Moving towards the birth (stories from eighteen weeks to forty weeks)

• Preparing for the birth  

Nicola S: Third trimester

I am starting to think about the birth now. No home birth for me! I’m worried that, since stress and tiredness trigger my seizures, I might have one during labour. I talk to the antenatal consultant about a potential elective caesarean but it is dismissed out of hand with little explanation. I leave in tears, and determined to get a second opinion.

The appointment for the second opinion is more successful. The doctor carefully explains that the incidence of seizures during labour is virtually unknown, and reassures me that the necessary emergency procedures will be in place should this very unlikely event occur. She also gives me a prescription for some extra medication to take during labour to make it even less likely. So it looks like it’s going to be a vaginal birth… I’m so glad I decided to get a second opinion.  It made so much difference to talk it through with a sympathetic professional, even if the decision was the same.

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