C-section before baby is "ready"?

SunAndRain

So my c-section is scheduled for 40 weeks to the day.    Breech baby is the reason we're going this route.  I am very dissapointed that I'll miss the natural childbirth experience but more than that I'm grateful there is another relatively safe option.

So my question is, would it be better for the baby to wait until I go in to labor before undergoing the cs?  I'm hoping labor starts before the cs date, but it is unlikely given this is my first child.  I believe my OB would be whatever I insist but I also know they prefer to schedule, that it is easier to ensure availability of the OB and midwife I want to have at the delivery, easier for the hospital staff, etc.

But I'm really torn about this.  Somehow I keep thinking that the baby won't fare as well if he or she is delivered before "ready".

Any words of wisdom to share?

lil_jen051708

We had a scheduled c/s at 39w3d (my OB would have been fine scheduling at 39w) for a breech baby as well.  DS decided to come into the world a few days early.  My water broke and luckily we are only 5 min from the hospital and they wanted me to come in ASAP. I had some pretty intense contractions so they took me to the OR as soon as my dr arrived and got ready.  They had wanted to wait a few hours because I had eaten but apparently my dr thought we needed to go back. So just know that if you start having contractions or your water breaks you'll need to go in immediately.  

 I think its really up to you but at 40w I think you are fine to have a scheduled c/s.  

RioG1978

I had this same concern, and hoped I would go in to labour.  But I didn't, and my daughter was and is just fine.  Super healthy baby with no complications at all. 

No one really knows (that i'm aware of) what triggers labour.  You're waiting until full term, I think it will be fine, but it is really whatever you are comfortable with.

HarrietNJMommy

Depends on the type of breech baby, but in my case (head up, feet down TWICE - my first and second), my OB did not want me to go into labor.........

I had my c-section scheduled for 39w5d the first time. It all worked out fine.......

You're already "full term" so there isn't a real issue there. I'm not sure why you actually want labor to start if you know you're having a c-section. That just seems unnecessary to me. 

MAprincess

There's never any way to really know.  At 40 weeks, the odds are certainly with you that baby will be fine.  For pp, many women want to go into labor first because the chemicals released during labor are a benefit to the baby (even if it results in a c/s).  Obviously this is rarely the case with a RCS.  My SIL had two RCS at 39 weeks and both babies had to go to the NICU for complications because they weren't ready.  But I know people who had babies at 37 weeks who were fine.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns and perhaps he can calm your fears or you can come up with another plan you are both comfortable with.

 

monica92603

Like pp said, no one knows what triggers labor in every case.  Women go into PTL and babies are no where near ready.  At 40 weeks, odds are w/ you that things will be just fine.

That said, I delivered my daughter at 36w6d.  I did go into labor and delivered by rcs.  She briefly went to the nursery so they could monitor her high respiratory rate, but she was w/ me in my room at 2.5 hours old.  She was perfect.  This baby will come at 37w3d unless I go into labor first OR the amnio comes back as the lungs not being ready.  I do have to do the amnio first if I want a delivery before 39 weeks per my OB and MFM.

mlf625

I'd trust your OB over anyone here on the readiness of your baby - this board tends to lean way in the hippie/natural direction on these matters and get really pearl clutchy about scheduled c/s.  My scheduled c/s were at 39w4d and 38w6d, my babies were 100% healthy.  Both OBs I've seen are totally fine with a c/s anytime after 39w (my 2nd was a bit earlier because I had GD).  I'm scheduled for 38w6d this time specifically because I DON'T want to go into labor before my c/s. 

magdalina.h

medically I had to have my scheduled at 38w. He was an incredible baby and an incredible toddler. Had some latch issues, but that is due to my nips and not because he was born before he was "ready".

MintBerryCrunch

With a breech baby, usually you're at a greater risk for cord prolapse if your water breaks which is one reason your doctor may want you to avoid labor, though the type of breech presentation does matter quite a bit. It is pretty standard for a planned C/S to be done at 39-40 weeks though. If you're really concerned, discuss it with your doctor and they can probably explain the risks v. benefits. 

emberlee3

I had scheduled c/s for breech DD at 39 weeks.  I had prodromal labor starting around 37w3d, but was not in true labor yet.  DD nursed like a champ and was very alert the first day, just as if she'd decided on her own it was time.  40 weeks is plenty of time, but if you have concerns, then discuss with your OB. 

SunAndRain

Well as luck would have it my water broke today! Just one day shy of 38 weeks. So my cs is scheduled to take place in 4 hours!

 

Thanks for all the replays!

monica92603

SunAndRain:

Well as luck would have it my water broke today! Just one day shy of 38 weeks. So my cs is scheduled to take place in 4 hours!

Thanks for all the replays!

.....And then there is when you have no control at all.........LOL.....good luck!  Don't be worried.  I'm sure all will be wonderful!

MississippiCatfish

MintBerryCrunch:

With a breech baby, usually you're at a greater risk for cord prolapse if your water breaks which is one reason your doctor may want you to avoid labor, though the type of breech presentation does matter quite a bit. It is pretty standard for a planned C/S to be done at 39-40 weeks though. If you're really concerned, discuss it with your doctor and they can probably explain the risks v. benefits. 

This is what I've heard, as well, but I'm not very well educated in the matter right now.  I'm just starting to prepare myself for the possibility of a C-section due to breech presentation....there's still plenty of time for mine to turn around, but the Dr. thinks he won't...I guess we'll see!

RayRay007

If you want to wait to go into labour before your c/s, can you schedule the c/s for 41+ weeks?

ETA: just saw your reply, GL!

Mrs. Alice

I believe with a breech presentation they don't want you to go into labor before your scheduled c-section due to the increased risk of cord prolapse which is life threatening.  The current recommendations are for scheduled c-sections and inductions to be done at 39+ weeks unless there is a medical reason for doing it sooner.  Of course there's no guarantees but at that point they consider your baby to be "ready" since term is considered 37+ weeks.

runnergirl79

My first c-section baby was by far the healthiest, needing no intervention, and came as scheduled at 39 weeks. 

My second baby came via c-section at 39w4d, and had breathing issues, and I wasn't able to hold him for about 8 hours after his birth. 

 My third c-section was at 40w1d, and had not yet been scheduled, since I had been planning a vbac until it was discovered he was breech.  My water broke, his head was stuck in the septum of my uterus (bicornuate), and it took much longer to get him out than normal.  He wasn't breathing, and had to be revived.  Thankfully, all turned out fine.

I don't know if it was the length of time the boys were carried, or due to having multiple c-sections in a short period of time, but I'm opting to have this baby at 38w6d (39 weeks based on dr's u/s dating), hoping for a much better birth experience, as far as the health of the baby goes.

 GL!

runnergirl79

Just saw your water broke!  Congrats!  Hope all is well!