Should we wait or have a c-section?

K

kidphame

New member
Hi,

Heres my situation. My wife is 39 weeks pregnant. According to the last ultrasound our baby weight 3.6 Kgs. My wife is quite a small (short) woman. So our doctor reccomended she do an elective c-section as he feels at 40 weeks the baby will weigh close to 4 Kgs and she will most likely not be able to give birth naturally. And therefore have to do an emergency c-section. He also mentioned the baby is still quite high up.


Ive heard many stories about doctors in Hong Kong being pro-c-section. Even though our doctor seems very nice and sincere, im still wondering should we take his advice and do the c-section at 39.5 weeks. Or should we hold on till 40 weeks to see if the baby comes naturally.

In my country(USA) c-section is always the last alternative. And doctors will normally make you wait untill even 41 weeks before doing a c-section.

Can anyone please give me some ideas?
 
My baby didnt make an apperance until 42 weeks.
If the baby is late, the first option is usually to try and induce labour.
C-section is usually reserved for breech babies or if the mum or baby has some health problems.
Having said that, its still very important to trust your doctor and defer to him ultimately. They are professionals and know a lot more than us. But we as patients are entitled to explanations and clarifications. I would do my own research (there are lots of books and websites you can refer to), make a list of queries and have a long chat with the doctor and then see if I'm convinced that a c-section is really necessary.
 
I agree with Zen that you need to trust your doctor ultimatley, if he has given you a medically valid reason why your wife may not be able to give birth naturally then you should follow his advise.

However, I also think that here in HK they are far to willing to do c-sections. I have a very good book on pregnancy and it does state that its the size of the pelvis not wether you are big or small that counts.

You should talk through all options thoroughly with your doctor and then make the decision on what you and he feels is best for both the baby and your wife.

Regarding the baby being too high up I thought that just meant its not ready to arrive yet.

Good luck.
 
I forgot to mention that my baby was born naturally via vaginal delivery.
I was scheduled for an induction but it was not required. The labour pains started on their own.
The baby was posterior which is why she was so late in arriving. Even though the labour had begun, when I went into the delivery room, her head had not engaged and my water hadnt broken. I had a verrrry loooong 'backache' labour. I begged for a c-section several times but my gynac refused on the grounds that both the baby and I were absolutely fine. She finally relented and let me have an epidural because I was totally exhausted.
 
The 'big baby' argument is a very convenient excuse for docs who much prefer to schedule a c-section rather than a natural, spontaneous delivery (c/s is 20 mins max, then straight back on the golf course). The part of a baby that is difficult to deliver is the head - this is the biggest bit, and the bit that increases least in size towards the very end of the pregnancy. Any extra weight the baby puts on now is just fat (on the body, not the head...). So, whatever the baby actually weighs has very little bearing on the delivery. I had a 3.3kg baby and a horrific delivery. Nothing to do with weight. Your doctor is being naughty...
 
If you & your wife are undecided, there's absolutely no harm in waiting a bit. On average, babies are born at 40.5 weeks. You can simply hang on and revisit the issue in a week if labour has not started.

On the other hand, it's not worth stressing about. The most important thing is that you have a healthy baby, regardless of the mode of delivery.
 
Hi, there,

I am facing quite similar situation here. Actually my EDC was two days ago, but my baby is still sleeping inside my belly.

I was doing regular check-up in public hospital and went to see private doctors occationally. On my 34 weeks pregancy, one private doctor said according to the ultrasound, my baby had a big head and suggested that a selective C-section at around 38 weeks is preferrable for me. But when I told doctor in public hospital and did ultrasound at public hospital at around 36 weeks, I was told the baby's head is big but not exceed upper limit. And they are not suggesting a C-section. I was quite confusing about different opinions that doctors offered between private hospital and public hospital.

At 36 weeks pregnancy, I was thinking of natual delivery. But now, it's already passed the due date and seems the baby gains a lot. I am starting worry if I could do it natually or not. And public hospital doctor just keep saying that I can do it by naturaly delivery and won't offer another ultrasound.

I am active to do exercises everyday to gain strength. Wish everything is going smoothly.
 
My baby has a large head too.
I had a lot of ultrasounds but the doc's didnt mention the head size as being too large or anything.
But during the last stages of labour, when the head crowned, I kept pushing and the head kept slipping back in.
So finally, the doctor asked me if he could do an episiotomy.
I was like : yes! please, do anything, just get the baby out.
 
All babies have big heads, compared to the rest of them. Private doctors make more money from c/s than normal delivery. HK has possibly the highest rate of c/s in the entire world. And probably the richest doctors.
 
Hi,
I agree with alot of what has been said so far. There is a higher rate of elective C-sections in Hong Kong and the cynical amongst (me included) feel that this is due to money rather than medical necessity.

A baby is often 'high up' before labour begins. My second child's head had not even engaged when I went into labour. My third child was 4.3 kg. All three of my children have been delivered naturally; though the first two had to be assisted out with a ventouse. My easiest labour was my third child and he was the biggest.

Yes I agree you have to take the doctor's advice on board, but you also have to go with what you feel. As I say my third labour was the easiest and as a result my recovery time was much faster. If you go for an elective C-section, I know that some women feel cheated that they didn't give labour a chance. This might not be your wife, but it is worth thinking about.

If your wife has her mind set on a natural delivery then she should give it a try. Whatever happens your baby is going to come into this world, one way or another. Also be aware that your wife's body is specifically designed for this task and yes the doctor is there to help, but they can also sometimes be a hindrance to the natural process. I was lucky enough to have a doctor who was willing to wait outside the delivery room until I got the urge to push with my third, and as a result the medical intervention was at a minimum. This meant that I fully experienced everything as, in my mind, it should be and I will be forever grateful to her for that.

Good luck with your decision and try to relax about it. You will be soon holding your precious baby in your arms and your concerns will pale into the past.

Jool
 
Tsan Yuk advised to schedule a c-section due to baby's breech position. Do any of you know the cost for c-section delivery at Queen Mary? Is it the same as the cost of vaginal delivery?

This case is not considered an elective c-section--is it?
 
Should be the same cost as any other procedure int he hospital - you are charged per hospital night ($100, I think), and not according to what treatment you are getting.

I don't think it's considered elective (you are not choosing, but following the doc's recommendations), but it is scheduled, not emergency, so you should be able to have your partner there with you, unlike with an emergency c/s.
 
I am in the same situation as you SyL, my baby is breech and we are booked to have a c-section this Friday at QM. As far as I know the charges are as geiboy mentioned and you can have your partner there.

If you've not got a date already, it may be worth doing as they are pretty booked up and the 13th was the earliest appointment I could get (due dat is 15th).

All the best

Sunrays
 
Good Luck, Sunrays. You will finally meet your little one. I was previously given the 18th as a date, due date is 24th, but won't know for sure until this afternoon.

I want my husband to be in the room with me, so I'm glad to read your comment, geiboyi.
 
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