elective C-Section

OK, I'm in need of some opinions here. I have always planned/deisred to give a natural birth. I have had a few small worries about the baby's cord being around his neck, but nothing major. Unitl today...

My soon to be 16 year old cousin was born after 24 long hours of labor. The cord had been around her neck and the doctor let her mother push and push. Finally she did have a C-Section. My cousin had a massive siezure when she was only 6months old. They lost her twice and luckily she's still here. However, she's had major siezures since then and several very small ones. Her gross motor and fine motor skills are lacking, she has speech trouble and is about 2 years behind in school. She could be an extremely bright girl....but her brain won't let her. All of her specialist (and she's been to several) have blamed the initial loss of oxygen to her brain for the subsequent siezures. She will be undergoing brain surgery this summer for possible help. (It will never stop the siezures and her problems are irreversable, but it may help her to be off her medications)

This has me terrified!! I don't even want to risk pushing with the cord around his neck!! How leniant are doctors on doing elective C-sections???? I just was at the doctor yesterday and my next appointment is in 4 weeks, so I will probably bring it up then. I know I won't be as comfy afterward as I would be with a regular vaginal delivery......but my comfort is nowhere near as important to me as my baby's health!!

Thanks for any opinions you have!!!!!

[hungry]

I can definitely understand why you would prefer to have a c/s vs the natural birth you've dreamed about.  I think you should ask your doctor what are the chances that this would happen to you and what precautions can be taken to prevent it.  I know it may be difficult especially since you've seen what could happen, but I think your cousins condition is due to the negligence of the doctor.  I live in VA and they had me sign paperwork that states that if something happens to my baby death, or any brain damage, due to the doctors delivery, they are liable and will provide healthcare and other special needs for the child.  But thats another story.  

I think your cousin is a rare and unfortunate situation;.  I personally have had two natural childbirths, no drugs NOTHING.  With my first i was in labor 7 hrs, once dialated i pushed 2 times and he was out. The second I only knew i was in labor because my mucus plug came out that morning and my husband made me go to the hospital when he got home from work.  I had fully dialated w/o feeling one single contraction.  No light cramps, nothing.  The doctors and nurses were amazed, because i was contracting and had fully dialated w/o an ounce of pain. (until they broke my water) Then i t was 30 min of hell until i delivered him. But still,  i can imagine not having the experience of feeling the delivery of my children.  It's very special.  I thinkyou should really talk to your doctor and see what assurances you can get before you make this decision.

[Elicam]

I had a c-section as I had low fluid. I live in Italy and they seem to prefer you to have a c-section rather than a natural birth (which I really wanted and am so disappointed that I never got to do).

If you are so worried and can cause you to be too anxious on the day, then go for the c-section.

I was worried about the bonding with my son process, which I must admit I had slight problems with at first as I was so against the c-section, but the day after when they bought him into my room first thing and it was only me and him, I felt so proud.

It hurts like hell after, which is what frightend me about having another baby in the future, but he is healthy and they say that with a c-section the baby suffers less and comes out looking more normal rather than squashed and funny looking.

Talk it over with your doctor. I am sure he/she will be able to advice you and together you can work out the best birthing plan for you.

Good luck.

[Cheyenne_08]

Jessica.....girl.....you need to take a chill pill and RELAX ;) Not that we can say we are confident in our doctor's ability (he he he) I don't think you should worry so much! There are a BILLION things that can go wrong, and if you sit here and beat yourself up over the possibilities and how to avoid anything going wrong, you are just going to scare yourself! I would see what he says about your size as you get further along, because part of me thinks you may end up with a c-section anyway because you are built quite small. Just chill out and do something fun to get your mind off of everything bad that COULD happen:)

[rubyolivia]

I try.....but my uncle just was here this morning with the news about brain surgery. I had another cousin die from this. Jeremy's nephew had his cord around his neck and our wonderful doc had my sis in law pushing for 4 hours even though he could see that Parker's heartrate was dropping. So then he finally did the C-Section. Parker's is kinda slow developmentally.......sooooo I'm just a little paranoid about this one! I'm hoping you are right about my size, though. That would be good. But since I am not getting much bigger, the baby probably will be smaller too soooooo it may not matter! I plan to at least mention it to him!

[TripleAPage]

I worry about the cord being around my baby's neck too, but when they are still inside you, they're not even breathing oxygen yet!  They don't start breathing until they are suctioned and stimulated to cry outside the womb.  I don't see how the brain damage could've happened from pushing with the baby still inside!  Maybe it's a genetic thing that two people in your family are a little slower!

[rubyolivia]

I guess maybe I should clarify this......brain damage wasn't caused by the lack of oxygen. The onset of siezures was due to initial lack of oxygen/bloodflow to the brain. The siezures, in turn, caused all the damage. I guess it's more the cord slowing bloodflow the the brain than oxygen.

[rubyolivia]

I know that they aren't risk free, but my main concern is the cord issue. I mean I'm concerned about everything....but that just terrifies me! I do realize though that there is risk with ANY birth. And like I said, I really DO want a vaginal birth. I decided that I will most likely just discuss this with the doctor and have the baby's heartrate monitored all through labor and make sure he knows I would like a C-Section at any sign of hardship for the baby.

And to you, who says that maybe my family members are genetically slower. SHUT UP. That was rude and uncalled for. Actually, it's members from opposite sides of the family that have had this problem and neurologists have told them that the cord  was the reason. The third passed away because his cord was too tight around his neck AT BIRTH!!!! Don't talk unless you know what you are talking about.

Sorry to be a b*tch but that to me sounded plain awful. Maybe what you said just came out the wrong way.

[ajemmom]

I had two c-sections and please realize that c-sections don't mean there won't be any complications!   I'm not trying to scare you or make you worry any more than you already are, but there are risks for the baby with c-sections too.  Some babies have a problem with fluid in their lungs b/c they didn't travel down the birth canal and have it all "squeezed" out of them.  My nephew was put into the NICU b/c of this....he would just randomly stop breathing!  The doctors said that b/c he was born by c-section he still had a bunch of fluid in his lungs and it was very difficult for him to breathe, so he would just quit trying to breathe!  He was in the NICU for 4 days, but now is okay.  Many doctors will do elective c-sections, but just know that they aren't risk free!  There are a number of things that can go wrong during any delivery...natural or not, but thankfully, they don't happen all that often.  Trust your doctor to make the right decisions, he's probably been doing it for years!  Try talking to him about your fears and seeing what he says.  Best of luck!  

[lynne1276]

I am having my first baby right around the same time as you and I gotta tell you I am really scared about labor.  I'm not scared about it hurting because I know it will, I'm scared that somthing will go wrong.  I can't seem to get it out of my head.  I was curious about opting for a c section too!

[Cheyenne_08]

Ahhh Jessica:) I hope you are having a better day since you posted that comment!!! Max is going to be fine!!!

[Crritter]

I'm not sure if you will get back to this, but just in case I wanted to post this for you.  My first son was born vaginally and he had the cord wrapped around his neck 3 times at birth.  He was over 10 lbs., face up, had the cord wrapped, and his shoulder got caught on the way out.  He never should have tolerated labor, especially since he was my first one, I had to push more.  Ya know what, the little stinker was fine.  He did not show any distress, he did dip a little as he descended into the canal, but the oxygen they gave me pulled it up and he looked great on the monitor.  They were shocked to see the cord when he came out, he was great and they just had to cut the cord before they could deliver his body.  I know that labor and delivery is scary, I was nervous with my second one too, you just never know till you have them in your arms.  I can tell you that my first son is 3 1/2 and very bright, incredibly active, and no health problems.  I would mention the family incident to your Dr. and discuss your fears.  If something arises in labor, they will act quickly and knowing your fears, they will keep an eye out for problems.  Good luck, and I would recommend a vaginal delivery if you can, the recovery is so much better from what I've heard.  After my second baby, I was up and running around the next day!  Plus, so many C-section babies will have to be suctioned out and may have problems because they aren't compressed in the birth canal, so the fluid doesn't get pushed out as well.  Both of my babies came out fairly quickly.  Baby #1 was out around 50 minutes, and baby #2 in around 20 minutes.  Not bad considering they were both bigger babies.  Good luck and talk to your Dr.