Labour choices - What would you do?

[aimee-lou]

Hi ladies,

This is really starting to bug me. I haven't even had my first scan yet but I'm already starting worry about the delivery of baby number 3.

Bit of back story - both my births with my boys have been very straightforward NVBs with no intervention, only G&A and no injuries to me at all.

Both boys were big, Eddy was VERY big at 10lb 14oz. He was 10 days overdue but it still doesn't explain his monstrousness. Earl was 9lb6oz and sustained a nerve injury in his left shoulder during birth as he got stuck in the birth canal briefly. With Eddy I had 4 days of horrendous slow labour, 2 sweeps but when he eventually arrived it was at a blinding pace of 4cm to birth in just over 5 hours.

Now, with this baby I am expected to have a baby that at term will be estimated at 9.5lb. I understand that the estimates are usually wrong, but lets face it, I have form lol. As a result I know that a c-sec is on the table and I'm tempted as it would ease logistics of the birth (childcare, travelling to hospital etc etc) and would also stop the horrid slow labour occurring again. I however am not relishing the prospect of a recovery from a c-sec, albeit a planned one. Other options, to go full on Midwife-led again, as I have done twice before. Should all go to plan I will be low-risk by the time I get to 37 weeks and then we will leave it up to baby to decide. Induction - I could ask for a planned induction so I would try for an NVB before baby got huge and have a normal birth that I'm used to but I know that an induction means higher risks, often more pain, and a full hospital birth, and the higher possibility of an EMCS. Other option, as I've had 2 VERY straightforward births, I could ask for a homebirth and go completely the other way, and given the speed of Eddy's delivery, I may not get a choice anyway!

So, what would you do?

 

[LegoHouse]

I think if you decide against a c section then you have a lot of options.

I personally would try and go naturally as you have done it twice before. A c section is major surgery and the recovery is awful from what I've been told. A home birth could help with relaxation, and if you wanted to go to hospital you could?

 

[NaturalMomma]

I personally would not to elect for a c-section. I would want as much of a natural childbirth as I could get.

 

[patch2006uk]

I wouldn't want to be recovering from a c-section with 3 children to look after, especially one that wasn't medically necessary. I'd go for MLU in your situation, but maybe explain your concerns that your last labour was quick

 

[tristansmum]

Don't go c section. I've had one and I'm trying for normal delivery this time. You take longer to recover, still lots of pain but its for days aftewards, not as good for baby, risks of major surgery ect. You know you can delivery normally so go for that!

 

[Sal76]

I've had 4 one vd, 2 emcs and 1 vbac in that order I am now wanting another vbac! C sections with 3 kids to look after is no fun!! Don't get me wrong, you cope and deal with it but recovery for me was soooo much easier after vaginal birth. Ultimately it's your decision but just be aware of recovery time xxx

S x

 

[aimee-lou]

Thanks ladies - I'm seeing my consultant at ante-natal clinic next friday after my scan so I may ask him about it. I know that if I'm still low risk at 37 weeks he'll have no problem signing me over to MLU just as has been the case twice before now. I guess the labour I had with Eddy scared me a little - it's not the labour really, it's that damned toothache! lol Serious agony....having said that, if I can make sure I'm dosed up like last time then I should be ok (once I'd got my pain relief right - 2xparacetamol every 3 hours). I couldn't actually tell I was in labour until after my 2nd sweep I was that dosed up lol. I guess we will have to see....you never know, this LO may have other ideas and pop out on time and in the blink of an eye lol. Maybe even get my water birth- you know what they say - 3rd time's the charm! lol

Thanks for the posts and the pollers!

 

[LDC]

I may be the only one, but I chose c section on the poll (sorry!)

My reasons are - although I completely appreciate that you have two children to look after at home already and so that may be difficult - I had a big baby (10lb 1oz, how the hell did you manage 10lb 14oz?!) and she was back to back, combined with my size I physically couldn't get her out so ended up with an emcs after just over a two day labour.

Big babies are obviously more difficult to squeeze out than an average size baby and with a slow labour, sometimes that leaves you just as tired as essentially a c section will. I have to say my emcs was a really positive experience - I recovered quickly, which I think was helped by moving around, although very slowly, within hours of the operation which I was encouraged to do. I often in the days that followed had to remind myself that I'd had a major operation and that I needed to relax. Also whilst the risks are high for baby, they're also high in labour, especially if, like me, you don't progress or baby gets tired or stressed.

Sorry to be on the other side of the fence!

Xx

 

[lauren1991]

You's are do lucky I had my son by EMCS in November and I was told I can't have a normal delivery because my pelvis is too small x

 

[patch2006uk]

I may be the only one, but I chose c section on the poll (sorry!)

My reasons are - although I completely appreciate that you have two children to look after at home already and so that may be difficult - I had a big baby (10lb 1oz, how the hell did you manage 10lb 14oz?!) and she was back to back, combined with my size I physically couldn't get her out so ended up with an emcs after just over a two day labour.

Big babies are obviously more difficult to squeeze out than an average size baby and with a slow labour, sometimes that leaves you just as tired as essentially a c section will. I have to say my emcs was a really positive experience - I recovered quickly, which I think was helped by moving around, although very slowly, within hours of the operation which I was encouraged to do. I often in the days that followed had to remind myself that I'd had a major operation and that I needed to relax. Also whilst the risks are high for baby, they're also high in labour, especially if, like me, you don't progress or baby gets tired or stressed.

Sorry to be on the other side of the fence!

Xx

But the OP has already had 2 uncomplicated natural births, even with previous big babies. It's not the same situation as if you were deciding whether to VBAC or repeat c-section, as the OP has already 'proved' her body can deliver. Why assume suddenly it won't be able to?

 

[LDC]

I may be the only one, but I chose c section on the poll (sorry!)

My reasons are - although I completely appreciate that you have two children to look after at home already and so that may be difficult - I had a big baby (10lb 1oz, how the hell did you manage 10lb 14oz?!) and she was back to back, combined with my size I physically couldn't get her out so ended up with an emcs after just over a two day labour.

Big babies are obviously more difficult to squeeze out than an average size baby and with a slow labour, sometimes that leaves you just as tired as essentially a c section will. I have to say my emcs was a really positive experience - I recovered quickly, which I think was helped by moving around, although very slowly, within hours of the operation which I was encouraged to do. I often in the days that followed had to remind myself that I'd had a major operation and that I needed to relax. Also whilst the risks are high for baby, they're also high in labour, especially if, like me, you don't progress or baby gets tired or stressed.

Sorry to be on the other side of the fence!

Xx

But the OP has already had 2 uncomplicated natural births, even with previous big babies. It's not the same situation as if you were deciding whether to VBAC or repeat c-section, as the OP has already 'proved' her body can deliver. Why assume suddenly it won't be able to?

It was just my opinion is all, I'm not saying its right, just giving another view. I was assuming that various sides would be shared as she's not sure on what to do, even if some people can deliver naturally its not always a pleasant experience.

Sorry if people think I'm wrong x

 

[patch2006uk]

I may be the only one, but I chose c section on the poll (sorry!)

My reasons are - although I completely appreciate that you have two children to look after at home already and so that may be difficult - I had a big baby (10lb 1oz, how the hell did you manage 10lb 14oz?!) and she was back to back, combined with my size I physically couldn't get her out so ended up with an emcs after just over a two day labour.

Big babies are obviously more difficult to squeeze out than an average size baby and with a slow labour, sometimes that leaves you just as tired as essentially a c section will. I have to say my emcs was a really positive experience - I recovered quickly, which I think was helped by moving around, although very slowly, within hours of the operation which I was encouraged to do. I often in the days that followed had to remind myself that I'd had a major operation and that I needed to relax. Also whilst the risks are high for baby, they're also high in labour, especially if, like me, you don't progress or baby gets tired or stressed.

Sorry to be on the other side of the fence!

Xx

But the OP has already had 2 uncomplicated natural births, even with previous big babies. It's not the same situation as if you were deciding whether to VBAC or repeat c-section, as the OP has already 'proved' her body can deliver. Why assume suddenly it won't be able to?

It was just my opinion is all, I'm not saying its right, just giving another view. I was assuming that various sides would be shared as she's not sure on what to do, even if some people can deliver naturally its not always a pleasant experience.

Sorry if people think I'm wrong x

Not at all, hun. I had an EMCS with DS too, so I know birth doesn't always go to plan. But in this partic case, electing for a c-section after having 2 vaginal births already, with no underlying medical reason, just doesn't make sense IMO. But that's only my opinion too - it'd be dull if we all agreed on everything

 

[jess77]

I didnt vote as theres wasnt an option for what I am going to say. what I would do is have a hospital birth, and have epidural as soon as possible with your history. This will help with the long, slow labour as you will be able to rest etc.Then if by some chance there is a complication and you need a section, you have the epidural already in, but there is still a chance you could deliver normally but with a epi. The only reason why I would want to go into hospital and do this for is the 'just in case' scenario. I had an induction which failed, and I had to have a section BUT it was WAY smoother transition as I already had the epidural put in before the pitocin was pumped up. Yeah my story ended in a section but yours may not, wouldnt you want to have the medical team there just in case what happened to you before happens again?.