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.

What are some of the major risks with C sections, planned ones mainly since unplanned are presumably unavoidable anyway?

I am thinking about damage to the mother and also to the baby during birth.

This annoys me!!
I wanted a c section for reasons I won’t go into now.
I basically spent my entire pregnancy asking for one and them being very non communal.
Luckily dd was breach so I had to have one, phew.
They spent so many appointments telling me how you are just as likely to be incontinent after a c section and basically told he how many ways I was going to die or be horrifically injured if I had a section.
I take this load of scare tactics as a money saving practice.
My c section was wonderful and I have had zero side effects and I was super lucky to have recovered within a couple of days. I was back to carrying the washing up and down the stairs and doing general household jobs.
I know a lot of people who have had horrific experiences but they are generally emergencies which have gone wrong.
Stick to your guns, it’s your choice and I believe they have to do what you want in the end even though they will make it very difficult for you.

It depends who you speak to.

I had a failed induction that ended up in a EMCS for DC1.

For my next pregnancy, I had a booking in appointment where I said I wanted an elective section and the midwife started trying to talk me out of it.

That pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage. I'm pregnant again, and for this pregnancy the midwife at my booking in appointment didn't try to talk me round, and the consultant we saw a few weeks later didn't overtly say either way, but strongly hinted I should go for a ELC and gave me a print out with risks for both VBAC and ELC.

I think a lot depends on your specific situation, although some NHS staff seem to always try to talk women out of ELCs.

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

My elective caesarean was easily the worst of my 3 births - the section itself, the recovery and the long term effects, physically and mentally. Both types of birth come with rusks, and unfortunately the aftercare, shirt and longterm, for either method is a fucking disgrace.
Well none if these things are 'rubbish', an elcs is major surgery, there are risks and pregnancy can cause damage to the pelvic floor.

....some how my post came out garbled....You get my gist!

I had a EMCS for my first and had to fight for a normal/trial delivery for DS2. I recovered far quicker from the normal delivery and went on to have two more. CS is major surgery. Major surgery often has a six week recovery but woman get handed a baby and have to get on with it.

Mothers will be Butchered babies dragged out with whatever means necessary leaving all kinds of damage with no thought to the mother and her future with ongoing health problems.......ah, sounds just like my elcs......

Ooooh

I had an emcs.

Then I had a vbac, with twins.

I can honestly say the twin birth was about a thousand timew better than the emcs.

But

I would never ever have done the twin vbac unless no intervention at all - it was all or nothing - the moment any intervention was mentioned I would have been in there with the CS no question

Thanks vap.
I’m glad it worked out for you.
I just know how depressed I have felt because of the problems I have had after ds and I can’t face having to beg and plead with staff who just want to ram the risks of elective c section down my throat whilst I’m heavily pregnant. But not account for any risks of vaginal delivery. So this makes me believe they are dishonest.
It makes me want to stop ttc now
This article from birthrights states how some trusts are trying to avoind granting c sections for women to meet their targets
www.birthrights.org.uk/2017/05/do-i-have-a-right-to-choose-a-caesarean-section/

I do want another child. I wish someone (a professional) could assure me the pelvic floor problems won’t get worse if I have a c section. Or if they can’t reassure me then be honest about this. But I can’t trust maternity services when all the present is a one sided view. so I’m looking online.

I had an IVF baby, and I found I was under pressure to have an elective C section. When I saw the consultant towards the end of the pregnancy he was pushing for a section, which I didn't want. The labour didn't progress and baby had a humongous head, and the doctor on duty again pushed me to go for the section (he actually told me that as it was IVF I wouldn't have another chance if I damaged the baby). He asked why I was so against the c section, and I told him I had heard some horror stories. To which he replied that the peer reviewed literature shows that delivery by c section is extremely safe - this doctor did not have a great bedside manner, but in the end I had an emergency section and he did a very tidy job on the wound - the scarring is minimal. Aftercare was non existent - but that's another issue. C section is safe, but of course things can go wrong and everyone will know a horror story to scare you with!

Thanks Sara I have also heard/read (admittedly only by google no access to medical journals) that delivery by c section is very safe. Glad it worked out for you

glitter

I made it to 4cm after 45 hours with a 9lb baby and then had an emergency section. I definitely have a weaker bladder than before I was pregnant. The doc has said the weight of the baby may have had an effect on my bladder. I'm not incontinent but I do avoid trampolines and sneezing before I've emptied my bladder

I’m British and live in the US. I’ve had a vaginal delivery in the UK (extensive tear and lots of physio after) and a c-section here. The c-section was a breeze compared with the regular birth! Next time I have the choice according to my OB:GYN. I’ll be having the section!!!

Btw my c section was a DREAM.

Not much pain and a very quick recovery

I was in exactly same position as you after dc1 glitterbugsparkle. 2nd vb did not worsen my position at all.

There are risks with both methods of giving birth. I think it's natural that if you've bern damaged by a vaginal birth, you'd rather have a planned section.

After my vaginal birth I had to have physiotherapy because my hip was wonky from being in stirrups. I couldn't walk properly for a couple of weeks. And then I had a prolapse which has required 2 surgeries, each taking 8 weeks off work yo recover from. I had the mesh implant but not the type that has caused problems.

The elcs was a wonderful experience and I recovered quickly - far quicker than first birth! A friend has had a similar experience though her prolapse is milder than mine.

But I don't know a lot of facts about the risks - my feelings are definitely influenced by my experience.

Must depend on where you are. I had a tear with DC1 and have been offered a ELCS with no prompting from me - didn't even think about it as tear repaired ok. I'm going for it though, sounds like on balance it'd be less risk for you too?

The hospital should give you risk/rate of recurrence. They did for me.

Hi sprinklestar thanks for posting did you have any problems with prolapse or incontinence after your physio from having dc1.
I’m just wondering if it worsened at all during/after your second pregnancy or if it stayed the same?

Silver do you have bladder prolapse or just incontinence?
I have heard lots of people say planned sections are good compared to vaginal delivery

Mrseric that’s interesting.
Did you do anything in particular to reduce the risk? Physio through pregnancy? Deliver in a certain position etc?

Look up the NICE Guidelines and RCOG patient information sheets to get information too. I think the recovery from a cs depends on the skill of whoever preforms the surgery. The recovery of a vb depends on the repair work of tears/episiotomy and if you need an 'assisted' birth. Pelvic Floor exercises are important to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles which can be damaged from the weight of carrying a baby during pregnancy as much as by pressure during birth. Research the mesh repair for prolapse. I have recently heard there are long term problems relating to that op. There was a thread about it some time ago on mn. It sounded like the recovery could be horrendous and cause permanent damage.

Tbh, I'd like to see the figures relating to planned c-sections as opposed to emergency ones and not view all c-section figures together. I say this because I have anecdotal evidence (admittedly no hard statistical proof) that women giving birth vaginally in the UK who are experiencing difficulties, are left to labour for much longer than in some other European countries where surgical intervention is quicker, and I think it could be those hours spent labouring in difficulty that perhaps causes a lot of the birth injuries.

I have a prolapse post planned c section. It’s the weight of the baby, rather than the pushing that causes damage.

Stop the roundabout I have often thought it would be fairer to women to present the risks of elective section emergency section vaginal delivery and assisted vaginal Delivery.
This isn’t meant to be a bash of doctors and midwives. I think it’s the culture they work in and pressure from cuts and targets.
I remember reading something a while ago that lots of doctor elect for c Sections when having their own babies which is interesting.

Jiggly I’m sorry to hear you have had Problema. was this your first baby?

I had a pretty straightforward first birth, albeit with forceps. Second time round I had to have a CS due to placenta previa and my husband says it's the most frightening thing he's ever experienced in his life (I was high on gas and air for most of it) They couldn't staunch the bleeding, and it took them so long to get the blood loss under control that the anaesthetic started to wear off and I began to regain feeling. I then spend three days in the high dependency unit with an infection. My experience is probably rare, and of course there can be complications and dangers however you give birth. I've nearly deleted this twice concerned that I'm going to scare women due to have a cs, but what happened, happened and we all lived to tell the tale, as do the overwhelming majority of women who have a cs, be it elective or emergency.

I have a mild bladder prolapse due to a traumatic vaginal delivery. If I was to have a further pregnancy I would push for a c-section. Lots of things could make thenprolapse worse but for sure the pushing will worsen your prolapse and you will likely need major surgery to correct this in the future, plus all the time you feel really uncomfortable with it before they decide youvare a candidate for surgery.

I would suggest whatever birth you have you look into Hypopressive exercise classes for post birth, it will reduce if not eliminate stress incontinance and help ‘lift’ the prolapse, this has been a life saver for me and a go to exercise if I’m having symptoms.

Good luck with whatever birth you decide on.