Did you request a c section? If so was it difficult to get it?

[womsaal]

In the last year I know 11 people who have given birth. Only two had vaginal births and the others were either a planned or emergency c section. I just wondered if that happens to be my pool of people and in fact most people give birth vaginally? The reason I wonder about this is because I elected a c section (and had to fight for it) because I just knew my frame wouldn’t be able to push out the baby. I was right as our baby was nearly 11 pounds and I am tiny. It would likely have ended in c section anyway but I was massively discouraged to do this. I feel really strongly that women know their own bodies and yet it seems the majority are forced to try and give birth vaginally and then end up in an emergency situation that could have been avoided?

I wanted a c-section but my midwife really tried to put me off it. I ended up getting one as my baby was breech but if not I would have had to fight my corner.

I requested and strongly advocated for myself it wasn't much of a battle but I had a meeting with a midwife whose job was to put me off, if I had another child which I am unlikely to do I would refuse that appointment.
It's your right to make a choice.
I am never going to say there wasn't big negatives to a c section but there are plenty of negatives to the VBAC too.

I opted for C-section when they wanted to induce me because she had a big tummy. I did not want induction. She also has a really big head and I also feel like I wouldn’t have been able to get her out. But then again don’t most women feel like that?

They did try to encourage me to be induced but I knew I was entitled to a planned C-section.

I had an elective CS after an emergency for Placenta Praevia. It wasn't a battle at all.

I was the other way; I desperately wanted to not have C-sections but my kids were breach so I was talked into it. I wish I’d fought harder for a vaginal delivery.

I had an elective with my dd because ds was an emergency 2 years before.

God knows why, I have huge hips, but he would not come out. I wasn’t going to go through that again, especially as she was bigger.

no questions asked.

I needed a c section for medical reasons. Years before I got pregnant my consultant told me I can never give birth vaginally and he wrote to my GP saying the same.

I still had midwives trying to get me to reconsider and even just 10 days before my planned c section date, two junior doctors talked to me to persuade me to reconsider. I told each of them I need it for medical reasons but they ignored what I said and still tried. The only person who never questioned me was the obstetrician consultant who obviously understood immediately that vaginal is not an option and so booked me straight in.

I think they must be under some sort of instruction from the powers that be to limit the number of c sections and try and dissuade you without really thinking about it.

I asked for one with DD after DSs birth was horrific. One midwife said I can ask but probably won't get one so I went to the consultant appt armed with a mountain of reasons why I wanted one. He said 'do you want an elective section?' I said 'yes', he said 'OK I'll book you in.' I was surprised how easy it was even though I had valid reasons. Turns out the recovery was amazing compared the vaginally birth!

I too advocated. I had a planned appointment with a midwife for a usual check up at 37 weeks and mentioned it; she laughed and said something about leaving it until the last minute but it shouldn't be a problem and got me an appointment with a consultant. The consultant asked my reasons (first pregnancy, IVF, bad experiences with smears etc) and I mentioned that I'd read in the guidance about it being patient choice. She went through the pros and cons with me, made sure I understood, and was happy with me and got the paperwork for me to sign. For my second one, I said I had one with my first and wanted another from the off, and it was added to my notes

I asked with my second DD after a less than pleasant vaginal delivery with DD1. It was agreed pretty quickly by consultant after i put my reasons forward. However, the night before my section (was admitted for high blood pressure) a midwife said ‘don’t you at least want to try a vaginal delivery? I nearly ripped her a new arsehole.

I agree. There’s this movement of women (apparently) being able to advocate for the birth of their own choosing. But the rhetoric around it tends to be about opting for less medical intervention, home birth etc. and doesn’t extend the same courtesy to women who WANT the medicalised options or elective c-sections etc. for whatever reason. If a woman turns up saying she wants to breathe her way through labour with no pain relief no one would be coming in trying to convince her otherwise. I think an “are you sure?” Is perfectly fine, but trying to persuade someone differently especially if there are no known complications isn’t right whatever you are choosing to do.

That's really interesting! I asked two different midwives and they both said "you won't get it". I was absolutely terrified and have always been terrified of giving birth. I ended up being induced and rushed for a crash section. Even with all of that i was so relieved.

I know it sounds really pathetic but even as a kid I lay in bed at night panicking about having to do it someday.

I asked for one and got it with no problem. Because of how my first ones birth ended up as an emergency c section and also my age ( geriatric mother, my arse).
Funnily my consultant was going to suggest it anyway.

Some midwives are fantastic. Some are superior arseholes who make pregnant women feel shit by tutting at them for not breastfeeding, and trying to bully them into the birth they prefer because it's far far cheaper

My friend is a midwife who falls into the former category. She respects individual choice. She's incredibly compassionate and supportive. She'd also sack half the people she works with for their judgemental and bullying ways if she was in charge.

Shame really. It's like a lot of them are stuck in the 70s.

I had 2 sections, both elective. The first one I had no argument from midwife or obstetrician. I had a very pragmatic midwife who understood my reason (age-I was 40). The maternity hosp was a large tertiary referral centre so used to very complex cases. They were totally understanding and seemed surprised I had expected resistance. Second even easier due to having had one before. I should think following the Ockenden report it will be easier to have one in areas notoriously historically resistant to them.

I asked for one on medical grounds and had no trouble getting it. I went into it with a ‘no arguments’ mindset and laid out clearly why, with the support of a couple of specialists in my particular health conditions, I was opting for a caesarian. The midwife accepted it straight off, the consultant was a tad more hesitant but really there was no issue.
I am opting for another this time around too, and so far haven’t met with any resistance, albeit it’s early on yet.

I had an elective caesarean. It was right for me. Everyone is entitled to choose their own birth journey, and ELCS are just another vehicle to reach your destination.

I have arthritic hips that have only about 50% of the rotation that a regular hip should have. I also have a related condition where I tire easily. I knew natural labour wasn't for me. I didn't WANT a c-section but, after a lot of consideration and orthopaedic opinion, I knew in my heart of hearts that it was the only way the baby would arrive safely. They STILL really tried to put me off. They didn't care about my other conditions and, I felt, were not making a balanced judgement of risk. I did make them book it however by being very stubborn about it and reminding them of the NICE guidelines. It was a moot point in the end as baby arrived prematurely via EMCS with about 30 mins notice as my placenta started to fail but I won't forget how shit they made me feel about my medically necessary choice before then.

Hello - please don't think it sounds pathetic, I know that feeling all too well. There are no medals for a certain birthing choice.

They told me I’d have an induction at 40 weeks because I was over 40 years old. I told them it was a c section or I would be free birthing at home. There was no way in the world they’d get me to go through anything so traumatic again (first child induced).
Cue whinging and whining from junior doctors and midwives about what a shame it would be to have an operation and how I would put my baby at risk. Consultant agreed to it without hesitation. I was only able to be this firm because it was my second child; the first time, I didn’t have a clue.
You are the boss of you.

Thank you, that’s very kind and I do appreciate it 😁

@ShanequaAndWhat (love the name!) I was terrified of having a emergency section because I nearly ended up with one for DS so I was determined to have a section from the beginning. I've still got injuries from having DS 6 years ago and I was so scared that they would be made worse.

I had 2, one emergency for my first and elective for the second.
To be fair to the medical staff, the only reason they tried to push for vaginal birth (in my trust at least) is that they are concerned about repeated surgeries if women go on to have 2-3-4 children. The risk of complications are much higher. They mentioned other reasons etc but this was really their main concern.

I didn't feel there was too much push back on my choice for the elective. First birth experience was horrible and traumatic due to lack of/ incompetent staff, and I would have preferred for them to tell me there would be midwifes etc to help me have a better experience the second time, but the consultant was honest and told me they just couldn't guarantee anything nowadays!

This is only the last couple of generations that it seems they push CS for breech babies.

When my brother was born he was 9lb 8 oz and breech and no one said a word about CS. I suspect midwives are losing the skill of delivering breech babies.

When my DD 1 was born I had the doctor trying to bully me into having a CS. Even shoved a consent form into my face. I was very vocal in telling them to stuff it.