need some imput and opinions :)

[amymarkson]

Hi ladies, I have been given a very difficult choice ti make with regards to the delivery of my baby, just looking for objective opinions to help me decide.

Some back ground....had twins 18yrs ago it was traumatic to say the least. Got taken in at 32 wks with pre eclampsia, went into labour at 38weeks, while in labour my sons heartbeat was stopping and starting, ended up being totally knocked out and an emergency c section was done. I was in hospital for 10days, very ill due to bad reaction to anaesthetic (happens everytime I have one). Also needed 4 pints of blood due to hemorrhage. Had difficulty bonding with the twins and had bad post natal depression.

My ob has given me the options to have an elective c section due to my previous delivery and the fact my bp is always on the high side even when nit pregnant. After what I went through having the twins I am leaning towards this option. I know recovery is longer but that's something I am prepared for.

I am 25wk 4days atm and 37yrs old. What would you lovely ladies do considering my past? Guess I need alittle advice or opinions. I don't think I could handle the stress of the possibility of another emergency c section but just need a few outside opinions.

Sorry its so long lol and Ty for taking the time to read this post xxx hugs to you all xxx

[amymarkson]

So this is the situation..... If I havnt gone into labour by week 39 they are doing a c section with an epidural. If however I go naturally before that then I will automatically have an epidural just incase. My OB was totally understanding to my concerns and talked us thro all the pro's and cons.

On the plus side I passed my glucose test, bump is measuring spot on, bp's been the best ever to.
Couldnt have asked for more tbh :)


Hugs to you all ladies and special hugs for your little ones xxxxx

[kissingmoore]

If they nocked you out the first time they would probably just do the epidural this time you would be awake and. it would be a lot lest dramatic on your body. hoping for the best

[shell1126]

Do not drink red raspberry leaf tea! No one should be recommending this to anyone. It isn't advised in the 1st tri due to risk of miscarriage. What it does is tone the uterus and by doing so causes contractions. These contractions can lead to miscarriage. Is very controversial therefore not worth chancing!

[Flickan]

LOL I'm a Taurus as well. What I keep being told is that c sections are a lot different tan they used to be an leas invasive. This is my first, so I don't really have much of an opinion. I was recently told that I should be prepared for an emergency c section, so I was interested in some of the responses myself.  Keep us updated!

[amymarkson]

Thanks ladies. If I do go with the elective c section it would be done by epidural so eliminating the general and the added complications. I have an appt with my ob in 4 weeks to discuss the best plan for the birth. Congrats thirdtimemum xx hugs for your baby xx

Thankyou ladies I knew I could ask your opinions and have all sides which has helped. Will keep you posted after my appt and don't worry I won't rush into anything. I'm a Taurus lol stubborn isn't the word xxx

[thirdtimemum]

It's so hard to say, as each pregnancy and birth you have can be so different!! My first was emergency c section due to pre eclampsia too, at 33w. I then had a vbac with my 2nd, and i screamed and panicked through the whole labor as i had no idea what to expect, and i wasn't expecting the pain to be that bad. My third pregnancy i was offered a c section if i wanted one, but i decided to do vaginal again, as i didn't recover too well with the c section either. I was alot calmer this time round, as i knew what to expect, and i'd decided to have an epidural if i couldn't handle it. But everything went smoothly and i got away with just gas and pethidine. It was the best birth i've had! My little bub is 6 days old, and i'm 37 too.
You could always try for vaginal birth, if your pregnancy is straight forward with no complications, i'd def give it a go.

[cher01]

I had a csection prior and recovery was not a picnic so this time am going for TRIAL vbac. If it does not progress well I will have a c section. For you the high blood pressure might be tricky coz it affects baby and you.  Elective c section has less risk on baby but as you pointed out you went through a lot coz of it. Maybe if you have c section you can just have epidural affecting belly and legs only so that you don't have to be knocked out.

[AnnieBrooke]

Did the doctor say absolutely that if you had an elective C-section, you would have to have a general?

[inlovewithhubby]

I have had 10 babies and my last will be 6 weeks in two days. She was born at home as were 7 of the others. Numbers 8 and 9 were born at hospital because they were early. Last one was a water birth. She was born when I was 38. If I were you, I would plan on a natural birth. If something goes wrong they can always do that later, but try to have it naturally first. Are you taking red raspberry tea? I always drink that and pregnancy tea when I'm pregnant. I believe it really helps. I hope everything goes well for you.

[amymarkson]

Thanks ladies, I am carrying one baby this time which is a lot easier on me. I have an extreamly long wake up time from general anesthetic and my limbs ache really badly after it also. I usually or at least the last 5 times I have needed to be ventilated for a few hours after surgery.

There is no reason why I can't have a natural delivery but my previous experience and history terrifies me. I missed out on the 1st few precious days and even now all these years on it upsets me. I don't want to go through that again.

[AnnieBrooke]

For what it is worth, I didn't find the recovery period from my C-section to be that big of a deal.  The first night they had me totter to the bathroom, which was painful, but they kept me in the hospital five days (standard protocol).  I walked the halls every day, and seemed to come back pretty fast (and I'm older than you).  After that I just went home and was up and about most of the time after then.  Possibly your previous experience was so traumatic and difficult because it was an emergency situation.  Is your reaction to anaesthesia from getting nauseous?  I always throw up after being knocked out, unless they add a scopolamine patch (that word might be spelled incorrectly ... it's a product used for seasickness also).  So I always do request it if I am going to be knocked all the way out.  But with my C-section, I just had an epidural, and was blocked from the waist down but totally awake otherwise.

[CTMom37]

I would love to tell you what I think I would do, but I'm not sure that would be helpful.  I completely understand not wanting to have history repeat itself. May I assume by yout post that you are having a singleton this time?  Are you considering a v-bac?  Twins are a bit "touchier" as far as the doctors are concerned I think.

Just to give you some perspective about where I am coming from...I am 38 (and 6 weeks pregnant today).  My daughter (almost 16) was born at a hospital (lots of interventions) and my son (just 14) was born at home (natural and perfect, though still 21 hours like the first labor).  I am very hopeful that I will be able to have another home birth with my current pregnancy, but I am waiting to contact the midwife until I find out for sure whether or not we have twins brewing.  My HCG scores are high/normal.

I think it's good that you're asking the questions, but its also very important to ask yourself what you're most comfortable with.  If you are ready to deal with the recovery of a major surgery, you should do an elective c-section.  If you think you'd like to try to do a v-bac, go for it.  If your doctor is not comfortable, look for another doctor, unless there are any glaring physical reasons that would not be an option.