To ask how many people have asked for a cesarean out of preference?

[VioletteValentia]

I did it. I’ve never met another person who has, or who has admitted to it. I have come across people who seem convinced that supporting maternal choice would lead to everyone asking for cesareans, which I think is bullshit. Not everyone wants one!

Did you do this? Would you? Would you be more likely to if you felt the option was equally acceptable?

I’m interested in how many women feel like I did.

I shouldn’t have to say this but...no “natural v cesarean” insulting please.

Yes yes yes!!!
I come from a country where vaginal birth is not the norm. Everyone just books in their csection date (and pays for it themselves I’ll add).

I never ever wanted a vaginal birth, ever since I was old enough to realise where babies come from!
With DD1 I needed an early section due to medical reasons, so I knew from 7 weeks pregnant I’d be having one. It was blissful! I made a play list, had all my favourite music on, so calm and serene.
DD2 I could have had a VBAC. My consultant explained the two procedures and asked what I wanted to do. I said “elective csection please!” And that was that. She booked me right in. She also said that if I went into labour early, to come straight into he hospital and they’ll take me straight into theatre for a section.
I have no feelings of pathetic guilt, I “didn’t do it properly” or any of that BS. I shout it loud and proud that I had two csections, they were amazing experiences, my babies and I were calm, it was controlled and perfect in every way.
So pleased birth experiences were incredible.

And Ollie , I could not care less about the cost.
I have paid my taxes all my life, I don’t drink or smoke, I self medicate and generally don’t cost the government anything. And I live in one of the most expensive areas in the country, so pay a lot into the system! I am honestly one of the most considerate, bend over backwards to help everyone people i know, but when it came to asking for a csection, I stood my ground.
Your uneducated comment has made me pretty angry.

minifingerz I agree with that to some extent, but I also think it’s worth thinking that some women, no matter how great the chances of natural birth, will still dislike the uncertainty.

Giving all women the choice of an ELCS and improving care and outcomes for those wanting to attempt VB isn't an either/or, and shouldn't be presented as such. We can and should do both.

Even the most straightforward of vaginal births carries with it some risks that are greater than and non-existent with an ELCS. These don't go away if we succeed in converting a certain percentage of instrumental deliveries into straightforward VBs without a lengthy pushing stage, for example. Or reduce the induction rate whilst not increasing stillbirths, or any of the other things we can and should work on.

Thus, a woman must still be able to opt for an ELCS if the risks of this procedure are more acceptable to her than the risks involved with attempted VB, even if we improve VB.

I find these threads interesting because we all have different opinions on how we would like to give birth. I had 3 vb's, a semi elective section for medical reasons and then an attempted induced vbac that ended in an emcs without consent. Personally I felt much more in control with my vb's than my c-sections. I hated my c-sections and I ended up with PTSD after both. I won't be having any more children and at least part of that is because I can't cope with the idea of another c-section. We probably would have stopped anyway to be honest but I would have been finished but broody if I'd had vb's rather than finished and terrified of getting pregnant again which is how I am now.

Thus, a woman must still be able to opt for an ELCS if the risks of this procedure are more acceptable to her than the risks involved with attempted VB, even if we improve VB.

That’s a great way of putting it.

I should add that I think elcs should be available to those women who want one. I feel the same way about c-sections as I do about ski holidays. Not what I want but I appreciate some people like them.

I asked for an ELCS and was refused (17 years ago - perhaps views have changed?) - I ended up with an EMCS which no doubt cost the NHS much more than a planned CS would. .

Regardless - I would never have had another baby - I am amazed that so many women go on to have another child after a horrific birth experience .

Mini nothing buggered up my labour. Intervention wasn't the worsening thing that could have happened to me.
When will other women understand some of us don't want vaginal birth and all the risks that come with it.
I would have lost 6 close friends. Literally they would be dead if it wasn't for miraculous modern intervention.

Fibroids only discovered in labour she wanted to home birth.. Newly died in hospital, massive op and section.. Another, pre eclampsia.. Severely ill, another baby got stuck nearly died she also nearly died, emc under general... Another placenta pravia hemorrhage late one night.. Both nearly died... Emergency c section and I could go on.

It makes me feel ill when I see posts about intervening as well though its a bad thing. as though all birth is all about positions and good hips.

We have a brain attached and feelings and emotions.

Beetle - I find myself nodding in agreement with a lot of your posts on this thread.

mini - whilst I agree unnecessary intervention is not helpful for a woman attempting a vaginal birth, I think these interventions are now more common in an attempt to manage the risks associated with birth. Of course induction, instrumental deliveries etc all come with their own set of risks but they also have potentially life saving benefits that shouldn't be dismissed. Of course there will be cases where it all would have been ok if they hadn't been used, but I think medical professionals are worried that if they don't intervene the potential consequences could be catastrophic. That's the problem with giving birth, however you choose to do it, there is just so much at steak and ultimately you are dicing with life and death.

Reducing unnecessary intervention and improving outcomes of natural birth are of course laudable aims but even if this was achieved there would still be some women who opt for a C-section. This might be because the remaining risks associated with natural birth are still unacceptable to them or they simply do not want a natural birth for whatever other reason. As long as they make an informed decision then this should be accepted without putting women through the wringer.

I know when I wanted my c section approved I had to prove that I knew all the risks associated with a c section. Funnily enough, I didn't have to memorise the comparative vaginal birth risks as everyone was super keen to push those under the carpet . It did make me angry as having to reel of all these statistics relating to really horrible adverse outcomes forced me to really focus on all the things that could go wrong. Yes of course, being aware of these things is part of making an informed choice but the whole process of getting c section authorised just seemed to dwell on these risks which is not helpful when you have decided this is the route you want to go down. I can't imagine a midwife or NCT class going on and on about all the risks associated with natural birth yet those of us who opt for c sections are subjected to this many times when we are at one of our most vulnerable times being pregnant and having the birth looming. I just don't see how this is conducive to supporting expectant mothers' mental health.

It’s interesting reading the points re control. I had a “good” birth with DC1, 1.5 hours of active labour & no tearing. However it was ridiculously painful as no time for pain relief as I had dilated so quickly. I didn’t feel in control as my body was pushing but my head wanted to stop!

I assumed DC2 would be a similar birth & there was some concern re my history of fast labour. However DC2 was transverse & I had too much water so I was referred to consultant care. They offered me a CS straight away but I was very anti (I had my appendix removed before the days of keyhole & that was sore). I asked to try induction which they agreed too but no budging so then I was booked in for a semi elective CS. I hated the experience, I didn’t like feeling paralysed or having the catheter in. I felt very undignified & weird. It was a msssive comfort to know that baby would be ok though & it was defo the right decision as I think I could havd ended up with a EMCS. I was told my recovery was good but jesus the pain was insane for a few days, I definitely did not expect that.

I would like no 3 but don’t want another CS but on the other hand it’s the more reassuring option.

I didn't want one and glad I didn't have to have one.
I found vaginal delivery easy, no stitches, was doing the weekly shop pushing a trolley around Tescos within 24 hours.
My body was back to normal within 2 weeks.

can't imagine a midwife or NCT class going on and on about all the risks associated with natural birth yet those of us who opt for c sections are subjected to this many times when we are at one of our most vulnerable times being pregnant and having the birth looming. I just don't see how this is conducive to supporting expectant mothers' mental health.

It isn’t. But some people are more concerned about what we do with our vaginas. I’m so glad I didn’t encounter that while pregnant.

I think the pain aspect is interesting. I honestly didn’t find my cesarean painful. Within four days I stopped taking paracetamol, and I barely felt anything.

Yet I know other women who swear it was the most painful thing they’ve ever experienced. It’s odd, I wonder what makes individuals experience pain so differently.

I asked for one countless times and got refused. I then ended up having a horrific Labour and an EMCS!

I had two sections. The first I was advised too as my baby was breach. The second time round, for no clinical reason I asked for a section and there was no problem at all. I actually would admit I was scared of giving birth naturally. I suppose to the extent of some women who are too scared to have a section! We are all very different!

Im not against women having elective sections at all, what ever gets you thru a live altering, possibly very painful moment, but it worries me how when you have a section, and then another section, the risks can become high to give birth and doctor's are reluctant to give another sectuol, obv not if it is an emergency. C sections r very evasive surgery's, its cutting thru muscle and whatever else, and that can become very problematic after two. Btw this isnt section shaming. I had an emergency c section with my ds, after a vaginal birth, then went on to have another vaginal birth. I much prefer the natural way, although its the mist painful thing i have ever beeb thru, especially dd3, only gas an air and pethidine, and dd1 i had an epudural (never again, i have a slight curve in my spine and the epudural was going more to one side than the other, i coukd feel contractions on my left side and could move my fior, as opposed to the right side where i couldnt feel a thing and foot was completely numb, i had to have three tops ups of it to feel numb again), the recovery of the section was worse. I couldnt walk, sneezing/coughing was torture, i nearly feel backwards on my arse and back once because my muscles were still recovering in my stomache and i had no core strength at all, not to mention trying ti sit up in bed and standing up by myself, had to roll on ny side and kind if shuffle and slowly lean up on my arms. It was horrendous. If i ever have anymore, unless it was an emergency or required, i will never have a section again. You ladies opting for one, i take my hat off to you. Im obv a whimp 😂

I had 4 - first emergency, second they were worried tear would rip as he was pretty big, third & fourth no option.

Looking at my tummy I would say honestly that I would never advise c-sections if natural birth was an option.

VioletteValentia

the pain thing is interesting. I think I had preconceived ideas it would only hurt a tiny bit so I was a bit shocked. Having had a VB with no pain relief & on another occasion stitches with no anaesthetic I thought I had a high pain threshold. How did you feel for the first 2 days? I was so stiff & really struggled sitting up/lying down. My walk was a hunched zombie shuffle.

I asked for a c-section (in 2010) and managed to get it. I was mid-40s, having had IVF, and the consultant said he would grant it in the category of "special baby" I.e. where you may have tried a long time to conceive and/or it would be very unlikely you would have another child if anything went wrong.

He was quite reluctant to grant it, and said there was no medical necessity despite my age. But somehow I got what I wanted- maybe he could see the fear of giving birth naturally on my face!

Yeah could be a 2nd child thing but my tummy was fine after VB but rank now.

I'm really interested in this too OP. I've got polyhydramnios (too much fluid) and am scared to death of cord prolapse. Have got a consultant appointment tomorrow and am going to try to push for this. Unfortunately I'm not very assertive and I'm sure I'll go to shit when I actually speak to her but I'm determined to ask at least.

Wish me luck!

How did you feel for the first 2 days? I was so stiff & really struggled sitting up/lying down. My walk was a hunched zombie shuffle.

The first day I found painful, but I had an issue with my medication. Oramorph doesn’t work for me, so the pain relief I had was effectively just paracetamol. Once that was swapped to tramadol, the next day, I was fine.

I was walking normally 30 hours after the surgery. I didn’t have much pain or discomfort then.

For me, it was almost a nice feeling. But I fall asleep getting tattooed so make of that what you will!

I'm really interested in this too OP. I've got polyhydramnios (too much fluid) and am scared to death of cord prolapse.

I had this. A reason was never found and I only had it on one scan. When he was born they mentioned there was a lot of fluid.

The zombie shuffle is the worst possible thing you can do post section. It’s difficult at first but recovery will be easier if you make yourself stand up straight and get moving as soon as possible. By day 2 I was doing laps round my hotel room as I was feeling super cooped up (I had to stay 3 nights as was doctor’s policy for first timers but would have happily gone home). I did take the diclofenac and paracetamol on schedule and I was offered oral morphine but didn’t take it as I never felt in pain. First couple of days were sore but never painful.