Question about going into labor before scheduled c-section..

boshi799

Hi  - I am just 37 weeks (so happy I made it this far!) and my c-section is scheduled for a week from Tuesday. I know the whole process for the scheduled c-section, but am confused about what happens if I go into labor before that, which is obviously a very real possibility. Some of my questions are below:

 - How quickly will they get me in for a c-section once I get to the hospital?

- What if I am in active labor and in pain when I get to the hospital - can they give me something to control the pain of contractions before I get in to the c-section?

I guess that is all. My main concern is that am I going to have to labor in pain for hours if they can't get me in for the surgery right away? I am getting nervous, not so much for the surgery but for the process and the unknown of how this will happen. Thank you!

mrscalkins

Is there a reason you are a scheduled c-section?  Like placenta previa, position of the babies, etc?  If so, they aren't going to make you wait long because it's a situation that puts the babies at risk.  You might not be in the maternity OR, but I'm sure the hospital you are planning on delivering at will have OR available.  All else fails, the ER. 

 That being said, labor generally does not come on that fast.  At least no so fast that you won't have time to get an epidural in place.  Or they will use general anesthesia on you. 

Congrats on making it to 37 weeks!  Talk over your concerns with your OB. 

boshi799

Thanks - I am having a c-section b/c of the position of the babies, so that all makes sense!

mrscalkins

Ok.  Trust me, they aren't going to be piddling around with you.  Should you even go in the middle of the night, on call docs and nurses will be brought in to assist with the operation should they need it. 

rach*champp*3-1

Congrats on making it to 37 wks!!  I had a scheduled section b/c both babies were breech.  But I went into labor at 35 wks.  I was having painful contractions that were coming regularly for a few hrs so I went in like normal and they monitored me.  Gave me some meds to stop the contractions but nothing worked.  I had been dialated to a 1 since 28 wks (pre term labor) and when I got there my cervix had not changed.  But after they monitored me for about 3 hrs they realized that the contractions were not stopping and after checking me a few times said my cervix had definitely changed but did not tell me what I was dialated to.  Once they determined I was in "active labor" all the wheels were in motion.  A ton of people came in and got me ready and wheeled me back to the OR and I feel like they were starting everything within minutes.  So it just depends on when they actually say you are in "active labor."  They did give me some pain meds for the couple hrs they were monitoring me although nothing like what an epidural would feel like. 

GL!

na24

Making it to 37 weeks is wonderful!

I had a scheduled c-section for 37 weeks and then went into labor on my own at 34w2d. ?My water broke and I went to the hospital and was evaluated very quickly, within minutes. ?Then they decided to wait and see if I progressed on my own or if we could head off having to deliver for a day or two, but I kept progressing, so they decided I had to deliver right away. ?(We needed to avoid vaginal delivery b/c Baby B was transverse.) ?From the time they decided I needed to have the c-section to the time I was being cut into was about an hour, total. ?It was very quick. ?They'll be able to give you an epidural or a spinal in time. ?And one good thing about having a c scheduled already is that your paperwork is somewhat more streamlined than it would be if you hadn't already scheduled it. ??