Emergency C-sections
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Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15049
Printed Date: 03 October 2025 at 8:37pm
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Topic: Emergency C-sections
Posted By: FionaS
Subject: Emergency C-sections
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:05pm
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Totally random question...but are the rates of these getting higher? It feels like every second birth I hear about is an emergency c-section...
Freaks me out as I really don't want a c-section but would of course do it if it was needed to ensure the safety of the baby but why are the rates going up?? I did hear some theory that they are increasing because more women opt for epidurals which can reduce their ability to push. BTW this is not meant to be a debate...just a question  ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:06pm
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One thing I have noticed is that a lot of FIRST births tend to be emergency c-sects, it seems like if you have one VB then the chances of another are pretty high but a lot of people are ending up with emergency sections with their first bub which alters their options next time round. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:13pm
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Yep I think there is way more emergency c-sections.. and I personally think it's the whole cascade effect thing - you have an epidural, you can't feel to push properly so get forceps, they don't work so you get a ceaser.
I read a really interesting article on stats http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10469911 - here . It was one of the reasons I chose to deliver at Birthcare. ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:14pm
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Totally agree with you in regards to hearing more and more of Emergency C-secs taking place everyday ...but also assisted births like Ventouse & Forceps deliveries are becoming more common (I had ventouse)...babies birth weight seems to be increasing as well (more common to hear of 9lb + babies whereas back when I was born the norm was 6-7lbs ...sometimes 8lb if your lucky).
And then you can go into the research behind birth weight becoming higher due to processed foods (so i've read). I think birth weight could be contributing towards the increase in emergency c-secs and assisted births ETA: I had a ventouse due to Lucas being stuck in my pelvis (im only 5 '2 and 56kg & he was 9lb ...so big baby considering my frame). Pushed for 2 hours to no avail and then he went into distress & heart rate dramatically dropped and all turned into emergency mode. My labour was very drawn out, over a matter of 2 days. Elective C-sec had been on the cards for a while due to baby's size.(very glad I didn't have one though) ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:18pm
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Interesting point MumtoLucas!
I planned to cut out as much processed stuff as I could with this pregnancy but...what are the very things I fancy eating!?!?!?! Still trying though. Definately staying clear of artificial sweetners etc. They are probably fine but ... after having an unsettled kid I am paranoid! ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:20pm
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Totally agree and would love to see a proper study done on it. Another theory could be that OB's are so keen on letting you go 'naturally' you wind up going way overdue and having an enormous baby...?
Well, thats what happened to me...12 days overdue, induced, no pain relief used until 8cm dilated, baby was posterior/brow presentation, got stuck and on the large side (9lbs). I am going to a specialist next time to see if I can avoid another caesar as I'd love to have a natural birth. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:21pm
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Hehe opps i added a bit to my post above to explain the need for ventouse!
I was naughty during my pregnancy and ate as if I was carrying triplets, and wasn't necessarily good/healthy foods all the time! A lot of it was also comfort eating ...I think that was the reason Lucas was a big boy because everyone in my family has had small bubs, I was just on 6lbs myself. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:24pm
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I hate pretty well during my pregnancy (as in good foods and bad) and went 8 days over due before being induced due to concerns about the fluid and Elle was 6pounds2. I wonder what she would've been had she been on time! ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:36pm
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I think they put on an ounce per day?
I had my final growth scan (to finalise birth plan) at 38-39weeks and they worked it out like that and told me lucas would be 8lb 15oz on my due date, I went into labour 21st March (when he was due) and gave birth 23rd and he was 9lb so i guess that was pretty darn close/accurate for a sonographer. Had the fear of god put into me throughout pregnancy as all my scans prior to that one were showing bub up as bigger than 95th centile and that he was going to be over 10lbs. (As you can imagine I was crapping myself at the thought of having to push something that big out LOL) ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:37pm
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I mean they supposedly put on an ounce per day once they reach the last 1-2 weeks and go overdue ...just laying down fat as all their organs are fully developed and 37weeks onwards they deem them as full term? I think... ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:40pm
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WOW! Lucas was 56cms long! Elle was 47 :) ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:52pm
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Yeah he looked bigger than he weighed too, he had rolls on his legs and everything. I think he has my short gene kicking in though ...shorts seem to be like pants on him nowadays! LOL
..we haven't had plunket do his height since 8months so no idea what he's like on growth chart but hes over 12kg already ARGH! (and he barely eats much as he's very fussy...go figure) ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 1:55pm
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Another aspect of babies/birth I'm interested in is if birth weight has any bearing on their weight as children/adults...does big baby (at birth) mean big kid? ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 2:43pm
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You are right Fiona, I have been hearing more ECS than VB's over the past few months. I'm sure there are valid reasons for them to happen but it is getting more and more common. I'm am so sh*t scared about needing a c section; I think it's more the thought of the epi that is doing it to me than the actual section. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 3:01pm
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for me the epi had nothing to do with it...he had his face with chin up and couldnt make it down birth canal (got to 9cm)and got distressed thats why i had one...and even though i can go VBAC next time the idea of it happening again freaks me out so i will probably go elective c section.
my boy 7pd 3 at birth as well..(56cm) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 3:08pm
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I am with Kawww, my epi had nothing to do with my c section, and I too am petrified of the same thing happening again and if there is a chance I will be having an elective. ------------- "> 
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Posted By: The_Stuarts
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 3:14pm
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Until I gave birth myself (and met mothers from antenatal classes) I didn't have any mummy friends that had VB.
Of the 5 that spring to mind 1 had an elective (she'd fractured her pelvis while pregnant so couldn't have VB), 2 were induced and then had to have emergency C's because the babies were stuck and there was no way they would have come out naturally (one's head was bigger than his mums pelvis and the other had his nose caught on his mums pelvic bone) and 2 went into labour naturally but it didn't progress past 8cms so they had c-sections. No idea if there's a link but I chose not to have drugs during labour (although during transition I rethought this and had gas but it didn't work). My personal opinion is that having drugs during labour makes labour longer and increases the need for intervention but this is a completely unsupported opinion. ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 3:53pm
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I had a VB with all 3 kids.
Conor was a Vontouse - no pain relief Nyah was natural - no pain relief Cooper, I had an epidural and it didn't work, I didn't want a csection at all, and managed to have him normally too. Maybe it depends on so many things as to why the numbers have increased. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 4:05pm
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Maybe its the induction more than drugs during labour, because as mentioned I had nothing until I was 8cm, and then had an epi, and my c-sect was nothing to do with the epi, it was her position in the birth canal and me having a small pelvis. My OB told me I wouldn't be able to naturally deliver a posterior baby... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 4:08pm
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I believe part of the problem now is they type of work we do which results in more posterior babies which often need intervention (and pain relief as apparenlty are more painful labour, but can't compare), and also we are becoming less and less designed for child birth, as walking upright apparently helps to narrow pelvis meaning a smaller birth canel ------------- ">
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Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 4:38pm
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Kelly(caitlynsmygirls) mum my daughter was posterior and emergency ceasarean first birth. her brother Cameron I had a trial of labour under an obstetrician and still ended up with a ceasarean and Kate(special needs) I was in hospital for night or two before what was supposed to be an elective ceasarean and went into labour night before and ended up having a third ceasarean
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 4:43pm
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maybe im weird my birth canal was fine and had pain relief but a short labour .....:) maybe im just different:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: almostthere
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 4:51pm
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So just out of curiosity for anyone that would know:
Can a type one diabetic elect to give birth at birthcare? I guess its not possible right? i mean i have to be induced at 38 weeks, no later.. Will need drips for glucose and care for my insulin needs. I knew that if i wanted a baby i would never be able to have a fully natural birth, but i was really hoping not to HAVE to have a C sect etc.. Of course ill go into it with as open a mind as possible... but.,.. well, you know what i mean! ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6"> 
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/2128f6 - chart |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 5:06pm
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im interested to see if a study would show that elective c sections produce more post natal depression etc....as am hearing more and more of that - yet if like me the c section was planned (we had major probs remember so was totally planned) then you go into the room and epi having had all the pre op appts etc etc and feel so much better for it...and I will never go naturally (unless by accident) as my c section was pretty blissful!
but i know too many first time mums who planned so much for the longer for natural birth and ended up with c sections and depression afterwards! |
Posted By: Glow
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 5:13pm
My ESC was probably due to inducement but then again i doubt i would of got that heffa out naturally regardless (9+lb bub outa a 5'3/ 45kg Mum) Maybe its the food these days ------------- Mummy of Two Boys B: 2004 K: 2007 |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 5:13pm
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I'd really love to do a study on that BS would be really interesting to see. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 5:13pm
I had an induction but no CS - gas pain relief and no epi, no drip or anything either. I was really worried about the cascade of intervention when I was told I needed to be induced two weeks early as I am really scared of having a CS (but would have one if needed, obviously). I discussed my concerns with my midwife before and during the induction, and think this made a big difference in my care. The gel took about 36 hours to start working and in that time no-one even mentioned trying to get a drip going etc. and let me go as naturally as possible. I'm hoping for a similar experience if I have to be induced again.
Funnily enough, I had a discussion with our PN last week, where she was saying that from about 16months is when you can start to predict what your baby's weight will be as a kid - apparently this is when it starts being a bit more stable/levels off. ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Mum2Lucas wrote:Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 5:18pm
yes would be interesting..everyone warned me about not having my heart set on a natural birth for that reason(and i didnt ...i was prepared for whatever needed to happen..though not to have labour and a c-section) but many of the mums i know with depression had a c-section so would be interesting to see if it correlates with the general public.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 5:20pm
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I didn't have sections but was induced both times and got PND both times ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 5:21pm
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Bombshell do you mean a study to see if emergency C-sects produce more post natal depression? If so I've wondered that too. Mine was elective and I had so long to plan and come to terms with it I totally embraced it and I'm really happy with my birth experience. -------------  
 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 6:15pm
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One thing that is interesting, but little known, is that babies actually don't gain a lot of weight post-dates, so if you go overdue and then have a big bubba, it's not the going overdue that let bub get big, bub would have been biggish at term as well.
I think the care that you have during labour plays a huge part in the final result as much as anything else. I had a 9lb, posterior baby who I had been labouring with for 30+ hours, had the epidural and had to have it topped up again during transition so had reduced pushing sensation but still managed to have a VB. My midwife was very calm throughout the whole thing, she did at one point say that if Maya's head didn't come down enough she would need to get the registrar in to assess whether ventouse was neccessary, but in the end she popped out. I am convinced that had I been under a hospital team I would have had a section some 6-8 hours before Maya was actually born as her heart rate was a bit jumpy, she was posterior and I was quite stressed. But I am so grateful that my m/w encouraged me to perservere and in the end Maya turned like a corkscrew as she was coming down the birth canal and was born anterior. And for whoever it was that asked, I think it was Sarah Beth, hell yes, posterior labours/babies hurt waaaay more than anterior ones! Having twins was a breeze after posterior hell with Maya! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 6:17pm
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Oh and if I had ended up with a section with Maya it would have changed my whole obstetric future. The gremlins would have been an elective due to the higher risk of rupture with a twin delivery and then Iggle Piggle would probably also be a elective due to the short time between pregnancies, the increased risk of rupture as my uterine walls are thin from the twin pregnancy, and coz there is a climate of fear around VBA2C. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 6:28pm
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This is a really interesting topic, and I really hope that some research does go in to it soon as the rates have jumped significantly in the last 5-10 years. And afterall, with the shortage of beds/staff/resources, it would be in everyone's best interests to try and understand what is causing this shift...? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 6:44pm
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I had an e c/s for #1 but VBs for the other two. From what I've heard, once you have one VB under your belt, the more likely you are to be able to continue with VBs.
I have also heard the theory that increasing epidurals make for increasing c/s. After having Briona via VB with an epi I can't see how that could be - I couldn't feel any push sensation so it took me a long time to get the hang of that. And I need an episiotomy cause I wasn't stretching enough. I wonder if I hadn't had the epidural I wouldn't have needed cutting - but I'll never know. ETA: not sure about c/s and PND though. I think I had a rougher time with 2nd baby + silent reflux than with ec/s (even though that was emotionally hard) - but still not PND either time. ------------- |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 8:13pm
yes totally....just from speaking to a few friends and colleeagues it does seem to...yet me going a day before and sitting with the hosp team etc and knowing from 7 weeks that c section was poss meant i was well prepared! I was more scared when spec thought she was going to position and i was ok for poss natural - scared me to death! having said that - my great aunt had a baby stillborn and could not have another child. I do still wonder - as she had similar pregnancy to me = whether she too had a bicornuate uterus and if so maybe modern medicine saved ella cause i found it out at 7 weeks pregnant from a scan...if i hadnt then we wouldnt have known i had it (as it stretches and thenyou just wonder why bubba is breach or prem etc) and so we worked to a c section from there...maybe that intervention medically is why c sections are on the rise also...to save these bubbas? |
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 8:29pm
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After 27 hours of labour, 3 hours of pushing, failed ventouse (twice) and no drugs except for gas and then I had an emergency c section! So I pretty much got to experience everything!!
Damn posterior and forehead presentation baby meant there was no way she could fit out normally! Yes I was absolutely gutted to have a c section, espeically since I got so far and I HATE my scar with a passion, but honestly I was so shattered at the end I didn't care how they got the baby out, I just wanted it over with! I have not suffered any PND at all, just normal raging hormonal days sometimes  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 8:53pm
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After 48 hours of labour, pushing for 3 hours, pethidine, epidural, spinal block, failed forceps, failed ventouse and then an emergency c-section that ripped me to shreds...Keziah definitely wasn't budging (pelvis to small, head to big) so it was absolutely the only way.. she was only 7lb8oz so I can't imagine how it would have been if she was any bigger -------------  
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 8:58pm
Me too - when they hooked me up for monitoring just before the procedure the nurse could only get a reading from where her bottom was and told me she thought she had turned. I almost died of shock  - She hadn't moved though.
I also wonder (same as you) about how much is due to better monitoring and awareness. My mother's side of the family have always had small babies and after a near perfect pregnancy my placenta started failing right at the end and Rowan dropped to the bottom percentile so she came out early at 5pd 11oz which is close to me and my sisters' birth weights. So I do think that maybe it's a hereditary condition but has never been picked up in a prior generation. -------------
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 05 March 2008 at 10:21pm
Yeah I think that might be the case too, while the rates might be higher they might be saving a few babies that wouldn't of made it. Sure some csects might of ended up a VB if been left but if a few babies were saved why risk it really? Does it really matter that csect rates are rising? I had a longish second stage of labour with Jack (was 8 cm at 6 in the morning but wasn't fully dilated until 1.30pm) and because I was at a birthing unit they just left me to it and we got there in the end and everything went perfectly with a wee bit of gas. Afterwards the midwife said if I was at hospital they would of tried to break my waters and give me something to move things along which probably wouldn't of worked and would of just put me in more pain, so more pain relief would be needed and who knows what else. In my situation I was lucky to be where I was. |