To consider a cesarean

[DragonMummy1418]

Ok so I'm considering a cesarean.

However the likelihood of me haemorrhaging is quite high (I have a blood condition and did with my DS)

Now is it sensible to consider a cesarean knowing I will probably haemorrhage again.

Anyone know which is safer?

I had an emergency c section with my DS and had a post partum hemorrhage.

Was told for DD that they strongly recommended an elective c section and this was one of the main reasons. As well as the reasons which ended up in me having the c section in the first place.

DD was born by elcs and all very smooth with no problems during surgery. I’m not having any more kids, but if I was then I’d do the elcs again, it’s a very different experience

Caterina - different experience = pain free? 😜 lol.

Forgive my ignorance but is the risk greater if you haemorrhage with a cesarean?

You should do whatever you feel most comfortable with and what will make you feel the safest and most relaxed. Ultimately, birth is safest no matter how you do it when you aren’t worrying, so I’d do whatever feels right. I’ve had all my babies at home (because that’s where I felt safest), but you don’t get a medal for birthing a certain way. I would trust your instincts.

I'm not sure of the medical risks but I had a severe PPH with DS1 - 3 litres.

I had an elective section with DS2 and lost a grand total of 300ml.

If you had an elcs then I imagine your risk of hemorraghing would be factored in when they were carrying out the op and it would be made as safe as possible

I'm really nervous about it, I keep imagining them missing some bleeding and sewing me up still bleeding! 😬
I'm know I'm being a tad dramatic, I have an anxiety disorder anyway.

It's understandable to be nervous .

My experience of an ELCS was that it was nothing if not calm. Everything was planned and unhurried so they definitely wouldn't have missed significant bleeding.

My elcs was wonderfully calm, unhurried and relaxing. No pain for a day or so after then mild pain which I took paracetamol for. Much better than my first which was an emergency c section.

Thank-you!
Wow. That actually sounds nice, like I might even enjoy it this time.
(Last time was a mess, I didn't get to see my baby for 3.5 hours after he was born!)

I had an ELCS one week ago. (EMCS 2 years ago with first DC)

It was very calm and organised. Like arriving for a spa treatment!
I expected recovery to be a bit quicker than this.

I spent a long time in theatre. Unexpectedly I had servere adhesions and scarring left over from my first c- section. So it took them a long time to clean out the old scar tissue and sew me up (3 hours in total). It meant I couldn't hold my baby for a while and he was really hungry and getting distressed.

I have definitely recovered quicker this time. But perhaps not as quick as if I didn't have the scarring.

I would think a planned cesarean is safer than a failed VBAC that ends in an emergency c section- absolutely. It's safer for baby that is for sure.

Thankfully we live in a country in which women have the right to choose what happens to thier body in childbirth. Also don’t listen to the natural birth propaganda that a c section costs the NHS more money - it’s complete rubbish. They work out about the same after you factor in the cost for physio/surgery/counselling for lots of mums who’ve had vaginal births.

Have a chat with your doctor - I’m sure you’ll come to the best decision for your body.

I can't comment on your likelihood of bleeding, but I just had an elective for my second child. I'm glad I did, as like a PP, my placenta had grown into the scar tissue from my first emergency (albeit all very calm, it wasn't a true emergency, just a failure to progress after an induction) c section. It took the surgeon a while to sort that out, and it could have been a real shock after a vbac. I also decided that the thing I feared most was a failed vbac leading to an urgent c section.

However if I'd wanted a third DC after this one, I would have gone for the Vbac.

Obviously it's nerve racking going in for the surgery, and things like the spinal aren't fun, but it's all very slick and quick. as for recovery, I was at home within 24 hours, and having Easter Sunday lunch in a nice pub less than a week after the op!

Lots of luck with whatever you choose.

@Ohdearyme2018

I have to add that despite any theoretical 'right to choose' the OP may have to fight for it. I've been told on three separate occasions that if I said a second child I would absolutely not be allowed to make that choice.

One of the risk factors for haemorrhage is a long labour so a long, complicated labour followed by EMCS that’s a real risk (what happened to me first time).

9 week post second baby and I had ELCS. I switched back and forth over the decision and in the end baby started spinning at 37 weeks (turned breech to cephalic every couple of days) and PIH meant ELCS was the best option.

So the best decision. Fast recovery, non-complicated operation and 500ml blood loss as opposed to 1.4l first time.

I think with your history you're likely to see a consultant and if you're not under a consultant I would ask to be. They will know which is safest given your history. I think you should get proper advice.

I know my elective sections were both very calm and both times I lost around a pint.

One advantage of a section is they will monitor you closely afterwards. I spent around an hour or so each time after the section with my own nurse and then once on the ward they checked my vital signs regularly for the first 24 hours. So unlikely it would be missed if you were hemorrhaging.

So when I went to have my second c section (elective this time), firstly its much calmer and slower and you haven’t been in labour for hours beforehand and the baby isn’t in distress so they can take their time with the surgery. Also secondly given my medical history they had all the PPH supplies right at hand, including what drugs eventually worked the first time etc. Basically they were on high alert for it and I had v minimal blood loss second time round. No intention of doing it a third time, although that is probably something to consider