Might have to travel 3 hrs to Melb for a CS - at how many weeks might they do it?

Hello,

Not sure if anyone can help, but I'm wondering if anyone has been/is in a similar situation and knowns what might happen.

I'm pg with #2, and have a low placenta. I'm booked in for a scan at 34wks to confirm where it is (fingers crossed it will have moved up). My ob has been doing regular scans each time I visit, and so far it has not moved up. At the last scan at 30wks, he said that the placenta might be over my previous cs scar.

If the placenta stays low, I will be booked in for an elective cs at 38 or 39wks at the hospital about 35mins from where I live. Due to other complications with antibodies, I will not be allowed to go past 40wks, so am in line to have a cs no matter what happens.

However my ob has said that if the placenta is over the scar, I will need to have the baby by cs in Melb (I think at the Mercy in H'berg), as the hospital up here is not well equiped if something goes wrong and apparently there is a higher risk of needing a blood transfusion etc etc when doing a cs where the placenta is over the previous scar. Melb is 3hrs + by road and 1 hr flying from where I live.

So, given my DS was born at 37wks 4days, I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas about when I would be booked into Melb for a CS? Do you think that I could be booked in at 37wks, or would they go for 38 or 39 and just take the chance that I will not go into labour early, and if I do, get me down there asap? DS was born by emergency cs after my waters broke, but then labour failed to progress after being induced 12 hrs later so its not like I have a history of speedy labour!

Any thoughts - the hypothetical is doing my head in!
Thanks
FG

So did you go into labour by yourself last time? They usually take this into account. I would *think* if you did then they would want you in there around 37 weeks or even suggest that maybe your could stay closer to the hospital at the end of you pregnancy.

If it were me, I would book in later and give your bubba a chance to cook longer, but have a plan to come closer (if you can) for the last few weeks, either that or of bubs comes early know if you can get airlifted.

What was your last labour like? Could u drive 3 hours in labour (early) if you needed to? (my labors are full on from the start, so I wouldn't be able to drive for 3 hours)



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Last time was a bit funny - my waters broke by themselves in the evening, and then nothing. I went to the hospital the next day where they confirmed that they had broken, and then they put me on the drip to start the contractions, but I never dilated past 4cm after 8+hrs of being induced so 24hrs after my waters broke they did the cs. Dont know why I did not have contractions naturally, clearly my body was not yet ready to have the baby even thought my waters broke - no one has really explained what happened or why - just one of those things that happen!

My waters broke at 37+6 with DD1 and I didn't go into labour until at least 12 hours later, ending up with a c/s due to foetal distress. DD2 I went into labour at 39+4 and it was quick, I was 5cm within 3 hours (ended up with another c/s though). So you may not be earlier with #2 but you may also be quicker if you do go spontaneously!

I would voice your concerns with your OB but I would also look at options of staying closer to Melbourne from 37 weeks if possible, just in case.

They tend to not like to deliver baby before 38wks now, they did go through a stage where 37wks was ok but its back to 38wks now. I would say they will book u in for 38 to 39wks but suggest you go to melbourne from 36wks to be near the hospital.

Hypothetically if your placenta is low lying, you do not want to go into labour at all hun, because as soon as it starts you risk the placenta bleeding as it is right near the cevix as it opens. they will more than likely gievn that you went into natural at 37+4 last time be looking at delivery at 37 weeks no later.....you do not want to go into labour with a low lying placenta of that nature.

Thanks everyone...has given me something to think about! I have not yet told family about what is happening but sounds like I might need to give them the heads up sooner rather than later to start organising contingency plans - plus might need to cancel xmas at our place (yep I was planning on doing xmas).

I would love to go further than 38wks with this one as DS had trouble feeding etc when born and they were saying that he was acting a bit prem - so I would like this one to bake a bit longer, and if that means I have to go to Melb to be closer to the hospital but it means that they might let me go longer then so be it - wonder if I will be up for any shopping!

Fingers crossed that when I have the proper scan at 34 wks all is ok and I can stay up here!

Thanks again for the thoughts and advice.
FG