C section after natural Labours?

[Bythefire90]

I was wondering if anyone has had c sections after they’ve had straight forward births previously?

I suffer from PTSD from my previous labours (both ended in safe deliveries with no interventions). Because my PTSD is so severe I want to request a csection for my 3rd Child and I was wondering how people coped with theirs (I will have a 5 yr old and an 18 mo). Did you wish you’d had a vaginal labour and regret it? Was you happy with how it went? Did you bond with the baby the same as your natural labours?

So many questions, but basically I’m not eating, sleeping, sick etc.. with worry about the labour and it’s still several months away so my midwife supports my decision for my MH.

[Bythefire90]

Bumping

[BunnyJumper]

Hi op. I've only had c sections so I can't help as I can't compare it to a Vaginal Birth but both were fine and I recovered well.

Maybe try and post in pregnancy? You might get more responses there.

[Easterbunnygettingready]

After 10 natural births I needed a emcs at 35 weeks! Shocked wasn't the word... Tbh I didn't know that much about having a c section!! As a needle hater I was in denial I would ever have one!!
Hated feeling so reliant on people afterwards.. With dc3 I collected 1+2 from school 6 hours post partum! Can't image ever opting for needing that sort of physical recovery..

[Bythefire90]

@Easterbunnygettingready this is the worry isn’t it! It’s 6 weeks physical recovery or adding another traumatic birth for a lifetime to the memory bank, I honestly don’t think I can do it again, my pain wasn’t well managed at all in either pregnancy and I was bucking, screaming and writhing like a wild animal at my last and it was horrific however recovery I was up wiping my bum 5 minutes after I had him haha but very shaken up. I just can’t work out what would be best for my MH/family/everything! I’m really down about it.

Thanks for replying you two!

[brushlaptop]

I had a c section for my first due to breech baby and going for a vbac for my second. The c section was okay but you need help with everything in the first 6 weeks. You can't lift anything heavier than the baby so can't carry laundry/baby in car seat/groceries/pick up other children etc. I found it hard having to rely on people to do things like that. Also no one tells you but you have to inject yourself with an anti blood flitter for 10 days after surgery. I hated it as I'm not a fan of needles!

[Easterbunnygettingready]

The first week was tough. I drove 10 days op. Think it hit me more mentally after that. Def would opt for natural if at all possible..

[Rosebud2016]

@Bythefire90 I’ve not had a c section before but I did have a very traumatic birth with my first and was suffering similarly to you whilst pregnant with my second.
I had something called REVERSE therapy and it was honestly the most incredible experience. I went from crying and being terrified constantly, to a feeling of being able to cope and a determination to try and enjoy it. Honestly the best thing I ever did- would therapy be something you’d consider?

[leggingsandwellies]

I had a vaginal birth with DC1 with no interventions, and opted for an elective CS for DC2 (who I had just last week!) the elective CS was 1000x easier and better all round than the vaginal birth. I am finding it a bit hard that I can't pick up and cuddle toddler DC1, but luckily DH is amazing at helping me and I'm still able to cuddle DC1 on the sofa etc. Recovery has honestly been so much easier than expected, but the main benefit is I look back on the birth of DC2 and SMILE, whereas like you I was left extremely traumatised by my first birth. I say go for it!!!

[Bythefire90]

Thank you so much for replying everyone! My midwife has been fab already about my options and i wasn’t even sure if I could opt for a section, she said it will definitely raise eyebrows after having two natural(with no interventions) labours but once they hear my about my PTSD they will be more inclined to a section. She said we still don’t know if baby is twins, will be breach (listed lots of other reasons for a section) and said I could can also go 180 and change my mind the closer it gets. But I’m pretty sure I would opt for a section especially after seeing your lovely comment @leggingsandwellies

[candlemasbells]

I’ve had both. Emcs for DS and an unplanned vbac for dd. The CS was after a long labour for failure to progress so it wasn’t a rush job. I could feel them pulling him out, he was very stuck but not pain. I had the shakes really badly immediately after he was delivered so I couldn’t hold him. Recovery was fine for a CS, driving after 2 weeks. I did get stuck in bed a few times, getting off the sofa requires planning but it was ok. I booked a CS for dd but she arrived a bit early and I went for a vbac.
I didn’t have much pain relief and it was bloody painful and I pushed for 2 hours but got her out with only an episiotomy. I didn’t have any energy to hold her immediately after but within a day or so I was feeling ok.
The CS scar was numb for months and the feeling around it it still weird, the episiotomy scar gives me the odd twinge, it was only last year but no lost of feeling,
If I have a third I’ll try for a vbac again.
Could you have an epidural very early in labour? So you get the quicker recovery and the pain is sorted (it is in most cases).

[Bythefire90]

@candlemasbells I didn’t realise I could opt for an early epidural you know! Because I have two small ones at home I’d be worried I’d be away from them for too long if it’s a long labour but I’d love that. I handled my last 13.5hrs at home with no pain relief so the lead up doesn’t bother me, infact I loved the feeling of contractions before it gets horrendous, it was the last 2.5 hrs that I was bucking and acting like a wild animal

When I had my first I had an epidural, but it only worked on one side and I have electric shocks for 6 weeks after but if it had fully worked I’d have been in heaven. But I will DEFINITELY ask about an epidural! Thank you!

[Bythefire90]

@leggingsandwellies if you don’t mind me asking, was the CS planned because intervention was needed or did you opt for it because it’s what you wanted? I’m just worried I’ll be laughed out if I request it

[Handsoffstrikesagain]

bythefire would working on a pain management plan this time help? Have you looked at hypnobirthing? It’s brilliant. It is not pain relief of course but it’s fantastic for helping you remain in control. Have you looked at a tens machine? Did you have G&A last time? Is an epidural an option this time as soon as labour is established? Apologies for all the questions I’m just trying to see if we can put our heads together and help x

[Handsoffstrikesagain]

Reading your most recent post it sounds like perhaps the pain was allowed to ‘run away with you’ for that last 2.5 hours. This is where hypnobirthing is great for staying under control and really knowing that time when it’s right to say ‘right I want G&A/epidural etc now’. You also need a strong birth partner. I always say to my DH (and have briefed him again for this one due in two weeks) ‘you know when you need to speak up for me. If I tell you I can’t cope, I can’t cope’ Of course I can cope, but in that moment I don’t need a wishy washy wet fish. I need a strong man to help me if that makes sense!

[Mishmased]

@Bythefire90 I've had two sections, due my third section in 8 weeks time. Both were emergency sections and with my second my first was 2.5. I was so well after my first I went back doing my usual activities and in day 10 my stitch opened so take it easy at least for the first two weeks. With my second section I was exhausted from the long labour, section was fine and recovery was fine. DH looked after everything that was heavier than baby, he helped a lot, I batch cooked and also had convenience food in the freezer.

Unlike the above poster I didn't have to inject myself with anything after both sections so maybe she had a medical need for that is not standard procedure with all the people I know that have had sections.

Have a chat with your doctor and if you feel that is what you need, they will have to give you a section. Wishing you all the best.

I know my friend had two vaginal births and had to be sectioned for twins and she found it so hard. But sections are all I know and this will be an elective so it should be more relaxing.

[Handsoffstrikesagain]

I really would not have a c section unless it’s absolutely necessary. My friends that have had them have taken weeks, sometimes months to recover. Looking after other children is made so much harder. They’ve just had it much harder after the baby is born imo.

[candlemasbells]

I think you can have one at 4cm. I was managing fine at this point and later tried some pethadine but I was too late for an epidural with dd. With ds I had one before the drip, it only worked on one side I did tell them but I had rubbish midwives first time.
I know ofmothers who’ve had a fully working epidural at 3cm. I think they’ll probably agree quite easily.

[candlemasbells]

I did have the clexane injections after my cs for 10 days.

[Handsoffstrikesagain]

Yes 4cm rings a bell candle. I agree, I think you’ll have an easier time having that on your birth plan than convincing for a c section. Just state that it’s what you want and you won’t be told otherwise. I always find that polite, smiley but very firm does the trick :)

[leggingsandwellies]

There was no medical reason for my elective- it was pure maternal request. Assuming you're in the UK they cannot refuse you- it's in the NICE guidelines that they have to respect maternal request- it's your body after all!

To the other suggestion of an early epidural- this was offered to me too and for a few weeks it was my plan. I found however that I still wasn't sleeping with the worry about the labour. When I finally decided on a CS and it was booked in I honestly broke down in tears of relief. And so far I don't regret it for a second!!

You should take into consideration though that I'm only on week 2 of recovery and although I've found it surprisingly easy so far, I might pick up an infection or other complication tomorrow and start regretting it! The other thing to keep in mind is that I had horrible complications from my epidural with DC1 which is why the Wales epidural option was less appealing to me (the spinal I had for the CS had a much reduced chance of the same complications occurring).

Interestingly, when I had a birth options phone call with one of the consultant midwives (which is maybe something worth asking about), she did say that in actual fact if delivering after 39 weeks then elective sections are actually the safest option for baby, which helped make my mind up!

[Handsoffstrikesagain]

Can I ask why you had an elective section leggings? If it’s too private feel free to ignore!

[Bythefire90]

@Handsoffstrikesagain Thanks.. yes, I practiced hypnobirthing with both previous labours and it was great until.. it was unbearable and I thought I was going to die, genuinely there was no control over my thoughts. I’ve done pregnancy yoga, Pilates and hypnobirthing and none helped I’m afraid. Had a TENS for 2nd labour and it did nothing, had G&A in both labours and epidural in first, the epidural was great but I had a catheter which was awful, a hook on DC head to monitor and it only worked on one side of my body, if it worked fully it would’ve been fab. My only trouble is.. when they classed me as ‘established labour’ I was fully dilated 15 minutes later, they only classed it 4cm onwards, and I went from 4cm to 10 in 15 minutes in last labour, it was horrific so wouldn’t be enough time for an anaesthetist to do anything, but the 2hr 15 mins before that was shocking and I still to this day don’t know how I didn’t have a heart attack the amount of pain I had

[leggingsandwellies]

*early epidural, not sure why it autocorrected to awakes!

[leggingsandwellies]

Gah- wales even!! Apologies.

[Handsoffstrikesagain]

Oh bythefire you have my sympathies. My labours are pretty quick and I’ve flown from 0-10 in no time at all, it’s a bloody big shock isn’t it! X