Experiences of elective c sections (not interested in responses from the natural birth cult thanks! 😂)

[Lauratwelve]

Hiya ladies,

For those of you who have requested c-sections for your first. What are your experiences? I don't want to give birth vaginally so i'm just looking into requesting a c-section. I have nothing but respect for all woman and how they choose to give birth but vaginal delivery is just not for me. Ive had abdo surgery before so I know what to expect. Thanks guys 🌺🌸🌺

[BaskingTrout]

i'm not sure you can say you have respect for all women and then say that those who don't opt for an ELCS are in a "cult"

I think it depends on your reasons for wanting an ELCS? I think if you have a "medical" reason then you might find your path easier. But make sure you've read the NICE guidelines and there are lots of very informative threads on here if you search. Also, there is a poster called "RedToothBrush" who knows her stuff.

And what do you mean by experiences? As in, your experience of trying to get one agreed? Or your experience of the actual event?

FWIW I've had an EMCS and an ELCS. Pretty similar in terms of recovery, ELCS was actually a harder operation (but possibly because of a very uncooperative baby). I can't help in terms of what it was like to get an ELCS agreed because mine was a medical need, no choice.

[Lauratwelve]

BaskingTrout I didnt mean that people who opt for vaginal births are a cult 😂 I meant people who are evangelical about so called natural births. For example my friend said that all woman who have csections are vain, which is a horrible thing to say. I do have respect for woman who choose vaginal births just not ones who preach about them...

Thanks for your reply but I did specify people who have requested sections for their first.....

[BaskingTrout]

I know what you meant. I still thought it was a bit of a rude way of phrasing it.
And I know you specified people who had an ELCS for their first. I can read. I was just trying to point you towards threads covering exactly your question and posters with specific information.
Just trying to be helpful but meh.

[RaeSkywalker]

I think that Basking has given a really helpful response, and you’ve been very rude in return OP...

[Lauratwelve]

BaskingTrout Thanks

[Lauratwelve]

RaeSkywalker Gosh I think that's a little over the top. I wasn't bring rude at all.

[SonicBoomBoom]

Bit rude there, OP.

You didn't make it clear you meant you wanted experiences of how to get one, rather than experiences of having one.

[Thetoothyteeth]

@basking quit it. OP there's always one, or 10, precious ones about on this website. I know exactly what you mean about the natural birth 'cult' you must be very careful to tread carefully and not offend them 🙄Best thing to do is completely ignore them, they just like the sound of their own natural birth voice. My elective cs's were amazing. Best thing and made me feel much more in control. Go for it x

[calamityjam]

Not requested but I've had 4 sections. First because of complications and the rest electives. If you have any specific questions I may be able to help.

[Thetoothyteeth]

@laura tell your friend, whatever your reason, you don't need to justify it. It's a personal decision, opinions about vanity etc not welcome or important whatsoever - your body, you do what you need to.

[GummyGoddess]

You have been a little rude. I have no experience of elcs as I had a natural birth at home, however my second choice of birth was a elcs instead of giving birth in hospital so I have done a lot of research into getting one.

You may need to change hospital as mine do not do maternal requests for elcs, you will probably be sent to a counsellor and you need to be extremely pushy about it. My friend had a planned cs for medical reasons and said she found it ok, not too bad to recover from but really had to work hard to breastfeed (which she has been very successful with).

I hope your baby arrives safely.

[BaskingTrout]

Thetoothyteeth quit what exactly?

[Lauratwelve]

Thetoothyteeth thanks so much for your kind reply. Did you have trouble requesting them? How did you raise the subject with your midwife? Thanks again, I really did'nt mean to be rude. I was trying to be light hearted 😂

[duckduckmouse]

I had one which was elective but turned out to be an emc prematurely anyway. So I did not have a good experience. Next baby will be elective c section.

You need to know why you are asking for one. This is not me being rude, but what is your justification in requesting this to a medical professional.

Eg, I am very sick I won't have the energy
I had a still born baby before
I have a sick baby and I do not want them to suffer if I cannot deliver naturally
I have a phobia of child birth
I believe I am not elastic enough to do this
I am afraid of giving birth.
I do not feel safe giving birth with a midwife and I want to have a doctor over see the birth
Or whatever your reason(a) are.


Now. The c section hurts afterward but I had a ga so it was a different experience and I did not have an epidural to get me through the first hours

the recovery was fine. Better then people I know have had vag births. It is a controlled wound etc.
But. You will not be able to drive for a month. And trust me. With a baby you want to get out as much as possible. So think about this long and hard. I hated not being able to drive. It was dreadful. The pain was excruciating for 5 days or so.
If your baby goes to special care, commuting with a wound on your tummy hurts so much. I cannot explain how sad I was. I was torn between wanting to lay down or sitting in a wheel chair beside my baby.

[SonicBoomBoom]

I don't want to give birth vaginally

I don't think anyone wants to It's a means to an end, a necessary evil.

I initially wanted one because I thought the baby would get stuck (family history) as I'm tiny and my husband is massive. Consultant said No. So you'll need a good reason (yes, I know it's supposed to be your choice, but in practice it's not; hospitals have statistics and CS rates to worry about).

[duckduckmouse]

@Thetoothyteeth nobody needs to be disciplined for their behaviour we are all adults for fuck sake.
If you think she was rude then don't answer or stay lurking around on the thread.
The ops post wasn't rude it was asking a specific question and so if it wasn't answered then she is fine to direct the question again

[BaskingTrout]

Thetoothyteeth please show me where I have been bullying?

And I did try to offer advice regarding the differences I experienced between an EMCS and an ELCS. I'm not sure why that makes me the voice of natural births?

[HashiAsLarry]

I had emcs first then elcs second time. Not sure if that will make a difference when requesting but I had little issue. They suggested I read their leaflet on vbac which actually made me somewhat more worried about that side of things, but never gave me any hassle. I was high risk second time too though, not just as a result of the emcs so that may also have been a factor.

[duckduckmouse]

Shit sorry I meant @BaskingTrout stop telling people off for being rude and @Thetoothyteeth is right in telling you to be polite.

[Luckyme2]

I tried requesting one for my first DC. I didn't get anywhere but admittedly my request was panic based after the prospect of being induced was discussed and i got scared. So duckduck is right - make sure you give good reasons and don't expect them to agree lightly (it could be different in your hospital of course). I ended up being induced. it failed. Emergency C Section at midnight. Lovely. Recovery was painful and felt long! DC2 - elected C Section (which I was allowed to the fact I'd already had one). Lovely and relaxed, painful but easy recovery. Good luck!

[Thetoothyteeth]

@duckmouse thanks x

[Lauratwelve]

duckduckmouse Thank you so much for your reply. I am scared of giving birth. I had an ectopic and I think this has made me afraid of all the things that can go wrong. My friends baby died in childbirth, if she had a csection her baby would be alive now. My other friend hasnt had sex with her husband in two years because of a episiotomy which became infected, twice and needed surgery, twice. She now wets herself if she laughs. Childbirth is horrific and i'm scared by baby will die