to hope my baby girl stays breech so I can have a planned C-section and skip the pesky labour and pushing business?

[Cressida1979]

I am 31 weeks so loads of time for her to turn but I am getting really into the idea of a planned CS. I have done labour and natural birth twice (once to get my DD1 and once with a less happy outcome last year which did not result in a baby being brought home) so it's not like I'm too posh to push! I know quite a few mums who have had planned CS and they all rave about them and the convenience of being able to schedule childcare for existing DCs and knowing exactly when the baby will arrive, and none of them have had long healing periods afterwards/bad pain/nasty scars.

So, please tell me what the cons of planned CS are?! Otherwise I fear I will be rather gutted when the little one does turn, and of course the odds are she will!

'I don't think OP wants to hear your opinions of my opinion tbh.'

It's what we're all here for singforsupper - discussion.

YANBU, OP.

I had an EMCS after being in labout for bloody ages. My cs scar took a while to heal (although I'm sure it wasn't 6 months) but it wasn't that bad. It did freak me out a bit though (I was terrified to laugh or sneeze for ages because I was worried about it rupturing). Also I didn't do my post-natal tummy exercises (rupture fear again) and even now, 11 years on, my belly looks a bit rubbish.

In the highly unlikely event that I had another child, I'd be more than happy to have an ELCS.

Think the pomposity was all yours, singforsupper...

Am amazed you even have a computer in your wool-and-bulrush house, as it's 'not natural'. Don't even get me started on the 'chemicals that get your body kickstarted for motherhood'...

OP, I am sure you would be met with a sympathetic response if you asked for a cs, whether your baby turns or not. Whatever you decide, really hope it all works out for you and so sorry for your horrendous loss.

i feel like a silly teenager rolling round laughing.

OP have you discussed the possibility of an ELCS with your midwife/consultant? I had an ELCS two weeks ago due to a third degree tear in previous labour. Yes it is "real surgery" and yes recovery can be prolonged and complex but for me, recovery has been far easier than for my VB. I am having to take it easy with housework (no hardship there!) and I can't drive yet, but other than that I feel fantastic. I have had no problems Bfing at all.

I am so sorry for your loss and I really do think that alone is a valid reason for an ELCS this time. If your midwife is not being supportive escalate it to the Supervisor of Midwives and also ask for referral to the hospital to discuss an ELCS with the consultant.

YANBU to choose whichever method of birth you feel most comfortable with, with reference only to the opinion of your midwife/consultant. I'm sorry for your tragic outcome of your last pregnancy and pray that this time you have a healthy baby to bring home.

OP I'm sorry if my comments have caused a conflict on your thread. This is a sensitive subject, and you are in a very vulnerable an difficult position - a bunch of arguments is definitely not what you need, so I won't say any more. I wish you the best with what you decide. I guess you know all the facts and risks but if you need more info, the horse's mouth as it were, is here:

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/10940/29333/29333.pdf

I hope this helps, whatever you decide on. x

singforsupper, it has nothing to do with your feelings about sections. You are quite entitled to those opinions. It is because you clearly did not read the opening post otherwise you would have known that there is no point in telling the poor woman that second VBs are easier when her own second VB resulted in the death of her baby. Rather than acting all aloof, you should be apologising for not reading the facts on a very sensitive subject.

I don't have 'feelings' about sections. None at all.

That's weird I just posted and it disappeared. Carpetlover I read the post wrong, you are totally right about that, and I apologise OP for that. I thought you had one VB and one CS, my brain is a bit foggy at the moment. So thanks for clarifying cl, and sorry for the major ballsup OP.

I notice you are still ignoring the glaring cock-up that you should be apologising for!

x-posts!

Firstly thank you so much for all your responses. Secondly, I should have explained what happened last year a bit better...

It was a 'still birth' I guess but we already knew the baby had died and it was at 23 weeks so the baby was tiny. The labout was induced and took about 3 hours from start to finish, it was incredibly painful. I had planned an epidural but the anaesthetist couldn't get to me in time so I had no pain relief. Following the delivery I lost loads of blood so was quite unwell and kept in for a bit. So it was not the VB which caused the death of the baby, but it was a horrible experience in many ways especially as we knew it was all in vain so to speak.

I've not been great at talking about the experience with my partner/family/friends and have some recurring dreams and flashbacks. I think the real reason I want a ECS is so I don't have to go through giving birth again, but I think that's a fairly rubbish reason to want one as all is well with this pregnancy - this is why I want the baby to stay breach, so the decision is almost taken out of my hands.

Having read your replies I will think about raising the subject of an ECS with the MW, though I have noted the posts from those who had harder recoveries after CS than others. Thank you for your help!

Think you have every right to ask for a CS after such a heartbreaking experience (so sorry to hear) last time and am sure your mw would be happy to discuss it.

That said having done it both ways (!) a CS is major surgery and can have a long recovery time. Not everyone is as fortunate as some of the experiences posted here. Mine took a long time to get over and the point about heavy lifting is a good one. Also with driving, while you may be able to it is important to consider how you will cope if you can't. It did take my breastfeeding longer to get going, although I don't know if that's just because I was new to it, plus I had a general anaesthetic.
Woke up to a fully dressed baby which was very odd!

So there are my personal experiences, everyone is different and like I said you should ask for an ELCS if you wish but there are cons to consider too.

Hope that all makes sense and I wish you all the very best.

Sorry was replying before your post came up! Too slow at this!

It isn't a rubbish reason to not want a VB. Not at all.

Whilst I'm sure someone will be along in a moment to tell me the old MN chestnut that "the plural of anecdote is not data" from my own experience and those of friends, colleagues and family who have had EMCS and ELCS the ones who had electives seem to have had a much better time of it.

Cressida, sorry for your loss. Can you explain this to your consultant and ask for a C section?

singforsupper, you said " not sure if you said you had had 2 natural and 2 c-sections or one of each" ... WTF? too labourous for you to scroll down and re-read the op if you are not sure?

x post.

cressida-go and talk to them.discuss youre options.tell them your fears.

For me - I've enjoyed the colossal hormonal high after all of my vaginal births and felt it made those first hours with my new baby extra special.

For you - YANBU to want to sidestep an experience that resonates of sadness because of the loss of your beloved baby last year. But wondering if there would be the chance for a healing experience there perhaps?

I have 3 dc and had 2 planned c/s after 7 years of infertility and IVF. There was no way I was risking loosing my dtwins after years of fighting for them. I spoke to the very revered consultant and said I had to have whatever was the safest for them,I wasn't the slightest bit concerned about me.

All 3 of mine were breach and said consultant said the fact they were IVF babies and very precious(yes I know all babies are)they pretty much let you have what you want and she actually recommended a c/s just to be on the safe side.

I'm pretty sure given your history you would be treated the same if you explain everything.

Oh and re the instinct thing it's total bollocks.It managed to kick in for me pdq and I was recovering from a twin birth,twin pg and stereo hollering.

Both of my c/ss were lovely.I was up and about way before some vaginal births on my ward and out 3 days later.The trick is to haul yourself up for the shower they nag you about very soon after.I did that both times(before some women who had vbs I might add) and it just kind of gets you back in gear so to speak.

Seriously my c/s were a breeze compared to carrying twins for 9 months.

Best of luck!!!

i have gifven birth both ways and the VB was the simplest and the most positive. although the planned CS was very civil, my scar got infected and i couldn't even push the pram after/go upstairs without help. recovery seemed to take ages

My births were lovely too.

My last one for dd makes me cry just thinking about it.Very calm(even though it took 3 of them to pull her out)and gentle.They were actually playing Browned Eyed Girl and out popped my baby girl who went onto have brown eyes!!!!!

They all seem,seemed to know I had twin boys and it had been a struggle,they were soooo excited for us!It was a very special experience