Scheduled C-Section Guilt - advice requested

Vegasbb · October 2012

Thanks for all the help I've received so far from this board! It's really helped me come to terms with my breech baby/C-section situation! My latest issue is scheduling my C-Section. My doctor is awesome and supportive and is fine with letting me wait to go into labor (baby is in Frank breech position and she's not that worried about cord prolapse,etc) OR schedule my C-section for whenever I want (post 38/39 weeks).

While it's great to have such an open-minded doctor, it's stressing me out. I have a C-section scheduled for 39w2d, but I'm starting to worry that not letting myself go into labor is somehow "cheating" baby and not letting him come on his own time frame. I will say I'm 100% sure on my due date (super regular 28 day cycle, early u/s that lined up perfectly), and he's been measuring BIG since 24 weeks. He definitely won't be small or anything at 39 weeks, just worried I'm cheating him out of that extra week .

Also my doctor mentioned today sometimes labor helps their lungs mature a bit by squeezing some of the fluid out, etc. Any advice? Would you wait to labor or leave the scheduled C-section at 39w2d?

salt78 · October 2012

If I knew that my labor was going to end in a c-section, I would have scheduled the c-section and been done with it.

cjbelk · October 2012

I just go with the scheduled c/s. I had one with DS and believe me his lungs are MORE than mature! They remove the fluid from the baby's lungs right after they come out so don't worry about that. Trust me- baby will not remember how they came into the world- they will just be happy to finally meet you (and Daddy).

1026pumpkin · October 2012

If I were in your shoes, I would schedule it. As long as you're after 38/39 weeks, I think baby has gotten most of the benefits of being "fully cooked." While there might be some advantages to going through labor (helping fluid out), there could be down-sides too....I had an unplanned c-section with DS and he responded terribly to labor- his heart rate dropped with every contraction.

I also think that by scheduling it, you have the opportunity to deliver with the doctor you know (v. who is on call), you have a better chance to voice your preferences for how things go (holding baby right away if no health problems, trying to BF right away, etc.). I think things tend to go a little more smoothly with the planned sections.

pepomntpat · October 2012

Why not compromise and schedule it for 40 weeks and see what happens?

mlf625 · October 2012

Meh, ditch the guilt and schedule it. My three were all scheduled (39w4d, 38w6d, 38w6d bumped to 38w2d) and I didn't feel an ounce of guilt. It's not like I was taking them out at 36w, for goodness sake! They're all healthy kids. If you're going to have a c/s, I think it's pointless to put yourself through labor as well. A lot of women say their recoveries are harder if they do labor and a c/s as opposed to just the scheduled c/s. My scheduled c/s recoveries were all a breeze.

JG362009 · October 2012

Scheduled c-sections are really great, I think. For me, it was wonderful knowing.

Mrs.DeliaMarieP · October 2012

Do whatever you think is going to make you more comfortable with the required csection in the long run.

Personally, I had an emergency csection with my first and have to do an RCS this time. A tiny part of me has thought of waiting until I go into labor. But, an even bigger part of me wants a relatively decent night's sleep before the section, I want to be able to almost guarantee having my own Dr., I never want to feel labor pains again if I have no chance at a vag. delivery, had enough unpredictability with DS, so I will be one PO'd mama if I go into labor prior to my scheduled csection.

But, do what is right for you.

giraffe54 · October 2012

Scheduling it, from my anecdotal experience talking with other CSers, makes a much better recovery. BUT, I have horrible sadness that I never went into labor. My LO was footling breech so I didn't get a choice, but if I did, I would want to experience labor.

Vegasbb · October 2012

giraffe54:
Scheduling it, from my anecdotal experience talking with other CSers, makes a much better recovery. BUT, I have horrible sadness that I never went into labor. My LO was footling breech so I didn't get a choice, but if I did, I would want to experience labor.

This is my situation - LO is breech, but he is frank breech so I'm "allowed" to labor if I want, just have 0% chance of going vaginal. It's hard when you have 0 experience with labor to make the decision !!

You guys gave me great things to think about. I do have a lot of C-section preferences that my doctor is ok with (arms not being strapped down, breastfeeding ASAP in recovery if possible, etc) so I hadn't thought about how with an "emergency" C-section I probably won't get as much leeway.

Thanks for all the advice - I'm going to leave the C-section scheduled for next Thursday and just make peace with it !

EDL06 · October 2012

What others said--DD#1 was discovered to be frank breech @ 38 weeks, and my OB and I had "the talk" about my options. She told me to talk it over with my husband and we would decide at my next appt. Well, my water broke at 38W4D, so I ended up laboring for 2 hours while we waited for the anesthesiologist to show up (MORE than enough for me--I was a wussy and am still unsure how people labor for 24+ hours......)

Yesterday, I went ahead and scheduled c-section for DD#2, and have zero guilt about it. DD#1's lungs are fine, we bonded fine, and while breastfeeding took a bit longer to get going, we did that fine as well!! The way I figure it, scheduling a C this time around means there's a chance I can at least get one last decent night's sleep before baby comes (my water broke at midnite with DD#1, so I was already sleep deprived before she even entered the world LOL)

temporalrobe · October 2012

guilt? nah. my baby is now 3months and has NO IDEA how she was born. She just knows that Mom and Dad love her very much and that milk is delicious.

i had a very positive cs experience. it was planned b/c she was breech. knowing when she was coming was great. not going through labor was fantastic (from what i hear, its tough stuff pushing a kid out your vag).

recovery was painful for about 2 weeks. the hardest part was actually caring for a child on the outside. they are needy little buggers.

jbutterfly82 · October 2012

Don't feel guilty at all! you are not letting your baby down. I am not against having a c-section as long as its for the safety of the mom and baby. My mother had an emergnecy c-section when she had me. my cord was wrapped around my neck and I could have died. Instead of feeling guilty, feel proud that you are doing the best for your child.

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