Did you request a c section? If so was it difficult to get it?

I've never met a single person who stayed in hospital for 5 days following an elective c section. Not these days anyways. And a lot of my mum friends have had c-sections. I was out within 48 hours. Would've been sooner but mine was done in the evening and they don't like to discharge at night. It's standard to discharge after 24 hours now.

There's so many firsthand accounts from mother's who've had ELCS who recount how easily they recovered, all available online, most on this site and similar sites. I don't understand where this clear misconception of ELCS comes from.

Obviously some people will have had more difficult experiences, just as it varies with vaginal births, but from what I've seen and heard, the vast majority, including myself, have had incredibly positive ELCS experiences, with quick and easy recoveries. I was up after 6 hours, back to my usual self in a couple of days. No pain. I've had more pain stubbing my toe - and like I said, experiences of my friends and those I've read online are largely the same.

I don’t understand people choosing a c- section over a vaginal birth? The recovery looks horrible for a c section I’ve had two natural births and was home within 24hours! Everyone I know has been in hospital 4/5 days and have hugely struggled afterwards for weeks, yet everyone seems to opt for an elective section?

Did your friend have Cs?

I asked for one during the inducing process. I’d had two pessaries and wasn’t in labour and was over a week overdue. Had had no sleep for pretty much 3 days. They wanted to break my waters and start the drip and I refused at that point and asked for a section. They agreed - all fine.

I didn't ask for one - but was asked IF i wanted one, my baby was huge too - and i am pretty small . I pushed her out as C-secs scare me - unless medical emergency - i would never have asked for one. My son was huge too - he shot out like a rocket, they didn't even get the time to offer it this time haha.

I had a planned C-section for no reason other than that is what I wanted. I had to argue with my consultant. But I got one and never regretted it for a minute.

I'd experienced recurrent miscarriage and just had no trust in my body so knew I wanted a C-section from the off. This was further reinforced by the positive stories from friends who had elective c-sections, and by finding that 99% of comments online from those who had ELCS were just so positive.

I was very lucky to have had no pushback when I requested my ELCS for my first baby. I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant with my second who sadly has restricted growth, and it seems c-section is actually the preferred option for him anyway as he is so small, he probably wouldn't cope well with natural labour. So it's all worked out.

I do find that many comments on here are so uninformed about elective c-sections. See comment re pain relief above. ELCS is always conflated with EMCS too which is completely wrong, they're totally different. I've nothing but positive things to say about my ELCS, and I can only hope that no.2 is equally as positive.

I wanted a C-section and I got one. No pushback from midwives or my initial consultant, although I had to fight for it later down the line. It was honestly such a lovely experience (as far as major surgery can be!), recovery far better than I thought it would be, pain manageable with just paracetamol and ibuprofen once I got home - I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

In the beginning it was mainly influenced by mental health factors.My baby started measuring big as well. I had a lovely consultant who listened to me, read the notes from the perinatal mental health team who were also monitoring me, and he heard my concerns and he immediately agreed with my reasons for c-section and had no problem with it - sent me off with all the information, consent forms etc it was a huge relief.

Then a few weeks later I got invited back in for a second appointment with a different doctor and it was like her mission was to get me to agree to a vaginal birth. I’d very recently been diagnosed with polyhydramnios and the doctor said I’d have to be induced, which was a huge no for me and I’d said that from the beginning, so it only reinforced my wish for a c-section. Doctor really pushed for me to have an induction, was really forceful about it actually and I said I didn’t understand why when it was already agreed I was having a section. She said that my previous consultant had now left the hospital so we had to revisit the decision - it was like she’d come into my appointment with the agenda to get me to change my mind, no matter how much I explained my reasons. I got visibly distressed in that appointment - my husband was there and he intervened at one point because I ended up in tears.

I had a tour of the labour ward booked for after the appointment. The senior midwife showing me round asked about my birth preferences, and I said I’d really like a c-section and what had happened in my previous appointment. I was still a bit upset. She just said “oh, I arrange the c-sections, shall I put you down for one? You’ll get a letter in a week or so with your date but it’ll be in X week”. And she then answered any and all my questions about the surgery, even took me to show me what the theatre looked like and explained what everything in there was for, and that was that. I got my c-section - even when baby sent me into labour the morning of my surgery date!

It was an unexpectedly easy request! Very recent as I’m only 32 weeks and appreciate NICE guidelines have changed recently.

My midwife was actually the one to bring it up at my booking appointment. We were going through my medical history and I said I was worried about labour because I wouldn’t be able to tolerate vaginal examinations. She said there were ways round this and a c-section was always an option if I wanted to speak to the consultant. Had a consultant appointment at 16 weeks, explained why I’d been referred and the research I’d done into why a previous surgery was more risky for vaginal births and he said straight away that was fine, I’d done my research, so he would book it in there and then. Told me to come back at 36 weeks to sign the paperwork.

Midwife has always been fine about it too.

My first baby was an emergency c-section (breech and very small baby) but with my second I opted for an elective c-section. I was fully prepared to battle for it. I did my research and attended the VBAC clinic, ready to tell the doctor my reasons...and they just said "yes, that's fine". I remember saying to her, "but don't you want to hear why I want a c-section?" She said it was my choice and they'd support that. I was very pleasantly surprised by that, especially as I'd worked myself up into thinking I'd have a real fight on my hands.

For me, the choice to have an elective c-section with my second wasn't about any fear of giving birth naturally, it was more that I'd had such a good experience with my first and felt, to some extent, in control. I wanted to try and achieve that with my second birth. I know no birth is simple and it's very easy for things to go beyond your control, but my second birth felt calm and less invasive. I know that sounds ridiculous when a c-section literally has your organs being cut open but I couldn't stand the thought of the invasive checks to see how far you're dilated, etc.

There are targets to get c sections below certain percentages and trusts can get fined if they go above this, so thete is a pressure on them to limit them.
There is also the 'risk assessment' pressure. A medium size maternity unit will have probably 2-3 anaesthetists available and 2 theatres, and friends who are midwives have said they are often anxious when 2 out of the 3 are doing elective sections, and only 1 left for emergencies. If that one is dealing with an emergency, if another emergency delivery is needed, there may be no theatre or anaesthetist available. This is if course not the fault of those having elective c sections, but a need for more theatres and staffing. However, these are things the midwives cannot magic from nowhere, so it can put babies at risk, so i think they are encouraged to deter too many from having electives to allow more capacity for emergencies.

Although they tried to push a c section on me when I did not want one, so it goes both ways.

No, I didn't request major abdominal surgery to have my babies removed from me.

I had oral morph and diclofenac after all of my csections….

With my first I asked multiple times for a C-section. I was told no, I could be induced. Babies heart stopped and I got a cat 1 about an hour into induction. Second was a planned C-section, third was cat 1 C-section due to decels and placental issues.

I switched hospitals after my 1st and my consultant was absolutely disgusted when reading my notes from my first pregnancy and a midwife with my 3rd 13 years later was in shock at them to! They all agreed looking at the notes that a C-section should’ve been done as opposed to induction.

Tell that to my tiny 4'11" friend who has had 4 giant 9.5lb+ babies!

Similar experience, from research and discussion I felt it was safest for the baby and got no pushback to be fair.

I had a c section last week and had oral morphine and a codeine based painkiller and can breastfeed from birth with no issues.

Won't get into a debate but just wanted to add to this my daughter is now 2, she was born via c section and has the best immune system she's hardly even had a cold ... And god forbid we FORMULA fed her..... Oooh I can see the pearl clutching from here!

Gosh, I’m so sorry!

I requested one and faced no pushback at all. It was an IVF pregnancy after loss and I was extremely anxious for my baby to be born safely. Everyone agreed that we needed a clear end point.

I had gynae issues before getting pg and my consultant insisted that I would need a cs for any future pgs. I was happy with that and there was never any need to persuade anyone that I needed one. It was never questioned by any medical staff throughout my pg.

The UK stats are that 31% of births are cs so OP's social circle doesn't seem to be in line with the official rates.
www.chrissieyu.com/c-section-rates-statistics-uk-global/

Mnk711, I think you may not be correct about costs. I've actually seen studies stating CS may be cheaper overall when you factor in treating complications arising from VB in the future.

I feel that first time mums in general don’t have their wishes respected as much as they should as there is a lot of presumed ignorance from the medical profession, and often a lot of fear from the mum themselves about making the “wrong” decision.

Second time around both myself and my counterparts who have gone on to have 2nd or 3rd children have felt much more listened to and able to advocate for ourselves.

Yes, years ago. Midwife fully supportive, GP not so much but grudgingly referred me to a consultant to discuss. I had that appointment at 20 weeks expecting a battle, but no, he was all for it... This was 20 odd years ago and no regrets. However, I feel very strongly that women should have absolute right over their own bodies so fully support ELCS/ home birth/ whatever in between...as long as that's what that particular woman has chosen...

I had an elective section booked and it was no battle at all. The consultant told me the risks associated with a Caesarian but said I had the right to a ‘maternal request for a csection’ and that it was my choice. All booked in at 34 weeks for just before my due date.

As it turned out, I needed one anyway due to the size of my baby and it was brought forward to 38 weeks.