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Original poster

What is an unplanned c section? Very confused

17 replies

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:24

hi, just a quick back story on Monday we were prepped ready for our planned c section, but changed our minds because baby was head down after being breach.
anyway roll on to today and I tell the OB (who was going do
my planned section Monday, that we had a hard think and that’s what we want) she said ok but I am not on a planned list anymore so Basically she says fast come in at 8am tomorrow and hopefully they’ll be able to take me…. But depending on emergencies etc so I could be waiting all day until 4pm and then they say go home and come back tomorrow and repeat the process.
When I was leaving cause everything fine with me and baby etc I asked midwife this is a planned c section, and she say was like no it’s unplanned for me? And I said but it’s not an emergency section tho, and she said well no not an emergency but your unplanned 🙈
basically what does that mean? Am I not allowed my husband there? A spinal
then skin to skin contact? Would
they force a general anaesthetic even though I am not an emergency.
Is my husband not allowed to cut the cord? Are they going just rush me as if I am an emergency case? There is no emergency for me, baby is good I am good, other than tomorrow is my
due date and I birth large babies 10 pound 5oz and had 3rd degree tear last time and huge blood loss.
anyway will I not be allowed to have music anymore? I am confused by the midwife.

OP posts:

SouthLondonMum22 · 17/09/2025 12:27

You aren't on the planned list now so it is considered unplanned. That's all.

Wannabeblueysmum · 17/09/2025 12:27

It means you are no longer on the procedure list so it will only be done if they can fit you in. You may go in starved wait all day and be sent home. You still should be able to have skin to skin, partner there etc

CharlotteRae · 17/09/2025 12:27

Wow you’re spiralling! It just means you lost your booking for the planned c section because you changed your minds. So now you haven’t got a scheduled one, they will have to fit you in as best they can. Depending on what emergencies come through that day, you may be bumped as you’re not high on the priority list. Nothing else will change, once they prep you for theatre everything will go as it would have done with your husband there and they don’t usually give you a general for c sections your awake

Original poster

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:28

@Wannabeblueysmum and spinal ? They wouldn’t do general anaesthetic or rush me like an emergency (obviously if I was an emergency but baby and me are not) so I am just getting myself
all worked up I think because midwife said unplanned section.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:30

@CharlotteRae i know I am spiralling :( I know! So it would go the same as our planned one if they can fit us in, it wouldn’t be a massive rush to get me done in an emergency way etc sorry.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:31

@CharlotteRae i am very sleep deprived and emotional right now. Ugh, once I get a sleep I should be better thinking clearer mindset. Thanks anyway.

OP posts:

Original poster

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:37

@Wannabeblueysmum @SouthLondonMum22 so it should still really be like the planned one we were about to have (obviously
depending on emergencies that day that will take place) thanks

OP posts:

Rentin · 17/09/2025 12:38

Unplanned is not emergency. From what you have said, the procedure will be no different to a planned one except that you’ll do a lot of waiting around and might get sent home every day if they don’t fit you in.

I get why you’re overthinking as it’s a nerve wracking and emotional time but why WOULD they do a general anaesthetic unless they need to? It has risks and is not at all easier for them. Like what would be the logic in treating you as an emergency when you’re not? Are you envisioning it as a punishment for changing your mind? Legally, morally and practically none of it would make any sense.

I think the word unplanned has thrown you but the only thing that’s changed is your name not being on a list.

SouthLondonMum22 · 17/09/2025 12:42

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:37

@Wannabeblueysmum @SouthLondonMum22 so it should still really be like the planned one we were about to have (obviously
depending on emergencies that day that will take place) thanks

Yes.

The only difference is that you aren't on the planned list now so they'll try and fit you in at some point but other than that, it will be the same.

Rentin · 17/09/2025 12:43

Maybe imagine it as the equivalent of a doctor appointment. You booked an appointment to get a wart removed. Then you cancelled your appointment. Then you decided you did actually want your wart removed after all. Now you no longer have an appointment but they said you can come hang around at the surgery all day and if the GP get a spare few minutes or a cancellation he will do it for you.

It’s going to be a bit boring for you but when you get in there your wart will still get removed the same as anyone else. They’re not going to amputate your hand instead. (Analogy fell apart at the end but hopefully you get what I’m getting at - they’re not going to give you a riskier and unnecessary procedure just because you aren’t there by appointment)

Original poster

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:54

@Rentin yes I feel like I’d be punished for the chopping and changing. But legally they have a duty of care to me and my baby, so I am just being silly! They wouldn’t rush me
through it mess it up, or end up with infection. I need sleep!

OP posts:

Original poster

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:56

@Rentin thanks. I think the pregnancy
hormones are killing me. :) wish me luck !

OP posts:

Tyler4689 · 17/09/2025 13:01

I had an unplanned c section five weeks ago.
I went into induced labour at 7am, had an epidural etc, but by 10pm I was still only 2cm dilated and I was quite distressed because of the pain/contractions etc, so they asked me if I wanted an unplanned c section. I said yes, anything to end the agony! They told me there were three women waiting for one, one was an emergency so she’d be first, and they weren’t sure if I’d be second or third. I ended up being second. Not sure if that helps you and your situation in any way though!
Lots of luck!!!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 17/09/2025 13:13

It will be exactly the same as the planned one except you won't have a defined time-slot and depending on when you do get a slot, a different obstetrician may do the surgery.

My planned section turned into an unplanned one as my waters broke early. I just joined the queue for the day. Serious emergencies jumped the queue - I remember there was someone having twins taken in very quickly. In the end I had an unplanned VBAC so if you are completely set on a C-Section and do spontaneously labour I would be prepared to hold firm as my experience was that I had a lot of positive noises that the labour was progressing [while I waited..] and I think I was managed into the VBAC which I regretted.

Bitzee · 17/09/2025 13:14

You would be an elective section unless you go into labour first and get the section moved up, then you would be classed as an emergency.

Bit confusing but I think from what you’ve said the midwife meant they hadn’t planned to have you on the elective list so they would have to see where they could squeeze you in. Could be wrong but I don’t think she was talking about emergency vs. elective and it shouldn’t change anything about your c-section birth plan providing it’s all allowed at your hospital and everything goes to plan in theatre. But do ask at your next appointment.

IsThisLifeNow · 17/09/2025 13:35

Can you put your phone down and go out for a walk to clear your head and get out the spiral?

Like quite a few others on here, my planned section turned into an emergency one, but in name only. I remember laughing at the suggested elective date, it was the day after I was due, baby was big, and breech, so I never actually thought I'd make it till then. Waters broke at home in the middle of the night 11 days before my due date and I went straight in and I got operated on within an hour of me arriving. All really calm, I drove myself to hospital and they held off waking the anaesthetist as my husband was at home waiting on our childcare arriving. We discussing music choice with the staff and baby names too, all really chilled out. DS2 was 10lb 5, so I was secretly glad I didn't have to push out another huge baby, DS1 was 10lb 11!

Rentin · 17/09/2025 14:26

Mummy2025xx · 17/09/2025 12:56

@Rentin thanks. I think the pregnancy
hormones are killing me. :) wish me luck !

I think you're right. It's not an easy time at the best of times and you've had a few changes of plans so I guess it feels unsure.

But you really haven't done anything wrong. It's okay that you've changed your mind. At every stage you've made the right decision with what you knew and felt at the time. You have a plan now and it's all sorted. Your only punishment for chopping and changing is the hours of waiting around.😅

Wishing you the best of luck. I had a good experience with my own c-section and would opt for an elective one if I were to have another child. All the best!

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