Has anyone requested a later planned c-section date?

[QueenQueso]

I'm pregnant with #3 and my first two were cesarean. The first was at 41w5dm (was a planned induction but we discovered he was frank breech AND face-up before the drugs were started and scheduled a cesarean instead), the second was at 41w1d, just due to the dr's being impatient. He was supposed to be a vbac, and I really felt like I was about to go into labor at anytime (bloody show, dropped, 70% and 3 cm), but they didn't want to wait any longer and I didn't have any other doctor to switch to.

So now, there is no hospital around here that will allow a vba2c (and I'm pretty sure I've decided against homebirth altogether) so I'm looking at another cesarean. They're going to want to schedule it at 39 weeks to 'prevent an emergency'. With my history of going more than a week overdue, I feel like I want to wait until my due date.

I haven't had my first doctors appointment yet, so I haven't spoken to them about this, but has anyone else requested a later section date and been accommodated?

 

[Kalabear]

I am in between VBAC and rcs.....I have my consultation is a couple weeks. I am hoping for vbac. I did talk to my dr about when I would have rcs if I needed one and he said 39 weeks. I asked if we could schedule for 40 weeks but gave me the same answer as you. I'm pretty sure I could get him to schedule it later if I do in fact need a rcs. So I guess I'm no help haha but going through the same thi as you! Hope drs will let you go longer!

 

[steph.]

No I haven't but I think I might have to request an earlier one (like at 38 weeks) to give me any chance of avoiding an emergency cs seeing as I went into labour at 36 and 37 weeks with my girls. Dd1 was a fast easy 3 hour vaginal delivery. Dd2 labour was fast, like 1.5hours but when I was 10cm they realised she was footling breech and wasn't coming out. It was a mad rush of doctors and nurses running, I hated being the emergency (strange since I worked in ER) and really want to avoid that.

Is there any reason why you want to wait until your due date?

 

[QueenQueso]

Is there any reason why you want to wait until your due date?

For the better health of my baby? No body should WANT their baby to be born too early. Obviously sometimes it happens that way or you have to have it be done that way for medical reasons, but convenience is no reason to force your baby into the world before it's time.

Ideally, I'd prefer to go into labor on my own and deliver vaginally, I just can't find an OB willing (vbacs are nearly impossible in my area, a planned vba2c is out of the question unless you're doing a homebirth) so pushing off the cesarean for as long as possible is the next best thing.

 

[Kalabear]

I'm the same Queen...I went over with my ds1 but was measuring a week over. I like at least forty weeks because I think it's better for the baby as long as the drs agree. If they think it is best to schedule earlier I will.

Steph are you going to try for a vbac?

I will let you know what they say at my consultation! Let me know what your dr says about forty weeks for a scheduled c/s.

 

[QueenQueso]

I will let you know what they say at my consultation! Let me know what your dr says about forty weeks for a scheduled c/s.

I will come back and update you for sure, but it might be awhile. My first apt is 1/6, but it's not with the OB. So I'll probably have to wait until whatever appt is next to ask about dates now.

ETA, I just noticed we're both in Indiana. Hi, neighbor! :wave: Lol.

 

[steph.]

Kalabear I'll talk to my doctor and then decide. I think im a good candidate for a vbac as I've had an uncomplicated vaginal birth before but tbh im scared of something going wrong again. With the last if they hadn't picked it up at the last minute I could have had a cord prolapse and a brain damaged baby.

Queen taking baby out at 39 weeks isnt just for convenience, it's to decrease the chance of mum going into labour, uterine rupture, and emcs which in itself is more risky than elcs. So from a medical point of view (and I look at it that way because I'm a doctor so I cant help it) taking baby out earlier is for the better health of the baby. That said, the chances of anything going wrong if you wait an extra week are slim, and it's your baby and your body, so I think your ob would be fine with that decision.

 

[Kalabear]

Steph...cord prolapse is such a fear of mine. That would be terrifying not to know about the breech position until that far into labor., especially footling! My dr and I both thought he was head down but at the ultrasound on my due date we found out Frank breech. Otherwise we would have found out during labor.

I'm really nervous for my consultation....I just really want know one way or another which birth to mentally prepare for haha:haha....that's impossible really) I feel drs generally feel more comfortable with rcs (especially in my area) so I think it's interesting you seem to be leaning that way. I will do whatever they recommend as I just want a healthy baby and if that means a little bit longer of a recovery that's fine with me

 

[rescuemom82]

My Ob will schedule mine for 39 weeks. He absolutely doesn't want me in labor

 

[Angelbaby_01]

I am going in on 39 weeks. With DD it was at 38+1 weeks so glad I could push it back with a week this time.

 

[babybaker2011]

I had an amazing OB/GYN that told me to schedule it anytime after 38 weeks. My EDD was January 28, 2014, but I planned my ELCS for Feb. 3. I couldn't wait anymore, I was in a lot of pain from my back and legs, that I just decided to go in earlier than Feb. 3. I had my DD2 at 40+2.

 

[Sass827]

Hey queso! I'm hoping for a vbac. I've only had one cs so far so I'm a little different but they've told me my rcs would be scheduled one week after my edd. So it would be there in case I never went into labor on my own. I'm just worried cause I know I ovulated a few days later, I'm implanted later, and measure a few days behind, but not a whole week, so they didn't move my edd. I just hope LO shows up before 41!

 

[MarieMo7]

I scheduled mine for 40+5, but I was a VBAC hopeful. I did end up going into labor at 40+3, and labored until my scheduled c-section...with little to no dilation. So we went ahead with the section. After sleeping in 7-minute increments for 2 days I was exhausted!!!

Best of luck to you, I hope you get the date you want!

 

[Sass827]

I'm sorry you didn't get your vbac. My cs was for not dialating too. Looking back, I think maybe my LO was just too big for me to pass, and my body knew, hence not dialating. She was 8 lbs, 21 inches and a super chub with a big head and a barrel chest. Was your baby big too? Or back to back or something that shut you down?
My biggest fear is not dialating again. I'm really small and DH is really big, so I'm just wondering if im destined for babies too big for me.

 

[MarieMo7]

Actually my babies were small/normal size - first was 6lb10 and second was 7lb9. Failure to progress after induction was the reason for my first c-section...my doctor thinks my pelvis might have been too small for the babies to drop. My body just refused to dilate!

I wanted to VBAC because I wanted to see if my body would go into labor on its own (I induced at 39+2 last time, and wondered if my body just wasn't ready). Well, I did go into spontaneous labor the second time, and my baby still didn't drop, I still didn't dilate, and I gave it a HELL of a lot more time this time! When I went in for my scheduled section, they put me on monitors and found that her heart rate was dropping with every contraction. My nurses and OB told me that it was likely I'd have ended up in a c-section anyway, based on all factors. I'm actually okay with not getting a VBAC. It's not so much the birth part I wanted, it was actually knowing that I gave my baby the longest time possible in the womb, and wanting to see if I would actually go into labor. My body was apparently just destined for a c-section, and I'm okay with that! Two beautiful, healthy happy girls to show for it.

 

[Sass827]

I totally agree and feel the same. Love your girls names too!

 

[MarieMo7]

Thank you!

 

[grumpygal76]

gl