I want an elective c section... and don't want to be bullied!

[angejoy]

Oh my goodness ... am I with you 100% on this one. I live in Melbourne and was wondering if you found someone who would give your elective c-section, I want one too!

[~Jo~]

Aww Puppies..totally your choice hon..I am totally supportive of women making choices for THEM...funny that men just dont seem to have the same sillyness..ie bottlefeeding vs breast, csection vs natural, drugs vs painfree and working mums vs sahms..and the list goes on. We need to be supportive of each other as women, all making choices that we feel are right for us at the time.

I would just say that having gone through this route, and as someone else has already mentioned, it can impact on your birth choices later, should you change your mind regarding another baby. Im sure you will have considered this already. After the birth of my first two with quite horrific intervention I chose the elective route and havent been able to get out out it. Just something to consider(which you no doubt have done).

Love and hugs to you and bump sweetie

Jo

[Counting Days]

PRO CHOICE

its time to stop looking at elective c/s as a failure and second rate birth

I will be also having an elective for my second child, due to dramas with the first and an emergency c/s

[~Debbie~]

Well done puppies on being strong enough in yourself to be able to make that decision, and then being brave enough to announce it when you expected critisim.
As you enter motherhood, there are a few things that can be counted on.. one of them is the fact that no matter what decision you make, someone, somewhere will knock you for it, either openly, secretly, or, slyly.
You need to work out what you want, and stick to your guns, its your body, your family, your baby boy, and ultimately, that is all that matters, be it now with you c/s, or in further down the track when it comes to the million other decision that you will have to make.
Best of luck, the decision that is best for you, and your bub, is the best decision.

[puppies]

Thank you all for your support and your opinions either for or against. I am seriously at peace with my decision and and now excited and looking forward to our little man arriving in just 4 more sleeps! I am not at all worried about the surgery. I just feel so confident and trust that God has it all in his hands and that this will be the best way for our chubby boy to come into this world.

Now I am just trying to fill my last days so that they go quickly cause I can hardly contain myself! But at the same time I am also trying to savour the last days of my pregnancy as this will be our only child and I have loved being pregnant so much it has been the most amazing experience of my life and I feel very blessed for having it.

[scooby]

Hey Puppies not sure if i ll get on in the next few days so just wanted to wish you all the very best with your CS hope you have a speedy recovery and ill be looking for any tips or advise you have after (if im still around sceduled 13th Jan) Anyways all the very best for you and your beautiful bub to be. ENJOY!!!!!!!

[~mamaspice~]

Puppies. all the best for the 6th January. I totally agree about pregnancy being the most amazing thing. I loved mine too and can't wait to do it all again. If I can give you any advice re: the elective cs. I couldnt get an ounce of sleep the night before mine, because I just couldn't stop thinking about what was about to happen the next day. It was quite cruel really because I didn't get much sleep there onwards for a few weeks (new baby and all ) so do what you have to do to get some sleep that night. Not sure if the Ob can even prescribe you a slight sedative? I know I will be asking for one should I end up having another elective cs.

The other thing is, always keep an open mind that a cs doesn't always go exactly to plan. I wish I had have written a CS birth plan covering all possible scenarios. You see, with me, they couldn't get the epidural to work so I ended up needing a general and in hindsight I wish I had have had bubs first moments and hour of life videoed so I could watch everything that I'd missed out on. I'm not telling you this to freak you out. It's only about 1 in 100 who end up needing a general. I was just one of the unlucky ones.

Once again, best of luck for the 6th. YOur beautiful little man will be in your arms so soon

[puppies]

Thanks Spice and Scooby for your well wishes. I really appreciate them. I am so excited not in the least bit nervous, I guess that just goes to show that I have made the right decision for me. I am planning on resting up really well today and tomorrow to try and just get myself as calm as possible so that the surgery and recovery are as best as they can be, if you know what I mean.

I will for sure post as soon as I can about how everything went and to try and give you some heads up Scooby. By the way my BB group told me yesterday that you aren't meant to have painted toe nails in CS, did you know that? Its a bummer cause I especially got a pedi on Friday for the big event! Ahh well its no biggy.

Anyways, 2 more sleeps to go and at last we get to meet our little man. I pray with all my heart and soul that he is healthy and not traumitised at all. I can't wait to meet him!

[sunshine_sieben]

Why aren't you meant to have painted toenails????? I have never heard of that before.
Good luck with everything!
Saša

[Liviam]

Best of luck meeting your gorgeous little man gorgeous. Wishing you a speeding recovery and enjoy your babymoon!! Can't wait to read your birth announcement.

[Michelle71]

Painted toenails are ok. Fingernails need to be free of nail polish to ensure accurate oxygen saturation measurements.

[tiggerandpooh]

Puppies - how exciting - two more sleeps til you hold you little man in your arms, and begin a new journey as a family of three. This is an amazing time. I remember how I felt the few days before my DD (who turned 13 yesterday!!) was born. I was sooooooo excited, and just couldn't wait to hold her in my arms.

I have had three c/s, the second being an emergency as I had gone into labour 4 weeks early, and the placenta had started to abrupt. My third was two years ago, and was my best birth experience - in spite of having gestational diabetes, and being very concerned that something would go wrong for either me or my little boy. I was encouraged, and able to, express alot of colostrum before we went to theatre, so that he could be given it via syringe to ensure his blood sugar level's didn't drop. I had a midwife and a student midwife with us, a theatre nurse took photos, and some video for us as well, so I have some brilliant shots of him arriving into the world. He was placed skin to skin, and had his first suckle in theatre while they were stitching me up, and doing the tubal ligation I had requested. He was with me in recovery, and stayed cuddled in my arms when we were wheeled from recovery to maternity ward. All those "vital stats" weren't preformed until he was 4hours old, when he needed to have his BSL done again (had to be checked 4hrly for 48hours). It was an amazing wonderful experience that I will remember forever. I'm so glad that my last birth experience was such a positive one.

I don't feel any less of a woman or mother because I didn't "birth" my baby vaginally. Having experienced labour, and then an emergency c/s as well as having two electives I am no less a woman or mother then my fellow women who have birthed vaginally. I agree with you - it sometimes seems that the sisterhood that should be there amongst women has disappeared to be replaced by judgement and bullying. One of my favourite books is The Red Tent where women hold each up and support each other. anyway - I digress.

If you can get someone to take photos do. and if the antheatist (spelling??) offers you something to help you stay calm if you are feeling anxious, take it. I suffer from acute anxiety disorder, so I know how dibilatating it can be.

Looking forward to hearing all about the arrival of your son. x

[paradise lost]

Wow, time has flown!

Best of luck with the birth and recovery Puppies, i can't WAIT to read your announcement!



Bx

[scooby]

hey puppies
Yes i wondered about the painted toenails mine really need doing i took the old stuff off on the weekend and was going to re paint, but remembered from my ectopic they made me take it all off, although that was a general?!?! You must be soooooo excited!!!
Spice thanks for that i wondered how well id sleep the night before? Sleeps not happening much as it is and i can just imagine the ticking over that will go on the day before!
Well once again all the best puppies

[puppies]

Thanks girls,
well I am all booked in now for first thing in the morning. We need to be there at 6am and it won't be long after that that we will go into theatre. You think that I would be nerves but I am not in the slightest. I am just wanting to hear my little boy cry and see that he is ok and that I am ok from the surgery and the rest I couldn't care less about.
We have told all our family and friends that we are booked in on Thursday and only a couple of people know that its actually tomorrow now. Its just a nice surprise we think plus it gives us some time to bond without feeling like we are bombarded with visitors.
Anyway, I am looking forward to it and certainly not clock watching like I thought I would. I just feel so much peace about it and I am sure I will even sleep well tonight. DH is cooking my fav dinner and then we will walk the pup and then watch a bit of TV before heading off to bed. I have just rested up today and watched some dvd's and just sat their feeling and looking at my bump since this is the last day that I will have it. I have grown quiet attached to my bump and in some ways will miss it. But having our little boy will make up for that.
Thanks again girls and I will post my birth story as soon as I am up for it.

[Snowy Love]

All the best for tomorrow puppies! Enjoy getting to know your little bub!

[Arimeh]

I'd wish you luck, but you don't need it - you will be fine.

Have a good birthing day tomorrow. Don't freak out when you feel like your legs are bent, but they aren't. its a freaky feeling - just roll with it babe.

All the best!!! *mwah*

[maz]

Your baby will benefit from as much womb time as possible. Although 38 weeks is considered full term, all babies develop differently. So maybe consider having your c/s closer to 39 weeks??? Your baby might naturally come at 41 weeks, so delivering him at 38 would be 3 weeks before he is ready. I know you have been told he is big, but big doesn't neccesarily mean fully developed. And I'm sure you know how inaccurate these guesstimations can be.

Sadly not in my case if my c/s would have been tthe week earlier (when I told the doc's somethign was wrong) then my little man might have had a better chanch of not getting blood clots due to the cord being wrapped around his neck 3 times and his placenta calcifying. We was born at 38 week gest and my pead said if he went any further he may not of survived at all.

Puppies honey...I wish you all the best for tomorrow honey...I remember my last nights with all my bumps and jed and I did exactly what you and DH have been doing tonight...it is a little sad as you get so attached but think of the gorgeous little man that you'll be holding tomorrow.

Here's to a quick recovery for you babe...remember to hold your tummy when you try getting up afterwards and especially if you need to sneeze or cough..otherwise it hurts.

I look forward to reading all about tomorrow in the near future