The delivery of my first child (who's 18) was not an easy one. I was in labor for 48 hours because I wouldn't dilate. I had a VERY hard time delivering him because I am small framed and he was too big although he only weighed 6 lbs 10 oz. I had a 4th degree laceration/episiotomy and because of this my doctor wants me to have a c-section. I have asked if I can try to have her vaginally first and she has agreed but wants to do an ultrasound at 37 wks to see if we can determine if she's going to be too big and then decide if I should have a c-section. Thing is, I saw another doctor in her office who suggested if I start dilating at 38/39 weeks I should be induced to push things along and keep the baby from getting too big. He told me to ask my doctor if she would agree to this and I did but she will not agree. She thinks the baby will have lung problems. I don't understand why the other doctor(who is much older btw)would suggest it if he thought it would be a problem. I really don't want a c-section and this is stressing me out. Any advice/encouragement would be appreciated.
Thanks to all of you who responded. I think my best bet is to wait and see. I will definitely try to have her vaginally but if that doesn't work, I'll have to be okay with a c-section. I certainly don't want to just schedule a c-section without trying first though. I'll let you all know what happens afterwards. Thanks again!
I had two c-sections and it was not bad at all. You are sore for awhile, but you can get up and move around. I nursed and everything with no problems. I would rather deal with that then have another 4th degree laceration. That has to be painful and hard to get over! I would listen to my doctor, he knows what's best for you. Good luck!!
I too had a horrible first birth. Large episiotomy and still had to use forceps. I should have had a c-section then but my doctor wanted to get out of the hospital faster. Ten years later with my second birth, my doctor recommended a scheduled c-section. It was wonderful compared to the first one. Don't get me wrong it was still surgery but this seemed like controlled trauma vs the chaotic mess that happened with the first one. Good Luck to you in whatever you choose. S.
Honestly, labor and child birth are completely natural and most other countries treat them that way but the US. My baby was breech and every doc said I needed to schedule a csection but I wanted to give him the maximum time to turn. My Dr agreed to let me labor naturally so I tried everything to get him to turn and went into labor at home and went to the hospital when I was fully dilated. He still hadn't turned, so at that point they had to section me. You can always do a section after you've safely tried everything naturally that you want to do. Don't make any Dr force you into something you don't want. Switch Dr's if you have to. Childbirth should be natural and beautiful, how God created it, not a surgical procedure.
I also had a 4th degree laceration/episiotomy with my first. I am small framed, just like you. My doctor (Who is also about to deliver my 3rd child and who is an older doctor) did not want to do a c-section with the first one. However, as we were delivering and he saw how bad my tear was (which he said it was the worst he had seen) he said "hmmm, maybe we should have done a c-section." It was a horrible recovery. With the second baby, I wanted the c-section. He resisted scheduling it because he is "old fashion" thinking and he likes the body to take care of itself. Nothing wrong with that but I was afraid that my anal area would forever be damaged and that is pretty much impossible to fully repair. A younger doctor in the clinic scheduled me for the c-section. He (who is also my doctor's son in law) said that his wife who has had 9 babies (yes 9)...if she had a tear like mine, he would advise her to have a c-section. If your rectum is damaged, it is very difficult to repair that. The surgery to do so is miserable and there are no guarantees that you will not randomly poop yourself. Get the c-section. It is a far easier recovery. Your not going to get any medals for going vaginally and your baby will be safer. That is the goal. Butt in tact and baby healthy. I know you don't want to be pressured into a c-section by your doctor but don't let yourself be pressured into doing things "more naturally" either by what others think. Going naturally doesn't make you any better a mother. Do what is right for you and your baby.
The second doctor has the most prmising plan IMO. You most likely do not need a c-section. Doctors today are very much into surgery. Remember OB/GYNs are surgeons so they are going to lean toward surgery, especially the younger ones. Have you seen "The Business of Being Born" yet? If not I highly suggest watching that to get a better understanding of how things are in our society surrounding the birth process.
My doctor knows if he even suggested a c-section to me I'd probably have him in a headlock in two seconds flat. I have made myself very clear about going completely natural. Honestly, your baby is going to come out regardless of how big it is. There are things that can be done besides c-section to help things along.
