If You Have to Have a C-section...

Waiting to go into labor may warrant having an emergency c-section which could cause complications for you AND baby. It's far less risky to schedule the c-section.

I'm having my third scheduled c-section in December.

I don't know that it matters. I had an emergency one because of a prolapsed cord, and had no problems afterwards. But my sister had a planned one and had all sorts of complications. I think this is one of those things that's "Six of one, half dozen of the other."

My water broke exactly one week before both of my scheduled c-sections. I don't think it made any difference. The hospital I deliver at won't let you schedule a c-section before you are 39 weeks.

Why would you wait until labor? So that you can be sure you don't have the baby before it is ready to be born? For me, if I knew I absolutely had to have a c-section, I would schedule it. That way you know that everyone is ready for you - your doctor, the anesthesiologist, etc. - and you don't put your body through the ordeal of going through labor. You'll need your energy to recover from your surgery. I had an emergency c-section with my first, and my recovery was terrible. Everyone I know who had a scheduled c-section had a much easier time bouncing back.

better for you to go into labor... because you'll know that baby is ready to be born (versus sometimes babies are taken up to 2 weeks before they are ready) and your body is able to start the hormone cascade. Breastfeeding can be very negatively altered if you have an earlier than ready planned cesarean and it may take longer.

In my case, the doctor didn't want me to go into labor before c-section because I was high risk for a variety of reasons. We had to schedule many weeks before my actual due date to ensure there were no complications due to labor.

Apparently, there is a rupture risk and/or the baby might get too far down the birth canal and you'd have to go natural anyway. So if this isn't an elective c-section...meaning you need to have the c-section for a serious medical reason, then chances are very good you don't want to go into labor first. If you don't know for sure, this is probably a question for your doc. If I were in your shoes, I'd want to know for sure.

PLANNED - more complications come from going into labor, then doing a C-Section. In fact, to make sure I did not go into labor we did my C-section 1week before my due date.

If you are having a c section there is a good reason. I would not want to go
into labor.

If you have to have a c-section, just schedule it. Don't wait to go into labor. Your recovery will be much easier if you don't labor first. Also, it's safer to do it in a scheduled environment than in an emergency situation, which is what they call it when it isn't scheduled. Once you go into labor, the baby is under more stress and more things can go wrong.

With my first child, I had an emergency c-section. Prior to the c-section, I had been in labor, for HOURS. And HOURS. And HOURS. Because of that, after the c-section, I was wiped out. And my recovery although good, my body was really worn out.
With this pregnancy, my daughter was born 1 week earlier, than my due date.

With my 2nd child, I had a planned c-section. I was not in labor beforehand. With this c-section, it was easier. And my recovery was faster.

My Doctor, does his c-sections, 2 weeks PRIOR to a woman's due date. In order to prevent, going into labor and by this time, a baby is developed enough to then be born via c-section, 2 weeks early.
My Doc, also does the planned c-sections, 2 weeks early... in order to prevent uterine rupturing, if a woman does happen to go into labor prior to the c-section. This is, per MY situation, because I had had a c-section, previously.

Both my kids, were born via c-section and both were born over 8 pounds, fully formed, healthy, with healthy lungs and perfect.

If your Doc is recommending a c-section, then there is no reason to go into labor, first.

If you HAVE to, I don't see the point of even going into labor. I would think you'd be better of not being fatigued before the surgery. I knew I absolutely had to have one by 25 weeks, so we did a scheduled. It was so relaxed and wonderful. I knew my Dr. would be there, as well. If I had labored there was no guarantee of my Dr. being there, or of an additional complication happening.

I can't imagine going LONG into labor. My God, it hurts! If you have to have a c-section, plan it in advance so that you get the doctor you want and so that there is no emergency involved.

That's my opinion.
Dawn

More details please. Are you saying that there is a medical reason you must have a c-section? I elected a planned c-section, but I went into labor naturally 6 days before my cs was scheduled. I could have decided to go ahead with the vaginal delivery, but allowed the c-section as planned. In my case I chose it because one of my twins was breech. I didn't know how long it would take for her to turn on her own and didn't want to chance it taking too long and then having to have an emergency c-section.

Going into labor naturally didn't not seem to have any effect, positive or negative, on my c-section. Best wishes.

Mine was scheduled for 8am on a Tuesday. My doctor did not want me to naturally go into labor and need a c-section at 2am. The reason for my c-section was placenta previa. However, the child I was carrying had a life-threatening heart defect. He wanted the right team of doctors in place at the right time--and he thought people might be scrambling at 2am. Plus, my little guy was transported about 2 hours after birth to the Children's Hospital. Again, we knew this was going to happen, so we wanted it done during the normal workday. I really don't think it makes a difference once you are past 37 weeks.

I have had 3 sections. One was an emergency c-section because my son was strangling in his umbilical cord (I didn't even attempt labor), 2nd was a failed induced VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarian) attempt that resulted in another c-section after 12 hours of labor and not dilating more than 2 cm; 3rd was a scheduled c-section.

Honestly, the first and last c-sections were EASY compared to the 2nd, but I think that it wasn't because I labored, but because I had PITOCIN. I had terrible cold sweats after the 2nd, so much so that I was begging my husband to keep lowering the thermostat in the hospital room. He tried to convince me that it was too cold, but I insisted. When I was finally able to get up and move around the room, I looked at the thermostat and it was 58', and here I was, begging the nurses to bring me ice packs to cool me down :)

My first I had a spinal block, 2nd they just gave me more epidural since I already had one after my 12 hours of labor; 3rd was another spinal block. The pain control on all of them was great.

As far as the actual recovery, they were all the same. I heal pretty quickly, thank God. All that being said, I would LOVE to have had the opportunity to go into labor naturally. It is one thing that I will forever lament about my birth experiences. At least I know that I tried a VBAC, but til the day I die, a part of me will wish I could have delivered vaginally.

I'm not going to bad-mouth OBs, because my OB saved my son's life by getting him out so quickly. A few more minutes and he would have been dead. But still, I would have preferred a more natural experience, if possible.

If you are having the C there is no reason to go though labor.... it is tiring not fun and no joy if at the end after going through all the pain and pushing you wind up haveing a C...

I had a c-section, then vbac, then another c-section. The first was due to infant distress. I had triplets and was going to try to push them out, with my doctor's full support, and the understanding that I may need one. Well, all babies were head down, perfect position. But I ended up with a possible low fluids for my son. I did start labor, at 2 cm. But then 2 days later, one of my girls must have done a flip and they could not keep her heart rate up. I ended up with a C. Anyway, they were 6 weeks early. They came out really well and were in intermediate care for 2 to 3 weeks. I pumped and they got my milk. It took a little bit longer then my other pregnancies/births but not by much. We had latch on issues so I pumped for 9 months. With my next, she was a week late. No problems and I nursed her until she as about 19 months. My son is now 7 months, born by c-section at 9 days early due to very low fluids and breech position. My milk came in the day I came home from the hospital--day 4 after the c. I have no problem nursing him or pumping at work.

I've experienced both. Other than not being able to pre-plan, I like going into labor first. I didn't have as much time to worry about the section & the epidural didn't hurt because labor pains hurt worse .

planned! I had both and the planned was worlds easier. A C after labor is usually an emergency situation. Its so stressful b/c all day you are getting ready for traditional birth so when you find out they have to do a C it is really upsetting-at least it was for me. Also because I never thought
I would need one so did no research at all.
With the planned you have a set date and everything is very controlled. I think if I would have had this for the first though it would have been a letdown because there is no buildup of anxiety about when the baby will come.

I had 2 c sections. One was sorta a planned emergency at 31 weeks. I had a little problem with milk production at the beginning but was able to pump for a year. With my second I had a scheduled c section at 39 weeks and 3 days. I have had no issues with breastfeeding at all. I think it was so much easier to have it planned. I knew what day she was coming. I was pretty sore after the second because my daughter was over 10lbs and it took a bit of force to push her out!

I know a lot of people are saying to plan it and if I had had a high risk pregnancy I might have felt differently. I had to have one because my son was breech. I wanted so badly to have a natural childbirth but everything I tried, he would not turn on his own so I finally gave in to the fact I'd have to have a c section. But I was adamant about not doing it before his due date, I wanted him to have a chance to come on his own. My dr. was not too happy with my decision. His due date was on the 11th of the month and I scheduled the c section for the 15th. Turns out my water broke the morning of the 11th and I did start to have some contractions and got to feel what labor was like. A few hours later I had the c section and all went just fine -- both the birth and my recovery. So for me it worked out but again I wasn't considered high risk. Can you compromise and pick a date to schedule your c section that works for both you and what your doctors feel you should do?

My water broke at home with my first born. I wasn't having super strong contractions, so they started the pitocin. Everything was progressing well until I dilated to 8 and my son got stuck. I was prepped for a C-section and all was well. I didn't think the recovery was bad at all. When my daughter came along, I scheduled a C-section. Same thing, water broke at home and they prepped me for the surgery. The only thing that was a little freaky to me was I could feel the spinal block/epidural start numbing from my feet and work its way up to my chest. I couldn't feel myself breathe and I panicked! I was fine because the anesthesiologist and nurses were monitoring my vitals, but it was such a weird sensation!! Other than that it was a piece of cake and if I had a third baby, I would have a C-section again in a heartbeat!
HTH,
A.

My planned was much easier to heal from.

Well i have had 3 c- sections, my recoveries were great and i got back to normal quickly. I also breast fed, My milk came in the next dat after the surgery. Didint have problems there. Your not going to feel e difference in your body after the whole deal is said and done, whether or not you did labor than c section or just the c section. The c section of course you need to rest a bit more cuz you dont want to damage the incision. You want it to heal correctly. Also, my last c section I pulled a major muscle a week later. It hurt to bend over etc. I went to walmart and bought one of those tummy sucker in corsett things and wore that for 2 weeks and it healed up well (just a tip if that happens ever)

Hi S.,

I have had 2 C-Sections. The first my waters broke and I went into labour, but my baby did not drop or turn and I did not dilate. She was born at 38 weeks by emergency C-Section as her heart rate dropped and she was stressing.
My second baby was also born by C-Section but Scheduled at just over 39 weeks due to a high risk pregnancy. Both times I had no problem with my milk coming in or the latching of the baby. I think it very much depends on your team of doctors. Both my C-Sections went well but the second one, I had bronchitis which did impact on recovery. I really don't think there is any difference if you go into labour or not. Good luck and all the best with your beautiful new baby.

Schedule it. Then you will only have to recover from the surgery vs recovering from surgery AND labor. Your body will catch on and your milk will come in. Good luck!

A c-section is a C section. I have heard it is better to not have started labor and some OB's will give terbutaline pre-op to stop the contractions. I really think it depends on the OB. IMO-OB's (are surgeons) will tell you anything to get that paycheck. I would never deliver at a hospital again even if I have to have a doula or myself deliver the baby.....just curious why do you HAVE to have one? Good luck to you!