Hi! you poor thing.  There are a couple of things to say

If it's a question of caesar versus natural, I'd go the natural. Having had one of each, a vaginal birth is much quicker to recover from and much easier to recover from.  A c-section is not the worst thing that could happen - here it just means longer in hospital, no driving or lifting for 6 weeks (which was VERY hard for me stuck at home in the country) and yes, you have had a major operation so you need to rest more and you will be more uncomfortable.

By way of example, after my caesar I was in bed until the next afternoon and then had to walk hunched over to teh bathroom (once they took the catheter out).  i had to be washed in my bed and could not feed for a couple of hours as I was in recovery.  After my VBAC I was in the shower after an hour and B was feeding within half an hour.  The whole process was more empowering and I felt more independent a lot quicker.

As to elective over caesar, I don't know if your dr would book it in - just talk to them.  The people i have spoken to who have planned a caesar seem to have a more positive experience than those who have an emergency caesar, but I guess even if you have in the back of your mind that it could happen then that would help your mindset and recovery.

Birth and pregnancy are one of the hardest times if you are someone who likes to be in control and plan.  I did a calm birth course and he kept reiterating that the whole process is much easier if you surrender - to your body,  to the whole process and to the unknown.  That is a hard concept but for me it made a huge difference. 

Also, it is not too late - there are plenty of things that can be done to turn a baby - some people swear by massage, chiropractors and acupuncture.  There are also exercises you can do - see here!  I hope this helps some, but please feel free to mail me if you need more help!

Wow, my head would be spinning too.  I know my head was spinning when my baby was 9 days overdue as I did not want to be induced, but then he came the day before they wanted to intervene.  I think it depends on how you feel about caesarean vs a natural birth.  I did everything I could to have a birth as natural as possible and I am so pleased I did as everything went so smoothly and recovery was quick.  I dont know whether they will keep you in any longer because you have a toddler.  To them it is more about your health and the funding they receive for how many people they can get in the beds.  Try the website www.spinningbabies.com to look at ways you could encourage your baby to turn, you may still have time!  I am a woman who likes to be in control of things and know EXACTLY what's going to happen and when. Pregnancy and Labour is one of those times where things are in God's hands not our own and for a lot us that is a scary thought - not to be in control, not to be able to plan every detail.  Personally, if it was me I would still hope that baby might turn and just be as prepared as you can for either scenario.  You could go into labour spontaneously any day and it will still be inconvenient to arrange childcare.  Do you have family or friends who could drop everything and come and pick him up on short notice?  Hope this helps

Maybe it's just me , but my C section wasn't that bad. I had an emergency C section with my son after 25 hrs labor due to a cervix deformity. Here in Canada you are hospitalized for 3 days.it was difficult getting in and out of bed, cars, anything lower to the ground but I cant say I was in alot of pain. I refused morphine after the first dose and was on tylenol 3 for a day. The day I came home from hospital I came home to 3 kids. Yes you will have to be careful about the incision , Listen to the Dr. Dont lift anything over the weight of your baby. But all in all it wasn't a horrible experience for me.

You tell that bub to put his head down and his bum up! lol.

I don't know how things work in the Uk, but here in Australia, if you want and elective c-section you have to book it very early.

The recovery time from a c-section is about 2 the length of the recovery from a natural birth.  Also, there are greater risks of respiratory problems in bubs due to not having the fluid dispelled from the lungs by being squeezed through the birth canal.

Me, I would be sticking to having a natural birth, unless bubs is not playing along properly.

Awww Jo I feel for ya! That is a hard one.

I was adamant not to have a c-section with JB (who was also breech) but had to have an emergency one. I know if we are lucky enough to have another child I have no choice as they do not do VBAC here in the US due to liability!!

You just have to weigh up the pros and cons as to what aspects are most important to you, with the c-section you know it is gonna be hard for the frst 3 weeks or so, but you have been there so know what is involved.  At least you can plan things for Mac etc and if you have help around then the 3 weeks will go by so fast. With a natual birth the recovery will be so much quicker.

Good luck with your decision Jo

Lorna

Well where do i start with this one. I was 10 days overdue with my first baby so i was induced and after 13 hours of labour he went into fetal distress so i ended up having an emergancy c-section. With my second pregnancy the ob decided that i was to have a planned c-section as there was too many if's and the likly outcome would have been another emergency c-section.

It took me a long time to get over the emergancy c-section, i couldn't do anything. Luckly for me hubby had taken 3 weeks off work. But the planned c-section was great and the recovery time was less. I was in hospital for 5 days with both and when i got home with the 2nd baby my son who was 2 at the time, knew he couldn't be picked up because we had taught him while i was pregnant that he could only have cuddles when mummy was sitting down and he could climb on my knee.

Overall the planned c-section is the best way to go. If i didn't get mastitus when my daughter was a week old i would have been doing everything they say not to do because i felt fine and i sent hubby back to work earlier.

Hope this helps in your decision, and good luck.

Juzzy xoxoxo

Well we all know everyone is different, i had an emerg c section for my second preg with twins at 39 weeks. It was not the way i had chosen but there were complications and twin b was breech. You need to do what you feel is best for you and your baby, but you also need to let your doctor/midwife know how you are feeling about it all. I really think that they may be worrying you too early, some breech babies move the day before and sometimes during labour,  its really not comfortable but they do! I had a 13mth at the time and nobody to help me with lifting so you are lucky that you will have the help. After having both deliveries i would rather a natural, even after the 29 hours it took and the 3rd degree tearing! When i was induced for the twins the hospital was more than happy to see if i could deliver naturally, and more than ready in case i couldn't. Even though i was a public patient the choice was still left up to me. Good luck and try not to get yourself to worried until you can talk to your doctor again.

Hello,I had a C section with my second and atleast I was able to be prepared for it,I organized my son to stay with my mother and my husband had the day off work.I did only find out the day before they were going to give me a C section.If you have never experienced a natural delivery and would like to I would take the chance of going naturally I would say no.My sister had a c for her first then chose to have a C again for second but she likes things to go to her plan.Good luck

                                                            Cham

Go with your gut feeling and do what makes you feel more at ease, with my first two they both ended up in emergency c's and it was a traumatic experience and my recovery was quite long, with my 3rd I had elective c and it was all smooth sailing so was my recovery......  Yes it was uncomfortable and it was not easy with let alone one toddler but two..... I was in private so I don't know if that makes a difference but I was in hospital for my first two for 10 days after and my elective for 5 days.  As for them jumping on you or been demanding in my experience I was amazed how much my littlies understood that mummy had a very sore tummy and they were oh so very careful and willing to help out where ever they could......  Have a really good talk to your midwife or Dr about how your feeling... Good luck xxxx

Hello there! In Australia they keep you in for 4-5 days after c-sections (I was in for 5 with both) and you are told not to drive (that won't worry you, lol), lift your arms above your head, vaccume, or lift anything heavier than your new bub for up to 6 weeks. I really didn't take that long to recover, but I did have someone here for the first 4-5 weeks after I had Oscar so that they could tend to Jack and the heavier jobs around the house. I had no choice, as you know, but to have a c-section for Oscar after everything that happened with Jack and was booked in but if you are unsure can you see your doctor & ask them what they think? You really need someone to tell you if they think you can have this bub naturally or not, and if it makes you feel better book in for an elective but remember you won't be able to do much with Mac for at least a few weeks after. Luv ya hun xxoo

Here in the U.S., c-sections are in the hospital a day longer (after childbirth) than vaginal delivery, unless there are other complications.   You will have to take it easy for about 2 weeks if you have a c-section. You may have a hard time sitting down and standing up. And if your toddler likes to jump on you and get on your lap, you will have to work on your toddler not doing that because it'll be uncomfortable (and maybe even be painful).