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 had oral morph and diclofenac after all of my csections….

No, I didn't request major abdominal surgery to have my babies removed from me.

There are targets to get c sections below certain percentages and trusts can get fined if they go above this, so thete is a pressure on them to limit them.
There is also the 'risk assessment' pressure. A medium size maternity unit will have probably 2-3 anaesthetists available and 2 theatres, and friends who are midwives have said they are often anxious when 2 out of the 3 are doing elective sections, and only 1 left for emergencies. If that one is dealing with an emergency, if another emergency delivery is needed, there may be no theatre or anaesthetist available. This is if course not the fault of those having elective c sections, but a need for more theatres and staffing. However, these are things the midwives cannot magic from nowhere, so it can put babies at risk, so i think they are encouraged to deter too many from having electives to allow more capacity for emergencies.

Although they tried to push a c section on me when I did not want one, so it goes both ways.

My first baby was an emergency c-section (breech and very small baby) but with my second I opted for an elective c-section. I was fully prepared to battle for it. I did my research and attended the VBAC clinic, ready to tell the doctor my reasons...and they just said "yes, that's fine". I remember saying to her, "but don't you want to hear why I want a c-section?" She said it was my choice and they'd support that. I was very pleasantly surprised by that, especially as I'd worked myself up into thinking I'd have a real fight on my hands.

For me, the choice to have an elective c-section with my second wasn't about any fear of giving birth naturally, it was more that I'd had such a good experience with my first and felt, to some extent, in control. I wanted to try and achieve that with my second birth. I know no birth is simple and it's very easy for things to go beyond your control, but my second birth felt calm and less invasive. I know that sounds ridiculous when a c-section literally has your organs being cut open but I couldn't stand the thought of the invasive checks to see how far you're dilated, etc.

It was an unexpectedly easy request! Very recent as I’m only 32 weeks and appreciate NICE guidelines have changed recently.

My midwife was actually the one to bring it up at my booking appointment. We were going through my medical history and I said I was worried about labour because I wouldn’t be able to tolerate vaginal examinations. She said there were ways round this and a c-section was always an option if I wanted to speak to the consultant. Had a consultant appointment at 16 weeks, explained why I’d been referred and the research I’d done into why a previous surgery was more risky for vaginal births and he said straight away that was fine, I’d done my research, so he would book it in there and then. Told me to come back at 36 weeks to sign the paperwork.

Midwife has always been fine about it too.

I wanted a C-section and I got one. No pushback from midwives or my initial consultant, although I had to fight for it later down the line. It was honestly such a lovely experience (as far as major surgery can be!), recovery far better than I thought it would be, pain manageable with just paracetamol and ibuprofen once I got home - I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

In the beginning it was mainly influenced by mental health factors.My baby started measuring big as well. I had a lovely consultant who listened to me, read the notes from the perinatal mental health team who were also monitoring me, and he heard my concerns and he immediately agreed with my reasons for c-section and had no problem with it - sent me off with all the information, consent forms etc it was a huge relief.

Then a few weeks later I got invited back in for a second appointment with a different doctor and it was like her mission was to get me to agree to a vaginal birth. I’d very recently been diagnosed with polyhydramnios and the doctor said I’d have to be induced, which was a huge no for me and I’d said that from the beginning, so it only reinforced my wish for a c-section. Doctor really pushed for me to have an induction, was really forceful about it actually and I said I didn’t understand why when it was already agreed I was having a section. She said that my previous consultant had now left the hospital so we had to revisit the decision - it was like she’d come into my appointment with the agenda to get me to change my mind, no matter how much I explained my reasons. I got visibly distressed in that appointment - my husband was there and he intervened at one point because I ended up in tears.

I had a tour of the labour ward booked for after the appointment. The senior midwife showing me round asked about my birth preferences, and I said I’d really like a c-section and what had happened in my previous appointment. I was still a bit upset. She just said “oh, I arrange the c-sections, shall I put you down for one? You’ll get a letter in a week or so with your date but it’ll be in X week”. And she then answered any and all my questions about the surgery, even took me to show me what the theatre looked like and explained what everything in there was for, and that was that. I got my c-section - even when baby sent me into labour the morning of my surgery date!

I'd experienced recurrent miscarriage and just had no trust in my body so knew I wanted a C-section from the off. This was further reinforced by the positive stories from friends who had elective c-sections, and by finding that 99% of comments online from those who had ELCS were just so positive.

I was very lucky to have had no pushback when I requested my ELCS for my first baby. I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant with my second who sadly has restricted growth, and it seems c-section is actually the preferred option for him anyway as he is so small, he probably wouldn't cope well with natural labour. So it's all worked out.

I do find that many comments on here are so uninformed about elective c-sections. See comment re pain relief above. ELCS is always conflated with EMCS too which is completely wrong, they're totally different. I've nothing but positive things to say about my ELCS, and I can only hope that no.2 is equally as positive.

I had a planned C-section for no reason other than that is what I wanted. I had to argue with my consultant. But I got one and never regretted it for a minute.

I didn't ask for one - but was asked IF i wanted one, my baby was huge too - and i am pretty small . I pushed her out as C-secs scare me - unless medical emergency - i would never have asked for one. My son was huge too - he shot out like a rocket, they didn't even get the time to offer it this time haha.

I asked for one during the inducing process. I’d had two pessaries and wasn’t in labour and was over a week overdue. Had had no sleep for pretty much 3 days. They wanted to break my waters and start the drip and I refused at that point and asked for a section. They agreed - all fine.

Did your friend have Cs?

I don’t understand people choosing a c- section over a vaginal birth? The recovery looks horrible for a c section I’ve had two natural births and was home within 24hours! Everyone I know has been in hospital 4/5 days and have hugely struggled afterwards for weeks, yet everyone seems to opt for an elective section?

I've never met a single person who stayed in hospital for 5 days following an elective c section. Not these days anyways. And a lot of my mum friends have had c-sections. I was out within 48 hours. Would've been sooner but mine was done in the evening and they don't like to discharge at night. It's standard to discharge after 24 hours now.

There's so many firsthand accounts from mother's who've had ELCS who recount how easily they recovered, all available online, most on this site and similar sites. I don't understand where this clear misconception of ELCS comes from.

Obviously some people will have had more difficult experiences, just as it varies with vaginal births, but from what I've seen and heard, the vast majority, including myself, have had incredibly positive ELCS experiences, with quick and easy recoveries. I was up after 6 hours, back to my usual self in a couple of days. No pain. I've had more pain stubbing my toe - and like I said, experiences of my friends and those I've read online are largely the same.

I had an emergency c section 1st then requested one for my 2nd. I had a midwife and a dr suggest trying vbac as 6 years had passed but I stuck to my guns and they didn’t push the issue. I had such a bad time the 1st time round that I didn’t want to risk it again.

My booking appt was at 6 weeks due to health conditions, I said at that appt I wanted a c section and she noted it down as well as referring me to the anaesthetists due to my health conditions.

I was consultant led and no one questioned it. My obstetrician also checked what I wanted to happen in the event I went into labour before my section date and I said I still wanted a section and he noted it down.

I was home from my elective c section within 24 hours. It was a much much easier recovery than my vaginal birth too. Both initially and long term. Still have issues from the vaginal birth 3+ years later

Told the midwife at my booking appt. She referred me to the consultant who I met with at about 20 weeks. I had valid reasons for wanting it. They outlined the risks and gave me a date on the spot, no questions asked. Was documented as 'maternal request'

The good thing is you don’t need to understand, their decision has nothing to do with you.
Only 16% of births are elective sections so quite obviously everyone doesn’t opt for one. Plus that includes those who have had previous emergency sections, things like breech babies and all sorts of medical reasons for a section being recommended. A much smaller percentage is actually true maternal choice.

You only take paracetamol and ibuprofen if you’ve had a C section anyway.

I chose one as I lost a baby in horrible circumstances and couldn’t face a vaginsl birth. There will be many reasons women want a c section I find it odd that you can’t comprehend this?

I was in hospital for one night and went home in the morning and my recovery was great, I didn’t struggle at all. I don’t think 4/5 days is usual.

I requested one after a first traumatic vaginal birth.

My midwife read the notes from my first birth and said she'd recommend a section.

I think with a valid reason, there's no reason to decline.

Your friend sounds great. I would have loved a midwife like her. Instead, I got the other type.

The type of midwives your friend would sack have no business being anywhere near a maternity unit.

The time and effort spent bullying women into an unwanted 'natural' birth would be far better spent on the CS itself.

All reasons should be valid, no woman should have to beg for a CS.

I was told CS recovery was awful with risk of infection, a bad surgery leading to nerves to the bladder and clitoris severed, I wouldn't be able to BF, I'd not be able to walk and look after my baby for 6 weeks. Name any nightmare scenario and I was told it.

At the last appointment I was told I was a terrible mother for trying to have a CS, would cost the NHS a fortune and was a bad person for taking money from the NHS needlessly.

Would that make me an awful person for having my appendix out without anaesthesia? Or my wisdom teeth? These happen 'naturally' to the human body, too.

I get so bloody angry about this.

You can have strong pain meds with a section. I had morphine, Tramadol, codeine and goodness knows what else immediately from birth. And yes, I was breastfeeding. I was told I could only take paracetamol and ibuprofen once I got home so I stayed in an extra day (48 hours total) to get the good stuff so I felt confident managing when I got home. And I did manage absolutely fine. In fact was going out for walks within a couple of days and went out for several birthday meals and a day out 6 days after birth (my birthday and DS are very close together). I’ve had friends who had ELCS they all had similar experiences to me. This did however get sent home with strong painkillers, so I guess my hospital just didn’t offer that!

I really don't give a damn whether other people have a CS or not although it's not something id do ( as stated in earlier post when they tried to bully me into one) but I do have a question. Is it correct that you not meant to lift anything heavy for weeks ( as I was told for hysterectomy)? If so how do you manage if you have toddlers as well. And what about driving ?

Its not unique to c sections, you will be advised after any abdominal surgery not to drive for about 6 weeks and the same thing with heavy lifting.
My toddler was almost 2.5 when I had my second emergency section. They didn’t need lifted that much, got into bed etc. DH had 5 weeks paternity do did any of the laborious stuff during that time. Toddler understand we could cuddle on the sofa but I couldn’t just carry them about, I couldn’t carry them about during the later weeks of pregnancy so it wasn’t a sudden shift anyway.
Friends who had bad vaginal births had similar limits with their recovery anyway.

I was in hospital due to pre-eclampsia and my friend, on another ward asked to visit me and was told no, because apparently I was on bed rest waiting for a c-section, first I had heard anything about it!
so I packed my bag and went to discharge myself!
unless it was an emergency and my baby was at risk then no way was I having a c-section!
They told me if I stayed they’d induce me, so I stayed!
I had an horrendous normal delivery, from start til finish I was 11 hours and had goodness knows how many stitches 🤣🤣
I was ready to go home next morning, those who had c-sections had to stay in a week years ago, no way!
My daughter was exactly the same, she refused a C-section and she gave birth, came home 8 hours after and was out and about, driving her car and picking her other child up from school, like she said, she wouldn’t be able to drive for a month after a C-section,