As dangerous as they say it is?

[Glitterbugsparkle]

Regular poster with a name change. I’m ttc dc2. I have some pelvic floor damage from ds age2. It’s considered a mild bladder prolapse and some stress incontinence
For this potential child I would like a c section. I really think avoiding natural childbirth might prevent worsening my problems.
However when I have mentioned this to my gp etc I get the whole ‘c section is major surgery’ and a list of awful risks/potential problems of c section. Then they say pregnancy alone can damage the pelvic floor so what’s the point of pursuing a c section.
Aibu to think this is rubbish and that they are trying to save money by pushing me into a further vaginal delivery?
Obviously I wouldn’t want to undergo unnecessary surgery. But if there are any other mumnetters who had pelvic floor problems after dc1 and then had dc2 by vaginal or c section id love to hear if your pelvic floor problems were the same/worse after dc2 however you delivered.
I just can’t trust the nhs to be honest at the moment. I think it would be anything to save themselves the bill.
Before anyone comments also, we don’t have the money to go private. It’s just not an option.

A very close friend of mine is a nurse. she told me a few years ago (6) that they had all been briefed to put people off c sections due to cost, and only do them if absolutely necessary.

I think a c section is massive operation and holds many risks, however you have a Pre existing conditon that could get worse due to child birth which would be longer term.

Personally I'd go for the c section

You are entitled to a C Section if you want one. Check the NICE Guidelines and show them to your midwife if necessary.

I have requested a C Section (booked for April) and no one has so much as blinked at my request from booking midwife to hospital midwives to obstetrician.

Friend of mine had a section for similar reasons. She had to push for it though.

Name change - so did you jst request this at booking in? If you don’t mind me asking what were your reasons for wanting c section?
I’m not judgemental at all by the way I believe every woman should actually be offered a c section when pregnant and be able to make the choice with knowledge of the risks of vaginal birth and c section. I believe women should be able to make up theirs own mind once armed with the right information. never mind have to request (in some cases beg) for a c section.
I believe that the nhs doctors and midwives lie and exaggerate the risks of c section whilst dismissing the risks of vaginal delivery. Long term I suspect it doesn’t save the nhs that much making women deliver vaginally when they spend millions later on in women’s lives fixing leaky bladders and prolapse.

I had a c section with DD and dread a sneeze

However, I'm pregnant again and I'm opting for a section again so that I can keep my bits box fresh and intact - my stomach is already ruined so I'll just keep going with that

Silvous you found that pregnancy alone was enough for a leaky bladder? Was it a planned section?
I don’t blame you for avoiding vaginal birth. It’s hailed as the best think but truthfully I think it’s horrific.

A c-section is a major operation. I think it’s become very’normalised’ but they’re cutting through skin, muscles, tendons, nerves, organs. It can take weeks, months, years to recover fully. Any other major operation where they’d be slicing you like that you’d be put to sleep. In fact they try really hard to do as much surgery as they can keyhole so they don’t have to dissect like this for anything else abdo related. It carries major risks, I don’t need to list them. You still have a risk of bladder problems with a section as you do with a vaginal delivery.
And I say this as someone who’s had two emergency c sections. I still have to cross my legs and pray when I sneeze!

I had a horrific vaginal birth that left me with a prolapse, a severe one. They immediately recommended a elcs for dc2. Everyone I saw agreed - another vaginal birth could have made it worse. It all went smoothly and was amazing. I would recommend an elcs.

After dc2, I had 2 prolapse repair operations and now I am much better.

I think it’s become very’normalised’ but they’re cutting through skin, muscles, tendons, nerves, organs. It can take weeks, months, years to recover fully

Yup. I think there is nine layers of stitches if I remember correctly what my surgeon told me.

Hello Xmas baby.
If you don’t mind me asking did you find that your prolapse was worse during your pregnancy or after your pregnancy? Or was it pretty much the same as it was? Also did you have to ‘fight’ for your section and see lots of different people to get it agreed?
Also did you have the mesh repair done or was it the traditional approach?
Mine is considered minor. Im hoping to keep it that way and avoid surgery if possible, hence the research about second pregnancies and delivery mode for ladies who have had prolapse.

Bluntness and mono block, I totally understand that c section isn’t the easy option.
However you don’t really see women on here posting because they have had a c section and now have prolapse. It does seem to protect the pelvic floor.
Also I think that a planned section carries far less risk than emergency. Obviously if you have pushed in labour then have a c section presumably the chances of pelvic floor damage would be increased because of the pushing. Different to someone who doesn’t have a single contraction.

Nine layers of stitches sounds about right. I remember during my second, baby was out and they were stitching. I suddenly felt very nauseous, faint, and ‘weird’-but totally pain free and I couldn’t actually feel anything.

I said: ‘somethings wrong. What are they doing?’ And the midwife said: ‘oh they’ve lifted your womb out of your cavity to stitch it up, it’s easier to do it that way’ 😷

I find it fascinating that I couldn’t see or feel a thing but my body was going oooh what’s going on here!

Just because nobody on mumsnet has posted about it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen to women who’ve had c sections though? A quick google will show you women who have had it happen to them. Surely if your problem was severe enough, the doctors would recommend a section?

And planned sections don’t always go to plan. DS2 was a planned section but ended up being an early emergency section.

However you don’t really see women on here posting because they have had a c section and now have prolapse. It does seem to protect the pelvic floor. I have had two elective CS and have a prolapse and stress incontinence.

I had a traumatic birth with number one and insisted on an elcs for number two. No clinical reason but I insisted and got one. It went perfectly and I recovered well.
You are allowed one, you don't have to prove you need it.
Good luck :)

Two vaginal and one C section here - C section caused me much more problems across the board.

My prolapse was of the uterus so it was ok in pregnancy (it was lifted up obviously with baby in it) and the same after the birth. It was severe and I used a ring pessary before the surgery.

I saw 2 or 3 people in my second pregnancy. They advised c section as vaginal birth could make prolapse worse. However it was also that it was a traumatic birth and they understood I wouldn't want to go through it again. Nobody tried to persuade me to have vaginal birth. They all thought I made a good decision.

You could have another vaginal birth, which may possibly worsen your issue, and possibly lead to surgical intervention, but your pregnancy will be likely to weaken your pelvic floor anyway.

Or you could put yourself through major surgery to have the baby, when the pregnancy may have weakened your pelvic floor anyway.

In my eyes anyway, you’re putting yourself through major surgery that you may not even need. And if you need surgical intervention for your pelvic floor in the future, it would likely be impossible to know if it was pregnancy or the vaginal delivery which caused it anyway.

I had an emergency c section with ds1 and the recovery was horrific afterwards. Everyone assumed I'd be having an elective c section with dd1. I pished for vbac and had one with her and ds2. Knowing what I do now I wish I had elected for c sections. Recovery post vaginal was easier but my netheregions will never be the same. If you know you have these issues press for an elective.

I've just had an emergency section. My previous birth was a vaginal one with no complications. Had an small cut but stitches healed well.

C section was a different story.
Ended up in an ambulance back to hospital a week later with internal bleeding. Apparently I'd been bleeding inside from day one and finally blacked out. I was very lucky to get to hospital and operated on again. Had to stay another week.

That being said I'm home now and already feel better.

Obviously mine wasn't an elected section but I've seen people discuss the side effects that they would prefer to live with. Pain or infection from a section wound or bladder or bowel incontenence.

Even after all the pain I would still opt for the side effects of the section. My recovery will hopefully be quick. Incontenance is a long term condition that scares me more.

I had a CS as I was very ill, DD had to be delivered, 16 months on and it's still uncomfortable sometimes, difficult to exercise, the 'pouch' of skin will never go no matter how much I diet and I still piss when I cough hard enough. Given the choice and the recovery, I wish I could choose a natural delivery. CS can be right for some people but I wish I had the option for a vaginal birth.

I had an emergency c section. I have had stress incontince since my 40s. Which makes me wonder if it’s not just vaginal delivery that buggers the bladder.

I believe that the nhs doctors and midwives lie and exaggerate the risks of c section whilst dismissing the risks of vaginal delivery.

Interesting that 'you don't judge' but you say the above. As a midwife, what benefit is it to me to lie through my teeth to save the NHS a tiny bit of money and make sure you push a baby out vaginally? Do you genuinely think we want harm to anyone or to any babies? Ask for a section and you'll get one. Simple as. If you have to beg, ask to see another consultant. But don't make assumptions about the moral integrity of all NHS staff- a c section is major abdominal surgery and carries many risks. Fact.

I'll post! I have had one pregnancy resulting in one child, who was a healthy average weight but breech. I was booked for elective c-section but had an emergency one after going into labour a couple of days before the appointment. My waters broke at around 6am and the baby was born at 1pm, having not been delivered at all.
I have an epic prolapse. Everyone at the gynae unit is always surprised/pitying to hear that I didn't even do one birth! So yes, as I understand it, the prolapse can be caused by damage during the pregnancy (like a baby in an odd position) as well/instead of manhandling in labour.