Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does anybody actually know anyone who had an ELCS just because they thought they were "too posh to push"?

698 replies

InAStateOfReflux · 24/05/2011 10:22

Just watching the Wright stuff. One of the hot topics is that apparently ELCS rates being performed by the NHS are rising because people are deciding they are "too posh to push" and it's costing the NHS lots of money. Hmm

They are suggesting that these women should be offered psychiatric counselling to bring them round to the idea of having a vaginal birth.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I was given an ELCS because my dd was breech and was in fact strongly advised to (not given much choice in fact) and anyone else I know who's had one has been offered it because of significant trauma or complications in a previous birth.

I have never however met a woman who insisted on one on the NHS just cause she didn't fancy pushing it out of her fanny, and I doubt the NHS would go with this anyway tbh...

And if they're talking about women who have real fears and emotional distress regarding child-birth, then yes of course lets force the hysterical wench to push it out, does she not know how much money she's costing the NHS? Hmm

Oh how I love the way the media portray these issues...[sigh] Yes perhaps ELCS rates are rising and perhaps this should be addressed in some way, but to suggest it is for such fickle reasons is so juvenile. Angry Perhaps it is the HCPs fault and not the whole female population who are apparently too cowardly to push their babies out?

OP posts:
lockets · 28/05/2011 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HaughtyChuckle · 28/05/2011 18:30

Haughty - What is "need", though?

Would you say a pregnant woman contemplating stabbing herself in the abdomen rather than go through another VB "needs" a CS?

How about one who can't sleep from anxiety and can't stop crying as she sets foot within a maternity?

Who decides if one is a "need" and the other is a "want"?

tbh labour is painful thats why its called 'Labour' its a natural process.
to me 'need' is whenj a VB is not possible e.g. breech sometimes the pelvis is too small etc.

There are countries out there where you are expected to die/have nop pain relief whatso ever during childbirth. seeing how fortunate we are in this country really adds some serious persepective, and remeber it wasnt so long ago this country was like that. If you have an epidural you can't feel the contractions etc things like terro over pain can be overcome.
I was actually begging the MW not to have a CS becasue of the recovery times.

CoteDAzur · 28/05/2011 18:30

What about replies like mine, Haughty?

lockets · 28/05/2011 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CoteDAzur · 28/05/2011 18:39

Haughty - You don't seem to think there can be any other problem with the idea of VB than the pain. Have you heard about birth trauma causing PTSD? Some of us have had such horrible time with VB and suffered such long-reaching consequences that we cannot go through it again.

Would you not say that is a "need"?

I believe I have quite a high pain threshold, having continued a basketball game with a broken finger and stitched a rather bad cut myself. For me, it was never the pain of the delivery, although that was quite memorable in itself.

HaughtyChuckle · 28/05/2011 18:45

"Haughty - You don't seem to think there can be any other problem with the idea of VB than the pain. Have you heard about birth trauma causing PTSD? Some of us have had such horrible time with VB and suffered such long-reaching consequences that we cannot go through it again".

If you could not go through it again im curious why you would get pregnant?

I do know how bad it can be, I developed PREND/PND due to haemorraging so badly afterwards, 3rd degree tearing, had to completely restitch 'the waterworks' that other health issues developed and had to keep all the needles in me whilst I was trying to learn how to feed, change a baby etc and I was very young.

Maybe you shouldn't make such patronising, personal assumptions.

TattyDevine · 28/05/2011 18:50

Perhaps - this is just a random thought, probably no truth in it at all - maybe, nah...oh what the hell, maybe they got pregnant without meaning to?

Hmm
xstitch · 28/05/2011 19:02

Don't patronise me haughty.When you have had to stand up in court and argue that you are a proper mother and the fact you needed a EMCS doesn't mean you didn't want your child and even more importantly that the EMCS doesn't mean your dd should be taken away from you, you get used to arguing your corner. You still haven't answered the question though who decides where the line is drawn between need and want.

I am having a planned C section this time (barring premature labour) on the basis a planned section is preferable to an emergency one.

As to why get pregnant again if you are scared of child birth perhaps they wanted more children and thought they could do it but the fear became greater as their pregnancy progressed. FWIW I am not scared of labour I just have the knowledge that a VBAC would kill me an likely my baby so I have taken the informed decision to avoid a crash section which would be more dangerous.

K999 · 28/05/2011 19:08

I had emergency CS with dd1. I was induced on a Saturday and had dd1 on the following Tuesday. I had a horrendous time and tbh was so relieved when dd1 was finally delivered. Second time round I elected to have a c section, even though the midwife was pushing for VBAC. I am so glad I did. I had the most perfect birth experience and dd2 and I were home after 2 days.

xstitch · 28/05/2011 19:09

I can honestly say if there were reasonable odds that I would succeed at VABC I would try.

K999 · 28/05/2011 19:13

I did consider a VBAC but in the end decided that for me, and ultimately dd2, an elective c section, was the best option. And I don't regret that decision. Even though a friend of mine thinks that unless you deliver a baby vaginally, it's not a true birth....Hmm

xstitch · 28/05/2011 19:18

I know how you feel K999. I had to stand in court and be told I wasn't a proper mother because I had had a crash section. :(

lockets · 28/05/2011 19:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

K999 · 28/05/2011 19:27

Xstitch??? WTF? Sorry not read whole thread. Why the hell did you have to do that? Shock

xstitch · 28/05/2011 19:34

XH's lawyer as soon as she got me on the stand slagged me of for every conceivable fault and made me feel very small. The most humiliating experience ever. She started with my long labour and crash section, moved onto dd being taken away by the MW when I haemorraged during the section. Asked me why I hadn't wanted dd, why I hadn't loved her enough to be concious. Then moved onto the PND and slagged me off for both going back to work and not working enough to ear more money. It was a very long 2 days.

thisisourtime · 28/05/2011 19:49

Hello haughty.

Why did I get pregnant again?

Because I had buried the experience of my traumatic birth so deeply in my psyche so that I could get on with bringing up my newborn (who, by the way, was damaged by the birth) that I didn't actually realise I had PTSD until I got pregnant again and basically had a nervous breakdown watching one born every minute.

I can only speak for myself, of course. But I can assure you that my ELCS had nothing whatsoever to do with fear of pain.

teaforone · 28/05/2011 19:52

Why would you get preggers if you didnt want to give birth ????????
bit mad to me if someone did have a REAL fear off somthing they would work somthing through surely rather than just getting preggers and then sayin ooo by the way doc im not pushing this baby out you will have to cut me open :>
To be honest i think its a lot worse to be cut open my sister had a ecs and she was in pain and could hardle move for 3 weeks as when i gave birth i could do everthing normal stright away why would u want the extra pain !!

lockets · 28/05/2011 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thisisourtime · 28/05/2011 19:56

"Why would you get preggers if you didnt want to give birth ????????"

Because you want a child.

teaforone · 28/05/2011 19:57

u serious??

Sounds mad to me its life its nature you get over it surely??
and 4 children??? Cannot be that bad

thisisourtime · 28/05/2011 19:58

That's interesting Lockets, not at all surprised by that. Did you see the Sr Midwife?

I saw our sr m/w but all she did was go through my birth notes, not counselling as such, although she was very supportive.

teaforone · 28/05/2011 19:59

Yer you want a child so get over yourself Why should you get treament that is for serious cases only you shouldnt honest i dont understand what your saying everyone who crys because they are fealing scared of giving birth to their baby should just get one! Thats stupid

lockets · 28/05/2011 20:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thisisourtime · 28/05/2011 20:03

"my sister had a ecs and she was in pain and could hardle move for 3 weeks as when i gave birth i could do everthing normal stright away why would u want the extra pain !!"

I could do most thing 'normal' after my c-s but absolutely bugger all for months after my vaginal birth.

Wacky old world eh?

lockets · 28/05/2011 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.