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C-sections
harmonicbabe26
member
Hello - I'm new here...
harmonicbabe26
member
in C-sections
Hi ladies, checking in here for the first time... We had our 33w apointment last Mon and the little lady is still head up, butt in my pelvis, happy as a clam. The doc says the chances of her spontaneously flipping at this point are 2-3% and he will attempt a "version" in about 3.5 weeks. If it does not work, we will have to go for a c/s at 38 weeks.
I am slightly freaked out, never considered I would need a c/s, silly of me right? I am trying to educate myself as much as I can, but the waiting game is just driving me nuts. Haven't sleps in 2 days and if it goes on like this till my next appointment on the 24th I will be a zombie...
Have any of you had a successful version or heard success stories? I was told success rate is like 60%, so better than nothing but not stellar. PLEASE NO HORROR STORIES... I am scared enough as is...
I guess the thing I am most worried about is being able to move and care for her and myself after the surgery... We are temporarily living in Europe, all our relatives and close friends are back in the US so I won't have a Mom or MIL staying with me for weeks helping out. The local hospital likes to keep you in for 7 days after a c/s so that should help, but after that it's just me and the hubbs, maybe a hired nurse dropping in every now and then... And to make things even more fun - we live on the 4th floor of an ancient building with no elevator... Oh joy...
Anything you can tell me to calm the nerves very much appreciated! Looking forward to talking to you girls more.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Hello - I'm new here...
Hi and welcome!
First of all, I don't have any advice or insight about a version. I didn't have one. But I wanted to share my c/s story with you. It was a really positive experience, so I thought it might help calm your nerves. I had heard a few positive c/s stories before my LO was born, and that helped a lot when we had to make the decision to have a c/s.
I had a c/s after spending the day in labor. I was induced due to high blood pressure at 40 weeks 1 day. But, for some reason, my body just got "stuck" at 4 cm and I quit progressing. In addition, LOs heart rate started dropping with each contraction. It wasn't to the "emergency" point yet, but my OB was concerned. He said that combined with the failure to progress meant that a c/s was pretty much inevitable. He gave us the option to "wait and see" for two hours, but we decided to go ahead and have the c/s while both LO and I were still doing well.
The drs and nurses were fantastic...everyone told me what to expect and explained all of the pre-op stuff thoroughly. DH was with me for almost the entire time. During the c/s I didn't feel any pain, just a little tugging and pressure. Before long, LO was born and I got to hear his cries. The nurses quickly cleaned him and DH brought him over where we got some first "family photos".
LO was born at 5:57 pm...by 6:30 I was nursing him in the recovery room.
My recovery wasn't bad either. 6 hours after the c/s, the nurses had me up and walking to the bathroom. I think that helped a lot. Try to get up often at the hospital and walk a bit. Even if you just walk to the bathroom and back. A week after my c/s I was feeling well. It's nice that the hospital will keep you for that long...take advantage of the nurses help!
It might be tough getting up and down 4 flights of stairs...that first day home, just plan to take it easy and climb the stairs slowly. You may want to plan to stay home for a while. But, by 2 weeks pp I was easily able to use stairs in our house (granted only one flight...4 will be a bit tougher, but just take it easy!)
So, honestly, for me, a c/s wasn't that bad at all. If you do need to go that route, try not to worry too much! Also, feel free to ask all your questions here!
Just out of curiosity...where in Europe are you living? Are you comfortable with the language/does your dr speak English? I'd love to live abroad for a year or so...
Hi,
I'm in the same situation as you (I'm 35 weeks and LO was still breech at my last appt). First off, I've been doing a lot of reading and the sources I've found show better odds than your doctor gave you. In fact, they say that the chances of them flipping to head-down after the 36 week point is about 6-8%, so it's something better than that at 33 weeks (maybe 10-15%??).
Success rate of the version depends significantly on the experience/skill of the doctor (and other factors such as the amount of amniotic fluid, size of fetus, etc), so the rate could be anywhere between 30-80%. In the past few days, some of the folks on the January 2012 have posted about their versions (I think at least one was successful), so I'd recommend trying to find those posts (or keep your eyes open for more). I was really freaked about it too--I found a few videos on YouTube of people getting versions and it's definitely not as bad as I thought (at least most doctors didn't look like they were pushing too hard).
Anyways, good luck!
welcome. I did not have a breech baby, but if you do go for c section..can't they wait until 40 weeks? Why so early at 38 weeks?
I live in Germany so I get that part. we have a townhome style house with lots of stairs. And I begged to be discharged at 3 days post op. It can be done. Just go slowly.And have your dh prepared to help a lot. Cook and freeze some meals ahead of time for when you come home. And pick a spot for extra outfits for baby/changing table on your main living floor.
best of luck with the version so you don't even need the c section
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
Thank you girls! KeyLime - thanks so much for this awesome story! I needed that!
We're in Geneva, Switzerland, it is a French speaking area, which kind of sucks since I know German not French aside from English. I only know very basic French but my doc, other docs and mid level hospital staff speak English. The regular nurses not so much, maybe a few words here and there so I have asked my language teacher to prep me with some baby terminology...
I guess I just have to wait patiently till the next appt and the version and we'll see. I'm just worried of potential complications from it. I shouldn't be since the rate is so low but you know how it is...
As for the c/s being done at 38w, my doc said that if she's still breech, it would be bad for me to go into spontaneous labor so he does not want to wait too close to 40w... And he has an out of town conference or something the week before so... Technically they're considered full term at 37 right? Anywho we'll see.
Thanks for being sweet and I hope to get to know you guys more.
I had a successful version at 38 weeks. Versions are incredibly safe and I have NO idea why people on the boards are so freaked out of them. My OB told me that you're more likely to have a complication from a c-section than a version.
But, even after my baby flipped, I had a failed induction and a c-section. My c-section was one of the worst experiences of my life so I would do anything to try to avoid one.
Good luck with your version!
I didn't have a breech baby, so I can't help with the version part of your question, but I can help with a positive c-section story.
I was induced at 41 weeks because they just weren't happy with how my body was handling being pregnant and the kid was already at a zero station in my pelvis, so I was a really good candidate.
My water spontaneously broke when I was about 3cm dilated, so they stopped the miso and let me go on my own for a while. I stalled at 4cm, so they gave me pitocin. I made it to 5cm dilated and stalled again, even with the pitocin. I literally begged for them to give us more time if the baby was still doing OK because I absolutely did NOT want a c/s.
In retrospect, it is nowhere near as bad as I had myself convinced. My biggest fear was the extended recovery time, but it was actually not too horrible. The surgery itself was wonderful as it could be; my anesthesiologist and surgeon had been warned that I wasn't happy about the c/s so they did everything they could to keep my spirits up and keep me comfortable. It worked, even though it took 3 people to get my daughter out of me. She had gotten stuck at -2 station because of her size; she just couldn't rotate and that's why my labor had stalled out like it did.
The worst part of recovery for me was immediately after when I got the shakes, but mine subsided very quickly. I wasn't even out of the OR yet before they stopped. I also had to have additional antibiotics that left a weird taste in my mouth.
Post surgery, the worst part was the first 3 times I left that hospital bed. By the time I was discharged I was able to move fairly well so long as I just took my time. By the time I had my staples out (7 days after surgery) I was going nuts not being able to drive yet. My Hubby had a lot of work to do because our daughter was nearly 10lbs and I wasn't allowed to lift her at first, but we did just fine with just the two of us. He went back before my 2 weeks of critical healing were over, and I was slow but the baby was cared for and fortunately at that age they sleep all the time.
The best thing I can say for recovery is that as soon as you're allowed to start moving, move. You'll be really slow and it will hurt, but I swear (and my doc agrees) that me moving as much as my body would allow is probably why I had such a good recovery.
Also, hope for the best and a successful version, but keep the idea in the back of your mind that you might end up with a c/s even if it is successful because labor doesn't always go as well as we'd want. Just stay positive so you don't do like I did and cry during all of your prep and then feel super silly afterwards when you realize it really wasn't so bad.
I had a friend whose baby was breech. She had a version and it was successful although she said it was quite uncomfortable. A few weeks later she gave birth vaginally to a healthy baby boy.
I didn't have a breech baby, but a failed induction. My c/s went well, no complications and a fairly easy recovery. My story is a little different, due to previous back surgery an epi wasn't an option so I was under general anesthesia. It wasn't so bad. The worst part was being alone while they prepped me and DH couldn't watch. It also took about 2 hrs before I could see LO. (very unusual for that to happen)
Hi and welcome. First off, take a deep breath, things will be ok!! I can't comment about a version. We had a scheduled c-section pretty early on. I did go into labor a few days early, so I got to experience a little bit of labor. I had been very concerned about a c-section but it really wasn't bad at all. For me the worst part was getting the IV in my arm, and the spinal was painful but that was over pretty quickly.
Wow, they keep you for 7 days! You'll be nice and rested by then. You'll also probably have a lot of time to get some coaching from the nurses on how to take care of your baby. Yes, c-section recovery is tough, and you'll be sore for a while. I think the biggest thing for you to worry about is the flights of stairs. Maybe have everything in your apartment ready for you so you don't have to go anywhere. Stairs for me were tough in the beginning.
I had my mom here for few days, but I think I could have gotten through without her. It was really nice having her for company but I was able to take care of LO on my own. If your husband goes back to work, maybe have someone who can run errands or do cleaning for you if you need the extra help.
Good luck with your delivery!
Thank you girls so much!! I feel a lot better about all of this now.
With the version - I guess I am just scared a bit bc I don't know what to expect as far as sensations (not that I know what a c/s or vaginal feel like... but there are more decsriptions so you know...) and it just sounds so weird to be turning the baby from the outside! Hah...
Thanks again for all the comments!!