Caesarean General Chatter & Discussion #8

[*charmalea*]

i have no idea why the c/s is booked in for 39 weeks ... they actually like them to do them at 38 weeks ....so a doc told me 38-39 is the time where repeat c/s are booked ..

i think im so worried about needing to have labour this time round i was wanting to see if my body was ready and doing its thang .... but if you can go into labour with out a ripe cervix , then i may just wait ... ( i am totally naieve about labour!!)

but inductoion is an another issue too ...


but i totally get the word "elective" it is so wrong in many cases ....


i was at a party on the week end and so many people who didnt even know me asked what sort of birth i was having , c/s or vag .... one person just said are you going to have a ceaser .. as if it was an easy option ..... yeah its easy someone doing all the work to get baby out ... but it aint no picnic after that !!!!

[Mummatotwo!]

[QUOTE=Tanstar;1302643]Mummatotwo- Im sorry about your hospital not being supportive hun. My VBAC will be 16 1/2 mths after I had my DD by emergency c/s and the hospital I am going to is supportive - they have said the risk of scar rupture is a TEENY bit higher but nothing significant or anything to worry about so it's interesting that they won't let you even attempt to labour. There isn't even any research done - most hospitals suggest 18mths gap but even then, people have vbac'd sucessfully with less of a gap. Is it too late to look at going elsewhere? Is that possible for you? I know it is late but it might very well be worth it if it means you avoid unecessary major surgery.

QUOTE]

"apparantly" this is a qld health regulation. which i just think is a crock!! its not fair
plus, when the midwife told us the apparant risks, it totally panicked my dp, so he is in aggreeance with them, which doesnt help my fight does it.

Mummatotwo - I understand the sadness of your decision for a repeat c-section. I too have strong opinions on VB but have never been able to achieve it. I firmly believe that every mother should be supported in her birthing choices no matter what decision she makes, so long as she is fully informed. I agree that the term elective is just so wrong. It implies a choice that we don't always have. I was bullied into the c-section first time round and given inaccurate information but they still called it elective!! Hope you find support for a maternal assisted c-section.



TICKLISH

yep this is what i am pushing for, and the hospital seem quite happy with it. the thing is though, if i go into labour and have an "emergency" c section they will not do maternal assisted. because they only do MA on elective..

i have no idea why the c/s is booked in for 39 weeks ... they actually like them to do them at 38 weeks ....so a doc told me 38-39 is the time where repeat c/s are booked ..

i think im so worried about needing to have labour this time round i was wanting to see if my body was ready and doing its thang .... but if you can go into labour with out a ripe cervix , then i may just wait ... ( i am totally naieve about labour!!)

but inductoion is an another issue too ...


but i totally get the word "elective" it is so wrong in many cases ....


i was at a party on the week end and so many people who didnt even know me asked what sort of birth i was having , c/s or vag .... one person just said are you going to have a ceaser .. as if it was an easy option ..... yeah its easy someone doing all the work to get baby out ... but it aint no picnic after that !!!!

no its no picnic, and i am concerned about this, as i have a 18 month at home that i also have to care for. how do i pick him up a week after a c section?
i wonder if i am entitled to meals on wheels or any assistance like that.
i know i dont get midwife visits after the op as i live too far away. it seems like its all care and no responcibility

[Beach Mama]

Charmalea - get a hold of New Active Birth hun - it is SO worth the read. If you can't get a copy, then read as many articles on here and elsewhere about the stages of labour etc. so that even if you do end up in a c/s you will know you go in knowing you have done everything you possibly can. Don't forget that nobody can make you do anything in hospital that you don't give consent to. Do not let them bully you into it and question everything. When in labour there are a number of books that recommend that before ANYTHING is done to you, you ask the following questions-
WHAT? are you going to do and what will it do?
WHY? are you going to do it
WHAT? will happen if I say no now but maybe yes later???? I wish now that I remembered this in labour with Isabelle but I think that even with booking in a c/s that even if they say it is policy, you can qeustion why in other states and countries they let vbac'ers go longer (The answer is that there is NO proof or studies to show that the c/s needs to be booked so early) You can say no.

Read these articles (even if you have read them!) and print them off to take with you when you go to your next appointment hun. Check out the birthrites website which is absolutely fabulous.
Uterine Rupture https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/vbac-vaginal-birth-after-caesarean
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/vbac-on-whose-terms
Sorry I seem pushy hun, I just feel so passionately about all of this - Yep Im worried about what is going to happen for my VBAC - BUT I am doing absolutely everything I can to ensure I give it my best shot. Im going to have acupucture later on to try ot induce labour if I have'nt gone in spontaneously, I am exercising so that I am fit enough to have a very active birth, I am printing off reams of paper of info to give to my hospital if they even mention the words 40 weeks and C/S in the one breath. I know that my body is made to do this given a chance.

Mummatotwo - Im sorry your DH is worried too hun - get him to read the links above as well. Were you induced with your first??? Let him know that the risk of uterine rupture is the same for a first time induced mother as it is for us attempting VBAC. I know I wasn't told of the risks so why do they put such a fine point on it when we are going for a VBAC. Our risks of DYING or needing a hysterectomy, of baby being damaged and needing breathing assistance, need blood transfusions etc are all MAJOR risks of c/s - did the midwife go through those risk?? Nope, interesting isn't it.
It is a hard choice to make hun regarding your maternal assisted c/s. Just remember that the rate of success for vbac in Australia is around 70-80% so you have a pretty good shot at it if you have good support people. I have the same concerns regarding my girl. She will be 16 1/2 mths when bub arrives and the thought of not being able to pick her up and look after her properly kills me. That is one of my main motivations to fight as much as I can and to educate myself as much as I can on VBAC because midwives and obs don't seem to be as concerned as I am of the much bigger risk associated with me having a c/s rather than having a birth.

Ticklish - It is hard not to just yell at people and make them realise what a traumatic and horrid experience c/s can be. They do seem to think it is the easy way out. My GF had her DD in Jan, and she used to say things like, Oh I don't want the pain in my vj so I might just end up telling them I want a c/s or induction etc - it was hard but I begged her not to, and kept reminding her of what I was like even 4 weeks post-op.

I feel like saying to people - if you had a choice, would you CHOOSE to have major abdominal surgery - like a hysterectomy, for no reason? ( I know some people have good reason and that is different) of course not and the same goes for women birthing after a c/s.

Gosh Im rambling on ladies - sorry, will get off my soapbox now, but I just really wanted to encourage you all because I feel like all 4 of us are in the same boat, with the same fears and are facing the same walls against us. I just feel that we DO have a choice. We are smart, educated women who care about our babies, our bodies and how we are going to bring these babies into world and I for one know I am not going to lie down (literally) and let them walk all over me for no reason.

to you all!!!!!! and if I have offended or overstepped here, I do apologise. Mods we are chatting about vbac and being a bit negative about c/s in a general chatter section so if you prefer we could move to a thread in the vbac section.

[Mummatotwo!]

tanster, we are def on the same page.

if i had my way (which i should, its my body right?) then i would be hbing my baby with a doula and a independant middy. with hospital as a back up.

Nah, of course the middy at the hospital didnt speak of the risks involved with a c section. they never do. and i find that disguisting!
i wasnt induced with ds, i went into spontanious labour at 40 weeks he was born by c section on his due date. i was in labour for 37 hours though, so i was tired, and the oxytocin was causign issues... again, they didnt tell me the risks with THAT either. but i wont vent about my past c section. i have done that for 18 months now, and to be honest, i am in an ok place about it i jsut want a positive gentle beautiful birth for this one.

[SamanthaP]

There is no QLD Health regulation regarding spacing of births or anything like that. That's hospital bullying The oxytocin you're referring to is the same drug that is used in induction. So what Tanstar says is correct. Your risk of uterine rupture was just as high when you had that as it will be if you have a vaginal birth. It might help your DH to know that to keep things in perspective.

[plc1805]

Hi ladies - I have read the posts in this thread and I am very interested in everything you have to say. I am likely to have a c-section at the very end of the year or early next year. I had an unplanned c-s with DS after being in hospital for 30 hours and being only 5cm dilated and the hormone drip used (can't remember the name) was putting bubs in distress. So that ended my only chance of delivering naturally. It was inconclusive as to the reason I needed a c-s - probably either due to bubs size (4.1kg) or my size or both. It was evident from DS's head after birth that he had been quite stuck. My c-s experience after that was very positive and I was lucky enough to recover relatively well after it. My reason to have another c-s is mainly motivated by the 1% risk of uterine scar rupture - while low it is still a risk. Also, I may have a predisposition to having big babies and don't want my bub to potentially be at risk. My ob is open to both options of VBAC and repeat c-s. So that's me in a nutshell. As I said, I am keen to learn all that anyone has to say on the subject so that I feel more readily informed. Thanks also for the links.

[HotKim]

I've just had my first c-section (for medical reasons) after 3 vaginal deliveries.

Hopefully this won't go against the grain, but I had a positive, and empowering birth!!

I had to decide whether c-s was what I wanted which was the hardest part. In the end, either form of delivery carried risks (outside of the norm) for me and bubs so what I really needed was to be happy and feel confident about the choice I was making.

I nearly chickened out but duly showed up at the appointed time and went through with it. The day before I'd asked lots of questions about whether or not we would be seperated and for how long. I clearly stated my desire for my child not to leave me, that I wanted to be able to breastfeed straight away etc. In the end, bubs left my side (in hubby's arms) for about 10 minutes total and I was breastfeeding about 20 minutes after delivery which is about the same as after my vaginal deliveries.

I was very concerned about recovery but I was ready to get up less than 12 hours after. The staff made me wait till the next morning but I was on my feet just fine and in soooo much less pain than what I had anticipated. I left the hospital on day four and whilst I feel physically ready to resume my normal duties, I organised friends and family to help for the next four weeks and I'm determined to do as little as possible in that time to assist recovery.

I think I feel best of all that I made this decision, I accepted the risks and made my wishes clear and they were met. I simply cannot imagine how I would feel if the decision were forced upon me.

[Mummatotwo!]

There is no QLD Health regulation regarding spacing of births or anything like that. That's hospital bullying The oxytocin you're referring to is the same drug that is used in induction. So what Tanstar says is correct. Your risk of uterine rupture was just as high when you had that as it will be if you have a vaginal birth. It might help your DH to know that to keep things in perspective.

yes i realise that its the same drug.

Not trying to sound rude, but how do you know there isnt and QLD health regulation? I would like facts on this, evidence to support my case

[nic]

Ok, have a question about spinals for you girls.. I just got some paperwork from the anaesthetist explaining it all, and I was wondering how much do you actually feel with the spinal? I know you have the local injection first, then the spinal, but I can't remember any of it with DD as I was so tired and spaced out and in the middle of contractions!

Nic

[SamanthaP]

It doesn't sound at all like something QLD Health would have a regulation on. I just went to the site and searched - nothing. You can do that, go look through the site and see. That particular hospital might have a "policy" or a recommendation but that's different to a regulation. Next time you're going to your hospital why don't you ask to see a copy of their regulation, just for your own interest?