C sections

Ok what are the downfalls of having a c section? I'm 40 weeks 5 days today. I am scheduled for induction on Wed. I had an ultrasound today at my Dr appt and Dr is estimating baby to be 9lbs so by next week she'll be around 10lbs. We understand that the weight could be higher or lower. Dr thinks c section maybe a better option due to baby's size. She told us to think about it over the weekend and let her know monday.

DH thinks c section may be best and I'm kind of leaning towards it too. Just looking for others opinions.

C sections

I have actually read that the baby's growth slows down at the very end, so I wouldn't expect that much growth by next week. Also, some women may be able to birth a 10 lb baby while others have trouble with a much smaller baby.
I just had a sono at 39 + 5 and the tech said she doesn't usually do growth at 39 weeks and it would be "off". I didn't ask what she meant by that.
I know I'm not answering and just tossing random info out there, lol. I guess I'm saying there is a lot of uncertainty in that weight measurement and how laboring will be. I would find out risks of trying labor 1st in addition to risk of c-section.
Just curious, what do they suggest if you go into labor naturally before Wednesday? It sounded like your water was already ready to break.

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I've never delivered naturally- and after having a c-section I definitely wouldn't want to. For me, there were zero downfalls. DD was out safely in 10 minutes. No pushing, no complications. Completely controlled environment. She came out, they put her on my chest and we hung out while I got glued up. She never left my side.

As for recovery, I was walking around the next day. This may be TMI, but they cleaned me out so well that I hardly bled. My abdomen was a little sore for maybe a week, but I felt fine otherwise. I was Christmas shopping and taking DD for walks. Hosted Christmas dinner 2 weeks later.

Obviously everyone's experience is different, but I couldn't imagine delivering any other way.

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Having had three c sections (my first was breech), I would personally want to avoid it. It is major abdominal surgery. Recovery was ok but I have had some complications causing me a hematoma and serious pain for weeks after in one case. You risk infection, scar tissue, etc with a c section. I didn't like not being able to BF after birth bc they were stitching me up. And I hate surgery and anaesthesia so that was scary for me. I don't know what the other way is like, but just wanted to offer my two cents on c sections.

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I had a c-section and will be having another. I have always preferred the thought over pushing, etc. Of course it's major surgery but all went well for me.

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I've had both. I would personally never want to have another c-section ever again.

If I recall, DD1 was measuring about 8lbs 10 days before she was born and she was only 7lb5oz.

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My first was a c/s and my second was a vbac. Recovery from my c/s was rough. It took me about 4 weeks to feel like myself again. It was pretty painful for me and I was surprised bc I handle pain pretty well. After I had my second I came home and was able to carry my toddler w/o any issues which I never would have been able to do with a C.

I'm assuming this is your first? Just know the measurements aren't always accurate. My SIL only pushed 3 times for my nephew who was a few ounces shy of 10lbs!

C sections

We are just scared of baby being injured during a vaginal birth if she's too big. That is the only reason why I am even considering a c section. Dr was telling us baby could end up with broken shoulder or paralysis and it freaked us out. I definitely wouldnt do a c section just because I think it would be easier. I just don't want to put the baby in any unnecessary danger.

C sections

I wouldn't worry too much about size-dd was 8 lbs 4 oz and ds was 8 lbs 13 oz, both with no drugs whatsoever.

Have you tried acupuncture to try and stimulate labor? I had great success with it bc I flat out refused an induction or c section, and I was late with ds

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I've had both a vaginal and a cs and had positives and negatives with both. Each was easier/harder in their own way. That being said, I would never choose cs purely bc of predicted size.

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to me zero downfalls. I had a great recovery, very little pain and I would choose it over a natural birth.

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I had a c-section because DS was breech, and then a VBAC. My recovery was good from the c-section, not bad at all. I was scheduled for a repeat c, but went into labor early and did the VBAC. My recovery from the VBAC was even easier.

That being said, I've had friends who delivered vaginally and had much longer recoveries than my c-section recovery. And vice versa. You don't know how you'll recover until you're in it.

My philosophy is just do whatever is safest for you and the baby. I personally wouldn't opt for a c-section unless it was needed. Having a big baby wouldn't be a reason to opt for the surgery, though.

C sections

Ask your doctor for statistics. Ask her what the odds are of the injuries she is listing. My son was measuring large too and when he came out he was 7lbs 15 oz, not big at all. Measurements can be off by a lb so it's really nothing to go by.

I had a GREAT csection and recovery. Even with my great experience, I am trying for a VBAC this time. Don't let someone scare you into a section. Even though a planned section is better than an emergency section, you don't know how it all going to go. Some people can't push out a 6lb baby, some can push out an 11lb baby.

Please do what YOU feel comfortable with and ask as many questions to your doctor as you need to before you make a decision.

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I would go with what you feel comfortable but also know those measurements are often off and also size really has nothing to do with ease of delivery. I guess I would be really upset if my doctor was fear mongering about vaginal delivery though. There are risks to baby and mom being delivered both ways. Sounds a bit extreme to me- paralysis? broken shoulder? really?
Then again I'm very pro vaginal delivery so if you just have a preference for C-section and have done your homework then go for it (just don't be scared into it). No matter what, you being comfortable with the plan and outcome is the most important thing!

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Well our little girl finally arrived. I ended up having a c section because I got stuck at 5cm for 6 hrs and the Dr basically said I had zero chance of delivering her vaginally. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. She also ended up being 7lbs 14 oz.

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I had a scheduled c-section and a VBAC. My c-section recovery was far and away MUCH easier than my VBAC! I was walking that night (c-section was in the AM), felt almost perfectly fine 5 days later, and you can barely see my scar. I know people who had serious complications but I think those are the exception, not the rule. With my VBAC I tore internally and could not sit comfortably for weeks.

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Posted by NervousNell

Posted by RainyDay

Well our little girl finally arrived. I ended up having a c section because I got stuck at 5cm for 6 hrs and the Dr basically said I had zero chance of delivering her vaginally. It was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. She also ended up being 7lbs 14 oz.

Congrats!! Yay!

And you see how off those damn sonos are
I swear they should just stop using them to try to estimate size.
It does nothing but cause stress to the mom and it is ALWAYS ALWAYS wrong!

Enjoy your little one!

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I don't think I'd go by the growth sono as gospel. DD was measuring large at each growth sono and came out a little 6 lb 8 oz peanut. I had a wonderful induction experience and am absolutely terrified of c-sections. I'd have a vaginal birth a thousand times before I'd elect for a c-section.

ETA: And I just saw you already had her!

Congrats and welcome to the world little one!!

Message edited 11/16/2016 12:43:35 PM.