should i have a c section ?

[shazza]

im pregnant with my fifth baby due july 12
my other children i had natural births and i loved it its the only way i ever done it but this baby im asking this question because my last child was a very big baby and she did get stuck but they were able to birth her .
there told me theres more risk to this baby as it might get stuck and im really scared there not going to be able to tell how big this child is .
my last pregnancy they left me two weeks late and she was just way to big honestly i dont think i could deleiver another huge baby again i would be too scared for my childs saftey i would never forgive myself if anything ever happen
so im asking you guys what do u all think?

[BekZ]

Congrates on your pregnancy..I am having a July baby too. I know there are heaps of ladies on BB that have birthed big bubs successfully. I hope some drop in and give you some advice. If I were in your shoes I would demand a 36wk scan to give you an idea of bubs size, I would also talk to your doctor about early induction and I would read up some information on birthing a large baby..You might be able to improve your position etc. Think about a birth plan where you can make the choice for an emergency c-section at a particular point in your labour. In saying all that if you feel that you and your baby would be safer by having a c-section by all means do it.

BellyBelly has an article about c-sections that is worth reading too. I hope a mod can help you find it.

Again all the best

[AJC]

I believe that if there is even a slight risk to Mum or Bub then a caesar is the way to go. To me when I had my little man last month all I wanted was for him to arrive safely and I knew a caesar was the safest way. If everything had been fine & I'd gone to term without complication then I would have preferred a natural birth but it just wasn't to be. I don't in any way feel cheated of the birth experience just because I had a caesar. But that is just my opinion.

[Heaven]

Check out this thread about large babies: Think you are too small? Then see this (birth images/nudity)

I think you can do it!! You have had 4 previous natural births and although maybe it does happen it is unlikely that you will grow a baby too big for you to birth Do all the reading you can about birthing a large baby to be prepared anyway JIC it is another big one. But I have complete faith in you!

[Ryatha]

I have only had one bubs and she was an emergency c-section because she was 'too big'. I think it was a combination of being a big bub (4.3kg) being very stressed and being late. This time around my obs is giving me a scan to see how big bubs is going to be and if big will let me induce early so there is a chance of delivering naturally - but then only letting me go for a certain time before they then order a c-section. That way I can have it both ways, try for a VBAC and have a c-section in case anything goes wrong.

Like the others say - read up on the options and have a chat to your obs to discuss all your options. Good luck with this pregnancy - and it looks like our due dates are only a few days apart - you can come and join our belly buddies thread if you like!

[Ginger]

can i ask how big your dd was?
i think the fact that you've had 4 previous vaginal births should really work in your favour of having another one.

[myson]

Shazza. I can understnd your concerns. the same thoughts of a cs cross my mind every now and then too.

my second bub was 9 pound, and 3 weeks early. and the doc says its more likely to have the next one bigger than smaller.

so rather than focus on cs i am doing more research into inductions. my preferance would be to have the bub a little early but vaginally rather than wait til term and risk a cs. but i know inductions can still end in cs anyway.

the 36 week scan may be a good idea but its not always accurate. my 36 week scan said DD2was already 10 pound but she came out a week later at 9 pound. Thats a large discrepancy in my book!

hope you find some answers matey. GL

[shazza]

rainforest
my last daughter was 12 pound 8 so yeah she was a huge baby
thanks everyone for there comments so far

[Oorki Galoorki]

Shazza i wouldnt have one as an elective surgery but leave it up to when your in labour. there are massive benifits to you and bub by going in to labour first.

[HotI]

my last daughter was 12 pound 8 so yeah she was a huge baby

12 pound 8, You deserve a medal!

Best of luck for your pregnancy.

[Lulu]

WOWEE! Were your other babies 'big' too, or did this one decide on a sumo career in utero?
You do deserve a medal and I can completely understand why you are thinking of a cs xoxoxoxox

[shazza]

no they were big but yeah not that big they were 9 pounds
so what would be my benefits if i was to go into labour first doudo?
thanks guys i dont think i deserve a medal i hate to deliver her had no choice but yeah wouldnt want to do it again

[Trillian]

Hi Shazza, it's a valid concern that you do have considering the size of your last bub. The benefits to bub of having gone through some labour first is that it will help prepare then for life in this bad old world by clearing all the muck out of their lungs and getting them ready for oxygen when they take their first breath. Some babies born via c/s suffer from respiratory disorders and may need resusitating or oxygen therapy at birth and oxygen for a few hours afterwards. But that may not be an issue at all - just saying that it can happen.

I would also consider the 'afterwards' of a c/s too - you will have 5 children that will need looking after and you wont be able to drive a car for at least 6wks. Not taking into account how well your recovery is too in regards to infection and wound healing. Unless you have great family support to help you through that then it's going to be really difficult to manage on your own

personally I would go for the vaginal birth, because shoulder dystocia (I assume thats how your last baby got stuck?) is a positional problem as opposed to a size problem most of the time - you did get her out in the end so that oughta count for something? Even if this baby is this size again, or larger, you need to equip yourself with the tools to birth a large baby - check our www.spinningbabies.com for some tips on this.

Good luck in deciding and if you have an other questions or just need support, then please don't hesitate to ask.

[~Raven~]

A friend of mine has 12lbers and they are just gorgeous! I can understand your apprehension though.

Was your position a factor in her getting stuck and how did they help to get her out?

[Oorki Galoorki]

As trillian has said its great for clearing out the passages(all of them ) but also the release of hormones are so benificial for mum and her feelings(baby blues) the natural hormone oxytocin is the love hormone that makes us feel all gushy and also the adrenalin keeps us awake for those first few hours until bubs goes to sleep.
and in the long term for your baby it means that those hormones were recieved and will do what they need to in babies body

[Ginger]

shazza- have you been offered a scan at 36weeks or anything so that you can get an idea on its size?
wow, she was a big baby wasn't she? is she still big for her age now?

[shazza]

raven that had to use the mcroberts maneurve to get her out i think thtas what it was called .
no rainforest i havent but dont worry i will be demanding one.
i remember when i first had dd they said to me if i ever did have another baby i would probably would get induced early and they would recommed a c section .
i asked my doctor about this when i first went and saw him about my pregnancy and he said he would have to wait until the end of the pregnacy to see what size the baby is .
im hoping they have a idea of this babys size because with dd i was induced2 weeks late and they had no idea she was going to be that size .
which i knew it was going to be big not that big but i was huge i mean huge like i was carrying twins
im hoping for a smaller baby this time as i still suffer back problems fromm dd .
thanks guys for this it really helps when i have people talking to me about this
thanks
also rainforest
she is still big for her size shes almost 19 kilos and shes only 2 turning 3 in april

[krisp]

Honestly Shazza only you can make that decision and only you know what you can comfortably cope with.
Both my bubs were smallish (DS 6lb11 and DD 7lb) and DS was born by emergency CS after a long and extremely difficult labour - he was firmly stuck. DD was a forceps delivery as she was stuck as well but I was determined to have a vaginal birth. I have had considerable problems post birth (significant tearing and the world worst haemorroids adter pushing for 2 hours) and would I do the same again? I really don't know.
Having said all that I have a girlfriend who delivered her second son who by the way was 10lb vaginally without any problems at all, no stitches and a 4 hour labour.
If you want the CS then have it, it doesn't mean you have taken the easy way out and it doesn't diminish the significance of your fifth birth. Each and every baby takes a different path into this world. For some it's a vaginal arrival and with others it's via the side window!
Give it some quiet thought, you'll instictively know what it right for you both. xx