I have to make a decision.
I have too much amniotic fluid in my uterus I am 36 weeks. baby is swimming around in there.
it has got to a point where I currently can only waddle around the house and really not do much at all, taking the kids out just can’t happen at the moment. I stubble to breath, heartburn is constant even with drinking ga is on and I am generally very very uncomfortable due to my over sized belly.
this is my 5 th pregnancy. baby 1 was induced emergency section due to pre eclamspsia , baby2 was another emergency section due to loss or heart beat during labour and was still born. baby3 and 4 were both amazing water births in the mlu. all were at 40 weeks and1 day.
I have been advised to go in and sit and wait on the anti natal ward due to baby swimming around and if waters pop I risk a cord prolapse. also pressure on my previous scars is a risk as my belly is much bigger than it has been before.
I am concerned about bleeding after bab is born as with a very streched uterus there is risk if problems with it contracting down.
in2 weeks the consultant has advised that I go in for a controlled rupture of water bag. this should put me into labour and therefore we can make sure the baby is sow where heading out the right direction. after breaking the water which will be done in theter I have about4 or so hours to go into labour. if I don’t then it’s straight to section as using induction drugs is not good with previouis sections. I will be 38 weeks.
or do I risk all of the complications and let nature be ?
I do trust my midwife and consultant and believe I have the best team as I have had them for the last 2 births. but part of me says will I manage if I don’t go into labour and have a section.
my head is full, I want to trust my body but scared.
Personally, I would be led by the consultant. Too many risks to let nature takes its course, but then I am not much of a risk taker. Nature can be lovely, but it can also be very cruel, and with the risks that you already know about, I would rather it all be in a controlled environment. I think it is great that they are giving you an opportunity to labour naturally, perhaps query the four hour thing, why only four hours for labour to start, what are the risks with letting the timetable be a bit longer? At the end of the day though, if a section is what is needed then that is what is needed. I know it is so hard to get your head around this (I had to prepare myself for a section with ds3, but got a last minute reprieve at 38 weeks (placenta too low) ). But if you prepare in your mind for both, perhaps try to think of some things you would like to happen if it does come to a c-section, perhaps things like skin to skin with DH whilst you are being seen to.
Hope you manage to find peace with the situation, and find your own way through this.
Personally, in your circumstances I would be consultant led. Nature is wonderful, but as Aisling says nature can be cruel, well she’s not really of course, but neither is she all love and dolphins either. Nature means there is no guarantee your baby will be ok, or indeed you will be. Medical science means you both have very good chance of being absolutely fine. And if you take your consultant’s advice, then you can discuss also how to make the section as pleasant, as it were, as possible, ensure that the baby is given to you immediately for skin to skin contact etc.
Yes birth has been too medicised, but in such circumstances as yours, it’s a godsend and we are fortunate to live in a country where if there is a real risk to baby or mother our doctors are skilled and available.
(((((hugs)))))))) Such a bugger your pregnancy has been a difficult one, it will all be worth it tho when your darling baby is safe and snug in your arms
Personally I would follow the advice if the experts on this one, and agree with everything said above about nature and the risks. For me trusting the body and nature is a wonderful thing, but when there are complications that create risks to the health of the baby and/or the mother than I would put my trust on those that could help make the birth safer for both.
Ultimately only you can decide how to proceed, taking advice and opinions from the medical team, dh, friends ...
I hope that you can find peace with your decision for the coming weeks. This may not be the birth you hoped for, but having you and baby safe is paramount x
Yes, I agree that pregnancy and birth ARE very medicalised in this country and its a long way we’ve come from our primitive foresisters, but, and its a big but, we are fortunate to live in a country where help and support is avalible to us an our babies. This can only be your decision. But I would almost certainly follow the lead of the consultant. I think that when all things considered, often letting nature takes its course IS the best thing, but when there are so many hurdles in the way, and when you want this baby to be safe more than anything in the world, I would (personally) take the advice of the people who have trained extensively in this area and be glad to have a safe baby in my arms at the end of it. I wouldnt bear being able to consider the alternative. Just take some time, alone, to connect to your little one and let them know that you are choosing to do what is right and safest for you and them. And that you would never make any decision in vain, so you and you baby can rest assure that every eventually has been taken into consideration, but as someone said above this comment, your babe’s health is paramount.
Thinking of you lovely and sending you and your sweet one love x
I don’t think I can add anything to this but I agree with the general sentiment above, and I am so sorry you are in this position. But preparing for another birth scenario will certainly make things better if that comes to pass.
A friend of mine was in the same state at 36 weeks (1st birth) and had a CS there and then - no wait and see for 2 weeks, no offer to rupture and see if labour begins, so I think it is very positive that your team are taking a gentler approach. I think you should take them up on the offer of some rest, it sounds very uncomfortable.
I’ve held back from this before as I have very strong feelings about the sharing of certain experiences with heavily pregnant women (see previous thread), however I’m not sure at what point you will go offline and I want to share this in case it happens to you and hopefully it will give you comfort and positivity. My friend’s baby was born with a blind-end oesphagus (sp?) which is apparently one of the things they look out for with women with lots of fluid, though it is rare - I never knew that babies actually swallow the stuff til then! It was very very quickly diagnosed and rectified and through it all baby was tube fed with expressed breast milk until she was able to suck, they went on to have a 2.5 year BFing relationship without problems. And that toddler has no other feeding issues - she actually has a very refined palate!
Hi Jennifer, I agree with all the feedback you’ve had from the lovely mamas on here. I was in a very similar position five weeks ago having had a complicated pregnancy and like you had to make a choice. We went with the consultant led advice because the most imortant thing was the result, heathy baby and a healthy Mum. My waters broke naturally at 36 weeks and I went in for a c-section after a couple of hours labouring (like you I was aready aware that I would probably need a section before my labour started) and so this sounds quite similar to your possible pending experience.
We didn’t have a standard c-section, we had this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misgav_Ladach (there is loads of stuff on the internet about it)which turned out to be a lovely experience (as things go) I lost less than 300ml of blood which was nothing and left the hospital on day 3, this procedure has a great recovery time. DH was with me the whole time and our daughter Eva arrived pink, safe and sound. I’m not sure if this is an option for you as not all consultants do it but it’s worth having a read and talking it through with your team.
To reasure you, I don’t feel like I missed out on the birthing experience as I was allowed to labour, I’ve recovered well and our DD arrived safely If you have any questions, feel free to ask….and best of luck…you sound like you already know what you need to do x
Hi hun, [hugs]. This is so difficult for you, but at least this team are the ones that you have had for the last two births, so as you say, you can trust them. If I was in this situation, then I’d say, go with their suggestions.
Just so you know, as well, in case this concerns you, both mine were born prem - one at 34 weeks and t’other at 36 weeks (not hugely prem, but still). Both had to stay in for alittle (1st for 2 1/2 weeks and 2nd for 1 week - very sleepy with jaundice so not putting on weight), but they are both now wonderful healthy little people, both of whom breastfed for ages (ds still going at 2 1/2 yrs and dd stopping at 5 1/2yrs).
I know you want this to be a good birth and want to stay at home until the birth, but the actual time in hospital before (even if it is 2 weeks), the birth and the time afterwards is not that long when compared to the joy of the wonderful baby that you will soon hold.
Who do you have that can provide extra support - can you put anything in place that would make you feel better about going into hospital soon? I know you’ve mentioned your mum before, could she come and stay, even for a week? You might be surprised by her answer if you ask - sometimes people don’t actually know how to help in a certain situation, but arr happy to do so if it is spelled out to them.
I send you all my support
Love and blessings
Tanya
Lots of great advice on here which I would agree with. I had to have a c section with DS and both he and I were great afterwards and he started feeding almost right away. There are times when I think we have to go with the consultants advice and with that make it as natural as we can.
Will be thinking of you and your wee one.
Maybe nature is letting you know that it’s ok to let yourself relax and rest for a while? I bet it feels like forever, but two weeks of rest is a short time, really - and you might find it easier to stop trying to get things done, tick things off lists etc if you’re not at home…
I can’t add anything to the useful advice above, just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking of you and hoping you can discuss your fears and issues with your medical team and come up with a plan that feels right. And I can’t wait to hear your baby news in a few weeks
What a decision! I don’t envy you. Hope you are holding up alright. I have heard and talked to midwives about ‘natural c-sections’. These are not a first choice, but a kind way of dealing with less than ideal situation. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5RIcaK98Yg is a good video about a section that was done in a way that promotes bonding and parents being part of the medicalised birth.
I would be guided by the health care professionals around you, ask any question you have and make sure they write down all your requests. And maybe get them to watch the video!
well Friday is coming close and at the moment I swing from arm is a good idea as I will have the professionals I trust with me , to completely trusting my body and wanting to birth at home in a very calm and peaceful environment.
it such a hard decision. I am hoping to talk to my midwife and again today
I really and truly don’t know what to do for the best.
I wish I could look into the future to see what the outcomes were and choose from there !!
I lost less than 300ml of blood which was nothing and left the hospital on day 3, this procedure has a great recovery time. DH was with me the whole time and our daughter Eva arrived pink, safe and sound. I’m not sure if this is an option for you as not all consultants do it but it’s worth having a read and talking it through with your team.
