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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 20 21

Original poster

to think elective repeat caesarian is a valid choice?

522 replies

schmee · 01/03/2011 17:58

I'm currently pregnant with DC3 and would like to have a repeat c-section. I had a planned c-section last time as had twins, one of whom was breach. I haven't seen the consultant yet, so I don't know if I'll be allowed one on the NHS but I hope so.

I remember last time round people saying "oooh I don't blame you if you're having twins" when I said I was booked into for a section. I really don't understand what "blame" has to do with it, particularly as the decision was made to safeguard the health of my twins. This time round if I say my preference is for a repeat c-section the response is even worse, with people from frenemies to strangers feeling able to question my choice and try to get me to reconsider. WHY?

I wondered if people here think repeat c-section is a valid choice. And whether anyone's mind about planned sections had been changed by watching One Born last night which showed what a calm and baby-focussed scenario a scheduled section can be.

OP posts:

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 01/03/2011 18:43

That is taken against all vaginal births though, not VBAC which is what we are discussing here.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 01/03/2011 18:44

aPixie - this thread is specifically discussing ELCS after previous c-section.

EdgarAleNPie · 01/03/2011 18:47

YANBU - up to you. after the glorious fuck ups some good friends experiencd attempting VBAC - elcs seems a totally valid choice.

Meglet · 01/03/2011 18:48

YANBU.

GruffaloMama · 01/03/2011 18:48

Who wants to be cut open seriously?

Me. Besides which my 'natural' vaginal birth with DS did involve being cut, having my (SPD affected) legs jammed into stirrups and three people holding me down to get him out after 3.5 hours of pushing a 99th centile head out of a non-99th centile hole.

Whats wrong with giving birth naturally?

Nothing for those who want to do it. But see above. There was very little natural about DS's birth. And it left me functionally incontinent. For months. And with a suspected fistula.

Or is it can't be arsed with the labour pains?

You know what, labour was fine. It was the wanting to die and coming pretty close that swung it for me.

Of course I don't tend to share chapter and verse with all and sundry who might feel happy to pass comment on my decision to have an elective c-section for DC2 (supported by my midwife and GP who had to put me back together after the horror show last time). So it'd kind of be nice to not have to have the discussion. To be honest I've started affecting a smug grin and declaring that I'm too posh to push. Because if people are such frigging idiots as to think they have the minutest right to comment on my health decisions then I frankly don't give a flying fox what their opinion is.

rinabean · 01/03/2011 18:49

Why can't you have one just because you don't want the pain? I don't give a shit how much it costs the NHS. Do we withhold painkillers and advanced medicine and surgery from men based on cost?

Where the hell does all this come from? It's so extreme for it to just be from women's general internalised misogyny. It's probably religious, right? How Eve was specifically punished with painful childbirth? Well, I'm not some kind of self-flagellating Christian so I refuse to accept that I must suffer pain that can be easily avoided with modern technology just because I'm female. Of course people can give birth naturally, without drugs or intervention, if they want to. I'd rather like to. But I also think elective sections are totally fine, too, whatever the reason.

GruffaloMama · 01/03/2011 18:50

So i guess I'm saying no, YANBU. And if I have a third it'll be a ELCS too...

Original poster

schmee · 01/03/2011 18:52

That's interesting tabulahrasa because it contradicts all other data that I've seen on the topic. Having glanced through it doesn't seem to cite maternal request or refer explicitly to elective rather than emergency except in the headline though?

It only looks at whether "other medical risk factors or delivery complications were indicated on the child's birth certificate" which in the UK wouldn't pick up any reasons for emergency c-section, though may be different in the States.

I'll certainly discuss this piece of research with my consultant, but I think in the cases of both my births the mortality rate cited for c-section is far less than that for vaginal delivery.

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 01/03/2011 18:54

Oh, Vall, what a love of a cat! :)

The ILs are in mourning of a sort. Their 15-year-old border collie mix tore her ACL last week in one of her back legs. She has other health problems. They saw an eminent vet at Royal Dick (after seeing another vet who refused to perform this operation on such an elderly animal). This vet also refused to perform it. It's too risky given her age and problems, there's a good chance she will not survive the procedure and her prognosis for recovery are not good with her age and problems.

So she will need to be put down, as she is in pain.

[end hijack]

pawsnclaws · 01/03/2011 18:55

You have good medical reasons for requesting another section - if that's what you want then do it.

I had a section first time for the same reason as you (one twin breach, also had a single placenta). When I got pregnant again, I was offered a choice and no judgment was made whatsoever as to the rights and wrongs. As it happened I chose a VBAC and had a wonderful birth.

My next pregnancy I chose a VBAC but unfortunately ended up with a pretty terrifying crash section under GA because ds was severely distressed - no real reason given but I was told it was possible that the scar had started to rupture. Didn't help that I was left to labour alone and the signs of disaster were ignored.

So .... obviously I can only speak of my own experiences. The successful VBAC was wonderful and utterly worth it, the failed one was miserable and potentially life-threatening.

yama · 01/03/2011 18:56

I've had two ELCSs and nobody has commented negatively.

bogle · 01/03/2011 18:58

YANBU

trixie123 · 01/03/2011 18:59

I had an EMCS and am now likely to have an ELCS. When I discussed it with my friend who had just had her third via a fairly smooth homebirth she was very pushy about how I would be missing out on this wonderful, feminine experience and sense of achievement. I think incubating and growing the baby for nine months is a pretty good experience and the birth is really neither here nor there in terms of the whole of motherhood thing. As others have said, the risk factors for VBACS are not favourable compared to an ELCS and for me a VBAC would prob. have to be induced which they are not keen on doing anyway. Rinabean well done for having the balls to say what you did also - plenty of people cost the NHS money for things that don't NEED to be done (including IVF) and if we forced people to go through other medical procedures without the benefit of available technology / techniques to ease the pain or make it easier they'd be an outcry.

expatinscotland · 01/03/2011 18:59

How sad, the level of misogyny here. Keep your legs crossed or deal with the pain, thou art woman!

thornykate · 01/03/2011 18:59

Can understand why you wouldn't want vbac and agree that medical necessity means that some women will have csec for their children so yanbu.
But I dont agree that the nhs should fund csecs because some people feel they are more civilised. How can that be justified within an nhs budget?

yama · 01/03/2011 19:01

GruffaloMama - I onced answered that I was having a 'Slash and Grab'. The faces let me know that I'd gone too far.

Fiddledee · 01/03/2011 19:02

Just go for an ELCS they will allow it as you have already had it.

My hospital insisted that if I had VBAC would have taken place with me lying on my back being strapped to a monitor. No mobile monitors as no money. I declined especially as I had experienced this the first time when I was induced which led to a petrifying emergency CS. First baby in a very strange position so couldn't come out, second baby looked the same and I didn't think lying on my back would help. I did take DH into the final consultant meeting to determine if I could have a ELCS and my DH was so pro it, it took the consultant by surprise. He said yes, had a wonderful experience and recovered very quickly.

tabulahrasa · 01/03/2011 19:04

yep that is for all vaginal births, but...

it's still 0.17% for elective sections vs 0.05% for VBAC and that's including infants that survive but suffer oxygen deprivation after a VBAC (because that's what the easily accessible figures comprise of)

I think a section because you've already had one is a perfectly valid reason to have one btw, I'm just pedantic, lol

catzcream · 01/03/2011 19:04

YANBU

DC1 was born via elec cs (due to medical complications which I dont need to go into here)

My second pregnancy was straightforward and there was no medical reason that I couldn't try a VBAC. But after much consideration and discussion with my consultant and friends who had had natural births, I decided to have DC2 delivered via elec cs. I was fully aware of the risks and made my decision.

It is funny because no one has ever challenged me on it. I am very open about my reasons for wanting an elec cs no one has ever said anything. It could of course mean that I am far too indimidating in rl for anyone to try that rubbish on with me.

But if I did, I wouldnt give a monkeys. I am healthy and so are my DC's, so that is all that matters to me.

Normantebbit · 01/03/2011 19:10

I've had three ELCS!

I couldn't care less what people think. I don't think they are any position to judge my reasons (although I could bore you with them at length)

I also breastfed all three and we have all bonded quite nicely in spite of the obvious handicap of not coming out of my vag.

And it is not 'more dangerous for the baby' FFS.

bulby · 01/03/2011 19:10

How sad the jumping on the word mysogyny to justify any argument in a totally patronising way towards women who may offer a different point of view to each other.

Normantebbit · 01/03/2011 19:11

"Why can't you have one just because you don't want the pain? I don't give a shit how much it costs the NHS. Do we withhold painkillers and advanced medicine and surgery from men based on cost?"

Amen to that Rinabean

privategodfrey · 01/03/2011 19:12

YANBU - your body, your baby, your choice

Personally I can't think of anything worse (for me).

I had two vaginal births, neither of which was easy or pleasant - let's face it, how many of them are! With my first DS they had theatre prepped for me due to bad decisions by the medical team that made the birth 10 times harder. The thought of having a CS scared me so much I was almost hysterical.

Fortunately DS decided it was time to finally put in an appearance and I was spared surgery by the skin of my teeth.

Strix · 01/03/2011 19:13

Of course it's a valid choice. Who gives any of these people the right to validate your choices anyway.

Had section number 3 in December. Would never ever choose to experience labour... and let's not even think about delivery.

Okay, section recovery is not fun. But I understand the other route presents its own set of unpleasantries. No thank you.

shewasashowgirl · 01/03/2011 19:14

YANBU I had an elective for mine because I didn't fancy all the pain of giving birth. Very pleased I did and felt nothing and very fast recovery.

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