C-Section Scheduled - not confident

palmbreeze

I went along my whole pregancy with the docs telling me that my baby is right on schedule size wise...until the end. Everyone told me how big I was except the doctors. They finally decide my baby is measuring big. Now that I'm 39 weeks and my baby is measuring 9.5 pounds, they want to schedule a c-section.

I had my ultrasound yesterday and my doctor called me to give me a heads up for my appt today that he was big. Why didn't they tell me yesterday not to eat anything today? Then they could have done the procdedure today. Now we have to wait till Monday. What if my water breaks or I go into labor by Monday? I'm only 1.5 centimeters though.

I just feel so overwhelmed with this news today. I knew it was coming, but I'm scared they are going to mess it up, or I'll be in pain forever, or my dogs won't understand why mommy doesn't feel well. I cry when I get my blood taken, let alone having surgery while I'm wide awake. What if my doctor is bad at doing this procedure?

Oh and my doctor asked me what I've been feeding this baby. Well if she told me months ago that I was measuring big, gaining too much weight etc maybe I would have ate better. Though I was over ten pounds myself and my mom wouldn't even eat salad dressing on her salads. So, I'm convinced my baby is big because I was big and I am a six foot tall woman. I wasn't expecting a tiny baby.

 Sorry for the rambles, I'm just a big scared, nervous and upset all at the same time.

 

Mama Jan

Did they determine this based om u/s?  How do they determine your baby is 9.5lbs?  My understanding is u/s estimates +/- 2 pounds which means you could have a 7.5lb baby!

IMO that's not a reason for c/s (and certainly not a reason to guilt you!!!!).  In fact I had a conversation with my ob last week about how the new recs are to NOT induce/c-section for "big baby" unless the estimates are over 11 pounds (simply because they can be off by a whole 2 pounds).  You don't HAVE to do a c/s if you don't want to.

That said, I'm sure your doctor is very experienced in c/s surgeries.  They are not uncommon at all and my ob has told me several times they are one of the simplest procedures (that "even a first year med student could do it").  Be sure to post your fears and concerns over on the c-section board, there is SO much support there.

If you DO plan to have a c/s and you go into labor earlier, get to the hospital as soon as you can.  They will want to stop labor and relax your uterus and then will get you in right away (I've had 2 c/s already... 3rd one next week... I did go into labor before my second and it was no big deal at all). 

BritanyV

I agree with the PP.   You do not have to have a c-section if you do not want to.  You are 6 feet tall, so I am sure your body can handle a 9.5 lb baby if the measurement is correct.  I know a woman that is 5 ft tall and has 6 kids all that were over the 9 lbs mark and she gave birth to them all vaginally.

It really sounds like your doctor is c-section happy and *I* were in your shoes I would refuse a c-section based on an ultrasound measurement.   

I have a friend that had a scheduled c-section because they told her that her daughter was weighing 10lbs on ultrasound.  Her daughter was born at 8lbs!   

C-sections are major surgery and are NOT fun to recover from.   I'm 6 wks out and still recovering.  It didn't take this long to recover from having DS#1 vaginally.  

Before ds#2 decided to come early, he was on track to weigh 9-10 lbs at his due date.  My dr said the only time the hospital won't let you labor naturally is if they think the baby is more than 11 pounds.  I wound up with a c-section because it was medically necessary and I definitely wouldn't choose one if I had the choice.  

Best of luck to you in whatever happens!

theladyjess

Very few women grow a baby they can't birth vaginally.  If you don't want a c/s then tell your dr you'd like to try a trial of labor first.  This means that you labor and try for a vaginal delivery and if LO looks like he/she isn't decending or you're not making progress then you move onto a c/s.

My friend had a u/s a few days before she had her son and was told that he was definately over 9 lbs.  She also looked really big from the outside.  Well, her son was born weighing in at 7 lbs 5 oz--completely average. 

This same friend's grandma is less than 5 ft tall and gave birth vaginally to 4 or 5 babies that were all 10+ lbs so it can be done regarless of maternal size.

I'm having a growth u/s next week to see how big my LO may be.  She was in the 90% at 28 weeks and we have a feeling she may still be big.  Hubby was a large baby so my dr thinks LO may be large as well.  My dr doesn't plan on inducing me or doing a c/s even if LO is big. 

Newport617

Sounds to me like you shouldn't be worried about your doctor not being good at c sections.... From the sound of it your doctor loves c sections and probably does them all the time! 

My baby is supposed to be "big" last one was 9.6 21 inches... I'm almost to my due date and the next time I see my midwife I will be 40 weeks 5 days pregnant and no one has mentioned induction or a c section...  You don't sound tiny what is the harm in going into labor naturally and at least giving it a go? Especially off of ultrasound readings. My growth US was 1 pound off the day before my DS was born.  I would almost fight for an induction before a c section. Good luck either way! 

julesjarvais65

I agree with all the PPs... I would never (myself) induce or schedule a c-section for a big baby.

If you really don't want a c-section, refuse it and ask to either wait to go into labor naturally or ask to be induced instead. Induction may lead to a harder labor than naturally, but at least you would be given the chance to have your baby vaginally and if you did, chances are you'd also have an easier recovery. The worst that's gonna happen is that your induction is gonna lead to a c-section, which you are preparing for now.