Has anyone elected for a Caesarean with no medical need for one?

[Beetawix]

I’m due in the autumn so very early days and only just found out. Researching like crazy. I am a bit cautious given they say September/October are the busiest birth months coupled with the maternity ward ratings not being very good.

It’s my first baby, I’m in my 20s and as far as I know there are no other risks.

Baby might be breech or there might be issues with the placenta which mean I have a section anyway.

But, presuming it’s a smooth straightforward pregnancy, would it be naive to choose a section? I understand the recovery is worse and it can be trickier to breastfeed. My sister has had a section for medical reasons and my friend had an EMCS. I know it’s no walk in the park! It does however offer a bit of predictability- I can prep myself for a night in hospital, I’ll know which date it is. I’d prefer a straightforward vaginal birth but nobody can promise I’ll have that.

After reading the statistics for our local area it seems about half of first time mums end up with intervention anyway, be it instrumental or surgical. I would find that very stressful.

We will either be one and done or possibly we’ll have another in several years. I don’t want loads and loads of babies.

Has anyone had a maternal request section before and what was your honest experience of it? Would you choose the same again? It would be so nice if we could have vision into the future to see how both options would go.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, yes I did. I was at Kingston Hospital and there was no issue with me asking for one at all. I asked at my booking in appointment. The midwife said that no-one had ever been turned down for a maternal request c section there.

It was a beautiful, calm birth with no pain at all and easy recovery. I had another ELCS for my second child. So many women end up with intervention that I had always said if someone was going near me with a knife I wanted it in a calm, planned way! My scar is neat and really low down, no-one would ever see it, and healed beautifully. I was up and about just as fast, if not faster than my friends who had natural births.

Hope that helps.

Yes. I’ve had 3.

I had to put up a fight for the first 21 years ago, second 11 years later I had to have a meeting with the mental health team to make sure I wanted one (consultant said it had to be that way so she could authorise it), 3rd a few years ago, well it was just automatic section after having two, there was actually never a discussion around it.

I chose my first for many personal reasons.

Thank you for this. How long did you stay in hospital for?

So many women end up with intervention that I had always said if someone was going near me with a knife I wanted it in a calm, planned way!
Totally this! I’ve had 2 maternal request c-sections. They were lovely and calm, the recovery was a bit sore but at no point did I ever feel properly in pain and I was completely back to normal bar the sleep deprivation including driving, taking long walks, back in all pre pregnancy clothes etc by week 4. Not having a 3rd but if I did I’d have no hesitation about another section. I had 3 nights in hospital with DC1 which was probably excessive but I was a private patient and that was just given as the standard. DC2 I pushed to be out after 2. I think the NHS often does 24 hours though if all goes well??

I did. I was phobic about vaginal birth so opted for a maternal choice c section.

It was a wonderful experience and I've never regretted it. The day itself was so calm and not at all stressful. Everyone was so calm and kind and put me totally at ease as they worked. After, I was back up walking less than 6 hours later. Slightly unsteady on my feet but totally manageable to have a shower and use the toilet by myself. Throughout the night I had no trouble taking myself to the loo.

As soon as I got home, I was able to do stairs and get in our bath shower with some help. Within a week, I was taking the pram on decent length walks and going out socialising. I was off painkillers by the second week. By the third week I was totally back to normal and could take the pram out on a day trip on the train no issue.

I had one. I never wanted a vaginal birth. However I had a private consultant and private healthcare so getting one wasn’t an issue (I’m not in the UK).

It was such a lovely calm day, we have really fond memories of it and my recovery was pretty quick and smooth.

I asked for one with my second child,

Had a emergency c section with my eldest (he was to big for me to push out, they let me get to 9cm over 3 days to decide that!) and it took me a year to fully recover so I didn't risk it with my second and asked for a elective c section which they happily agreed too.

You absolutely can request, i’m considering requesting one for my second baby. I was induced last time due to reduced movements and it ended in forceps which i’d like to avoid. It’s worth noting that lots of people end up being induced now, this often ends in intervention as baby isn’t really ready to come, but at the point they offer you an induction, you can ask for a caesarean instead. I had no idea at the time so I might just say that I would refuse an induction this time, if that makes sense, but if things happened naturally i’d see what happens!

With both ELCS I was in hospital for 2 nights, but only because I had a bit of trouble feeding. If it wasn’t for that I would have been out after one night.

I had an ELCS with my first due to breech presentation and their size (10 lb ). Due my second and really torn on what to do, first CS was fine but I found the recovery hard - I was also incredibly anxious before, during and after the procedure as having a major procedure whilst being awake really freaked me out if I'm being honest.

Having said that, I am similar to you and have been clear with my consultant that I don't want to be induced/have intervention in labour and would rather go straight to another CS if that was the case. I just stayed in for the night and was home the next day, but this was at the height of Covid in 2020 so not if they just wanted me out ASAP, but I was more than ready to leave!

I've requested a c-section this time because I'm having twins. It's possible to have twins vaginally but I have no desire to try.

I'm having my first baby and I'm in my 20s and I've been approved for a maternal request c section for no other reason than I want one.

I've heard enough stories about how the midwife's in my local widwifery unit are useless that I'm not even going to give them a chance to mess up my care.

I would rather know what to expect with a c section rather than take my chances.

It’s hard to say how long you will be in for. my first 3 days, my second two.

my last baby was born in 2020 - becuase of covid, they kicked me out after 12 hours. My husband thought I was joking when I called him to say pick me up, they are doing paperwork to chuck me out. Dd was 10 hours old at that point.

Of course to answer your question the people who have had ELCS will say its fine. Everyone is going to tell you it's fine if this is what you want. However morally it is a bit wrong. The cost and resources are much higher and the NHS is already a failing system. Of course I'm one of the annoying ones that had vaginal birth no pain relief or major problems. So i would say this. It is better for you mentally as well. I feel like it prepared me to be a mother and gave me the confidence to say no I didn't take the easy way out and if I did that I can do whatever I want. That is a great way to think when bringing up a child.

But do what you want. I have never heard of anyone being refused a cesarean so if it's want you really want do it. If you are young and fit though you've got to accept the professionals will advise against major abdominal surgery.

Congratulations on the pregnancy and all the best for the upcoming birth.

Stop googling might be another bit of advice I'd like to give. Seems like you aren't even 6 weeks yet so you might just drive yourself batty if you continue

What would be morally wrong would be forcing women into births they don't wish to have. It's OP's body and her choice how to give birth.

Also, as you've acknowledged, it is major surgery so it is far from the 'easy way out'. Nothing about giving birth is easy no matter how you do it.

@user1499609760 really? The easy way out? As many others here I'm deeply offended. I had an emergency c section after a failed induction due to my baby getting stuck and I could t get him out he was too big. Major surgery, cut through 7 layers of skin.lost alot of blood and almost died. But oh no it's the easy way out. The pain of having a c section and the recovery is not at all easy!! It's hell on earth. Took me months to recover and alot of c section mummas have lasting complications. I have nerve damage, no feeling in my top of my thighs. Chronic back pain. Certainly not the easy way out. Try caring for a newborn while your stitched up, can barely stand, or lift anything and your in immense pain. Not to mention the risk of infection and complications which I was unlucky enough to get a very serious infection in my womb and uterus and my wound. It was horrific. It's NOT EASY And your comment is so stupid it's ridiculous. What a narrow minded rude person you are. Easy way out eh? It's major surgery, not to mention major surgery where your mom expected to get up and walk three hours later and then go home and look after a baby.
Absolute nonsense.

I was approved for elective but ended up with EMCS. Even though it was an emergency my recovery was a doddle and I was no spring chicken like you. I’d never, ever give birth vaginally - obviously that’s just one person’s experience.

@AlwaysAnxiousAnnie I think you’ve misunderstood my sentiment towards @NoKnit. I completely agree with you. My ‘fuck you’ was to the bit in bold of their post that I included. Patronising cunt she is.

I had an ELCS with my first and no regrets. I was out with 36 hours and had a textbook recovery.

For various reasons, I never wanted a vaginal birth… and when it arose I was old(er) and fat(ter) 🥴 so a no-brainer for me.

The hardest bit was dealing with all the arseholes that had unasked and unwanted opinions on my health choices. 😅😅😅

memorably…

in my first a woman who I had NEVER met who worked with my mother PRINTED a dossier of material for me about how great natural birth was. This is a woman who had 4th degree tears and vaginal prolapse after her baby! Just crazy…

I was also recently challenged on my “unnatural” 2nd Elective by a fucking GAY MAN who decided to lecture me on the merits of natural birth while giving me a heart echo!!! 😅

fucking ridiculous

Jesus Christ.

Anyone who says a section is the “easy way out” has obviously never had one. None of my 3 electives were a walk in the part during the surgery or afterwards.

Nothing about giving birth in anyway is the “easy” option.

Yes, some women have all natural labours with hardly any pain and love every second. But that’s not the norm, is it. Birth is still dangerous, what ever way you do it.

I’ve heard it all over the years, how I took the easy way out, how I hadn’t ever experienced “giving birth” (they aren’t still in there though, are they!) All usually said by wankers so I take no notice.

Yes I elected with my three. Wasn’t a problem - NHS consultant was more than happy to oblige.

All the births were calm with the radio playing and us chatting to the surgeons. We asked for baby to be cleaned up before we saw them (both very squeamish!). Fond memories of each one.

i remember waiting for my spinal anaesthetic and hearing about 3 women screaming bloody murder a few doors away - it sounded traumatic and horrible.

Recovery was fine - was hobbling to the loo by the evening of the same day and with my third, only spent 1 night in. Didn’t find the recovery too bad with any of them.

Some women might prattle on about inhaling rose petals and using essential oils for the pain. And that you won’t bond if you don’t have the ‘birthing experience’. Well fuck that - it’s all rubbish. Fine if you want that but ALSO FINE if you don’t. Don’t be guilt tripped by anyone.

My 3 are all pretty much grown now and I’m very close with all of them. Just Because they weren’t ejected from me in a bloody painful, stressful, traumatic and lengthy process made zero difference to our ‘bond’.

Yes, I did twice.
I had no desire to give birth at all, told them I wanted c sections and they did them. No regrets. My 2nd recovery was brutal and I still don’t regret it. Good luck

The easy way out you must be popular, given your superiority complex

I had an ELCS in 2022. No other reason than I just wanted it. My experience was a positive one and i wouldn't hesitate to have another. I gave birth late afternoon and was up walking the following morning. I spent 2 nights in the hospital but that's only because I had high BP during pregnancy so I was kept in for an additional 24 hours for monitoring. My recovery was smooth and my scar healed well. Barely visible. I had skin to skin contact and breastfed straight after birth. Me and my DS have a lovely bond. Took a few days for my milk to come in but I didn't give up trying and I'm still breastfeeding him at 18 months. So you absolutely can breastfeed successfully.

My friend had a natural birth and spent longer in hospital than I did for a 3rd degree tear 🤷🏾‍♀️ Up to you at the end of the day how you decide to give birth. No one should tell you how to do it. Unlike @NoKnit tried to do 🙄