Can anyone have a C section?

[user1466690252]

I am unexpectedly pg with Dc3. We are over the initial shock and happy about it. But I am absolutely terrified of giving birth again and honestly don’t think I can go through it again. Both other births were straight forward VBAC with no intervention but I was so traumatised by them it took me a long long time to get over them. I feel sick and panicky at the thought of doing it again. What can I do?

Yes you can.

I've had two cesareans. One was planned and quite calm. The other was a category 1 emergency and was very Hollywood style running the bed down the corridor shouting for back up.

They were miles apart. Recovery was far harder after the emergency than the planned although that was also likely down to my twins being extremely premature and unwell.

I'm pointing this out because many statistics and even people don't distinguish between a planned cesarean and an emergency one, and they are very very different.

If I were to have another child I would have no problem with the thought of a planned cesarean.

I had one with one of my pregnancies as they predicted a large baby which turned out to be true so I had an elective one.
I personally found I recovered much better than I did after previous births so it was a positive experience for me. However it is something to be considered seriously as it is major abdominal surgery and comes with risks.

I had an elcs after a horrendous birth experience first time around. Midwives were very unhelpful and really unsympathetic - lots of “don’t worry, it will be fine this time” etc etc. My consultant however was fantastic, took one look at my notes and said there was a very high chance I’d have a similar birth second time (even larger baby than first) and he advised a cs. The birth and recovery was so much better than the first time around and I had a far more positive first few months with newborn because of it.

How do you get to see a consultant please? My booking appointment will be in a birthing center and it will be assumed I will have this baby there again. I never saw anyone but a midwife or sonographer both other times

You have to ask to speak to a consultant. Went through this with my cousin and they referred her to perinatal mental health too.

I'd call and explain the situation.

‘Either type of birth can be tough. (I love that bit in "This is going to hurt" when the woman asks for a CS after a traumatic birth and he says "there is no other kind".)’

See I really disagree with this, childbirth really doesn’t have to be traumatic and a woman being traumatised accepted as an inevitable aspect is quite a worrying attitude from a health professional working with birthing women. You only have to read threads on here about how many women have a healing and calm ELCS experience after PTSD from a 1st birth. Likewise many women have a wonderful VB experience, being supported and offered choice is often an integral part of this.

I’ve read some of the book and did think the author had a pretty narrow-minded view of birth, which is understandable as ob drs often only see complicated births and are blind to the fact that there is a whole other world of childbirth that they are not involved in.

Honestly, your chances of a 3rd VB being relatively easy are high. Especially if you were low risk enough last time for a birthing centre. It would be worth talking through options on how to make a VB a better experience first- home birth, early epidural etc.

I totally disagree with the above advice from a pp. My 3rd birth which i was told would be easy was anything but, and left me with a 3rd degree tear which has resulted in permanent damage and bowel incontinence.

I totally disagree with the above advice from a pp. My 3rd birth which i was told would be easy was anything but, and left me with a 3rd degree tear which has resulted in permanent damage and bowel incontinence

Anecdote does not make data.

No one has said a 3rd birth will definitely be easy. But having had two vb already the chances are higher that a 3rd will be relatively easy.

Yes there’s a chance it may not be, the same as there will be someone whi had an elcs and ended up with a catastrophic bleed and hysterectomy or severe infection and sepsis.

It is about using available information to help make an informed decision in which is the best choice. Choosing the option which has the best chance of a good outcome.

Not “well this happened to me so i disagree*. I had a traumatic elcs but i wouldn’t say have a vb because of my experience.

But also one is allowed to decide based on how they personally feel about the options ... not just data and stats