C- Section or Vaginal birth? If you had the choice because you knew your baby was going to be big!?

I have gestational diabetes and I am 38 weeks and 3 days and the doctor wants to induce me on friday. The ultrasound says she is already over nine pounds. I had problems pushing my son out and he was only 7 lbs 9 oz. they had to turn off my epidural and I was pushing for 2 hrs and 45 min. and the doctor ended up using the vacuum. My dr. told me this baby could have shoulder distocia (spelling wrong sorry) so he wants me to consider c section I am afraid of that because my husband works 9 hours a day and then after that he is in trade school for 3 hours after that so I would be recovering by myself. which sounds horrible but he is a iron worker and he is at a point in his training where he is not allowed to miss a single day of school because the next class isnt until next year. another question do you know if you can stay in the hospital a few extra days after the c section to recover longer? any advice would be helpful. thank you so much!

C- Section or Vaginal birth? If you had the choice because you knew your baby was going to be big!?
Making the decision to try vbac vs c-section with a second pregnancy is a tough and personal decision. I would really weigh your doctor's opinion on this one, especially if she is the same doctor that delivered your first child. If she suggest c-section based on your first delivery and your child's size and your body type and how it reacted during the first delivery, then I think I would go with her suggestion. Very long labor and pushing with a baby that is large is difficult on both you and the baby's heart rate so maybe in your specific situation, it would be better to elect the c-section up front. As far as the hospital stay and recovery go, mother's and babys delivered by c-section are now REQUIRED to stay in the hospital at least 2 days after delivery and can be approved up to 4 days. I had two c-sections...the first was an emergency section after 23 hours hard labor and the baby was in distress. The second section was elected...although I planned until my 7 mth to try vbac....but I had to change dr's and hospitals in my 7 mth due to my insurances network changes and this meant I had to drive over 30 min to the hospital after going into labor so I elected for a second c-section. Like I said, it's a very personal decision. An advantage is that it will help you recover by being able to stay in the hospital for a couple days longer especially since your husband has to work and go to school. You might also consider asking your mother or sister or mother n law to come and stay with you at your house for about a week or until you get your staples removed to help you with your other child, the baby, and housework. They could even stay in 2 or 3 day shifts if one could not stay the whole time. Plus you will not be able to drive for 2 weeks so if your husband works long hours you will need to have someone there who can drive both you and the baby to check ups and in case of an emergency. Just some added thoughts to consider. I wish you the best of luck!!
Reply:I would do whatever my doc recommend, i have had a vaginal birth and it was very hard on me, they had to do a 4th degree episiodomy (spelling sorry) on me and i still tore, not saying you will, but it hurt like crazy and still have tenderness there when having sex and that was 7 years ago, my 2nd was a c-section and to be honest it hurt too, especially the first few days, it was hard to stand up and walk or move a round at all!!! But you can stay in the hospital up to 4 days at the hospital i was at, but you may want to check with your hospital and insurance company!!! I hope it all works out for ya!!! Just let your doc decide what is best for you situation!!!!
Reply:I have had 2 c-sections, and if you cannot get ALOT of help then please do not elect it. It leaves you helpless as a paraplegic.
Reply:In the US most insurance companies will cover 1-2 extra days for a c-section, since you're not usually allowed out of bed the first 2 days and have a catheter...


Try for the vaginal birth, with the c as a backup plan.


If you have a c-section you will be on restriction for 6 weeks: no stairs, no lifting anything heavier than the baby (HA! if you have another kid...), minimal walking.


The incision takes quite a while to heal, and internally can take up to a year, with all the risks associated with major surgery.


I had one and felt like cr*p for 3 weeks and crummy for another 2 (and I was in good shape going in). Vaginal delivery is exhausting and can be painful, but when it's over it's over, and the recovery is MUCH quicker.
Reply:I agree. Try the vaginal birth first. The ultrasounds can definitely be wrong and it's hard to judge the size of the baby in utero. My daughter was supposed to be "big" like 9 pounds and ended up being 11, so the guestimates can go either way. Having said that, I have had three c-sections and while the last one was a breeze, the first time is extremely difficult and if you don't think that you will have help at home, a c-section is NOT the way to go.
Reply:How your baby is born will be determined on the day of it's birth. Every delivery is different. I have had two full term babies, one natural and one c section. The first was the c section after I had been induced and a 12 hour labour wasn't progressing. My son was getting distressed so he had to be delivered in a hurry. My Daughter was born naturally 2 and a half years later to the day. It was a 15 hr labour but went well. Having been through both scenarios, I prefer the natural birth. It was hell going through the delivery but the recovery was quick, whereas with the c section, I was in hospital for 10 days, recovery was very slow and very painful. You can't do too much and there is always the chance of infection at the op site, which was my case, and end up back in hospital. Basically, you will deliver the baby how it needs to be delivered at the time, based on your health and the health of the baby. I wish you and your baby the very best, good luck.
Reply:I had an emergency C-section with my first, and since we're TTC#2, I've given this a lot of thought.





While some women have horror stories about recovering from a C-section, mine was reasonably easy - minimal pain, and after three years, the scar is all but gone. It depends on so many factors, that I think you can't assume that a C-section delivery is worse than a very difficult vaginal birth.





What is true is that having an emergency C after many hours of hard labor is the worst of both worlds - you're exhausted AND drugged.





I also understand that many induced labors end up as C-sections anyway, so I think your odds of delivery naturally after induction are lower.





So given all of the risk factors, if it were me, I'd go with the C from the get-go.
Reply:If you have vaginal birth you stay in the hospital two or three days. If the baby big and the shoulder get stuck then they would have hard time getting the baby out and possible break the shoulder's bone. So then that why they saying a c section. If you do the c section you stay in the hospital longer 4 to 5 days.
Reply:i also think you should try a vaginal birth i had a c section and stayed in hospital 3 wks with my daughter as she was to small to leave so i managed fine but if you have another child to look after too, it will be hard as there isnt much you will be able to do for a good few wks.
Reply:Go for c-section. Do as the Doc says.





Let your husband take classes and arrange a relative to keep company or hire some house hold help for 1 week. Pay some one to keep you company.
Reply:I don't know ~ to me c- section sounds a whole lot easier - or at least less painful, but it's your body, so do what you and your doctor thinks is best!
Reply:I have had 3 children , all naturally, the first 2 were 6-7lb, the last 8.11lb, i found the bigger baby easier than the first 2 as his weight helped to push him out
Reply:I think I would go ahead and plan on a c-section myself. I hope all goes well for you.
Reply:I would choose a vaginal birth w/o the epidural so that I would have freedom of movement. Flat on your back is the worst way to push out a baby. If you have freedom of movement and you can get upright and into a squatting position, that will widen your pelvic outlet and make more room for baby to come out. If baby's shoulder gets stuck, all you have to do is flip over onto your hands and knees to push him out.....hard to do if you're numb from the waist down.





Also.....remember that the weight by u/s is only a best guess. It's very possible that they are guessing wrong.
Reply:they usually keep you in the doctor a few extra days to recover yes and for real i think you should get a c section because that sound scary to me so i know you must be terrified
Reply:Whatever will not endanger your baby and your health. Ideally all women want a vaginal birth and most women here will tell you do it vaginally but if your doctor is worried about your baby being able to fit through the birth canal without injury to the baby and yourself then by all means get a C-Section. Also if you want and need your husband present for support and the only means to that happening is a C-Section then yes I would say have one. I myself have been blessed to be able to have natural vaginal births with all three of my children and stand strongly on wanting to have all my labors naturally with C-Section not being an option but if it was going to endanger my health or my babies or I really needed my husband to be there with me...which I have every time, if I didnt have him with me I would have gone crazy and freaked out....Point being, if your doc is okay with it and you feel safe doing it then go for it. Babies are born that way everyday with mom and baby healthy as can be at the end of it all. Yes, there is longer recovery but...
Reply:I think that I would try the vaginal birth to begin with, and if it gets too complicated then you can request a c-section. I only say this b/c this is an unreplaceable experience, and those u/s's can measure weight wrong. My nephew was sposed to be over 10 lbs and was only 8lbs and 1 oz
Reply:however you choose to have your baby is ultimately up to you and what you think you can cope with.. obviously a vaginal birth is always better but if you had trouble last time you may need to rethink?





Im pretty sure most hospitals will have a care program to offer you if you feel you wont have any other help during recovery.. just ask, you may be surprised?





Good luck however you choose to deliver and hopefully you recover quickly..
Reply:at least try for the vaginal birth, the first baby is always hard anyway. My first son was almost 8 lbs, and took FOREVER..and my second was 9.6..he was out in 2 pushes..and then i had a c section with my 6 lb daughter..ugh! The recovery from the section was tough.


Hospital stay.. It depends on your insurance, i have 48 hours for a vaginal birth, and 96 for a c section. Give your carrier a call, they'll let you know. Good Luck!

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