I had an elective c-section AMA

[ellecf21]

Had an elective section last June - AMA.

Someone posted today that they work in an operating theatre - that’s not rare either but it doesn’t stop it being interesting 😄.

Post away OP!

@AzureOrchid out of curiosity, why do you think that?

Hi OP! Thanks for posting! I’m 29 weeks and may need a C section. Did you breastfeed initially and if yes, how did you find it?

I was going to ask OP if you’d come across any snarkiness or mother superior types who were lucky enough to manage vaginal deliveries with no pain relief blah blah blah…….no need to now! Continuing in that vein, I had an emergency section (recovered quickly and well and opted for a VBAC with my second which also went well). One of the things I’ve noticed in general is that there’s incredible snobbiness from some that you can’t possibly bond with your baby if you had a section. Is this something you’ve come across? I can honestly say I bonded well and the same with both my babies.

How easy was it to convince the hospital to give you a c-section @ellecf21 ? Would like one for physical health reasons but I suspect they will try to push me down the 'natural' route.

I had an elective 12 weeks ago. It was a lot more straightforward than my last one. Ended up in hospital for 6 weeks due to complications.

@ellecf21, ignore the snarky comments and AzureOrchids’ stupid comment about how women shouldn’t have the right to bodily autonomy. I bet she also thinks we should ban all forms of pain relief because ‘natural’ birth is best.

Anyway, did you have to wait long for your c-section? Did you get an overhang? How long were you in pain after the surgery? How long did it take you to feel ‘normal’? How does the scar look now?

Those are 5 questions I’m interested in hearing the answers to. I will be having an elective caesarean for several reasons.

@AzureOrchid what do you understand to be the definition of an elective section? Because I don't think it's what you think it is.

I don’t get why people are being snarky about an ELCS not being ‘rare’. This could actually be a useful thread for anyone with a C-section booked in. I’ve got surgery (not a c-section) coming up and have searched on here for threads about it to help ease my nerves/ read up on first hand experience.

Are you glad you had it done OP- was it difficult to get your choice granted?

All it means, strictly speaking, is scheduled. It could be for a good medical reason. So not "agreeing with it" is silly.

Sometimes people confuse elective with what's called "caesarean delivery by maternal request" which is when there's no medical reason. (Medical reason includes RCS.) On the NHS, such deliveries are available, after discussing the risks and benefits with the patient.

OP, I've had one emergency followed by 2 scheduled repeats. The scheduled ones went so much better.

Good thing you’re not in charge of women’s health then isn’t it.

You don’t agree with a woman having a choice, basically.

How long did it take you to study and train to be an obstetrician? Was it a difficult path?

This isn’t my AMA but have seen people asking how hard it was to get an elective. Sorry if I was disparaging OP.

My first birth went v wrong, I lost a lot of blood, had a 3b tear, episiotomy and baby was born very bruised and battered with forceps, consequently I’ve got a prolapse and all the things that come with that like a lack of bladder control (this is much better now) and it impacts my ability to exercise - previously a very keen runner and rider. I can do those things but not to the same extent as before. I had some fecal incontinence following the birth, I still have urgency issues but all manageable.

When I said I was considering a natural birth with no.2 my midwives mouth fell open and she just said “you can have a section you know” she said most women would have a section now and it was the best way to preserve what function I have. Her view was that if I had a natural birth I’d likely need some surgery on my prolapse which has varying degrees of success and I was/am managing my symptoms ok with a pessary right now.

I discussed my concerns with the consultant who gave me the facts (of which there are few) basically they don’t collect much data on outcomes and left it to me - she was very supportive and when I said I think an elective is the best she was very supportive, said ok and scheduled me in. There was absolutely no fight and I think for them it meant there was less chance of a birth going wrong.

@SpecialK2023 😂👏

I did! I had never heard of such a thing but certainly knew about it afterwards! Uncontrollable shivers/shaking. Weird!

Hey 👋🏼 😊 I could not be happier with my birth experience. It was extremely positive and after suffering previous trauma feel lucky to not have any bad feelings regarding my birth. It took me a long time with my consultant to make a decision on the birth. It wasn't scheduled until I was 36 weeks (had it at 39+5) so certainly not a decision taken lightly but I felt listened to and supported by my hospital (Homerton for info). Also don't know why people have to be snarky on here, absolutely no need, so thanks for that! I'd have found this AMA really helpful personally but it's okay if it's not "rare" enough for some people. It certainly was for me being the first surgery I'd ever had!

Hello 👋🏼 for me it was more of an ongoing conversation between my consultant. I have previous medical and mental health history that was taken into account and I felt really heard and listened to throughout. It was actually the consultant in the end who having assessed the situation said that the section would be the best option for me and my baby and it really was.

Hey 👋🏼

So in terms of my section on the day I was at the hospital by 7am and I went in for surgery at 10.40! So it wasn't too bad I was lucky I think.

I did not get an overhang although was wondering if I would based on other people's experiences. The scar is amazing now, I don't really notice it. It's faded a lot and they did a great job - I was closed up with surgical glue. I don't know if that made a difference but it gave me a neat scar in the end.

I'd say it took me 12 weeks to really feel back to normal again. That doesn't mean I was in pain for that long but as someone who frequently exercises it took till 12 weeks for me to feel brave enough to run again! And I was fine and have since got back to my usual fitness. I'd say I was in a fair bit of pain for about 3 weeks but each day it got better. I have to note I only managed it with paracetamol and ibuprofen, even in the hospital so I'm sure if I was on something stronger it would have been a bit better. I was fine on those though and it meant i didn't push myself physically early on.

Hello 😊 ahhh good luck!! I did breastfeed initially and still do at 8 months. I found breastfeeding really challenging personally but everyone's experience was different. Physically at the beginning it's definitely a bit uncomfortable at times but make sure you have someone on hand so you can minimise the amount you bend to get the baby out of the crib etc. It does get easier!! I nearly gave up a few times but I'm glad I didn't because now I just whack one out when she needs it and it's no drama.

I read one of those and I found it really interesting!!

Hello! I didn't get the shivers no. I was expecting them but it didn't happen to me. I actually felt fine the whole way through. I had one little moment where I went a bit lightheaded but the anaesthetic doctor sorted that out so quickly!

My 1st was an 'elective' on the advice of my Consultant as baby was standing breech & they decided not to try to turn him. In the event, I went into labour 1 week before & baby's heartrate dipped dramatically. The Hospital then 'didn't want to wake the Consultant' (I kid you not) so there was quite the delay. At delivery he was floppy & blue as he'd had the cord around his neck twice. A bit of time in SCBU but we both lived to tell the tale.
2nd baby was Transverse & wouldn't turn. I'd hoped for a VBAC but Consultant said No so she was an 'elective' section too. Much less dramatic.
Recovered okay with both (slower 2nd time with toddler in tow). Yy to Overhang.

I did but it was a reaction to the morphine.

Hello!

There was music playing. It was my own playlist and it featured a lot of Abba, Fleetwood Mac and Elton John. I had a little girl and she was born to Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac which always reminds me of my Dad as he used to play it in the car when I was a kid so it's a lovely memory.

My recovery was as I expected although the kind of pain was something I wasn't prepared for having never had a surgery before. Not to say it was worse than I thought, it's just a different feeling to other pain I'd experienced in the past.

I had such a positive c section birth, I would have another again with no hesitation. I never say never to anything so who knows what the future holds. Whatever feels right for me and my baby is the way I'll be going!