Need some honest input and opinions!

[jondee0]

I have a possible dilemma coming up in July. My oldest child is getting married in a town 3 1/2 hours away from us, on my duedate (yes, I did ask if they could change the date; no, they couldn't!). Now, I've never actually had a baby on my duedate, but they've been everywhere from 4 weeks early, to 2-6 days after the duedate.

We would go to my son's town on a Friday for the rehearsal dinner, and since the wedding is Saturday evening, we wouldn't get back home until very late Saturday, or midday Sunday. That means I would have 2-3 days when I am either in a strange town, or on the road.

If I went into labor while away from home, I don't know if the hospitals would honor my plans for a vbac.

If I went into labor on the road, it's possible (given the labor history of a couple of my kids) that I could find myself needing to push when we're a couple of hours away from *anywhere* (there's one longish rural stretch of road). Don't know if I want to be in that position.

Here's my dilemma...do I totally play things by ear, knowing that if I go into labor too close to the wedding day, I would probably have to miss the wedding (keeping in mind that my second-oldest son is to be the best man, and my youngest son is to be the ring-bearer, so they *have* to be there), and knowing that it could be a problem if I go into labor either on the road, or at the wedding town?

Or, do I hope and pray and do everything within my power to have the baby early, and.......

...schedule a c-section 10 days before the wedding, if I haven't had the baby by then?

I can't believe I'm even thinking of such a thing . I hated my c-section; it was not a birth to me. It was just something done to me, which resulted in my baby suddenly being outside of me, with me having no active participation at all. On the other hand, I have some very, very nice birthing memories and experiences behind me with my other kids.

I've read up and down, in my researching and planning for a vbac, about the possible complications from a c-section. I've also read that induction will probably *not* be an option, since I've had that section. I wouldn't want to be induced, anyway .

On the other hand, how can I miss my son's wedding???????

Right now, dh's only comment is, "Well, that sounds good from a planning standpoint, but you hated your c-section!"

I'd like to think that everything will just go smoothly and I'll slide into labor at 38 weeks or so, have a nice birth, and make it out to the wedding with no problems .

On the other hand (how many hands do I have, LOL?), given the number of babies I've had, with all of the variations of labor, and given the number of things I've experienced with those kids that have caught me completely unprepared, I don't feel that I can just *not* have any kind of back-up plan.

Ugh.

Any input?

Joni, due 7-17-ish :

[Foobar]

Honestly,
I would play it by ear. I would tell your oldest that you REALLY will be there in heart and soul, even if things change that you cannot be there in person. You did ask them to change the date and they have to deal with the fact that you might miss the wedding because they couldn't change it.

Have back up plans for getting your younger children there and back if you go into labor.

Print out your birth plan and get a consent form from your doc saying that you are planning a VBAC. Other hospitals may not accept it, but then again, they have someone else to blame if something goes wrong. Take those with you.

Consider only going on Saturday. This will lower the chances of you being away when this happens.

Have a cellphone to call 911 if you go into labor on the road. Do not hesitate to call if you go into labor and DON'T yet feel the need to push.

I would honestly avoid a scheduled C-section and you definately don't want to try an induction (Goo's labor started ok, and then we had to move to pitocin...YUCK)


And lastly, try not to stress too much. Only 5% of women have their babies on the due date. You don't need the stress right now..

Come up with a plan, and then expect to deviate from it!

And congrats on becoming a MIL!!!!

[Danesmama]

Boy that is a tough decision! I have to admit that although I generally don't understand opting for a not medically necessary scheduled C-section, this seems like a pretty good case for one. I'm sorry if this only makes your decision harder, but there are just so many things that could go wrong while on the road - I know you've considered many of these scenarios. It would put your mind at ease to know that you will be able to attend - I wouldn't want to miss my child's wedding

My only worry is if you plan to have more children, are you able to try VB after two C-sections? It would be something to consider.

Hugs and good luck with your decision!