Am I making the right choice to have a scheduled c-section?

kathleenmaguirerourke

Hi everyone,

My due date is tomorrow 4/30, and I have also made the decision to undergo an elective c-section in the morning.

When I was at the doctors today I had an ultrasound, NST, and was checked for dilation.

Baby is doing completely fine in there and I have had no pregnancy complications.

He is estimated to be 9 pounds, and is not engaged and dropping at all, he is still a “floating head”. I am not dilated at all, and he said my pelvis is extremely narrow.  It is his recommendation to take him out via c-section tomorrow due to all these circumstances.

He will not induce with pitocin if the baby is not engaged, so my choices were c-section, or wait until Monday 5/6 to wait and see if he comes by himself knowing the risks of having a small pelvis and big baby.

Since I am not dilated at all, I assume he won’t be coming on his own, and by the time he comes naturally he could be a pound bigger.

I on board with my doctors advice about 70% and know that the baby is better off on the outside at this point, but the other 30% of me wonders if I am letting him scare me since doctors are so c-section happy these days.

What would you do? Any input or advice is welcome.

Thanks Moms! 

tmblickley

There is no right or wrong answer.

The size estimates, I've heard, can be a pound off either way so 8 to 10 lbs is still on the large side. Regarding dilation, i was 0 cm at 39 weeks and 1 cm when i checked into the hospital after my water broke at 40 weeks.  4.5 hours later and i had a baby in my arms, so dilated or not doesnt really mean much either.

Just relax and go with your instincts.  Good luck!

nnewman4

Best of luck! Dilation means nothing. But if there's concern about the baby getting stuck, that can cause serious complications. You really need to trust your instincts and your doctors advice. Everyone is different, he could come naturally with no problems. You never know.

heyyitsbriana

After having a regular vaginal delivery and it going so smoothly I can’t imagine dealing with c-section recovery time. My advice would be to let nature take its course but it’s totally up to you! 

TheSouffleGirl

I had a baby whose head would not engage and wound up with a c section after laboring for 13 hours. I don't regret those hours because it could have worked out, but I won't lie: they were tense because the doctor was worried about cord prolapse & how stressful labor was for baby (she had long major heart drops twice).

LO also presented about every possible way in the process (about 4 hours of labor was just waiting/trying to turn her), and, in the end, the section was necessary because she got stuck face first.  

I do think you could go either way, but would not say your OB is being unreasonable in offering an elective section. 

ETA: I now realize you have probably made your decision already! Hope it went well. Will leave this here for others.