For DH to insist on vaginal birth not ceasarean

Not true

@TwigletsAndRadishes

She doesn’t need a justification. Women should have a choice and are meant to have a choice under NHS guidelines. It only fails when you get staff who don’t give a shit and won’t listen to you.
That is not a good thing.

Because they consider (or are supposed to be consider) the mental health of the mother to be an important factor.

I'm opting for a C-section birth even though I could probably have a VBAC, because I have no wish whatsoever to push for 4 hours and then end up with an emergency section anyway. So technically it's not medically "necessary" but it's my right and I certainly don't feel bad about it either. The NHS performs tonnes of procedures that aren't medically necessary.

NICE guidance.

Its also not demonstrably more costly than attempted VB, given the rates of instrumental and EMCS plus downstream costs.

This times a million

The day he gives birth is the day he gets to choose

He's welcome to have a vaginal birth just as soon as he has his own vagina

Massive red flag - he's not remotely lovely

Just saying that it can do. You don't get a guaranteed painless birth if you opt for a section.

Since when? I know my children are all adults now, but I am astounded at this. How can the NHS justify the cost when it's not medically necessary?

And what was your justification for asking for/wanting a C Section?

It's entirely the birthing patent's choice! They don't need a specific reason, they can choose a c section.

well obviously...

Maybe because they are uniquely positioned to monitor their own PGs in great detail rather than relying on the standard periodic appointments. They are also qualified to recognise the signs way ahead of time that a CS is going to be likely, or that a vaginal birth is likely to be very difficult. Because they know what they are talking about, it won't be difficult to get other HCPs to take them seriously and plan accordingly. Whereas the rest of us just do as we are told, and get what we get. If it's an awful birth experience or an emergency CS when a planned one would have been more appropriate then so be it.

I just want to point out that recovery from vaginal birth might also take weeks. It all depends on the birth.

Her body, her choice. Until HE gives birth he can butt out!

I had hardly any pain after my C section, I was walking about 8 hours later and totally pain free by day 7. And I have a very low pain threshold.

In fact I was in a lot less pain than my friends who had vaginal births.

He is allowed to express an opinion. He is not allowed to insist.

Could be this of course!

You get a spinal block for the procedure (though you can still 'feel' what's happening), but the recovery is the painful bit.

But anyway, anyone who tries to 'insist' on their wife/partner having a certain type of birth is definitely no nice guy.

Giving birth is of course extremely painful. The one upside is that no one is expecting you do to anything else at the same time. On the flip side if she’s had the ECS and her recovery is painful, she’ll have a child to care for at the same time. Just worth thinking about!

@TwigletsAndRadishes I had a maternal request Elective C-Section with no issues, no pushback to the request. Some of the midwives said it was a good choice. And it was for me as they were chronically understaffed so women in labour weren’t getting the care they deserved.

@Anguish this man is categorically not a nice guy, I don’t know how you and your friend think that but he certainly has you convinced. Even if it’s a romantic notion nobody nice would put that above their partner’s comfort. I would really watch carefully anyone so controlling. Well I would run a mile bit sometimes you sometimes know when you’re in danger.

He probably thinks it’ll mean he won’t have to do anything once the baby is home. If she has a CS he’ll probably have to actually do stuff….like, you know, caring for his wife and new child. With a VB he probably thinks there’s less chance of him having to help in any way.

Could totally be projecting here as I’m thinking of my own DMIL but I wonder if it is his Mother that has got inside of his head about this. I very nearly told my DMIL to get out of my v because she kept going on and on about hurrying up and getting her in the club and having grandchildren very soon after we got married. Some DMILs really do think they have a say in our reproductive region. Maybe ask your friend what her DMIL is like regards this.

Doctors almost always favour surgery. What about midwives? Do midwives opt for C-section or vaginal birth?

EDIT: He's absolutely lovely

If he was absolutely lovely he'd STFU and sit this one out as it's got nowt to do with him!
As Rachel would say - "no uterus, no opinion!" 😁

He is being entirely U.

It’s her body and her decision. Not his in any way.

However I also think she would be better off knowing in advance that a C section is not pain free - the recovery as I understand it can be very painful.