Scheduled c-section delivery?

marinlove0528 · May 2013

Okay so I didn't even know it was possible to choose to have a c-section or to choose your delivery date but my mom just brought it up to me because I am due August 10th and my husband is due to deploy around the 10th or 11th and I will be 8 hours from all family.

What do you ladies think or choosing a c-section? and what do you think of choosing your baby's due date?

Soleil3 · May 2013

I'd never choose a major surgery, personally. You could talk to your doctor about induction maybe, providing all was well, but a high % of those end in c-sections, so again its a risk.

amarissa85 · May 2013

I wouldn't want to do that. It is major surgery and if you can avoid it I would.

amandamays88 · May 2013

Having just gone through my OB rotation for nursing school I normally would NOT recommend scheduling a csection or induction when it is not medically necessary. However, I am also a military spouse and I can't imagine my DH not being there. Since his leave date is so close to your due date scheduling an induction probably isn't horrible though. I personally don't think I'd ever choose to have a csection for convenience. Having an indiction though increases your risk for a csection. It is major surgery and having witnessed multiple csections I am going to do everything in my power to avoid one. Obviously there are some situations where it is necessary. A csection doesn't allow the baby to do a lot of things he or she is supposed to during a vaginal birth. A vaginal birth helps the baby's breathing because going through the birth canal puts beneficial pressure on baby's lungs and the surfactant, etc. It really bothers me when someone schedules an induction because they "are planners" and like the convenience of knowing their date of delivery. With that being said I could understand an induction being that your DH is leaving on your due date. If a Csection is not medically necessary my vote is dont do it!

lkobriant · May 2013

Soleil3:
I'd never choose a major surgery, personally. You could talk to your doctor about induction maybe, providing all was well, but a high of those end in csections, so again its a risk.

This. I know people who have had voluntary c sections with no regrets but you definitely shoul talk to your doctor and do your research. It is major surgery and your recovery will be much more intensive. Also if DH we be gone and family won't be close it's a lot to deal with.

Although I'm never a fan of inducing or planned delivery unless necessary. Babies will typically come when they're ready and a due date can be up to two weeks off so LO may not be ready.

rfrazier611 · May 2013

Watch The Business of Being Born if you haven't already. It's on Netflix. It'll probably make you look at C sections (the elective ones) a little differently.

amandamays88 · May 2013

Also I should add it might depend on your birth plan too. If you plan on delivery naturally without an epidural the pitocin makes contractions harder and stronger. If you consider an induction with pitocin you might want to make sure you'd be alright with getting an epidural.

carrotcake06 · May 2013

I'd bring up your situation at your next appt and see what your dr is willing to do for you. Some are more accommodating than others.

marinlove0528 · May 2013

Thanks for all the opinions I didn't want to do the whole c-section thing but my mom had mentioned it along with planning the due date. I just really want him there, even if I'm induced just a day early.

Ktbug613 · May 2013

i would have to do a lot of research on this one. as a former military spouse i understand why you might consider it.

CaliforniaDream87 · May 2013

I would NEVER schedule a c section or an induction just to "plan" my baby's due date.

Even as a former military spouse...I still wouldn't consider it.

MammaBear81 · May 2013

If your due date is the 10th, maybe you can be induced a day or two early (GASP!) so your DH can be there. Of course this will all depend on how your bishops score looks, so it's more of a "last minute" plan, but you can certainly schedule everything and then if you aren't "favorable" for induction then just let it be. I know I will get flamed for this, but I'd like to let you know that a c section isn't the ONLY way to go... I would never schedule a c section unless it was absolutely necessary.

CelticWife · May 2013

Normally, I would be very against an induction or csection. In your case, though, I would bring it up with your doc. Ask if everything is favorable, if they could try and induce you around 39 weeks.

I forgot to ask, though. How long will he be gone? If it's just a few weeks, I don't think it is something I would attempt. A year? Absolutely.

But I definitely would not do a csection. It is so hard on your body, and if you have any complications you could run into some serious issues. You don't want to be 8 hours from your family and alone after major surgery. You aren't supposed to drive or even lift anything heavier then your baby until cleared by your doc. So unless your mom is planning on hanging out with you for a few weeks, I wouldn't even consider it.

kateisgreat · May 2013

rfrazier611:
Watch The Business of Being Born if you haven't already. It's on Netflix. It'll probably make you look at C sections (the elective ones) a little differently.

Since I saw this movie when it first came out, I've had plenty of time to reflect on it. It's very biased, and the information was presented in what I felt like was a somewhat alarmist manner. Basically, I agree with what they are trying to say, but take it with a grain of salt if you watch it. It doesn't have all of the answers- which is true for any source of information. I was induced with DD, and wound up with a c-section. I could have been the poster girl for everything the business of being born was against, but it wasn't a bad outcome and I'm happy with all the decisions I made with my midwife about what steps to take to ensure a safe delivery.

Would I schedule an non-medically necessary c-section? Absolutely not. I could understand wanting to be induced in the OP's circumstance, but it sucks pretty hard if things don't go as planned. Recovery was a breeze for me, but I hated being hooked up to IV's/ catheter/etc and I was in the hospital for 5 days. That's with the letting me out a day early. I was so ready to get home.

cinderin · May 2013

personally, I would do everything possible to safely avoid a c-section.

I am facing a higher chance of having to have a c-section now that I am high risk. so I am trying to mentally prepare myself for the fact that things may not go as I might have originally hoped.

the end goal is that we have a healthy baby and mom. the ultimate goal.

jmarie67231 · May 2013

I asked my doctor if I can elect for a csection and she said no that it had to be medically necessary so I didn't think it was possible

Monilee1017 · May 2013

Is this your first? I wouldn't have chosen to have a csection with DS and I am only choosing to this time because almost no one in my family can deliver, my blood aunts, sister and only girl cousin thats delivered all had to have csections. I had one for the same reasons as all the rest of my family, some tried for their seconds and failed. Will your doctors even talk to you about it if it is your first?

magdalina.h · May 2013

Well I did but that's because I'm not a candidate for a VBAC. I would NEVER choose a c/s over a vaginal delivery, but that choice was taken away from me

EmarieDuke · May 2013

First, I am sorry you are in this position. I am not a military spouse, but I can empathize. My advice comes from my own experience with a failed induction then c-section.

Induction do not always work. I know we all think they will, but sometimes your body won't accept it. A PP mentioned bishop's score. I would not attempt an induction unless my body had positive signs of success otherwise you're almost setting yourself up for a c-section. And frankly, if your DH is leaving right after, you do not want to be healing from a possible failed induction then c-section.

Also, an induction can take time. So when people say go in a day or two early and induce - doesn't always happen. We tried induction methods for 48 hours once I was 41 weeks, I ended up with a c-section at 41 wks 2 days.

I am not saying my experience will happen to everyone, but I wanted you to know that you can't always plan for everything. I would only set these plans up if you had other family that was coming immediately to help out. Or it should be a last minute plan if your body is primed to deliver.

girlmama83 · May 2013

I asked my midwife at one of my very first appointments if you can choose to have a c section, really just out of curiousity, and she told me c sections are only performed when medically necessary.

As of now I only have one thing going on that could result in a c section but I will be taking the steps to prevent it if it becomes an issue closer to delivery.

matthewsdm · May 2013

I'm having a scheduled c-section, but only because it's medically necessary. I had one with my frist, but not before first trying for a regular birth. I don't think I would schedule it unless you had too, it is a big time surgery!

Ktbug613 · May 2013

since I have seen a lot of PPs mention you can ONLY schedule C-sections when medically necessary I thought I would point out that is not entirely true. Most doctors will only do them for medical reasons but there are doctors that will schedule inductions/csections for convenience. You just need to talk to your doctor and see where he stands and what he thinks is safe for this pregnancy.

Also regardless of what you choose, are you really going to be 100% alone for the birth and after? I really hope someone is available to come stay with you you could choose not to induce and do things naturally and still end up with a c-section. Even if you have a picture perfect birth, adjusting to a new baby is hard enough, but doing it 100% alone while sending your husband off at the same time is really A LOT

AlexKate45 · May 2013

If it were me, I'd ask my doctor about scheduling an induction for before DH goes. Good luck!

vintageutopia · May 2013

Normally, I would say no, but I can see why this might be a consideration for you. He deploys so close to your due date and you have no family nearby.

I agree with whomever suggested induction, though. It might be a nice middle ground.

virginiamama85 · May 2013

From someone who had an emergency c-section... I personally wouldn't choose that option, but I can understand your situation and I would definitely be tempted to at least try an induction before he leaves. For a csection though, it was so important afterwards to have someone around to help me. Just to lay down was painful during recovery, let alone be up and about and doing all the other things that still need to get done. Also, you cannot drive for something like two weeks, and the baby will have first check ups, you will need to get around somehow... etc. So I think it also depends, will that mean your H gets to be there just for a day or two with you? If so, I don't think the pain of recovering from surgery is worth it.

tokenhoser · May 2013

If you consider an induction, do it 2-3 days before your DH leaves. Inductions aren't magic wands where you go in and walk out with a baby 6 hours later. I would also only do it if your Bishop Score indicates it's likely to work.

Choosing a c-section when you'll be 8 hours away from family and your husband is leaving sounds like a pretty terrible idea. Who will take care of you? If you really have no one at all, you need to hire some help. You won't be physically very able for at least the first couple of weeks. Perhaps your mother who thinks a planned c-section is great could get in the car and come deal with the reality of that?

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