What was the reason for your c-section?

This has probably been asked before, but I'm getting so upset at people who keep telling me that c-sections have become very popular - Making me feel like my c-section was unnecessary. So now I'm wondering... Maybe it was.....

My water broke 2 weeks before my due date - I was not dilated, my cervix was thin, and her head was "very low". I was given cervidil & picotin (sp?) - I only dilated 4 cm's after 15 hours of labor. Do you think my c-section was unnecessary? I was so upset to have to have one to begin with - To think it could have been avoided just upsets me even more....

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

IMO AND ONLY IMO yes, you could have waited longer. Of course I dont know the details of it all. 4cm in 15 hours for your 1st baby isn't a lot. Were there any other factors involved? Was she in distress or were you getting a fever? They only let you go so long after your water breaks to deliver for fear of infection so they probably thought that since you were only 4 cm after 15 hours you may not have made it to 10 in 9 hours if the drugs werent working.

I had a C with Emma because she was in distress. I had a repeat with Jeremy because I felt it was best for me.

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

No I dont think it was unnecessary, that same thing happened to my friend.
I had to have a c-section because I had preclamsia and I got VERY swollen like 2 weeks before my DD was due, so I went to the doctor and my blood pressure was very high, and he wanted to deliver the baby right away. I was scared, but happy that everything was fine in the end. I had no choice!

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

The only reason I would see that they would give you a C-Section were if the baby was in distress in any way. I wouldn't seek out answers from people on this board but rather a medical professional. All circumstances are different. And while I can say that there may be some OB's that rush to do a C/s, there are some who don't!

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

Posted by KPtoys

IMO AND ONLY IMO yes, you could have waited longer. Of course I dont know the details of it all. 4cm in 15 hours for your 1st baby isn't a lot. Were there any other factors involved? Was she in distress or were you getting a fever? They only let you go so long after your water breaks to deliver for fear of infection so they probably thought that since you were only 4 cm after 15 hours you may not have made it to 10 in 9 hours if the drugs werent working.

I had a C with Emma because she was in distress. I had a repeat with Jeremy because I felt it was best for me.

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

I don't think it was unnecessary. Everyone does what they think is right to do at that time. Some women can go on with labor for hours and hours. For some women they're exhausted and can't do anymore. There's nothing wrong with opting for a C-section. I had a C-section because my son was really big, and for me to try to push him, there would of been problems so I wanted to do it the safest way possible. I did however feel full blown labor for 6 hours before getting any medication and for me that was enough. Every situation is different! I do think if someone just decided to have one because they wanted to have a baby on a certain day, that that is wrong and unneccesary. Don't worry!

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

distress-
my son's heartbeat was dropping with each contraction...

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

I was a week over due - I started spotting - went into labor on my own. They did everything to get me to dilate and nothing was happening - in the mean time with every contraction Michael's heartbeat was going down - I finally reached 10cm and pushed for 1.5 before I decided to go ahead with the c/s - I was getting too nervous with Michael's heart - everything turned out fine and to be honest - my nurse and my doctor both really tried to push me to keep going vaginally - I just couldn't do it.

ETS - after they did my c/s they realized he was posterior and wasn't budging anyway.

Message edited 2/9/2006 2:07:09 PM.

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

I think my c/s could have been avoided if my OB hadn't put so much pressure on me to induce. My original due date was 7/5/05. After my 2nd sono, they changed my due date to 6/28/05. He wanted to induce me on the 29th! I held out until the 5th, my original due date which *I* felt was correct, judging by when I thought I conceived. I would have waited until at least one week past that date.

Anyway, I was induced on 7/5 and didn't deliver until 7/7 so that should tell you how rough my induction was. The baby had not dropped at all and I no signs of dilation or effacement and barely any contractions.

I was given THREE 12 hr doses of cervidil and finally my water broke during the 3rd dose. The baby's heart rate dropped big time at that point and I had to be on oxygen for the reset of the time. And had to lie on my right side because something was up with the cord on my right side. By the time I dilated to 4cm, I was spiking a fever. They had to go in for the c/s.

When they opened me up, I heard my OB say to one of the students "See? Now can anyone tell me why this baby could never have been delivered vaginally?" One of the students threw out some medical term that I can't remember but basically the way the Dr explained it was that his head was trapped in one side of my pelvis.

But my question will always be - well, would he have been in that position a week later?

But it really doesn't bother me that I had a c/s though I can totally understand why it may bother some women more than others -- especially those that had high hopes of delivering vaginally. I didn't feel that strongly about it.

Message edited 2/9/2006 11:28:29 AM.

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

i had a csection with baby #1, cause she was 9 pounds and breech, and being i am small, they didnt want to take any chances of not being able to get the baby out. then with baby #2 i had a csection cause they were scared of uterine rupture.

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

1st time my son was breech. Second time they were nervous especially since they were twins & one was breech.

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

I was already a week overdue and there was no progress at all. They did a sono and found my son to be 9lbs 11 oz. They recommended a c-section at that point since I am a smaller person and they were afraid the baby could get stuck. Now I could have elected to go natural, but why? Why would I risk possibly harming my child simply because I wanted a natural delivery. There have been many posts on debates over c-sections and my feeling and totally my opinion is that they only do c-sections when its medically necessary. If the Dr. says its the best thing for both of us at that point, thats what I would have done. To me, there is no reason, even if its a small chance, to risk anything negative happening to the baby. I also could not have cared how I gave birth, whether it was a c-section or natural. I just wanted to have that baby already!

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

Alex was positioned posterior... meaning, sunnyside up making it difficult for her head to make it through the pelvis, and making labor INSANELY painful. The doctor waited about 15 hours to see if she could turn around but it never happened and her heartrate started dropping so we elected for a c-section. It's possible if I had waited longer she would have turned, but I didn't want to risk her health to go au natural... no regrets here.

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

Thank you for all of your responses - I appreciate it!

Re: What was the reason for your c-section?

Jared was faced the wrong way and was too high up so I had to have one.