To request ELCS ...

[KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn]

After instrumental birth and haemorrage with dd 1 ( which resulted in anemia and no breast milk)

I was induced at 10 days over and in and out of labour for over 48 hours. I was totally and utterly dejected and very ill by the time dd came.

I have just foun out I am pregnant again :) - I know this time maybe different, but quite frankly I would rather skip at the distress for the ext dc and me , and have a ELCS. I know it will be a longer recovery (can be) but my last born left me with weeks of pain (plus exhaustion )

AIBU to request a. ELCS? Will I have mucho hope?

So - I was in and out of labour for 3 days actually!

I requested an ELCS and got it. No hassle, I was just firm in my choice. I had a bad experience with DS that ended in an emergency section and I have no wish to repeat it.

Don't waste time worrying about this. First chat to your midwife asap see how she responds.

If helpful great, if not then bypass her and write to head of midwifery at your hospital. Explain you are frightened etc don't want another traumatic birth and are worried about and etc.

At worst you'll get invited in for a chat and see some senior midwives. This is what happened to me, it helped me really pin down my fears and work out whether I needed the c-section as a certainty or as an option at a certain stage.

You do have to fight a bit to get past the font size 16 leaflet and a head-tilted-to-the-side "you do know it's a big operation?" approach.

Just don't linger and worry over this. Be proactive.

Go for it.

I had an awful birth with dd in 2003. 72 hour labour start to finish, was induced due to all kinds of issues. Epidural didn't work and I was in constant pain throughout with no break between contractions. Ended in ventouse delivery with large bodged episiotomy and developed severe pnd that continued for 2 years afterwards with flashbacks of birth.

I swore I'd never ever have another baby.

Years later (and divorce later) I had my baby son with my now dh and I was insistent from the start I would not have a vaginal birth again. I told the midwife and the gp who booked in an appointment to see the consultant. He tried to persuade me otherwise but I stuck firm. I wrote two letters to him after the first appointment outlining I knew the risks and then had another appointment where he booked me in.

Ds was born by c section in 2012 and it was amazing. A very healing experience for me. Recovery was quicker than my vaginal birth and I bonded straight away.

Just be consistent and firm and argue your case. They cannot refuse under the nice guidelines- read them- if they won't do it they must refer you to someone who will.

yabu and the nice guidelines say that it is your choice. dont worry. sound your midwife out about it and read up on it so you can make an informed decision. they may offer you counselling before agreeing to a elcs but in the long run if its what you want no one can stop you.

supposed to say YANBU

I had an elective section after an instrumental birth, nasty tear and a pph first time. The elective was a wonderful experience, so relaxed by comparison. I found the recovery much quicker too. And I felt less emotionally fragile afterwards too.

I spent ages thinking it through, the consultant said I had no greater chance of tearing again. The midwife said it was more likely.

In the end I felt terrified by the thought of a repeat performance, that and late pregnancy continence issues meant the hospital were happy to accommodate my request.

Hope it all goes smoothly for you.

PicaK

agree with Picak.

just keep asking and see different people if needs be to get one.
i had elc and it was bliss, you do pay on the other side, but at least you know whats coming and can do your best to minimise the effects of the operation...

good luck

YANBU, I wish I had gone for a ELCS second time around, after an EMCS first time. Congratulations!

Thanks. I don't know why, but I was expecting a lot of - itll be different this time and ELCS are baaaad, mmmkay..!

I feel relieved at such a positive and supportive response. I think the main thing I have to do is be strong in my convictions regarding this.

I had a bad first delivery, though not as bad as yours, started getting flashbacks to it when I was pregnant again. Requested and got an elective LSCS. The only question of how many more kids are you planning to have, if one or two then fine, if more than that they may try to dissuade you because of the risks of repeat sections. It is a very civilised way to give birth!

In had an ELCS second time after a horrible first birth.
They wanted to be sure that I understood the pros and cons-I did. I was absolutely clear at every appointment. they refused to book me in until I was 28 weeks when I had a consultant appointment. All the registrars previously tried to talk me out of it.

I explained my issues to the consultant and she agreed with no further questions and booked me in there and then. At the end she said she completely understood and she would have done the same!

It was the best decision I ever made. The ELCS was calm and the birth experience beautiful. So healing after the first labour
yes I had an op to recover from but I was happy and had a healthy baby! could breastfeed etc. T he recovery from the ELCS was far easier than the recovery from my labour.

Research your options, look into the pros and cons and then state what you want clearly and don't waiver!

yes be strong in convictions and do loads and loads of research.

go on child birth, tons of threads there on this, past and present with tons of advice.

The ELCS was calm and the birth experience beautiful. So healing after the first labour

yes I had an op to recover from but I was happy and had a healthy baby! could breastfeed etc. T he recovery from the ELCS was far easier than the recovery from my labour

yes my experience was beautiful too, strange though as most would equate beautiful to squatting one out on deep breathes but my ELC was beautiful...it was everything I thought my first vag birth could be but that birth was actually a war and a battle...I could also breast feed etc after ELC and do everything much better...

YANBU though I personally would explore your feelings towards the traumatic birth.

dsis had a VBAC after a very traumatic 1st labour ending in crash csec. I was so relaxed second time around I had DD2 on the wander into hospital after a 3 day labour with distressed DD1.

For me personally the risks of major abdominal surgery, the recovery and the reduction of choices in the future (scar tissue I believe means you have to restrict the no of DCs). Were a too scary so I looked into hypnobirthingand was talked throu the first birth by midwives to feel more in control.

However that's me and as long as you are taking a logicL, rational and considered decision it is only up to YOU and noone else if you opt for ELCS this time.

Good luck either way x

Though clearly I have been left with an inability to tupe!

Fuck *type

I had a hideous birth with DC1 and hemmoraged and was a bit of a mess afterwards.

I asked for a ELCS with DC2, a stroppy midwife tried to make me feel like I was being silly about it, but I just stuck to my guns until I got to see a consultant, cried a bit on him, went to see another consultant (sent off with some nice large print leaflets and a lecture as if I was a little bit dim), but then the second consultant just smiled and said given the history, of course we'd sort a ELCS and started talking dates.

YANBU! I had an elcs in November and it was amazing.
I had a horrific labour with my first, and an emcs. When I was TTC, I spoke to my GP about the possibility of an elcs, and she supported me all through TTC, which ended up being rather long and protracted anyway, and the. My pregnancy.
The MW and consultant did the whole "you do know it's a major op" thing, which I did after having an emcs already! But other than that they were really supportive and the whole thing was just the best experience.
If I ever have any more children, I would be delighted to have another c section.

Word of advice though - my sil managed after with paracetamol. Just paracetamol. I, however, had morphine, diclofenac, and paracetamol, and was discharged with diclofenac, paracetamol and codeine. My lovely GP had given me a prescription beforehand to save me going out after the op. Different people find that it hurts different amounts. I'd prepare for the worst case scenario and stock up mega painkillers - with the painkillers it was absolutely fine.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

Oh and also, my elcs was much more what I wanted than my first labour and emcs! My DH photographed the entire birth, cut the cord, I had immediate skin to skin and bf in recovery. It was calm, everyone was chatty and jolly and lovely. I would do it again tomorrow. Do make a birth plan though and talk through with the midwife who looks after you to make sure you can get things as close as possible to what you want!

Yanbu....

I requested and had elcs. I'd start asking sooner rather than later.

Thanks :)

I do think I will stock up on the codeine!
I will def feel more in control with an ELCS i believe.
I cannot cope going so overdue next time and then havin days in labour all to end with another haemorrage .. No ta! I mean obviously I know it could go swimmingly ,.. Though I genuinely doubt it (somethin in my gut)

One of the best moments of my elcs for me was lying there wondering what was going on when all of a sudden I heard ds screaming his little head off and then saw him wiggling and waving his arms about just above the sheet tent. So beautiful. And because I wasn't in pain or knackered or any of that I just enjoyed the whole thing. Dh cut the cord and photographed ds being weighed and wrapped up.

Aw :)

Sorry, I didn't even read your post, only responding to the thread title. No YANBU to request a C section. Your body, your birth. Good luck with whichever you choose!

only I am 4 weeks! Dont see midwife for another month. When I do I will be like a woman on a mission.