Delivery decision

technigirl · January 2013

Hi ladies,

I've been giving a lot of thought to delivery lately. I'm finding myself leaning toward having a c-section, and it's mainly because my delivery with DD was so horrible. I know I shouldn't necessarily expect this pregnancy, and this delivery, to go as badly as that one did, but I'm really scared that it will!

For a little background, here's what happened last time: Through the last couple of months, I had noticed elevated blood pressure, and I swelled like crazy (gained ~3 lbs. a week in fluid). My doctor suspected preeclampsia but since it seemed so mild, she didn't push for me to have a c-section. I went into labor naturally the day before the due date, and immediately my blood pressure spiked (I could tell because I got a sudden bloody nose right before we left for the hospital). When I got there, I labored for a while before the anesthesiologist got to me. I still remember her asking the nurse "Is that her blood pressure?" Turns out it was something like 190/105. I dilated OK and then I pushed for 2 hours (with epidural), and she was in the birth canal but couldn't seem to make it all the way through. Finally, one of the doctors noticed that she had a "brow presentation" - basically, her head was tilted up and her browbone was stuck up against one of my pelvic bones. Her heart rate also kept dropping, so they were concerned about that. So they decided it was time for an emergency c-section. About 15 minutes later, she was born. They had a hard time getting her out too, since she was halfway down the birth canal. I'm sure that was no fun for her either.

My blood pressure did not go down after that. Right after delivery I had to go on Magnesium - a horrible experience as anyone who's done it can tell you. I had to stay in the hospital for 6 days before they finally let me go home. And they would barely let me move from my bed for fear I'd have a stroke. On top of that, my daughter was in the NICU because she didn't want to breathe immediately after being born. They wouldn't let me out of my room, nor her out of hers, so I didn't even get to really meet her for over 2 days. Nursing went horribly, I suspect because we were unable to get started right away. Back at home, it took another 4-5 weeks for my BP to return to normal. I had to stay on my left side as much as I could. I simply cannot afford to do that now with a toddler to look after as well as a newborn.

So in short I do not want to wait until I go into labor to see if this will happen again. I would rather have a nice normal c-section and leave the hospital after 3 nights like everyone else. And one other bonus would be that a scheduled c-section would be so much easier for DH and I. We have no family in town, and I'm 99% sure no one will be coming to help with the baby. We do have a few good friends that I'm sure would help out, but DD doesn't know any of them very well, so I fear it would be tough on all for them to have to take care of her. And who wants to get a call at 3AM asking them to come take care of someone else's kid? If we could schedule it, then we could easily have care set up during the daytime when it would take place. Then afterward, DH could go home and take care of DD.

Thanks for listening to me! I just had to get these thoughts out. I feel better now.

Melissa

Abeille · January 2013

For what it's worth, with your history I would have made the same decision. Healthy mom and baby is what matters in the end.

kat1221 · January 2013

I hear you! I had a pretty traumatic birth story with DS as well that resulted in an emergency C/S after hours and hours of labor. The epi didn't work and I had to be put to sleep and I had a high fever and high BP as well. My recovery was not like yours though at all and I am so sorry that you had to go through that!

I was on the fence between VBAC and RCS pretty much this entire pregnancy. We decided a few weeks ago that we would go for the RCS for many reasons. One of those reasons is that we too don't have any family here nor do we have very many friends because we just moved here in August. I have had several people say that we could call them in the middle of the night but....

I know that each labor can be different and I *might* be able to have a successful VABC but I feel that RCS is the best choice for me and in the end, it's a choice you have to make for yourself as well.

Good luck!

technigirl · January 2013

Ladies thank you so much. That helps me feel a lot better about this should we decide to go for the c-section.

Melissa

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