I'm afraid of c-sections!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2004
I'm afraid of c-sections!
14
Tue, 03-20-2007 - 10:29pm

I went to the doctor for my 37 week visit today and he said that we're doing an ultrasound next Tuesday (my birthday) to determine approximate fetal size. He said if she is within 1/2 pound of DS' birth weight (8lbs 4oz) that it would be irresponsible for him NOT to do a c-section.

I was induced with DS a week early last time due to GD and he had shoulder dystocia. I'm already scheduled to be induced on 4/3 with this one because of that. But he's saying that if she is going to be the same size or bigger, it would be stupid to risk that again. (Luckily DS came out fine with no broken bones, etc.)

I am terrified!! I know I'm freaking myself out over something a lot of women PREFER. But I have been reading up on it a lot and now I feel worse than before! It didn't occur to me that (DUH!) I would have to have an epidural. (My last birth was natural vaginal.) And the thought of them slicing me open and pulling on my tissue just freaks me out and makes me feel a little sick.

And then I read about a catheter!!! Doesn't that hurt??

I'm also really worried about the recovery time. I already have a 3 year old at home. DH will be off for about 10 days after the birth and then my mom will be here the whole next week. But I'm just worried that it's going to be painful and that I'm not going to bounce back.

I know that after having a vaginal birth without drugs the first time, some of this may seem like a piece of cake, but labor is NATURAL and normal. Abdominal surgery and catheters and needles are not.

Yikes, I'm so freaked out. Can I have some encouragement? More importantly, some positive thoughts that I will have a happy birthday and find out that I'm worrying over nothing and I'll just get my induction!!

~Emily

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2004
Wed, 03-21-2007 - 7:57pm

God bless you women!! You have made me feel so much better. I trust this doctor, but I do kind of get the feeling that he does do things that are convenient for him.

I am going to fight to avoid this c-section. I know that ultrasounds can be off, but I didn't realize that it's possible by so much. I'm really going to have to think hard about it before I agree to the c-section, but as someone said, he is the doctor so if that's his recommendation I need to give it some thought even though it's so far beyond what I DONT want!

He did tell me that an epidural would relax me when delivering vaginally which could help avoid the dystocia this time. I guess I could also plan to go that route if they think she's a little big.

Keep your fingers crossed! I'll find out on Tuesday what the answer is...

~Emily
#2 coming 4/3

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2007
Wed, 03-21-2007 - 9:06pm
well you are welcome glad at anytime that I can help. I hope that it doesn't go that way but I forgot to tell you one thing that made me uneasy that might make you uneasy. When I walked in to the operating room they were counting all the instruments that they had to use and they had them layed out on the table. I faint really easy and I was kinda suprised that it didn't make me faint once I saw them. Maybe you can mention it and ask them to cover them up until you are laying down. My doctor made me feel very comfortable and they even had music on. Then when they were sewing me up they were having a conversation on where they were going on vacation. It was just funny to me and It took my mind off of alot of things because they seemed so casual. let us know what you find out. They said that my son was weighing in at 9Lbs.11onces and he came out 8lbs 7.7 onces. He was 3 weeks early born at 37 weeks so that is why they didn't want me to cary him all the way well among other important reasons. Good luck and can't wait to find out the outcome for you.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2003
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 1:51am

I think you received excellent advise from all posters to your question. I have had 2 unmed births, and dont have any personal experience with c-secs, other than they were one of my biggest fears when I was pregnant as well !


It is your body, and your baby. Sadly, many drs push women to have c-sec when they know they are going to be away on vacation or something. I know many of my friends who have been in that situation, and the dr gave them all sorts of "reasons" why they should forgo natural birth, and have a c-sec earlier than the due date, and it turned out that they were going to be away during the due date time. Sad. Also, every pregnancy is different. Because someone has a monster sized child one time, does not mean that the next will be that size. Late term ultrasounds are commonly known to be less acurate in detecing size. I worked with a woman

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-12-2006
Thu, 03-22-2007 - 4:44am
The reason for the c-section is not clear to me from your post. I think your instincts are telling you to stay away from the c-section but, you seem to also be very commited to your doctor and his route of delivery which in my mind is... he is playing it safe and controled and doing a c-section for that reason. I would get another doctor that supports my doing a vaginal birth. I think i would follow your instincts more than what medical science says. It is not at all strange to change docs at the last minute. Don't let yourself be c-sectioned if you really don't want to is my advice take charge of your birth.
arie
suggested reading Fredric Le Boyer's classic "Non Violent Birth".

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