Emc with 1st, unsure of what to expect with 2nd?

[Gnomer]

I had to have an emergency c-section with my little boy. He weighed 9lbs 7oz, I failed to progress past 9cms dilation, and he was firmly wedged in my pelvis. He was born with an indentation of my pelvic bone on his forehead, there was no way he was fitting through there!
I'm not sure whether he was distressed or not, I had been labouring for days and was exhausted. I slept between contractions, and wasn't taking in anything that was going on around me.

I've been told I have to wait until around 34 weeks before I'll see a consultant to begin discussing what will happen with this little one. I really don't think I can wait that long. I'm dreading the birth, the thought of both vbac and elc terrify me. I need time to get my head around and prepare for whichever method they decide is best, but at the moment I am clueless. I don't have any experience of friends having sections, nobody to share experiences.

Does anyone have a little insight they can share?

 

[NotNic]

Are you based in the UK? If you are I suggest requesting your notes from last time. It'll help answer a lot of your questions, particularly in terms of a timeline. Your mw should be able to go through the notes with you, but in my area a senior mw at the hospital can also help. Also ask your mw if your hospital runs a VBAC clinic. You might find this very useful. Also try to work out what specifically went wrong last time. Was your baby naturally big? Back to back? Did you have gestational diabetes? At a guess your son's size was a big factor. Ask your mw if they will give you a late scan to watch the size of this one. A guide on its size might help you decide on your options. Likewise if he was back to back exercises to help this baby's positioning might help you feel more in control this time and increase your chances of delivering without complications.

My son got stuck (back to back, long, nose up - a bad combo!) but I delivered him in theatre with forceps. I was told that for us it was the combination of everything that caused us problems but they would expect I could deliver another child unassisted. Both my SILs had emcsec and were in your position - one having two vbacs and the other ecsec. Both felt these subsequent experiences went much better, mostly I think because they were more in control. The more informed you are, the better you'll feel. Do ask your mw for information. They have this and should be encouraging you to feel more reassured than you currently do. Good luck!

 

[Gnomer]

Yeah I'm in the UK. I wasn't aware I could request notes, I'll definitely have to do this! I'm not seeing my midwife till 28 weeks though now. Due to hospital closures, I'll be having scans and blood tests and such at the local hospital, but giving birth at a different hospital. My midwife doesn't know where the consultation about the birth will be, or when other than "34 weeks ish" or what I can expect. She told me she isn't involved with that. She's also unsure whether it will be the birth hospital or the scan hospital that will arrange the consultation. So much uncertainty is making me a nervous wreck.

My boy was back to back at first, they turned him midway through but he still wouldn't fit. No gestational diabetes or anything to cause him being bigger, just naturally large. Which also makes me worry this one is going to be a big one too.

I'm just frustrated at the lack of information, not helped at all by the hospital mess. As soon as I know what I can expect I'll calm down and stop worrying

 

[NotNic]

All you need to do is contact PALS at the hospital you gave birth at listing dates, DOB, address etc. they'll then contact you with details of the fee (to cover post, photocopying etc.) which is capped at £50. As a guide mine came to £25 for notes relating to a forceps delivery in theatre, 36 hour stay, planned but not carried out induction and the various transfers between departments. Then once you get them ring your community mw's number and ask if you could have a chat with someone with your specific questions on what happened. Also asked about vbacs. At the two hospitals I've been under they've each run vbac sessions so I would be surprised if yours doesn't.

You've got your scan coming up so you might have a good idea from that if a larger one is on the cards again. That said I was expecting a 6lber and my son came out very long and 8lbs at 39wks and he was 'average' at 20wks. It might give you something to go on now though until you see someone.

 

[xxxLeoxxx]

It's not good that they are making you wait until 34 weeks to discuss things.

I had a section purely through failure to progress. With this pregnancy, the midwife discussed my options at my booking appointment then at 18 weeks I had a special appointment with a hospital midwife purely to discuss vbacs.

Although if you had more complications than I did then maybe it works differently. I'd be asking for more information now I think.

 

[Gnomer]

Ah I didn't know I could go through PALS. We are dealing with them at the minute about another more serious incident, I'll ask at our next meeting tomorrow. I don't mind paying the fees, I'd be interested in getting the notes from my kidney:blood infection I had with my son too. Hopefully my midwife will take me more seriously if she could read those notes.
My son was average at my 20 and 28 weeks scans, I was told to expect a 6/7lber. Way way off the mark! I'm hoping this one is smaller, but I'm not too sure if weights are always similar or not.

I have my 'booking in' appointment next week at the local hospital, although I'm not sure what to expect other than just the initial blood tests. I have already seen my midwife twice, yet no tests so far, or anything really. I bled through 1st tri due either a kidney infection or a cyst on my ovary, or both. It's proving difficult to get any information at all currently. Maybe I should push getting all my treatment done at one place, rather than spread amongst three.

Thank you ladies! I now have direction to push in.