C section or hold out for natural - 41 weeks!!

[firsttimemumchar]

Hi everyone,

im 41 weeks tomorrow (6/8)

I was asked at my 40 week appt what I wanted to do I said I don’t want an induction due to not being able to have an epidural so I’d like an elective c section. This was booked for 41 weeks. I would much much prefer a natural birth in the birthing pool though.

I’ve had a spinal fusion so that’s the reason I cannot have an epidural but they are confident they can give me a spinal block for a c section but if not I’ll be put to sleep.

I had a sweep Saturday but nothing happened.

I’ve had another one today and I’m now 2cm dilated, cervix is mid position, 2cm long and very favourable.Ive also lost my plug. The midwife seemed optimistic that my body and baby are getting ready for labour and I perhaps just need to give it a little more time. She did say I could see how I feel in the morning whether I still want to go ahead with the elective c section or not.

has anyone else been in a similar position? Had a similar outcome from a sweep etc and what happened?

this is my first baby so please be kind it’s all very new and scary ❤

Ask your doctor but for what it’s worth I had a planned c section and it was a great and easy experience - baby out after 15 minutes and then another 15 minutes to sew me up whilst baby hung out on me - I recovered quickly despite being nearly 40 and a solo mother. I had a materially better experience than any of the other mother’s in my NCT class who tried for natural births desperately. Also, 40 percent of births in the UK end up being c sections. If the reason you are holding out is your midwife pressuring you, please bear in mind there have been a bunch of examples of midwives endangering pregnant women with their obsession with a natural birth (if you desperately want one for your own reasons that very different).