c-section possiblity

StephyMarie

I found out this week that I a c-section is probably in my future if I don't go until 40 weeks. At a 38 week ultrasound my baby measured about 9lb 1oz. My doctor does not want to risk birth trauma if he continues to grow. What should I expect if I have the c-section? What should I do to prepare?

magdalina.h

I wouldn't agree to a c/s based on the growth estimate. Lucas measured 40 weeks and over 8.5 lbs the Thursday before my c/s at 38w. He was exactly 7lbs.

Read the post below titled something about not knowing that about c/s. 

jb2rn

late term ultrasound can be more than a pound off...just say no. you may do just fine delivering your baby

ChiTown Bridget

jb2rn:

late term ultrasound can be more than a pound off...just say no. you may do just fine delivering your baby

This. At my 37w u/s my baby supposedly measured 8lbs. I delivered at exactly 38w and he was 6lbs5oz

linzica

Ditto PPs. My son measured at 8lbs 10oz at 38 wks and came out 8lbs 1oz at 40 wks. late term ultrasound measurements are not exact by any means. Not to mention i know more that a few women that vaginally delivered babies 10 lbs or more.

However, it's probably a good thing to look into just in case you need a c-section for any other reason.

AHogge2010

I went for my 40 week appt the Monday before my due date.  I was only 1 cm and 80% effaced, also baby was still high. My doctor sent me for a growth ultrasound. Baby measured 9lbs 12 oz. I went in for a scheduled section the following Thursday on my due date, 12-8-11.  When she was born, she was 9lbs 7oz. 21 1/2 inches long.  Sometimes those growth u/s can be close!  I am very thankful for the c-section as I think I would have had a hard time delivering vaginally.  

katmacwv

My u/s tech was really close on the measurement- at around 11am she estimated 8 lbs, 9 oz and when DD was born at 8:15pm, she weighed 8 lbs, 12 oz.  Some techs are really off with those measurements, but I trusted mine and am really glad I did.  When my water broke a few hours after the u/s, I wasn't thinned or dilated, so I know I would have been in for a long labor if I had even tried to push DD out.  My OB had told me from the beginning that I wouldn't be able to deliver a baby over 7.5lbs vaginally, so an estimate of more than a pound over that wasn't worth risking it for me.  When DD went on the scale, my OB immediately said that he thought we had done the right thing by opting for the c-section.

Since I had eaten lunch before my water broke, I had to drink some nasty stuff to neutralize stomach acid and I couldn't have anything to eat or drink afterward (and I was dying for water or something to wash that nasty stuff down).  The spinal really wasn't bad, but I was surprised how exposed I felt on the table when I could feel the docs flopping my legs down for the incision.  I also had a lot of shivering and shaking and a general feeling of cold in the OR and in recovery.  During the night, I kept scratching my face due to the spinal.  They gave me benedryl, but that didn't help.  Thankfully, all of that stuff wore off by morning and I was fine.  I took the Motrin/Advil the hospital gave me and really didn't need anything else for pain except on a couple of occasions when I overdid it once I was home and when I went to get my staples out a week after my c-section.

Good luck if you end up having a c-section.

akayf

My dr induced me because I was measuring large.    My first son was 8 lbs 3 oz at 39 weeks 2 days so we felt that the scan was pretty accurate. my OB wanted to induce me as soon as my cervix was favorable.   She said it was a waiting game.   If we induced too early, I could wind up with a c-section due to failed induction.   If we waited too long or waited for me to go into labor on my own, I could wind up with a c-section because he might be too big for me to push out.   I had weekly BFPs at the end and the last time they did a growth scan along with it was at 37 weeks I think?   They measured him at close to 8 lbs.   He was 8 lbs 5 oz at birth.

I was induced a day shy of 39 weeks.   I wound up with a c-section due to fetal distress once I started pushing(cord issues....I would have wound up with a c-section even if I had gone into labor on my own).  

My dr doesn't like to do c-sections just because the baby is measuring big.   She also like to let you try to push because you never know if baby is really too big for you to deliver vaginally until you try it.    She will induce a week before your due date if you have started to dilate and are partially effaced.    Is your dr open to inducing you?