[MakesMeHappy]

It has come time for me to decide how to give birth.

After a difficult induction the first time I am pretty sure I don't want to be induced. I didn't realise how much his birth really effected me until I have started to think about doing it all over again.

So I started to think about asking for a c section.

Today I asked the dr about it and he first said he would recommend a 'social' induction with an epidural but after discussing it a bit more he thought I had valid reasons to want a c section.


At the moment I am leaning towards c section but if I was told I 'had to' have an induction I don't believe it will destroy me mentally either.

I have 3 weeks to decide what I would like to do, so of anyone has any opinions/experiences/fact they feel I should know I would love to hear them.

Thanks
Edit to remove some details

This post has been edited by MakesMeHappy: 12/12/2012, 01:41 AM

[whale-woman]

Really up to your personal preferences. It's your right to have a cs if you want one and it sounds like you're been through enough last time.

I had elective CS purely as I wanted a cs. I loved it. I was out of bed later in the day ( though this hurt!) and felt well enough to go out to get coffee the next day. Great apgars for bub who was handed straight over to me. Bfing went fine etc etc. The scar is barely visable. I couldn't have been happier with my experience. I'm having a second cs with this pg.

The only issue I'd consider is that you shouldn't lift anything heavier than your baby post cs till it heals (I'm trying to wean my toddler off being carried now) and you can't drive till you're oked by your ob. That said the council sent in cleaners to help with the house in the 1st weeks If you are planning 4+ kids the risk of cs increase too......

This post has been edited by whale-woman: 02/08/2012, 08:48 PM

[sakura73]

I was induced because I was terrified of DS getting too big and then needing a C section.

Lo and behold, although the gel etc did cause my waters to break, I ended up with an emergency C section anyway because of foetal distress. Turned out the cord was round his neck and stopping him from moving down. Thank God for the C section or he could have been seriously damaged during birth.

Like the PP I found the C section very very easy to recover from.

So if I were you, with your experience last time, I would go for the C section.

[Princess.cranky....]

I've had 3 C-sections. Recovery is different for everyone. Some will recover well but others will have complications like infections which are common.

I never found recovery easy at all. Each time I found it painful and took weeks before I felt back to normal. I had compilations after my first C/S (infection) and it took about 12 months to recover. I was in shock just how bad felt after C/S1. And even when I had DD2 the pain still came as a shock despite knowing what to expect. But everyone is different and it might be easy for you.

#3 was the best recovery but it still took me about 4 weeks to feel right again. I still have some tenderness and numbness on my tummy almost 2 years later. I don't think it will ever go away. It's not uncommon to have numbness/tenderness.

Recovering from surgery and taking care of a toddler and newborn is not easy. You will need help for a few weeks. You can't lift the toddler as the PP said.

After surgery you will be in bed for 24 hours. It's slow to move around at the start. Midwifes help you take care of the baby for the first few days. DD3 spent the first night in the nursery because she was vomiting a lot of gunk. It can happen with C/S babies because they have not been though the canal which clears the lungs.

First two C/Ss I got to see the baby after checks her for a few minuets. Then DH and the baby waited for us in recovery. I had the amazing experience of skin to skin on the table with DD3. Finally got to have the first cuddle of my just born baby! Not all hospitals will let you hold baby on the table or have them in recovery though so you should check on that.

Recovering from surgery, taking care of a toddler and a newborn is not easy. You will need help for a few weeks. I was okay on my own after about 2 weeks but I wasn't up to doing a lot. I put the slow cooker to good use. DH did washing at night and cleaning on the weekends.

Good luck with your decision.

This post has been edited by Princess.cranky.pants: 03/08/2012, 10:25 AM

[bikingbubs]

It is obviously a personal choice, but you need to be aware that not everyone has the same experience or recovers the same. I was induced at 42 weeks and ended in a c/s and there is no way I would ever be induced again (not that I have the option after a c/s!) but, thats just my personal choice. Some people recover well from a c/s, others dont...so you need to make sure if you go down this path that you have some help at home with your DS. For me this time around I am trying for a VBAC and the main reason is recovery! I still couldnt move properly after 3 weeks, and even at 4 weeks I was just getting back to normal - not saying this will be you, but some people recover like that! so the thought of being in that state with an 18 month to look after is not my idea of fun!!

[MakesMeHappy]

Thank you for your replies. You have made me feel a bit better about considering a c section. I wasn't sure if was stupid to even think about it. I will still do more research into it as this is what the dr suggested and would love to hear anymore experiences.

I see everyone has some concern with caring for a toddler while recovering but I will have someone home with me for about 4 weeks.

[Chelara]

I've had two caesars, my first recovery was perfect, no pain, no issues at all. 2nd I probably a a pretty standard recovery- very painful getting up that first time, definite burning pain after exerting myself for 10 days or so, small infection tat caused no issues (was on the skin, only the size of a pimple). I can still feel the scar area though 11 weeks pst op today and I am sometimes conscious of a slight pulling at te wound site.

I had help for 4 weeks This time. It was plenty.

I don't think you'd be doing the wrong thing to opt for a Caesar, it's your choice.

[Daisy Chook]

Hi Popple, I am so glad I found this thread! I am 16 weeks pregnant with my second bub. My DS is 20 months old. He was born after an induction at 41 weeks. At the time, I didn't really feel that the birth was traumatic...he wasn't excessively large (3.65kg) and labour went for 9 hrs. While it was intense, I had nothing to compare it to, so I don't know if it was more or less intense than any other labour. DS was in distress at one point and they prepped me for a c-section, but then this calmed down and he was born with the vacuum a bit later.
At first nobody noticed, but the next day my husband realized DS's right arm wasn't moving. It turns out he had Erb's Palsy, which is a condition caused during birth when a nerve in bubby's neck/shoulder region is damaged, often due to shoulder dystocia. The Dr was unaware of when/how this occurred.
DS's arm did not move at all for 8 weeks. His hand had some movement. We saw pediatric physios and a specialist in Sydney. It was the scariest 2 months of my life, not knowing whether DS would ever have full use of his arm or may require surgery at around 5 months to repair the nerve damage. Thankfully our darling boy recovered slowly. By six months he could lift his arm almost as much as his left. To look at him today you would not know there had ever been an issue. The only sign is his little right shoulder blade sticks out on his back more than the left.
We recently moved and when I discussed the issues around DS's birth with my new Obstetrician, she recommended a c-section delivery for bub number 2. She has said that due to the fact I have had one bub with Erb's palsy/shoulder dystocia, there is an increased risk of it occurring again. Due to the potentially life-altering implications of Erbs palsy, she has said she thinks a c-section is the best course of action. She says it's totally up to me, but wanted to make sure I was aware of the risk.
At first I was bummed. I loved giving birth naturally! I loved the feeling of accomplishment and the quick recovery (although I was very sore for3 weeks afterward!) After thinking about it, I've decided not to risk a natural birth. The stress of thinking about a potential injury to bub, or bub suffering because of a complication I have been warned about, is too compelling for me. I have mum coming to stay after the Caesar and hubby will be home too. I am ready for it to be a more difficult recovery, but I think it's the safest option for our bub.
In your case, which is obviously different to mine, I think I would go with a c-section. Knowing what i know about erb's/shoulder dystocia,and also the trauma you experienced with your DS's birth, support this decision. It's totally up to you though! As long as bub arrives safely and into a loving environment, I'm sure it will be wonderful. Good luck with your decision and with the birth of your little one.

This post has been edited by Daisy Chook: 15/08/2012, 09:06 AM

[MakesMeHappy]

I just want to thank everyone again for their responses.

I decided to go with a c section and am now booked in. I feel really good with the decision.