To think the NHS discourages c sections on purpose?

[tablebrush]

I often hear a lot of negatives about c sections (and not usually from women who have had them). You hear how it's not natural and how it's major surgery and how the recovery is awful and how it's all so much worse etc etc
But the women I speak to who have had them often speak of how positive their experiences were and how it was much more pleasant than a vaginal birth.
I understand it is major surgery but giving birth isn't exactly a walk in the park, and can (and often does) leave you with ongoing injuries.
AIBU to think the NHS/midwives put women off c sections due to cost and that they may actually be a better or at least equal, option for birth?

I don’t think it’s just the cost if it. Statistically the surgery carries more risks than a vaginal birth. And I think it’s too easy to forget that the procedure is very often performed in a panic, urgent, life saving situation.

Yes they do, because if you can give birth vaginaly it is si much better for you and yiur baby

I don't think you are being unreasonable. There's a lot of emphasis placed on natural births, but I don't think they are the best option for everyone.

It’s price.

NICE guidelines are that the risks of c-section and natural birth are similar.

If most cesareans are as a result of an emergency then of course statistically they aren't going to have such good outcomes. Compare like with like, and factor in the risk of long term physical injury.

I agree 100%. Obviously it's not to be taken lightly...it is a major surgery. However I had an emergency section first time round after a very long and traumatic labour and opted for a elcs second time round. Everyone involved in my care tried their upmost to talk me out of it. I was made to explain my reasons and basically what followed was the healthcare professional explaining why I was wrong and should reconsider. They retold the same points over and over. The baby wouldnt be able to bond as easily, breastfeeding would be harder to establish, major operation, slow recovery, more risky for baby, risk of blood transfusion. This went on the entire way up until the week prior to having Dd. They made everything very cloak and dagger and it was yet another stress I didn't need.

In reality my elcs was a walk in the park in comparison to my labour with my first. Home the next day with paracetamol and ibuprofen and recovery was speedy. Dd was in far less danger than her older brother had been. She latched straight away, and the stress to my body was considerably less.

I think if you have valid reasons they should allow you to decide what's best(as long as it doesn't put you more at risk). After all it's your body.

I've had 3 vaginal births and 2 sections and the sections were by far the worst births.

It’s not price. It’s the fact that statistically speaking a vaginal birth is better for Mother and baby. But that’s not to say when looking at it on an individual level a C/S won’t be a better choice for some. It would be wrong to say that they are much of a muchness. They aren’t.

NHS/midwives put women off c sections due to cost

What more reasons do you need? The NHS is struggling enough.

Cesarean sections are an amazing way to save lives WHEN needed but shouldn't be an alternative to a VB just because.

Jelly please that's bunkum.

You can't compare emergency section with normal labour.

Long term damage etc is not factored in from normal delivery.
Actually someone came up with figures showing normal elc carries far less risk!

Normally delivery isn't much better for mum or baby because it depends on the mum, and the baby!!

I don’t know anyone who had an easy caesarean

So many more staff are needed for a CS and many hospitals have a midwife shortage as it is.

YABU

It's not just about cost, it's about risks of major abdominal surgery that is not medically necessary and the long term effects of c-section are still under investigation.

There is a lot of questioning as to how oxytocin (bonding, sex and labour hormone) has a life long effect on our development, the forming of life long emotional bonds and there is a thought that it may influence behaviour. The lack of naturally occurring oxytocin in a planned c section could well contribute to life long physical and psychological issues.

Vaginal birth assists the baby in clearing its lungs of amniotic fluid and mucus in a way that c section does not.

C sections which occur without labour can have an effect on breast milk production - milk tends to come in later, and weight loss in neonates can be greater due to that.

All of the above can lead to a knock on effect of long term ill health, which then puts further strain on healthcare services.

So yes it is about cost, but it's also about public health and ensuring that no one undergoes an invasive and risky medical procedure which isn't actually necessary.

The only other speciality in medicine where people expect to be given an unnecessary surgical procedure is plastic surgery.

I’m pregnant and have been told by my consultant that it is strongly recommended that I have a c section, so I disagree that the NHS discourages them.

@GuntyMcGee I can't believe you are suggesting that having an ELC could result in life long physical and psychological problems. With who? The baby? The mother? And that mothers of babies born through c section don't bond well. I find this pretty offensive and ignorant.

They definitely discourage them on purpose! Why would they encourage the more dangerous option?

The NHS is on its knees. Of course cost is a factor. Just as it is for people who can't get much needed hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery.

30 years ago only 10% of babies were born by c section, now it's 25%. Women's bodies haven't changed that much in a generation.

Spotting it sounds as though your consultant has good reason to say this. The norm isn't to offer one without good reason.

I had an ELCS just over a week ago and quite a few professionals tried to talk me out of it. However I have found that the whole experience was much better. I haven't risked any further damage to my previous birth injuries, my mental health is better. My recovery from my c section is currently 100x better than that from my vaginal birth. DC2 is also considerably healthier in the first week of his life than DC1 was due to the trauma of her vaginal birth.

Unless it's totally straightforward, which obviously can't be guaranteed, a vaginal birth isn't always the best option and in reality the NHS know this.

I would imagine they would discourage Elective CS. It's more dangerous for mother and baby, the recovery is more difficult, there are various advantages of vaginal birth that you'd be missing out on. It's great that CS exist (I'm alive thanks to one!) but it's not the best option unless necessary.

@Momasita and @UpstartCrow I have read similar. The comparisons commonly made use the combined data of emergency and elective sections so of course that is going to compare less favourably with vaginal births.
I have had a vaginal birth and it was horrific. I had forceps delivery and had to be cut. Have been left with scar tissue and bladder problems. My close friends who have given birth around the same time as me have also had tears (one 3rd degree) and have been left incontinent (as in wee when you cough) which is just seem as 'normal' after birth (which I suppose it could be).
Also, the recovery from my vaginal broth was pretty awful. My stitches hurt a lot and one burst, I ended having to be catheterised for two months after the birth and struggled to mobilise at the beginning.
I obviously can't compare directly and I'm not saying a c section is 'better' than a vaginal birth but to me they seem like they are similar re pain/recover..

@GuntyMcGee what a scaremongering, intentionally provocative thing to say. Not to mention a load of bullshit. Care to link to any studies that back up your claims RE psychological issues?

FWIW I had an elective section for mental health reasons and it went very well, I adore my baby, he has no lung/chest problems and I’m still BF 11 months down the line.

I would agree that you can have lifelong physical and psychological problems with an elcs. However it can also happen with a vaginal birth. You have to weigh up the odds and decide which is the least risky for you and your baby. Either way there are risks and it's almost certainly going to hurt a lot.

Two ways of giving birth (planned CS and vaginal birth) have statistically similar outcomes. One method is more expensive, and the NHS needs to justify spending taxpayers' money on unnecessary medical care.

Of course ELCS should be considered and performed if mother or baby's health are, or may be statistically more likely than usual to be, at risk from vaginal birth.

I'm quite glad they go for the cheaper option, just like I expect the NHS to choose cheaper brands of paracetamol and best value cleaning contracts (obviously it doesn't always work out that way though!)

@elliejjtiny this is exactly what I was thinking. There are risks either way and either way it's going to hurt A LOT!