Curiosity Poll: Why did you have a c-section?

pepomntpat · October 2011

Because I am nosy.

I had an unplanned c-section due to fetal distress. Ultimately I believe it was due to malposition. She was OP and a little transverse-her head was a little to the left. Also the tight nuchal cord was preventing her descent. I had a lot of contractions on my due date, but they went away because she never engaged. A week later the same thing happened. I had contractions for hours all night, they went away when I got up. For three days and two nights it went on like this until I called my midwife saying something had to give because I could not sleep!

I labored at the hospital for about 7 hours after that and Ro's heartrate wasn't going back up after my very mild contractions very quickly. We ultimately decided on a c/s. I am glad we did. She had the cord wrapped tightly twice around her neck. The fluid was full of meconium. I had only made it to 4 cm after 72 hours (and had she not been in distress I would have kept going-I felt great-hello adrenaline!), and I am sure all the interventions that were offered along the way- pitocin and AROM-would have just increased the distress and the level of urgency because it would have compressed the cord even more.

She came out wailing with APGARS of 9 and 9. I feel I made a good decision.

Anyone else want to share?

nybride10 · October 2011

i initially went into the hospital at 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. I labored 6 hours at home and another 8 at the hospital before the dr made the decision for a c-section. at that point they broke my water, monitored my contractions internally, and gave me pitocin. my contractions were 30 seconds apart but the baby was still high and not coming down. he was afraid that the cord was wrapped around his throat or that he was stuck.

no wonder he didn't come down. i gave birth to 8lb 11oz little man.

sarahandeddiejune212008 · October 2011

DD was frank breech. We knew that she was breech from about 20 weeks on. She never turned so I had a scheduled c/s 3 days before my due date. I'm glad we knew ahead of time that she was breech because an induction would have been pointless. I also had the bonus of not having real contractions. I had a few mild ones, but nothing compared to real labor (or so I'm told).

Punken13 · October 2011

I was originally scheduled because I have a form of Muscular Dystrophy which results in a high amount of forcept deliveries so we (DH, OB, Neuro and I decided a section was best) when I got to the hospital though I was 9 cm, 0 station so it was decided I would have a vaginal delivery after all. Once I was given the epi DS went into destress and I then became and emergancy c-section.

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · October 2011

DS was stuck on my spine, my OB couldn't get him out using every method in the book, and had to perform a Zavanelli maneuver and emergency C-section.

Apart from the marks on his face from the forceps and the bump on his head from the fetal monitor which all went away within a few weeks, DS was just perfect. 9lbs 2oz.

There was no damage or complications of the maneuver for me, apart from ending up with both an episiotomy and a C-section.

We were all very, very lucky.

ImAnRN · October 2011

cord around DS head and neck

kate05 · October 2011

At 37 weeks DD was head down and engaged. The MW told me I was her "rockstar" patient because everything was textbook at that point. My 38 week appoint went differently. DD had flipped and her head was right under my rib cage. My BP was high and they sent me to L&D. I was sent home and told to a 24hr catch test. I tested negative for pre-E but my BP was still high.

I had another appointment at 38 weeks and 6 days. The MW I saw at that appointment was shocked I was there and told me I should have had a c-section the previous week. C-section was scheduled for the next day at 39 weeks exactly. I was supposed to go at 9am but ended up not going until 3:30pm because there were so many emergency c-sections that day. When my OB finally delivered DD he said that he did not see babies as wedged in as mine that often. DD turned out just fine Big Smile

rachbenn2007 · October 2011

DD#1 was having some growing issues, that they found at our 20 weeks ultrasound. So every month I had a growth ultrasound and starting at 30 weeks I had NST every week. At my last NST before my induction date, she was having lack of movment. Which was not at all normally for her, they tried to stimulate her to move, I got a small kick but nothing really reassuring.

So they ran a quick scan and decided that I need to go to L&D. Thankfully my MW was already there, and she called my OB to come over to the hospital too. They started me on Pitocin right a way and gave me oxygen to help calm me down cause my BP was sky-rocketing! I finally calmed down when DH got there, (he was at work over an hour away, but got to the hospital in 40mins). I started to feel the contractions with 10mins of getting the pitcoin and I wasn't bothered by them but my little girl was.

With every contraction, her HR would plummet. But as soon as they passed it would go back to normal. So after about 5 contractions, MW and OB came to the decision that she needed to come out right away. So within 20mins of me being admitted, I was getting prepped for my c-section. DH was very calm and kept me very calm. Until I had to go to the OR without him. I sat on the OR table shaking. My OB came over sat down next to me and told me everything would be ok and my awesome nurse gave me a hug and let me nearly break her hands when I was getting my spinal.

Once DH got in there they didn't waste anytime getting her out. (i was given a horizontal cut thankfully) When she came out she was gray! I started to cry instantly cause she wasn't crying and I thought we had lost her. Then the next thing I hear is her precious little scream! DH rushed over to her and said was crying his eyes out. DH and I only got to see her for a few minutes cause they took her to NICU. But she's a happy healthy 3 year old now with a little brother and a sister coming in Nov. WOW that got long fast! LOL

disbride061103 · October 2011

1st section was scheduled when DS1 turned breech 5 days before my due date. In hind sight I would have insisted on a version, but what's done is done.

My 2nd section was an unsuccesful VBAC attempt. Induced with a foley cath and pit. 20 hours later, I had been stalled at 7cm for 8+ hours and DS2 was having decles. My doctor and I were both uncomfortable using more pit so we did the section. Turns out that he had the cord wrapped around his neck fairly tightly which is what was causing the decels and preventing him from descending.

eenerthegreat · October 2011

My water broke then after being in labor for 24 hours I was only at 6 cm.

manda26 · October 2011

Mine was planned, I had about 4-5 days notice I needed a c-section. My fluid levels were high, preventing him from coming down and engaging in my pelvis, and also he was considered a LGA baby (large for gestational age) after a ton of growth scans by different people. They estimated just over 9 lbs which Dr said he thought was a little too big for the size of my pelvis. I also didn't have a favorable cervix for induction so we didn't even bother.

He ended up at 8lbs 14oz (which is on the bigger side but I don't think huge). The cord ended up around his neck twice so it is a good thing I didn't labor at all although I still wish things could have been different. I am glad though I didn't labor and then needed a c/s after that.

Mrs. Alice · October 2011

Both babies transverse plus I was unable to labor due to the serious complications they were having. When on hospital bed rest I asked the OB if there was any chance I would have a vaginal delivery and she said "only if they just fall out of you". So it was expected, we just didn't know when exactly it was going to happen.

everam01 · October 2011

1) One breech twin

2) 9cm fibroid near the cervix

3) High blood pressure

CSection was scheduled for 38 weeks but due to my blood pressure they decided to go ahead at 36 1/2 weeks instead.

fivesgirl · October 2011

Labor was great, I got to the hospital at 8cm (I thought they were going to send me home because my contractions were never consistant), an hour later I was pushing, 4 hours after that we decided on a c-section because his head was tilted and snuck on my pelvis and I was so swollen he wasn't coming out.

I was very sad I had to have a c-section, I think about it all the time and how it should have gone differently. If we have a second baby, I will definitely go for a vbac.

I personally think it's a crapshoot on whether you deliver vaginally or by c-section. You just never know.

Ardmhs83 · October 2011

I had to have one b/c my son was breach. He turned breach at week 28 and never turned back. :-( I had one last ultrasound when I went into labor at week 38 & 1 and he was still feet coming first, so they did my section. :-( Still wish I would have been able to deliver vaginally. Hopefully I will be able to try for a VBAC next time around.

JG362009 · October 2011

I was induced at 41w3d because my AFI was 2.17. After a 60 hour induction, I was only dilated to 5 centimeters (after 3 rounds of cytotec, a foley bulb to dilate, AROM, and tons of pitocin) and a c-section was called for dystocia. Baby was fine on the strip the entire time and had APGARS of 8 and 9.

iris427 · October 2011

Failure to descend which my OB said was due to CPD, but I now believe was due to my daughter being OP.

My VBAC baby was slightly larger so that's why I say it wasn't CPD. I still think I might have gotten my daughter out vaginally with a more supportive provider, but oh well.

girllennon · October 2011

I was due to have a planned c-section at 39 weeks due to LO being stubbornly frank breech for the last 2 months of pregnancy. I was evaluated to see if I was a candidate for a External Version, but my amniotic fluid levels were borderline, so I went with my gut and turned it down.

I never went into labor with my son. I never had any contractions or pains, except from him bruising my ribs from his head in teh same position.

I had to have an emergency c-section at 36 weeks, 6 days due to dangerously low amniotic fluid levels (only one patch of fluid was visible by his face) and slowed movement for 2 straight days (he was a very active fetus). I just trusted instincts and insisted that my OB check me out a day before my scheduled 37 week appointment. I was sent straight to L&D for testing after he performed a quick U/S to confirm that my instincts were on the money. I had reason to be concerned.

LO did well with the NST, but I had a fetal biophysical profile done and after my OB evaluated the results, I was admitted and schedule for c-section that evening due to low fluid levels (they were below 2). My LO was on the small side. He was 5 lbs 8.7 ounces, 18.5 inches long, but very strong and got 9 of 9 on his Apgar score.

He was born on my late grandmother's birthday and we were both released to come home on Christmas Day. My son is almost 10 months old, 29 inches long and over 20 lbs. He is the love of my life

nosoup4u · October 2011

DS1 was OP. I labored/dilated fine, and then pushed for 4+ hours until the MW decided to do an u/s to see why he wasn't coming out (they thought he would be a fast birth when I first started pushing - ha!). He was OP in a way that using a vacuum wouldn't work, so I was given the choice of getting an epidural and resting for a bit and then pushing again, or a c-section. I was beyond exhausted at that point (had been in the hospital for 12+ hours with very little food, it was 4 am, etc. etc.), so I had the c-section.

I've come to terms with it (though it took awhile!), but I still do wonder if the MWs would have been more aware of his position earlier in labor, if that would have helped him not end up as a c-section. The student midwife is the only one who palpated me at any point during my labor. I had VBAC with DS2 (who was 2.5 lbs bigger than DS1), so I'm sure it was positioning that caused the c-section.

genekelly · October 2011

Unplanned c-sec after 1 1/2 hrs of pushing b/c of fetal heartrate decreasing during contractions and a slightly elevated temperature for me.

ChiTown Bridget · October 2011

The last two weeks before I had ds, my bp was being closely monitored since it seemed to be getting higher at every visit and then my liver enzymes became very elevated and I ended up developing HELLP syndrome. That is when they decided to deliver. I had my little boy at exactly 38w. After delivery he was having some breathing difficulties (which they said is somewhat common after a c section since the fluid doesn't always get pushed out of the lungs like in a vaginal delivery) and my poor little guy had to spend 5 days in the nicu.

ladipale · October 2011

At my 37 week OB appt, doc detected a fetal arrhythmia so I was sent to L&D, all was fine there but I then had to have NSTs twice/week.

I went for a NST when I was 39 weeks 2 days and she did not pass. Her heart rate tones were doing funky things so I was sent straight to L&D.

I did a contraction stress test (did you know there was such a thing? me either, nor did the L&D nurse - she had to look up the protocol). Ellie passed so I was allowed to be induced rather than sent straight for c-section.

After a 40 hour induction, most of which I spent walking/showering/on my hands and knees. Didn't get an epi until about 35 hours in. I made it to 10 cm and pushed for close to 2 hours. By that time, the epi was not working on the pain I was feeling the most (intense pain at my tailbone). But, I couldn't really move to other positions. They thought her position wasn't quite right so they had me stop pushing for a little while to try and get her to roll. Ouch.

When they OB came in for an assessment, I was starting to spike a fever and basically begged for a c-section. Ellie's heart rate was all over the place at that point.

Turns out she was OP and 9lbs, 2 oz. By OB says she rarely delivers an OB baby over 8 lbs 5 oz vaginally. Ellie also has giant shoulders (thanks to her father). I question every decision i made during pregnancy and labor. What could I have done differently so her position was better?

Anyway, I'm still coming to terms with it...

craxyrae · October 2011

I went in for an induction at 41 weeks. Lost my mucus plug in the morning before heading to the hospital, so I thought things would progress well. First gel at 11am, back at the hospital at 6pm for second gel. Only a fingertip dilated, but my BP spiked (had high BP since 32 wks, but no pre-E). They were going to keep me until my BP levelled off, but my water broke on it's own after having some rather painful contractions at 9pm. I was GBS+ so had to be on IV meds, there was meconium in the water, but there were no concerns initially. I got my epidural at 12:30am, pitocin was started at 3am, and by 11am, I was only 5cm dilated. There were some concerns about fetal distress when I was contracting and at that point, his head was still so high that they could barely feel him. I had my unplanned c-section shortly after and at 11:44am, Parker was born.

laurasuzanne2006 · October 2011

i had pre-E. I had no progress, we attempted an induction knowing there was a high chance it wouldn't work. After 22 hours no progress and my labs were looking bad. baby was never engaged, still floating when the ob pulled her out.

Leap08 · October 2011

My daughter was induced at 38w due to a failing placenta/low fluid/IUGR. I was on pitocin for more than 18 hours and only made it to 5cm, and then my daughter's heart rate started dropping with contractions. We decided at that point to due to c-section. I definitely feel like it was the right decision to make. I'm expecting our next baby in less than 2 months, and I hope to have a VBAC.

love4penelope · October 2011

Mine was unplanned - got to the hospital at 4am, at about 1pm I was told I was still only 3-4 cm, they did a sonogram at about 4pm to check the baby's size/weight... he was about 8lb 15oz - my doctor said there's no way he's going to have me deliver naturally, we're moving to plan B - (C-Section). He was 9lbs 1oz - born at 7:30pm!!!

skio · October 2011

I am a narrow-hipped gal and DD was 9 pounds, and she was trying to come out forehead-first. I DO think that I would've eventually been able to deliver her naturally, because I don't believe that my body made a baby that was too big for me to deliver. However, I labored for 23 hours, pushed for 3.5, and she was stuck in the canal and not descending under my pelvic bone. Her heartrate dropped and my fever was creeping over 101.

I had been awake for almost 40 hours and had not eaten in 30. I also had a severe pain in my ribs that my doctors couldn't explain and couldn't help - I think it was from the pitocin contrax pushing DD into my rib cage, and I couldn't take a deep breath. When you can't breathe, you can't push properly. I was 100% drained in every way and could barely move by the time they got me to the OR.

I have regrets. But I also have a big, beautiful, healthy daughter, and I am thankful for her every day, no matter how she was brought into the world.

jesss1022 · October 2011

My 1st DS I had Pre-e and ended up with an emergency c/s due to HELLP syndrome. He was IUGR and weighed 4lbs 5oz. With DS2, I was really hoping for a VBAC. Went in with contractions on 6/19, but was not dilating. Kept overnight, baby's heart rate was low. Sent to maternal fetal medicine to check on him bc my ob said "something doesn't seem right." Did a biophysical profile, he was not moving well, heart rate was low, and I had way too much amniotic fluid. I was 37w6d. On 6/20 @12:56pm, he was born via c/s at 7lbs 3oz. It was a good thing I didn't try for a vbac, my uterus was stretched so much by the fluid it was transparent! My OB said I most likely would have ruptured! I'm glad my OB had such good instincts!

GVSU-04 · October 2011

LO was frank breech. We found out and scheduled the c/s at 35 weeks with the hope that he would turn. It took me a little while to be okay with it, but I am now. I got a little jealous when I talked to a friend who delivered vaginally a week after me, but then she told me her doosy of a birth story. That, and the fact that my pelvic floor is still intact (no leaking urine while running for me!) were a couple reasons I am okay with it. I'd like to try for a VBAC, but I think I'll be okay if it doesn't happen.

lsomerville · October 2011

I was high and dry at 41 weeks, and my OB would not let me go any longer. I was not even favorable for a c-section, so I was admitted at 7 the night before my induction to take cervadil pills (1 every 3 hours, 3 total). I was started on pitocin at 8 the next morning and they broke my water at 9, epidural at noon. By 8:30pm, 12 hours on pitocin, I was still at 4cm and DS was barely at a -2 station. I had been on oxygen to keep DS's hr up since 1pm and my tempurature was slowly elevating. By that time it had been over 24 hours since I had eaten, about 36 since I had slept since I was too anxious to sleep at the hospital, and I was getting tired. My dr gave me the choice of continuing on until the 24 hour mark of my water being broken or having a c-section. I asked for her honest opinion about the situation, and she said by the looks of it that another 12 hours and I still probably won't make it to 10 since I had been at 4cm for 6 hours. I agreed, and even if I made it to 10, as slow as I was progressing, I don't think I would have had anything left to push with. DS was born at 9:14 pm via c-section, 8lb 6oz with a HUGE head. I am a tiny girl, and his head had the correct cone shape which meant he tried to engage the right way, but that he just wouldn't fit in the first place.

mrambo3 · October 2011

My water broke at 12:45am, got to the hospital at 3:30am, labored w/out meds until 3:15pm, labored with epi until 9:45pm, pushed until 1:10am, C/S at 1:18am...DS never dropped and since it had been 24 hours since my water broke, the doc wanted him out ASAP. Came out perfectly healthy, scored 9 and 9

monona9 · October 2011

I had an unmedicated vaginal birth with DD at the birth center. With DS my water broke at home in the middle of the night. We spoke to the midwife and she told us to come in. I planned to labor just like with my daughter. Contractions started on the way to the birth center/hospital.

I labored for a few hours. I was in a lot of pain, which was odd for being so early on. After the midwife saw that I was really uncomfortable and the contractions seemed to be getting harder she checked me. I was only 4cm, but what really caught her attention is that she felt a nose. I didn't know what it meant. She brought in a doctor from labor & delivery and an ultrasound machine. They confirmed that my DS had a facial presentation. The midwife suggested i get in the tub and move around to see if his head would shift positions. I did that for an hour I think and got out to be checked again. No progress.

They moved me to labor and delivery - no more birth center - so that I could be closely monitored. They hooked me up to so many different things. I never labored like this before, I couldnt really move around and started to feel defeated. I laid down and that's when it started to get really painful. After a while I asked for the epideral. I wasn't quite sure what the plan was. They led me to believe that once I was dilated enough they could turn his head and I could push him out. Well I dilated to about 6cm and then they doctors/midwives called a meeting. The attending OB came in and told me he suggested doing a c-section at this point. They said that the way he was presenting did not allow for a vaginal birth. He said they couldn't assist with forceps or anything because I was not 10cm yet and I stopped progressing (stuck at 6cm). I was devestated.

After DS was born the Dr. came around the screen and told me there was no way that DS would have fit out and would have gotten stuck. He said that once he got in there he confirmed that doing the c-section was the only way DS could have been born unharmed. It was kind of comforting to know that it wasn't an unnecessary procedure. I bonded with DS right away and did skin to skin breastfeeding immediately after they put me in recovery.

magdalina.h · October 2011

My cord failed and was no longer providing nutrients and it was also wrapped around his neck twice. Aidan was born at 4:44pm at 28w4d GA. Because my uterus was still small at that point, I had to have a vertical incision on the inside. Because of that I will always a c/s. That's why I had a c/s with Lucas.

zebrastripes · October 2011

Well I was admitted to the hospital for toxemia and put on bed rest. Then the doc decided what was the point of waiting since I was full term so she began inducing after almost a week in the hospital. She broke my water and then began inducing. I labored for 24 hours when DD began to get stressed so they performed an emergency csection.

chrisncassie · October 2011

DS#1 was an emergency c-section, every time I had a contraction his heart rate dropped. They gave me 30mins to dialate further - then I was taken into the OR.

DS#2 was because of partial placenta previa ...Midwife thinks this was because DS#1 was a c-section.

If we have another we are 90% certain it will be another c-section. So I am getting in shape first, then we will decide if we get k/u again or not.

capulet · October 2011

I was induced at 41+ weeks with almost no progress on my own. My practice usually did postdates inductions at 42 weeks but they couldn't get me in the hospital later in the week. In retrospect I wish I had pushed back on this; DD was doing fine in there and I was a really late baby born vaginally with no issues, so I would have felt comfortable going longer and having NSTs periodically to make sure she was still okay. So I went in for cervical gel at noon and was supposed to go in the next morning for pit. The gel was enough to put me into labor - I started having contractions late afternoon/early evening, and went to the hospital at 11:30 PM.

At that point I was only 2 cm dilated, so I was sent to labor in triage and told I would get another internal in two hours. But the contractions quickly got really long and close together - about 90 seconds every two minutes - so I had no time to rest and I made it less than an hour before I sent DH to get a nurse and see if I could do *something* for the pain (like what I don't know, but nothing I tried to alleviate it naturally helped). My OB did another internal and fortunately I was 3-4 cm dilated, so I was admitted to L&D and they ordered an epi.

As soon as I was hooked up on the fetal monitor, everything went haywire, DD was in distress, I was put on oxygen but I kept trying to take the mask off because I didn't feel like it was doing anything - at this point it's all a blur, but I don't think I was in there more than half an hour before they decided they needed to do a c/s. I signed the consent form and was wheeled off to the OR, and DH had no idea what would happen next, since they didn't know at that point if I'd need to be put under GA. Fortunately her heartbeat stabilized and I was able to get a spinal, and DD was born at 1:56 AM. They had thought her cord might be prolapsed, which it wasn't, but it turned out her head was awkwardly positioned, which might explain why the whole time I was having contractions it felt like she was trying to come out my butt.

aandg · October 2011

I was diagnosed with complete placenta previa at 18 weeks. I had monthly ultrasounds to check on it. Dr said if it didn't move by 36weeks we would be doing a c section.

I had my last ultrasound at 35w5d which was a Friday. They saw some concerning things (low fluid, fluid in babies kidneys and her head was measuring small-never a concern with any of these things at any of my other ultrasounds except for borderline low fluid) and I still had complete previa.

Dr scheduled me for NST, AFI and BPP every 2 days for the next week. Baby looked ok on the tests that day. I was then supposed to go to the hospital on Sunday to repeat all the tests. Once they get me all hooked up to the machines they saw that I was having regular contractions. I got 3 doses of Procardia to try and stop them but it didn't have any effect. Dr then told me that I would be having the c section that day. I was so scared that there was going to be something wrong with our daughter, but she came out perfect at exactly 36 weeks.

Jocelbug · October 2011

I am having an elective c-section because i never wanted to give birth vaginally and because I have a high risk of my baby being breech and my narrow hips make me highly likely to have a problem with dystocia. Also, I really hate the idea of tearing or having stitches on my bunny....i would much much rather have them on my belly. i had laproscopy at the very onset of my pregnancy because my husband got to frisky and ruptured an ovarian cyst and i was hemoraging and i healed very nicely and was not in pain within a day after surgery.

mrsseguin · October 2011

DS was a section for failed forceps.

DD was a repeat.

I thought about having a VBAC with DD, but I was delivered quickly due to pre-eclampsia at 37 weeks and my cervix was closed. A c-section seemed to be the better route.

Stacy112699 · October 2011

I was in labor for 27 hours. I never dialated more than 8cm. My OB got concerned and rushed me into an emergency csection after blood pressures etc went down.

She was "sunny side up" and would not fit through my pelvis. There was also no more fluid. So it was a good thing, my doctor made the call to move forward with the csection.

ConnieRob · October 2011

I labored for 22 hours and pushed for 2 1/2. He kept crowning but I just couldn't get him out.

He was face up, instead of face down, I only dilated to 9 1/2, a portion of my cervix remained hard and the cord was looped around his neck.

I do wonder if I had waited to go into labor on my own instead of being induced if things would have been different. I'll never know as our local hospital does not allow VBAC.

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