What happens if you go into labour before planned c section

[Bagofweasels]

Do you just try and get to hospital asap and they still do a section but more of an emergency one or do you just carry on? Got a section booked in for 2 weeks time at 39 weeks as baby is breech, I’ve had 3 babies before vaginally no issues as all head down but no.4 is giving me the runaround! I’m ok with having a CS I’ve even signed up to have my tubes tied during but now I’m worried I’ll go into labour at home beforehand and I’m a long way from the hospital. Has this happened to anyone with a breech and what did they do?

You go to hospital and they’ll give you the option of either continuing with labour, or having a section there and then instead. It would then be an emergency section but the lower grades, so you’d not notice much of a difference.

I'm booked in for my second section in 5 days time. Last time it was brought forward because of pre-eclampsia so no labour. It was a very calm and relaxed experience.

This time, I have convinced myself I'll go into spontaneous labour before my section date!

I remember being at the PAU a month or so ago and i was sitting right next to the nurses station when a couple came in. I could hear the discussions that the woman was 36 weeks and her waters had broken, she was 4cm dilated, baby was breech and she was due to have a section anyway - I was following with great interest!
Long story short, it turned out to be someone I knows daughter and she did get the section eventually (albeit an 'emergency one')

BUT if they don't have room in the theatre cos of emergencies, you might have to wait in labour before you can have your section. They wont necessarily have a slot immediately if you're there before your booking.

I went into labour a week early. I got given gas and air whilst I waited for a slot. It definitely felt like a planned section, no rushing, music playing, calm and peaceful, super easy recovery. Was the best day of my life!!

I was booked for a section at 38+3, went into labour spontaneously at 37+4. As pp said, I went into the hospital after a bloody show and they gave me the option of progressing or having a section. Classed as an emergency as it was unplanned but not a ‘proper’ emergency.

To be honest, with your obstetric history, you'd be the highest category of emergency c-section if you arrived in established labour, exactly as if you arrived in labour and we diagnosed you as breech at that point. So be prepared for that but don't worry about it, you'll be prioritised appropriately. Just have very robust childcare plans in place and/ or be prepared to pop them in the car and all go together to the hospital initially if you go in to labour.

Thanks all!
@SwayingInTime how do you mean with my obstetric history?? Because I’ve already had 3 I’d likely labour quicker? Will definitely get the childcare organised!!

I think @SwayingInTime means that your baby is breech, so you would actually be prioritised.

If the hospital can manage breech vaginal births, they may offer you the choice. I had a breech baby and had planned a c-section at 39 weeks too and had the same fears. Doctor explained to me that if I started labour earlier, to go straight there, they would check my baby to be breech and, if so, they would perform a c-section as planned (my hospital didn't have the option of vaginal birth for breech babies). They explained that the difference would be mainly in staff, because it would be unscheduled.

Exactly. They definitely won't want to be attempting a vaginal breech delivery that you don't want so will have to rush you through but don't worry about that aspect of it, they'll likely be lots of people around you but the fact you're already consented and there are unlikely to be any concerns about baby will make if feel less like an emergency.

Yeah as others have said they’ll just bring you forward