/11/2023 09:31

No, you have to accept that there's a limit to how much you can control in this situation. If you need a C section, then it doesn't mean you have failed.

Just go back and read the first few lines of the op. It is nothing to do with failing.