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.

[BlueEyedBengal]

I had an emergency c s on my first 27 yrs ago it saved his life as his heart was all over the place and failing fast.over the years since, till 5 yrs ago I opted for vaginal birth 5 times and luckily all was well it took longer to recover from the c s and I am still numb around the scar it's a personal choice but personally I would not go into what is a major op without knowing the pro and cons. There was a lady in when I was in hospital after having one of mine who had major problems because they sliced her bladder mistake in a elected c s but at the end of the day your body your baby and you must do what's right for you . What was worst for me was because I had had spinal surgery I had to have a general and didn't see my baby for 3 days. I had a poloroid photo of a 5 lb baby and I was so sure he was dead. I think I still have flash backs it was 27 years ago so how they treat you must vastly have improve? I hope they have anyway.

[Thursdaydreaming]

VioletteValentia

I had someone tell me I picked the easy way. I said yeah, I did. Why would you make it harder for yourself? Bit silly that.

So true, that is such a weird thing to say. Of course, everyone chooses the easiest (in their opinion) option. Why would anyone be proud of making it harder?

Imagine someone having a similar attitude towards other medical procedures. They would seem insane.

I had wisdom tooth surgery, and I smacked myself in the face immediately afterwards. Didn't want to take the easy way out.

I needed my gall bladder out, so I chose a surgeon with a history of medical malpractice. Didn't want to take the easy way out!

[Mouikey]

As an elderly mum-to-be my consultant wanted me to be induced at 40 weeks, with no more justification than he didn’t want me to go beyond 40 weeks at my age (he gave the safety, still born talk, but I did my research and understood the risk to be very small and smaller with monitoring).

Having heard from the local midwives that this is his preferred method, and the overwhelmingly bad experiences friends and family members had with inductions I decided to have an elective c section - you say it’s taboo, but when you add that I wanted a general anaesthetic the response I git was ‘interesting’.

The hospital were very supportive of this and i had discussions with The anaesthetist and we came up with a plan that gave me confidence and control.

As it happened baby came on her due date, and the birth was swift and in the pool (what I had aspired too). Not without complications, but with a short stay in hospital all was good and 20 months on I look back at what was (overall) a positive experience.

[Rockandrollwithit]

I did.

I had a horrific birth with DC1 and knew that my mental health would not survive giving birth 'naturally' again. No regrets either.

[Rufustherenegadereindeer1]

I have had two csections but i didnt ask for either of them

Fully support a womans right to chose if she is at all worried

[VioletteValentia]

Martha

Yep. I’m also a control freak, so no way was I going to just lie there and let the universe decide how my birth went. I put it in the hands of doctors who could give me statistics, experience and knowledge. I knew more about cesareans than anyone by the time I went in, I’d watched them online enough!

A cesarean is in my mind, the scientific, calculated way to give birth.

[VioletteValentia]

So true, that is such a weird thing to say. Of course, everyone chooses the easiest (in their opinion) option. Why would anyone be proud of making it harder?

I walked 10 miles to work instead of driving, I sat out at 4am.

I carried my kid on my back all day instead of using the buggy.

I cooked my food using a match and a candle instead of my oven.

I don’t get it at all!

[WinterHasRuinedMyFace]

I've found my people :) number 1 was elective (private) out of preference, number 2 elective on the NHS (minimal resistance), number 3 due soon will be another elective. I'd just appreciate it if my request to be sterilised at the same time were to be granted as easily.

[NNchangedforthis]

I had an EMCS with my first, but fell pregnant very quickly with my second. There is a year and 5 days between them.
I chose a section for my second, albeit there was risks going VBAC but the consultant was happy for me to try but was equally as happy with my choice. If I fell pregnant now, my youngest is 6 but I would still chose a section over a VBAC. It’s a case of better the devil you know for me!

[MammaTJ]

I asked for one but was refused. Ended up having an EMCS anyway, damage caused to my DD's eye.

That was 11 years ago though.

[wibs77]

I am 40 and pregnant with my first (and only) child. I will be requesting a C section as I am petrified. Mine is a mix of reasons. 2 friends (1 my best friend) had stillbirth for their first child) one had a child with a severe undiagnosed heart condition.my mum has terrible bladder issues and can't walk further than 10 minutes away from a toilet. All the babies in our family are big. I am too petrified for being cut I cannot trust a midwife not to cut me so I will not allow anyone near me in that scenario. Every smear and insternal has always hurt a lot and on one occasion a doctor started an examination without warning causing me to be physically sick. My husband watched the traumatic birth of his son and cannot face another traumatic experience. I am also working up to the birth and the thought of having to be in labour to commute the 1.5 hours from work to the hospital is enough to induce a panic attack.
I am very much live and let live. If someone wants a home birth great but equally women who feel they really need a section should be given one.

[VioletteValentia]

Winter is it not being? I was told it was possible to have that done during the op, it wasn’t of interest to me because I want more kids but after I have my last I’d assumed it wouldn’t be a problem!

[Babynurse85]

Yep! I requested a c section with my second. I broke my coccyx (yes it can happen!) pushing DS1 and went through months and months of painful physio (that was also very embarrassing and intrusive!) and my coccyx has never been the same since. When I was pregnant with DS2 they couldn't guarantee the injury wouldn't happen again or be aggrevated by the birth so I noped right out!
It was a bit of a faff to get one, they wouldn't agree until 36 weeks, I had to have a consultant led meeting where they tried to scare me with lots of c section statistics. Luckily I am a neonatal nurse so well aware of all the risks and got a lovely Dr I worked with to help me write a letter explaining my situation, highlighting NICE guidelines for maternal choice and how it had impacted me mentally and physically last time... They agreed pretty much straight away when they read that! Best thing I ever did. I did suffer from c section complications but it was 100 times better than anything I experienced the first time round and my recovery was also loads better than my vaginal birth.

[Takfujuimoto]

I requested sections for all my children (3 times) and only had slight resistance to the first request which was just over 10 years ago.
I had a talk with a second consultant after the first one couldn't or rather wouldn't understand my POV and it was decided that another consultant would do it and booked me in then and there.

I am content with having had sections, very glad my babies were delivered the way I wanted and I have never wanted or wondered any 'what ifs' about vaginal delivery, it's just something I've never wanted to do and I'm glad I avoided it.

[VioletteValentia]

When I had mine, I was told the position DS was in meant I wouldn’t have given birth without serious intervention and possible EMCS.

[Bear2014]

Beetlejizz (great name) yes you are right. I totally think that women should be allowed to choose, but to me saying everyone should just have a c section seems like madness.

Great to read so many positive cs experiences though.

[Beetlejizz]

Well of course everyone shouldn't have a section Bear! Unless that is what everyone wants, but it won't be.

There's no 'should' about it, women need the right to choose. The likelihood that universal ELCS would be cheaper overall for the NHS isn't a reason why women shouldn't be able to attempt vaginal birth- and in reality, it would be impossible to enforce this anyway. The law doesn't allow an adult with capacity to have a medical procedure forced on them.

[welshweasel]

I had a maternal choice section. I also know absolutely loads of people who also chose one. I'm a doctor and realise that this skews the results but its something lots of my colleagues choose for their birth. Make of that what you will! For the record, my section was fab and if I'm lucky enough to get pregnant again I'd have no hesitation having another.

[VioletteValentia]

I had also read about many doctors choosing a cesarean, which swayed me further.

[Bear2014]

I think what we need the most is a cultural shift where people stop 'sneering at' and judging other peoples' births, whether by choice or not. I have never had a negative comment in real life about my sections, just plenty of sympathy for having had surgery and prolonged hospital stays.

But anyone who makes these comments should be ashamed of themselves. I personally don't agree that a CS is the easy way out but so what if it was. As PP have said, why on earth would you make things harder for yourself?!

Post natal care really needs a shake up though, to cope with more people on the wards. I discharged myself against medical advice as I couldn't bear to be there any more, feeling like a huge imposition for pressing my buzzer.

[Donotbequotingmeinbold]

I don't think people should be able to choose one on the NHS without a medical reason. I think everyone who needs one should get one but they cost about 5 times as much as a vaginal birth and there isn't the money for people to have them because they don't fancy a vaginal birth.

[LeSquigh]

I’ve had a vaginal birth and a Caesarian. The vagina birth itself wasn’t particularly bad but the aftermath was and continued to be so for years. The section was done fairly hurriedly and earlier than booked (I had a placenta praevia so no choice) but I was back to normal and Driving within 2 weeks. I could have done so a week before but didn’t need to. I couldn’t believe how well I healed. I do realise that I was an exception to the rule but I would always opt for a section for that reason if I were to have another, which I don’t plan to!

I do think that too many sections are carried out on the NHS though. There are too many people using the anxiety card to get a section and for most people a section causes far more issues ban a vaginal birth. If you have a genuine mental health reason for not being able to deliver vaginally then fine but it has too many risks and costs the NHS too much money to simply be done willy nilly for everyone who is a bit scared of childbirth. Everyone has fears about childbirth, especially the first time. I am happy and prepared to be flamed when I say “if you want a baby then be prepared to give birth vaginally, it’s the natural way and the way it should be unless there is a genuine medical reason that puts your life at risk why you cannot”.

[JennyBlueWren]

My baby's measuring big and I specifically said I want to avoid a cesarean if possible. Going to be induced this Saturday instead. Of course cesarean might still be on the cards and was close to it last time. I just can't imagine having the surgery -especially on my tummy which for some reason I feel particularly sensitive about (from a physical rather than aesthetic point).