Colleen Rooney, due in October, plans CS in September to fit in with football season

[StealthPolarBear]

What do people think? I have no problem with people planing CSs, but this (assuming she's planning it for 2 or 3 weeks in advance of her due date) seems a bit of a superficial reason. I know babies are OK to come at 37 weeks if they're ready but surely this way there's a high risk of delivering a 'not ready' baby. Aren't CSs usually scheduled for about 39weeks? What do people think about this?

That should have been - the possiblity of emergency CS

Having had 3 c sections and 2 full term normal births, I cannot understand why anyone would choose one! Multiple sections also are not advisable. I hated mine and mine were to save the babies life. Once I had had 2, I had to have a 3rd (I am very high risk). Even with a severe tear, normal birth was far far better, for both me and the baby. I think CS should be reserved for emergencies/genuine situations.

Paolosgirl - I'm not sure, but one reason I think private hospitals have a higher rate of ElCS is that it's people who WANT ElCS will go private to have one (rather than take a chance of convincing the NHS of a 'medical need')

I know that was one of the main drivers for us going private. I wasn't prepared to lie about my reasons for wanting an ElCS.

If I'd been willing to say I was petrified of natural birth / had problems with my pelvic floor etc., thet NHS would have provided an ElCS (and I know lots of friends who've done just that - not knocking it as such, I just didn't want to pretend to be something I wasn't....)

I wanted an ElCS for emotional, rather than physical reasons and was prepared (and, admittedly, could afford to) go private to obtain that.

I can honestly say there was nothing aspirational about it.

But, yes, I suppose I have to agree with your comment that I was 'buying' an ElCS

I really don't understand why people are so judgmental about el cs's. People make choices about medical (or - even less worthy...! - cosmetic) procedures all the time and no-one seems to judge to the same extent.

My own perhaps slightly unworthy feeling is that childbirth hurts so much that people feel others are 'cheating' if they have an el cs and that somehow offends their sense of fairness. I really don't believe all these anti-el cs opinions come from genuine concern for the physical and mental well-being of other women that they've never met!

I totally agree wonderingwondering - it's the Mummy Martyr thing all over again.

When it comes to the affect on the baby, I think breathing difficulties and unnatural prematurity have been mentioned on here, and I don't think any other potential issues for the baby have (isn't there a diabetes link - or is that unproven?)

effect on the baby, sorry.

I think people are often secretly jealous because they fancied a CS themselves but for whatever reason didn't pursue the option

However, I still think a vb is healthier all round for mother and baby, if the mother is healthy.

i would LOVE a cs !

I would hate a CS! Better to not have hubby there at all than to be slit open for no good reason.

lalarachel - totally respect that is your decision. So, please respect my decision that an El CS was better for me.

thanks,

"I am saying ELCSes will now be viewed as a WAG lifestyle choice. Victoria Beckham had already put her stamp on them. Women who want ELCSes for valid reasons are even more likely to be categorised as vain and stupid etc than ever before and that helps no one."

Yet again women criticising other women for their perfectly valid choices. Men don't give a shit how the baby is delivered as long as both mother and baby are alive at the end.

I had an emcs, a lovely emcs in fact, next time I will have an elcs, in part due to all the horror stories I have heard on this site about problems post-birth.

Her due date is on the same day as a vital World Cup qualifier match in Ukraine which England has to win in order to go to the World Cup finals next year. It is imperative that Rooney plays.

It's not just any old league match y'know.

Well, I was "split open for no good reason", and it wasn't even a CS.

This time, I'd rather that "split" and myriad stitches be on my belly, that's all.

Isn't it about time that we stop pretending birth is easy peasy so no alternative need be considered?

lalarachel - "I would hate a CS! Better to not have hubby there at all than to be slit open for no good reason."

What are you one about?

Personally I would hate a CS because the thought terrifies me, but I am lucky that I'm not in a position where I have to choose between that or my DH potentially not being there to support me/. Not sure what I'd do in that situation.
I know people have mentioned it but what are the risks of a baby being born at, say, 37 week rather than 40. I know if you're looking at the possibility of having a prem baby then 37 weeks is wonderful and I know some babies come naturally at 37. but if we assume it's 3 weeks early - what are the risks and how likely?

this paper is a study comparing the rate of breathing difficulties in babies born by elective CS to vaginal delivery or emergency CS.

Babies born at 37 weeks had 3.9 times the risk of respiratory problems, at 38 weeks 3 times the risk, and at 39 weeks 1.9 times the risk.
For "serious respiratory morbidity" the risk was 5 times higher at 37 weeks.

The reason I scoffed - so early on in the thread - was because of the way things seem to be re childbirth these days. The fact you can even ask for a CS for no good medical reason is a flaming joke IMO. Despite what people might say, it is major surgery and unless there is a medical reason I personally believe women should not have the option. It is NOT a natural way to give birth and I agree with whoever said it earlier, there is on overmedicalisation of childbirth.

Have you heard some young pregnant women? Granted only going on my and my mates' experiences at AN appointments but sheesh.....some even want to be 'knocked out' never mind have an op! As for breastfeeding 'ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww' they say.

As for breast v bottle, well we know there is a whole debate there and feelings run so high about this. But why would anyone who wants to be a mum not want to give their child the best start in life?

This is not particularly about Colleen but attitudes generally it seems. I am pleased Charlotte Church bf her baby, we want more positive stories like this.

I don't understand what elective section has to do with breastfeeding - can someone enlighten me?

I've had two sections (about to have my third) and breastfed my DD's, each for over a year.

Am I a medical anomaly? Should the newspapers be informed?

fifitot you do know that ventouse and forceps aren't a natural way to give birth either. Nor is the provision of gas and air or an epidural.
natural can be very over-rated.

fifitot, you may have been fortunate enough to have had relatively straightforward births. Many don't, and without understanding what it is like to have had a long and traumatic labour in an NHS hospital, without adequate (or any) pain relief I don't think it is very sensible or kind to refer to legitimate concerns over being left in excruciating pain and/or damage caused to your baby as a 'flaming joke'.

And while b'f your baby may give you a nice warm feeling of superiority over those lesser women who couldn't or didn't want to breastfeed, there's a lot more to raising a child that what you put in its tummy in the first few weeks and months.

From tigger's research:

"... increased risk of serious respiratory morbidity was found for newborns delivered by elective caesarean section at 37 weeks? gestation (13.6, 5.1 to 36; table 4). The risk remained increased at 38 and 39 weeks? gestation. The increased risk at 39 weeks was not, however, statistically significant."

That is - Book your elCS at 39 or 40 weeks and you're fine re respiratory morbidity.

Wondering - if you read my post properly you will see that I was talking about C sections where women choose the option for convenience. I was talking about having them for 'no good reason' - if you had read it properly. Obviously if there are medical reasons etc it is different. Please don't try and score points by talking about traumatic births - I'm not stupid and of course women in these situations might need a cs.

BFing of course doesn't have anything to do with CS but the point I was trying to make was that somehow we are at a point where birth is over medicalised and the natural process of breastfeeding is somehow seen as 'wrong' or 'unatural'. It's just part of a strange set of attitudes that seem to prevail and often among younger women (though not all I know.).

fifitot but who are you (or even me) to decide what a "good" reason is and what a bad reason is. Personally I think wanting DH/DP there at the birth is a good reason. Being terrified of giving birth is a good reason. If YOU don't want to medicalise your birth then that's fair enough but to call all non-medical reasons a "flaming joke" is stupid.

It is a shame that she is considering a major operation with all its associated risks for 'convenience' to fit around his career (if that is indeed true!)

I remember reading about Christina Aguilera who had an elective CS for her child saying that it was the best thing for her to do so she could plan her diary and be in control of things (again assuming that is true as well).

Sounds a bit too celeb for me.....

Ps lets not make this a FF/BF, class debate again folks.....