Did you have a scheduled CS?

**Miss E** · September 8th, 2011, 11:54 AM

I've read that one of the greatest risks with a CS is that the baby will have breathing difficulties and require resussitation at birth. I actually remember being told when I pregnant with DS that if I ended up having a CS don' be alarmed if they come out blue...

With DS, he was crying before he was even out of my belly and had apgar scores of 9 and 9. But I wonder if that is because he had been through a long labour prior to the CS and so was physiologically ready to be delivered iykwim?

I'm wondering if the breathing issues are more likely with a scheduled CS... So it would be great to know, if you had a scheduled CS, at full term or close to term, did you LO experience breathing difficulties.

**Glamourcide** · September 8th, 2011, 12:04 PM

I found this article a while ago and thought it was very interesting in terms of how uterine contractions stimulate babies' lungs, and how scheduled/elective c-secs could be a risk if mum hasn't gone into labour (whether induced or spontaneously) prior to bub being born.
Cesarean Birth and SIDS | January 2006 | RT: For Decision Makers in Respiratory Care

**Charlotte91** · September 8th, 2011, 12:09 PM

DD was a special case with her need immediate surgery. But she had APGARs of 9 and 9, which was awesome considering she was delivered at 34+1 weeks.
I was told 10 days before "turn up next Friday for your c/s".
She was on a ventilator for 4 days afterwards (mainly as a precaution, they wanted her to recover from the surgery and not waste too much engery on breathing on her own), but she was still doing most of her own breathing.
She has never had any issues with her breathing.

**Miss E** · September 8th, 2011, 12:41 PM

I found this article a while ago and thought it was very interesting in terms of how uterine contractions stimulate babies' lungs, and how scheduled/elective c-secs could be a risk if mum hasn't gone into labour (whether induced or spontaneously) prior to bub being born.
Cesarean Birth and SIDS | January 2006 | RT: For Decision Makers in Respiratory Care

Thanks hun, that is a great article! Have to say it confirmed what I suspected. But I did google a bit more and found out that the study comparing elective and emergency CS babies was only based on 13 in each group... Unfortunately I can't find any further research.

**Cally** · September 8th, 2011, 12:50 PM

I had a scheduled Csection because DD was breech. She had no breathing issues and I think had Agpar of 8. That was at 39+3 weeks.

**Rach75** · September 8th, 2011, 12:58 PM

I have had both emergency and elective

emergency after failed induction that resulted in significant fetal distress Jack had apgars of 2 and 4 was sec's off requiring ventalation 37 weeks
elective Luke came out quiet but had apgars of 9 and 9 beautiful and pink he just didn't cry

38 weeks

**Janie71** · September 8th, 2011, 01:00 PM

I had an emergency CS after labouring for 30 hours (severe PE, dilation was not progressing at all and DD was in distress). DD did not breath when she first came out Apgar score was 4 and then after 5 mins it was 9. They had to mask her and compress to get her breathing. I don't know if her breathing problems may have had something to do with the fact that there was meconium in my waters when they broke). The Paed just described her as being a bit stunned.

Janie xxx

**~StarBright~** · September 8th, 2011, 01:05 PM

DS was scheduled for the wednesday, (due to previous csection) but i went into labour on the saturday night. I laboured all night mildly and went in for the csection at about 6am. His apgars were 9 & 10. He didnt cry though, he just kind of murmered and made a weird noise lol

Again with DD I started getting contractions a few days before the schelduled date. This time though labour didnt progress at all. After a night and day of contractions though we went ahead with the csectionand she had apgars of 9 and 9. Teirae can probably tell you exactly how she was breathing wise lol she was the midwife who was there

She did give a good scream when she came out though (DD not Teirae

)

**Glamourcide** · September 8th, 2011, 01:11 PM

Thanks hun, that is a great article! Have to say it confirmed what I suspected. But I did google a bit more and found out that the study comparing elective and emergency CS babies was only based on 13 in each group... Unfortunately I can't find any further research.

No worries, hun

Definitely food for thought for anybody considering an elective c-sec imo

Thanks for checking it out a bit more, I hadn't had a chance to look into the cited sources and get a more in-depth picture, but the article really struck a chord with me.

**ElleJay** · September 8th, 2011, 01:58 PM

I'll come back in Jan and tell you

I'm having an elective c-sec this time because I just can't physically give birth naturally (my hips don't expand and move to make way for baby to come through due to me dislocating it when I was 15). I had an emergency c-section with DS after being in labour for 4 and a half to 5 days and we'd only discovered when I was basically screaming through contractions at the hospital that I wasn't dilating past 4cm - we then discovered DS was in distress and that he was swallowing his own poo. We could have lost him, but got him out just in time. But, when he did come out, he came out and cried after a minute. His Apgar score was 8 + 9

**KitFaerie** · September 8th, 2011, 03:18 PM

I had elective c/s at 40+5 after 3 days of pre-labour, agpar scores of 8 and 9 and he cried pretty much straight away. He did have fluid on his lungs for the first night though.

**mrscricket** · September 8th, 2011, 12:06 PM

I had a scheduled CS with DS - he was breech, and I had no labour at all with him. He was born at 38 weeks 2 days. He did have breathing difficulties when born - he was given air and only had a apgar score of 4. He took ages to cry as well. I was crying and saying "What's going on? What's going on?" because I knew they were meant to cry! BUT he did have the cord wrapped around his neck 3 times

so I'm not sure how much difference it made.
The twins (VBAC) came out screaming!

**Glass half full** · September 8th, 2011, 01:01 PM

I had elective c-section for placenta previa at 38+4. I had no signs of labour being close (comparing to what I experienced before I went into labour with ds) Her apgar was 9 and 9, no breathing difficulties, crying and fed really well in recovery. Guess you can just never tell how 'ready' bub is until they're out.

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**~mamaspice~** · October 7th, 2011, 01:14 PM

Both of my CS were "elective" first at 38+1 weeks and second at 38+5. both came out screaming. Both had apgars of 9 and 9. Neither were suctioned. Ds didn't even go to the paed/resus table. He was given straight to me. Statistically an elective cs can increase respiratory distress but it's definitely not always the case

**[M]umma[M]ia** · October 7th, 2011, 01:20 PM

I did. At 38+5 and DD2 was fine, came out screaming and had apgars of 9 and 10. No issues here.

**~~Snoogans~~** · October 7th, 2011, 01:21 PM

Mama Spice - I am sitting here *googling* lol

I'm sure this bub would be like yrs and have no problems when she comes out, but ...

I just hate being made to schedule my, *bub to be*, to come earlier than bub wants too!

Hubby called the hospital today, but they are no darn help :| so guess on the 19th when we go see the Resident I will try, yet again, to get them to wait until closer to 40 weeks

I would even be happy if it was booked in a week later! not asking much I wouldn't have thought!

Starting to stress me out a bit actually, the not having control of the whole situation!

But again, thanks to everyone who is replying