Okay, background info:
~1 previous vaginal delivery, last June.
~Pushed for 8 hours, had to have vacuum extraction (almost ended up with C-section, they had the OR ready for me).
~Became eclampsic a week after Char was born and had 2 seizures because of insanely high BP
~Had a spinal block and an epidural while in labor, each worked for only an hour each, then had no pain control.
This Pregnancy:
~Due a week after Char turns 1
~He's a BIG boy
~Was breech, but turned yesterday (yay! no more head in ribs!)
~I have a 9cm complex cyst on left ovary that has to be removed
~Want remaining tube tied

Okay; if you stuck through with that, thank you! Here's the dilema. I switched OBs after my original one told me (it was a resident) that I had no option but to have surgery to have the cyst removed at 20 weeks. Literally gave me 1 days notice about surgery. I had US on Monday, she booked surgery for Wed! I declined surgery and switched OBs. The 2nd OB said I could do a vaginal delivery then IMMEDIATELY go to surgery to remove said cyst. I fought and finally got to have a c-section scheduled to remove baby, cyst and do a tubal ligation. The doc that was scheduled to cut me open hasn't let me meet him yet and they dismiss any little thing that I mention, include pre-eclampsia signs/symptoms, despite my history. I decided to switch back to the original OB and had my first appt today. Turns out LO (or big one, LOL) has turned so a section isn't totally necessary. The doc I saw today (the one who helped me with fertility treatment to have Char!) told me I could go ahead with a vaginal delivery and come back several months later to have the tubal and cyst removal done. She said there is a risk of the cyst twisting on itself or rupturing of course, after Austin is born, but there is also a risk of increased bleeding from the cyst removal cause of the huge blood supply to the uterus right now. She said it's up to me, and she understands the csection route seeing how hard L&D was with Char and they will certainly do a section if I want. I don't know what to do!!
Will it be easier to try for a vaginal, with the risk of an emergency section cause of his size. Or...would it be easier just to get the section planned and get everything taken care of at once. Also...would it be easier to care for a 1y/o and a newborn while recovering or a 6mo old (around Christmas) and an 18mo old. UGH...someone...HELP, please!!!!!

Maybe you should get everything over with at once..

ohh, hun I can understand why this is such a big choice for you to make! I think (if I were in this situation) I would probably opt for the section and have everything removed at once, since you said a section might be likely in the end. I see taking care of a NB and a one year old might be likely to be easier to handle...especially if you will be having help from OH/family? I just think it would probably be harder with a 6 month old because by then he could be crawling? And already have a set schedule and demand things from you that may be harder to handle whilst recovering. I'm really not sure, that is a tough one! And in the end it is what you know you would be able to handle and be comfortable with.. Out of curiosity, will you be BF or FF?

I think you would be best getting it all done at once then u can recover and start enjoy to be a mum xxx

Thanks everyone. I'm kinda leaning towards the section for all the reasons y'all mentioned. The only thing that scares me is the increased risk of bleeding, but...I have a feeling I'd end up with one anyway. I just wish the doc would tell us what to do and not give me so many options, LOL!

Genna- Gonna be FF, need to go back on prozac after Austin is born more than likely. I wanted to BF Char, but was too sick afterwards, then got horrid PND and had to go on the prozac and I'm pretty sure I'll have to go back on after this one too (though, hopefully not!)

I too have an ovarian cyst to remove surgically -- two actually -- and I've been told the best time to try and do it if you can't get to it before 20 weeks is about 6 weeks after birth. I was told the cysts (dermoid, so complex) would not affect my ability to have a vaginal birth BUT if I ended up having an emergency c-section they would remove them at the same time.

Given some of the benefits of having a vaginal delivery over a c-section (many and varied, including hormonal, uterine recovery, advantages to baby breathing etc. etc.), I indicated I would rather plan for a vaginal delivery and then have the surgery later, between 6 week and 3 months post-partum as then, if I have to go off breastfeeding for the surgery/recovery, Jack will have had the benefit of breastfeeding for a good while before I stop, and will be better able to go between bottle/boob.

I would talk to the doctor again -- I'd definitely find it difficult to be in surgical recovery with a 6 month old due to their increased mobility, but 1.5-3 months after birth is much more ok with me. If you can have the surgery earlier, why not try for a vaginal delivery?

Well, part of the reason that I don't want another vaginal birth is cause my first one sucked SO badly. I pushed for 8 hours, the only reason they didn't do a section earlier is cause the AC was broken in the hospital in the OB area and they couldn't sterilize the the OR, so they had to prepare one on a different floor and move all the OB stuff, otherwise I would've had one around 1pm (she was born at 502pm). So...I'm worried I would end up with an emergency one anyway. I dunno...grrrr...stupid decisions!

Personally, I would probably go for the natural birth. No 2 labours are the same so you shouldn't assume it'll be bad again. I'd probably prefer to spend some time with LO first without recovering from major surgery at the same time. I'd try and get the surgery about 3 months after having LO.

Oh hun, that's such a tough decision and not one I'd personally like to advise on. I hope you make the best decision for you You're due the same day as me though, so I imagine if you have the c-section - you'll beat me!

I would say have a section and get it all done with, it would be easier to look after a newborn and 1 year old, no routine crawling etc. But you need to make the decision that is right for you and your situation. Hope everything works out, take care XX