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.

My previous pregnancy had ended in an unexpected stillbirth. The baby had died early on in labour but wasn't discovered until I went into hospital 3 hours before he was born. Although I was closely monitored during my next pregnancy and there was no indication that it would happen again, I couldn't risk it as my last baby had also been considered low risk.
I went into labour early but they did the section anyway without argument.

I had to have a CS first time as DD was transverse. I lost a lot of blood and found the recovery long and painful. I was open minded second time round but they advised another section as DS was very big. I'm glad I went along with it as he was 11lb1oz. I don't have a labour to compare, but I found both sections painful and difficult to recover from and my stomach is a car crash, so I would say unfortunately there is no ideal option.

I had an early EMCS with my first before I'd had a chance to discuss birth preferences, but I would have requested a section anyway for reasons similar to you OP. With DC2 the midwife was very much "oh, you can do what you like!" and when I asked my consultant at 24 weeks (earlier than usual but I needed to know for peace of mind) she said "Fine. Would you like to book it today?" I had been expecting a fight after reading threads on here and was very pleasantly surprised.

However, I don't think our hospital (large teaching hospital and regional centre for complications) cares much about its CS rates!

Reading the replies, it must really depend on trust. I am in west yorkshire and had no resistance, didn't need counselling... just a leaflet handed to me with a few risks on. No resistance from any midwives through pregnancy. My midwife at booking actually said she will choose to have her first by section as have her colleagues.. and consultants and consultants wives.. she said they all have sections as they have seen what can happen in a natural birth.

I had an elective for my second. Not at all uncommon amongst my friends.

A) the choice isn't between surgery and nothing - the baby needs to get out somehow!

Exactly! It’s a choice of how. It’s not as if natural birth is easy/painless...

The recovery from my ELCS was much, much easier than from my Vaginal birth. Yes it was uncomfortable for a while but nothing compared to what I dealt with first time round, I felt like I had been hit by a train.

They tried to get me to have one when I was in labour with DD. I was so terrified by the idea that I refused to let them ( apparantly I kicked the midwife and threw a handy book at anaesthetist.. I was beyond reason by that time amd still feel bad about it) but agreed that they could if I didnt progress enough in next 20 minutes. DD crowned 18 minutes later.. I think my body reacted to sheer terror. I couldn't imagine a worse way to give birth unless there was no choice. The idea of being cut open whilst still conscious makes me feel sick and shuddery even 12 years later.

Yet I meet people who tell me its a lovely calm relatively painless way to have a baby... all I can say is they are exceedingly brave. I certainly wouldn't volunteer for it. Thankfully DS was in a rush to see the world so didn't have to contemplate it second time round

I did and feel absolutely no shame about it. I understood the risks associated with both methods of birth and made an informed choice. I am still happy with my decision.

If they made it more accessible, gave more balanced information about the various birth options then I do think more people would opt for c sections and I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing.

I agree to some extent with that user but the NHS is well and truly on its knees as it is, I think completely free access to c-sections would tip it over the edge.

I think they thought I chose to have a section as I had a terrible pregnancy, I really didn't want them to try and shift baby, as to me it's natures choice. I did get a lot of stick for it.

I was branded by the anaesthetist as the woman too posh to push. This was 15 years back when sections I guess, were relatively rare.

It's your body and at midwifery school they teach you about how a woman has autonomy over her own body, so if you want a section I don't see why it's an issue.

They ask you at interview what skills a midwife should have, promotion of pre/post partum autonomy seemed to be the best answer.

I’m sure the cost of c sections is evened out by the lack of complicated natural birth and subsequent trauma care, physiotherapy and whatever other care needed as a result.

From a cost perspective it makes sense for everyone to have planned cesarean. You can plan your budget perfectly, you can work around it, know what staff you need...

I did with my second. I had an injury after vaginal birth with my first and although I was told that another vaginal birth would be safe with very minimal risk of another injury occurring, I asked for a c-section. I was met with no resistance and was very supported in my decision. I was right too, the c-section was the far better option for me.

Bear2014 I read that NICE had calculated the difference in cost between VB and CS (including aftercare for both, I think) to be £84. Assuming a CS costs the extra £84 I'd be more than happy to pay

Bear - have studies definitively proven that c sections are more expensive? I know the cost of the actual procedure is more costly than a vaginal birth initially, but when you factor in a lot of the other issues associated with vaginal birth including longer term issues associated with the greater risk of prolapse and incontinence I think the costs associated with both methods aren't massively different.

Oh what rubbish that giving women autonomy over their bodies and birth choices would "tip the NHS over the edge"! If a few extra CS' would do that it's doomed anyway

Dugee - xpost. Thanks, I thought I read similar.

I don't know anyone.

Everyone I know who's had a section was due to medical reasons or having such a wretched first birth that meant they werent prepared to risk another vaginal delivery.

Really? I'm amazed by that. I absolutely think that people should have a choice. If I had been forced to do a v-bac with my DS i hate to think what would have happened.

I think my POV is skewed as most of my friends had home births, birth centre births and very uncomplicated hospital deliveries. Myself and my one friend who had c-sections required a hell of a lot of resources between us.

Happy to admit i am mistaken!

I requested one due to the fact that i was in a wheelchair due to spd and was told by the physio that a natural birth could make it permanently painful for me to walk to pick things up ever again.
I now know that although that could have been possible, it may have easily have gone back to normal, as the c section didn't exactly help my core muscles very much and 8 years on if I overdo things I sometimes still get a twinge of pain in my pelvis.
My second child was breech so I had to have a section for her anyway.

I've booked one! Haven't had it yet so I'll have to report back in a few weeks.

My reasons are the same as pp:
I thought I couldn't guarantee that I could get #1 but I could guarantee #2 and remove the risk of #3 and #4!

After reading all the horror stories on here and hearing the story of my traumatic birth 100s of times, I was considering it. At my booking in appointment, the midwife tried to talk me out of it, but ironically ended up doing the opposite. I confided in her my fears, of having a protracted labour, no pain relief, ended in a 10lb baby stuck halfway out of me and tearing my rectum to shreds.
She said "that may not happen, and if it does, oh well". "Oh well"?! It's not "oh well" to me!

So I saw an obstetrician and booked a cs. It cost around $4000 (Australian) which I thought was reasonable and luckily can afford. The price is actually for the management of the pregnancy by the obstetrician, not the op, so it's the same price if you have a vb or cs.

Same as me Thursday, I'm in NZ. You paid the same for your ob whether you have a CS or not.

I might be more inclined to consider a VB if anyone bothered to track birth injuries but it's the "oh well" attitude here too - bugger that

Just to add, I find it strange how opting for a c section is still so stigmatized. Yes, I know it isn't risk free and is major surgery, but the fact that vaginal birth is more natural doesn't negate the risks.

I think there is almost a conspiracy to underplay the risks of natural birth and overplay those associated with a c section. This is combined with an attitude in society that c sections are somehow wussing out of something women SHOULD do and that every woman's duty is to at least attempt natural birth otherwise you are single handedly bankrupting the NHS (untrue) or are somehow weak (also untrue). All of this works towards shaming women for choosing a c section so women think it's not a valid choice and are embarrassed even when it's a EMCS. The amount of women who have had a C Sec who upon admitting they've had one immediately justify it by stating it was an EMCS and people would have died otherwise etc etc. It's almost as though they are so worried about being judged as inferior to those who have birthed naturally that they rush to defend themselves. So sad and unnecessary.

We'd planned for natural birth but ended up with an emergency section after labour stalled and the little one got into problems - while it was unplanned this time, I'd definitely go for an elective c-section if there is a second. Various reasons - I recovered ridiculously quickly (quicker than half of my natural birth friends) from the section, even though it was unplanned; I'd know what to expect next time; and I think that it would always be in the back of my mind if I tried to do it naturally next time that the same stall might happen again (with the stress possibly making it more likely to happen again!). My only regret was that in the circumstances, DH couldn't be there for the birth, and had probably the most stressful hour of the three of us as he waited for us both to come out of surgery, but hopefully that would be different if it was planned.