Scheduled C-section with Labor

Yes, I had a complicated pregnancy the first go around so we scheduled a C-section with the second. I will start with I did labor all day and all night with the first and then had to have the urgent C-section. Let me say that, that recovery is not desired in the least! So for the second at 36 weeks I felt contractions sporadic, but contractions. Low and behold at my check up my doc informed me that they were "Braxton Hicks" He then checked me and I was dilated to 2 cm and yes, in fact they were real.. So do listen to your body! You are the one who knows it best! He put me in the hospital b/c like you I had a toddler at home and bedrest is not possible there. I later developed Hypertension which took the decision of natural childbirth away from me. We did the C-section the next day, as I had eaten lunch that day. (I didn't know I was gonna have surgery! Sorry for being pregnant and hungry!) So I guess what I am trying to say is it is still your decision, if you want the C-section to avoid later mishaps let your Doc know! If you want the experience of natural childbirth Let your Doc know! My experiences only certified for me that you do have to keep the lines of communication open! There really are no dumb questions when it comes to childbirth! Your Doc may be busy but if it keeps you from worrying, ASK!

PS the recovery of the second C-section was amazingly shorter, no blood transfusions and I didn't need as much pain control as I felt able to cope so much better! I left the hospital on day three and the norm is day four! So for me the choices weren't readily available but the sailing was a lot smoother!

1 mom found this helpful

I did with my 3rd...since it was my 3rd...they performed the c-section 2 weeks early...everyone was fine

Yep, with my first I was scheduled and 3weeks early my water broke getting out of bed one morning 3 weeks before he was due. I went into the hospital and they did the C-section right then. All was good! Good luck and God bless AND congratulations!

Yep! I went in to labor 3 weeks before my scheduled C-section. I woke up really early in the morning, like 3 am and I was bleeding. Then, I called the doctor and went in "just for a look." I got to the hospital at 5 am, water broke at 6, was in an prepped for the C-section and baby born by 6:30 am! Quite quick, and quite a surprise!

Oh, and my "3 week early" baby was born weighing 10 lbs! LOL He was also pushing himself up while on his tummy the day he was born. :) So the dates we have aren't always right and things don't always go according to plan, but they always go the way they are supposed to! :)

Good luck and don't worry. If you go in to labor before you are due, you will just have your C-section then. No biggie. :)

I did. My c section was scheduled for a thursday and i started bleeding and contractiing on sunday night. They sent me to the hospital and right when i got there, my water broke. Was having contractions up until they got me into surgery for my c section.

I went into labor a week before my scheduled c-section. I even drove myself to the hosp. thinking they would just send me home and it would be false!! It was 3 am and I didn't want to disturb my 2 yr. old that early! So be prepared!! Best wishes with baby #2!

I had a c-sectioned scheduled, but went into labor 8 weeks early. I was 5cm by the time the dr. checked me, so there was no stopping it. He did an ultrasound to check the position of my twins and since one was still breech they wheeled me into the o.r. and did the c-section right away. (I also had a placental abruption.) I think it would all depend on why you have a c-section scheduled in the first place.

Hi MM,

I don't want to scare you, but this is what happened to me. My son was one week late, and I was scheduled for inducing my labor at first. On the way to the hospital I was in labor but it was nothing that was progressing. Since it was Labor Day weekend, I had to wait in the waiting room for 2 hours, because so many women went into labor that there was no rooms for me when I got there. The doctors decided to induce me first thing in the morning, because they were too busy that night. I didn't get any sleep that night because I heard so many women screaming and going through labor. It got me scared, because this was my first child at the time. Since my labor wasn't going anywhere, I was induced and about 7 hours later, they told me that I only dilated 1 cm. Begging for some relief, because when given pitocin, it was hard labor for 7 hours not just progressing a little at a time. Doctors decided to break my water, and still nothing. I was getting sick (throwing up)from the drugs. 13 hours later the baby's heart rate decreased, and natural child birth became an emergency C-section. Again, this only happened to me once, everything was done quickly within 15 minutes. I was scheduled for induced labor that went bad. Personally, if you go into labor before your C-section, doctors might let you go through it unless you have complications like fibroids, repeated C-section etc...Please don't worry. Things will turn out great in the end!

6 weeks prior to my due date I went to the Dr and asked to immediately do the c-section we had planned for closer to my due date. I told him if he did not do it I would! I was in excructiating pain like I had never felt before. Like an elephant was standing on my hips and back and causing extreme pressure and pain and occasionally sometimes on the front. The pain was constant! He wanted to wait atleast another week and do an amnio at the end of the week to check for lung development- he knew I would not want to do that though and figured it would put it off until it was time. He also prescribed pain meds and a muscle relaxer. I hesistated but scheduled the amnio when I left incase the meds did not work to relax the pain.

The next night my water broke and I went to the hosptial and had the c-section done the following morning without ever having the amnio again. Turned out I was in back labor for 3 days or so! My daughters bottom was stuck in my pelvis and I was going to have the c-section anyhow since she could not turn. She was just short of being 6 weeks early (5w6d) but was a whopping 8 pounds and healthy!

So, no amount of scheduling can predict if your baby wants to wait that long! If you go into labor you will probably just go along with the original plan- just early! Good luck and I hope and pray you have a beautiful healthy baby!

I had a scheduled c-section with my twins and went into labor 10 days before my scheduled date. check with your doc but mine told me 4 contractions in 1 hour to call. Since I was 36 weeks and 1 day, my doc said to meet him at the hospital. Once it was determined that yes I was in labor, they took me in for the csection. Good luck!
Jenny

i was scheduled for a c-section and ended up delivering vbac! if that's an option is is great! otherwise the dr will still perform the section as planned! there is usually enough time from start of labor to delivery for this. hope this is helpful!

Hi! Both times I was pregnant, I was scheduled for c-sections and both times I went into labor first. Best advice - HURRY to the hospital!!! First time, my daughter was breached and so we knew she would go c-section. My water broke the morning of (!!) the scheduled c-section. There I was packing my bags ready to go to the hospital and she decided she wanted to start this on her own terms :-) We rushed to the hospital and they did quick c-section and she was fine. Second time, I had twins and my doctor refused to do V-back (sp?) so we were scheduled to go at 36 weeks but at 35 1/2 weeks I went into labor. Same thing - rushed to the hospital and they did c-section very quickly. Both boys were fine. Good luck to you!!!

My friend's water broke 10 days prior to her scheduled C-section. She went to the hospital and they did the c-section shortly after she arrived.

Good luck to you!

My sister scheduled a c-section for her 2nd baby after having a c-section with the first. The entire pregnancy was a planned c-section until she went into labor a week before the scheduled date. She ended up delivering vaginally. A VBACS was a nice surprise.

Good Luck!

We have quite a few patients who go into labor before scheduled repeat sections where I work. Often they will have a vaginal delivery if things are progressing well. If it was a c-section for a reason then they did the section when the person came in laboring.

Not sure why you ask- if you are hoping for a VBAC and your dr will not let you have one then you should find another provider. I recommend UIC- they do lots of VBACs.