need advice on c-section.

[arena]

This is my second pregnancy and i want a elective c-section this time round. I had a very bad birth time first time round, as baby was to big for my body,yet they still made me try.

They could'nt get him out so he ended up being a forcep delivery, and i had a haemorrhage, ended up loseing so much blood.

Don't think i can ever go through with that again, was wondering at how many week should i tell them i want a c-section, as they still want be to go normal again. I am so scared!!!!.

Also i don't want forceps round this baby's head, as my first child was born with a few issues in the brain. But i can never prove it was the forceps, so i would rather not go through that ever again

What I did was to cry buckets to the maternity psychologist, midwife & consultant. And managed to scare them enough that they finally offered me a CS. (I don't know if I would go down that road of fragile mental state if we were living in the UK with its scary Social Services, though)

DD was a big baby and this one (due in 5 weeks) is even bigger. When your baby is over 4 kgs, it is called "macrosomia" is a perfectly valid indication for a C-section.

CoteDAzur at how many weeks do you think i should tell them?

Arena, sorry to hear about your bad first birth I also had a traumatic first birth ending in EMCS, this time from the outset I stated I wished to have an ELCS ( to anyone who would listen) which they agreed to and this was a lovely experience 6 weeks ago. However they did use forceps during this c section to get my son out and damaged his lip, so I immediately thought he had a cleft lip like my first son, however this did heal quickly, I guess I'm saying c section is not a guarantee of no forceps, however I did have a great birth experience overall this time which was quite healing. I would recommend asking to speak to someone about your worries asap so you can enjoy this pregnancy, I hope you get a good experience this time, good luck.

From the very beginning, I would say.

arena I have just had my 2nd baby by elective c-section.

I told my GP when I went to get my pregnancy confirmed, I told every midwife I saw and eventually I told the Consultant when I was being assessed. I did cry (it was actually stotally spontaneous ) and I was very firm about what I wanted.

I was warned that I may have to see a MW counsellor to talk through why I didn't want a VBAC - but it never happened.

A few times I was advised not to make any firm decisions until later in my pregnancy - but I knew what was best for me and just kept saying what I wanted and why. Once I had my section signed off by the Consultant I really relaxed into teh last few weeks of my pregnancy.

pipsy my dd2 also had to be dragged out by forceps this time - she was refusing to budge so they had to be a bit more forceful than my first emergency c-section!

Thank you guys for the advice, also at how many weeks do they decide to do the c-section??

my first consultant apppointment was at around 25 weeks - and she okayed my section then.

I then had an appointment at around 36 weeks to sign all the consent forms etc

Arena, also my second pregnancy, first was an emergency CS, and I told my GP when I went in to see her.

I have told the midwife and she has referred me to a consultant. I have stated very strongly that I will be having a section and when I was told that it will be the consultant's decision, I said it was mine. Be strong. Make sure you tell them now or as soon as you can.

Mine was decided at 7 month appointment, seeing that latest scan results showed baby would be over 4.3 kgs.

Im 6 months already, i bet tell them this week.

Do you know how big your baby will be this time? If not, maybe ask for a scan.

I Had my 23 week scan and the baby was about 1lb and 3oz.

No prediction of how much he will weigh at 40 weeks?

sorry to throw a spanner in the works here, but my last baby was born by c-section and the consultant used forceps

sorry!

Hi Heinzsight, yes a few poeple did say that they do sometimes use forceps in c- sections. But i also haemorrhaged really bad, and that also can happen again if i have a normal delivery.

Im getting to the point now, i really don't know what to do!!!!.

Should i just chance it and go for a normal delivery?

arena........how big was too big? How did your first labour progress? Did you have an epidural? Were you out of bed? Were you induced? Did they rupture membranes for you? What position was baby in? All of those things can play a role in the success of a vaginal birth.

Scans are not an exact science, but midway through pregnancy tend to be the most reliable....at 23 weeks, baby was estimated to be right on the mark.

I mentioned I wanted a C Section every time I saw anyone. I've got Placenta Praevia so have to have one anyway, but I was told some Consultants take Mother's wishes into account while others are determined to push for VBACs.
I'd talk to your Midwife and ask her if she knows of a consultant who tends to consider Mothers' wishes and call the hospital and switch to them and make an appointment to see him/her nearer the time.

arena I know of a few women who have posted on here that their consultants have agreed a c-section because of their sheer terror of giving birth vaginally.

I think it does sound like you have a case given what you went through before. How big was your last baby?

The other position you can take is to say that you want a section and if they resist, tell them that your last birth traumatised you so much that you cannot give birth in hospital again, therefore if they are insisting on a vaginal birth you will only have a home birth.

That usually gets them to agree to a section pretty damn quickly!

I had a vag delivery with my first child. It was horrendous and put me off having more for 17 years! When I was pregnant with my second child I was adamant to whoever listened that I wanted a c-sec. I had read up on all the pro's and con's and still felt it was right for me.

Basically, I was told I couldn't have one right up until my 34 week appointment. The consultant began telling me that there was no need for one, at which point I disolved into absolute hysterical tears, rendering me incapable of speech for at least 20 mins, whilst the midwife ran around fetching water, tissues etc. The consultant sat there in stunned silence and then said 'Ok, fine, have one'.

So I got one, but as I found out, it definitely isn't the easy option (isn't that always the way!), No complications but took me months to recover. Good Luck.

I too had an emergency c-section first time round. Told the midwife early on that I wanted an elective for second baby, she brushed me aside and mentioned counselling etc. Had consultants appointment about 22 weeks - didn't even see the consultant but a JHO. She asked me what I wanted and didn't bat an eyelid when I said elective. She went off to check but told not an issue at all so it may work out fine for you. I was v nervous beforehand and made hubby come with me as moral support. Was sure that if they said no that I would burst into tears but thankfully not necessary!

I had an em cs first time round, traumatic attempted delivery, baby quite poorly after arrival. this time round, i mentioned from day 1 that i couldnt go through that again. i wasnt listened to i nitiailly, but at 16 weeks, i saw a consultant who listened and noted what i said and siad we wont rule it out but wil make the deision at 36 weeks. i feel better for knowing i havent been told no! I did make sure that i mentioned it at every appt!
i will also be scanned at 36 wks to see if the baby is in the same position and same size that caused problems last time.
good luck, i hope you get what you want.

My advice would be to tell them the last birth effected you sooo much. You need to tell them in as much detail as you can why you cannot go through it all again.

Take Cote's advice too as she's been in your siutation... You don't have to go through another trauma is not right or fair. Keep on at your midwife and tell them you would like a section... Do make sure you are given all the facts though you need to make sure you make an informed decision... Good luck and I hope this birth goes much better for you xxx Keep us posted xxx