C-section question

Now that it has been determined that I am going the c-section route, I am curious about the next step. I know that I will shedule a date but what if I go in for a weekly check to find I am dialated. Do they move forward at that point or just wait for labor to kick in? TIA !!

 

Well first off, congrats...you are so close. In fact, I delivered by c-section at exactly this point in your pregnancy!!!!

My doc would not even think about scheduling anything until I got to 37 weeks. So until then it was a waiting game. The day that I delivered, I was having menstrual-like cramping (especially in my back), loose stools, and lots of irregular, mild contractions (that were not going away with my meds). So when I went in, it was found that I was almost 5 cm dilated and my bag was bulging. They decided at that point to go ahead and do the c-section. It was almost four hours later until I delivered, as they waited for a room, two neonatologists, my doc (who ended up not being able to come in, and another doc delivered me anyways), etc.

It is my understanding, that if you go into labor first, they will just have you come in and go along with the c-section as planned. The only thing that I don't know, is how far they will let you progress with your labor (my guess is not long, if they can help it).

 

My section was scheduled for January 3rd, but my water broke in the wee hours of the morning on December 15th. I was not having contractions at all. I went to L&D, they confirmed it was my water, called the doctor and I had the c-section performed at noon. I believe if your doctor wants to do a c-section that is the way you will deliver regardless whether the date or labor comes first.

 

Being dilated wouldn't necessarily have any impact on the date of the c-section, but being in labor would. My doc wouldn't schedule a c-section until 38 weeks but I would have had one (and did) if I went into labor on my own. With my second set I had actually just left the OBs office and went to the hospital for an NST. They found I was cotnracting every 2 minutes and was dilated to a 2 - I had my c-section within about 2 hours.

 

I was scheduled for a C-section on a Monday, November 25th (37 weeks)...I went in for pre-op blood work on the 21st and was in labor. I had my girls via C-section just a few hours later. If you go into actual labor or some type of distress then they will proceed with a C-section at that point. You can be dialated for quite some time prior to actually kicking into labor. Congratulations and best wishes.