What would you do!??

[MummaBear79]

I just recieved a phone call from my hospital where I am booked in to have my baby. This will be my 3rd cesear and although I did consider a Vbacx2 im just really not up to it. Anyway I am due on the 4th or 5th Oct and they just asked if I would like to have my cesear on the 24th Sept which will be 10 days early. Most hospitals cesear at 38 weeks, however the hospital im going to doesnt usually do it until 39. Apparently all the OB's are going away on school holidays, so they are trying to fit women in where ever they can. Like most women, I am totally over this pregnancy. My back is killing me, I cant sleep, and im really suffering trying to look after my other two boys. My heart immediately says yes to the 24th, just so I can 'not' be pregnant, but then something else tells me to wait. What do you guys think? I have to make a decision by tuesday.

[Phteven]

I know how hard these last days and weeks of pregancy are - especially when you have other littlies to look after but to be totally honest I do believe that our babies benefit from extra time in the womb. Without a c-section they choose when to come out themselves - there is a very complex physiological interaction between our body and the baby that is involved in labour starting.
When we have a c-section we choose when baby arrives and by-pass that interaction so c-scetion babies often arrive a little while before they are ready. With this in mind I think that the extra 10 days is of benefit to your bubba. His lungs can mature more and maybe your boobs will be better prepared for BF.
Good-luck with your decision - it's not an easy one.

[{sarah}]

If you are apprehensive I would wait, mother's intuition is a big thing. If you're worried about having the day set, you can always opt to not book in a date, but allow your body to start labour & then go into hospital at that point to have your c/s.

[C~Q]

I would wait too Claire. Are you worried you'll go into labour earlier then the date they book you in? WEre your other two quick? Eeven if you do go into labour earlier, they can get on with the C-Sec very quickly - Cassie came early and I think I was in surgery within the hour.

I know how over it you are though! It's a toughy!

[bailey99]

Mummabear, like you I will be having my 3rd c/s and would love to go a little early aswell, though I have been told at my hospital that they will book me in for 38 weeks. However as some of the other girls have said, follow your intuition, if there is something you are not quite sure about, then hold off for as long as you can. Good Luck!

[Claire-Bear]

I would try for that VBAC

[aussienic]

I would trust your instincts and wait.. I had my last son by elective c/s at 38 weeks. If this baby is measuring right on for its dates I am going to ask that they hold off till 39 weeks as well..

[BellyBelly]

Being a student midwife and a doula, I think you know what you need to do...

[lisa-jay]

Hi MummaBear79,
I agree with everyone else, as mothers we need to listen more to the little voices, our intuition is usually spot on.
I've had 4 kids and completely understand how exhausting it is, the last stages of pregnancy plus caring for other kids. But being a student midwife and a doula, you must know how important it is for the baby to stay snug and safe for as long as possible, unless "medical reasons" deem otherwise. These reasons are not medical, they are only of benefit to those offering the "available time slot". In reality, your baby could be as much as 4 weeks early on the date that you have been offered.
I know its tough, but try to hang in there.

[Julie Doula]

Hi Mummabear.

You have a few things weighing heavily that would move you in the direction of choosing the c/s:

- previous c/s - it's a known quantity for you
- the momentum of your caregivers - it's the path of least resistance
- you're tired and over it. Maybe more tired than you've ever been in your life right now.
- two healthy active pre-schoolers leaves you with little energy and time to focus on a possible path of greater resistance
- in the short term the c/s does seem like the easier road
- your own knowledge, as doula and m/w, if anything is likely to have a "reverse psychology" effect on you - and perversely , actually lean you in favour of the c/s.

I can understand that.

I can imagine how being so tired, and no doubt juggling and wrangling a bunch of other issues too, it would be easier to just say, "oh, whatEVER!!"

But even in this place of fatigue and feeling on the back foot about the whole thing, you know what, you have it in you to take a huge leap of faith and do something really radical. Even in our place of utter weakness, we women have something phenomenal in us that allows us to do this. You may feel like, "I don't have what it takes to do a VBAC and I don't have the time to obtain it" .... but I just want to encourage you: you can do it. Even from a place of weakness you can suddenly turn and wax stronger and scare the pants off your observers (and even yourself). Your body can do a VBAC. You are capable. Never mind physically - that's a given - but MENTALLY, emotionally, spiritually ... I believe you have the resources within you to do it. You wouldn't be where you are otherwise. You wouldn't be a mother of two and pregnant with a third if this were not so. It does not take very long for a woman who feels completely disempowered and cornered by her circumstances to find her roar, a flush of courage that makes her stand up and make a decision that gives others goose-bumps. Sometimes it only takes seconds. (I'm not suggesting that you are "disempowered", I'm just saying, as one who lived a huge chunk of her life that way, that it is even possible for women who are disempowered to access this strength within.)

This is not to advise or suggest that you should or could have a VBAC. The decision is yours alone. The reason I'm saying this, is because I want to remind you that the VBAC option is NOT out of the question for you. You know that saying, "If I don't know what my choices are, I don't have any"? When you know, deeply know, that you CAN have a VBAC, that your ARE able, you have the inner strength to do this - even in a condition of weakness - then it frees up your choices, and in the end, whatever you ultimately choose, you'll feel more peace about it.

Don't write yourself off for a VBAC darl. In your heart, choosing not because of current circs or on the basis of, or reaction against what any one else thinks, what do you really, really want? On a surface level, your weakness will say "FOR THIS TO ALL BE OVER OF COURSE!!!!" ..... but listen to the deeper song of your heart .... what do you really want?

Only you can know, only you can decide. That is your challenge.

Our challenge is to respect your choice.

[~Melly~]

So what did you decide to do, Claire? Is today the day?