To be freaking out about emergency C-sections - help! Will a planned c section might be best?

[notaurewhatusername]

I swear, every time I turn around, another friend is telling me about their emergency C-section. It's like everyone I know who's a first-time mom ends up in the operating room!

I'm starting to wonder if I should just ask for a planned C-section from the get-go (I have a family member who is a midwife so appreciate no guarantees unless I go private ). The thought of things going sideways during labor and ending up with an emergency procedure is freaking me out. At least with a planned C-section, everyone's calm and prepared, right?

But then again, I know C-sections come with their own set of risks. Ugh, why is this so complicated?

At the very least if no c section I know I will need an epidural, I just don't want extreme pain and trauma if I can somewhat try to avoid it. Again, I appreciate no guarantees but I'm willing to try.

I'd love to hear from you all. Did any of you end up with an emergency C-section as a first-time mom? If you've had both planned and emergency C-sections, how different were they?

I had planned and arranged a c section in advance with my doctors and still ended up having an emergency c section when baby got into trouble unexpectedly. Whatever you plan baby will decide what happens (mine is fine now). My section was fine tbh, tense as baby was in trouble obviously but the op itself was a breeze 👍
My recovery was fine as well, I was a bit more bruised than usual apparently but they'd had to work fast.

Judgement - as you said. My doctor actually told me not to tell people I was having a planned c-section because other people, especially women, get judgy. As it was, planned became an emergency (and I was aware that could happen which is why I chose a c-section in the first place). To be fair, nobody has said anything judgemental to my face but I think my age and personality play a part in that as well as it being an emergency. Nobody has called me too posh to push yet.

Best outcomes - statistically, an elective c-section is the safest method of delivery for both mother and baby. Fewer things are out of maternal or medical control.

I've had 4 sections.

First was "emergency" but very calm and a quick recovery.

Second was a proper emergency, general anaesthetic, rushing etc. That took me longer to recover from (it felt like forever at the time, compared to the first.

Third (twins) I was booked in for an elective, but they came early, so technically I suppose an emergency, but not really, as all that happened was my waters broke so they kept me in and fitted me in for a section. Recovery wasn't too bad - after pains were horrendous. I had morphine, which helped.

Fourth was elective, very calm, my best recovery by far. I was back to normal quite quickly, even considering the 4 kids I had to look after as well!

I'd never judge anyone for choosing a c section, they're not always easy to recover from, and quite frankly, I don't really care that much how other women give birth, it's none of my business.

I had an emergency c-section. It was an emergency buzzer pulled type of situation and was supposed to be under anaesthetic. However I asked to be awake if possible which they ended up being okay with.
It all happened in about 30 minutes. They were amazingly calm and reassuring. My recovery was good too. It didn’t feel horrible or stressful. Emergency sections can be positive too (apart from the initial fright you get!).

My natural birth was painful but when he was born that was it.
My emergency c section took forever to recover from, the pain when coughing/going to the loo/moving at all and all you're given is paracetamol, it was awful. You're also at higher risk of infection and stuff.
If I had another baby I'd go for a natural birth if possible.

For first time mums (like the OP) in the UK, the chance of needing an emergency section is 1 in 3, according to RCOG. www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/considering-a-caesarean-birth/
The stats you quoted are for births overall, which is misleading and not helpful to the OP as a first time mum

I had a planned c section. When I had a miscarriage I was told I experienced labour pains and it was the worst pain I ever experienced in my life. I didn’t want to go through that and put myself through that pain again. We paid for private c section and recovery in hospital. DH was tending to baby a lot and would pass over to me for a BF. I was in pain more than some posters indicate, I wasn’t able to walk around until day 3 and it was a slow walk around the ward. Second night I had terrible pains and was told it was from the uterus contracting. Doctor and nurses gave me meds and it helped a lot. I was off painkillers within 2 weeks though. I had no complications from the procedure and I think the medical team was wonderful.

I had a cat 1 emcs, the actual operation part was fine, I'd been in induced labour for 60 hours, was in theatre within 10 minutes. I was very poorly, but that was nothing to do with the emcs. I was back driving within 2 weeks, took no pain relief after arriving home 4 days afterwards. If I had had another baby I would have opted for another one.

Thanks for replies but I am very worried that one in my vagina.

Over 20 years I've had problems with the skin in that region and have often had to use steroid creams and thrush tablets to keep the skin under control.

It worries me vaginal birth make it worse

I’ve had both. There was some worry with the emergency one when waiting for a room as wasn’t full on emergency but it was a good quick recovery as was my elective.

Though if I had to do it all again I’d go for a natural birth for the second but request no induction and just an elective section if I were too overdue. Lots of inductions are needless pain and discomfort. That’s my main regret from my first birth that I didn’t just request a section when I was past two weeks and not going down the induction route. I ended up in hospital for days getting prodded and waiting around needlessly.

Have you considered how you’d feel about the scar and possible overhang? I’m not overweight and always had a nice flat stomach. - to outsiders I still do -but there is a bump from the scar area that does mildly annoy me. It’s something to consider. I managed to avoid it with my emergency c section but got it with my second. Though some get it with their first. Something to consider when thinking long term.

I had a planned c-section with my first baby, who was breech, and an unplanned one with my second baby. It wasn’t an emergency, though - like, it wasn’t, “we need to get this baby out now, prep for surgery!” It was just that my water had broken five hours ago, I wasn’t remotely dilated, and you can’t have pitocin if you’ve had a previous c-section (at least not in the US).

They were both fine. I couldn’t feel anything below the waist both times and the recovery was about the same.

Oh dear clearly a googling fail on my part. I really wasn't trying to be unhelpful! I also found a different statistic of 22% in another study.

OP you have to also remember some of that number will be cat 3 sections which aren't technically planned but aren't very time sensitive. So baby has become breech or needs to be out a bit earlier. They'd function as an elective section to all intents and purposes.

If you really want to get into it it might be worth thinking about things like your age/ bmi etc. which may affect how likely you are to have a c section. Also your hospitals individual stats (not that lots of c sections are a necessarily a bad thing).

I had an induction and epidural, it was a lovely experience with no complications, no other interventions and only 35 mins of pushing.

My advice: whatever you choose, go looking for some positive stories as people are far more likely to offer up traumatic experiences than boring, run of the mill, normal experiences.

I had an emergency section at 29 weeks - it was stressful due to the worry about the baby and difficult to do the epidural as I was having very frequent contractions but the procedure wasn't hideous and the recovery fine. I had a planned (though medically I had no choice) section with my second and it was just lovely. Beautiful experience and great recovery. Lovely music, immediate skin to skin, it was an incredibly healing and emotional experience after my first birth. It did help that I had an incredible obstetrician throughout and she chose the loveliest anaesthetist to work with. I took the two kids to the park 3 days later and felt completely back to normal after about 2 weeks.

Ive had three babies. All vaginally all with just gas and air. DS1 was 10 pounds 2. Babies 2&3 were both induced. DS2 at 42 weeks and DD at 38 weeks.

I did NCT & pilates first time round, yoga second time and hypno birthing 3rd time. I wish i had done hypno from the beginning when things were not going great at the end of pregnancy 3 I was really calm and able to make ration clear decisions.

I found hot water amazingly helpful for managing pain.

Hi @notaurewhatusername … I have only had C-sections so that’s all I know. I’m the kind of person that feels better if I have a plan. Even though my second one didn’t go to plan, I am grateful because it was humane and respectful and everyone is alive. My first was an emergency because I developed weird cardiac arrhythmias towards the end of the pregnancy, and the other was planned because I was having twins, but no cardiac issues had been detected and this wasn’t considered to be a high-risk pregnancy… Despite this, it turned into an emergency due to a genetic condition I didn’t know I have. Yes, it was scary, but everyone was kind and respectful and thoroughly professional. They were confident and relaxed, but at no stage did I feel like my humanity was being minimised or ignored. When I needed to be knocked out for an emergency hysterectomy, the lovely nurse had her face right at my eye line and held my hand and stroked my head and promised me that my babies were fine - I had seen them and could hear them crying. She comforted me in such a genuinely kind way, promising that they were looking after my husband (sitting in the corner) and I was going to be okay. This lovely nurse had her face right next to mine until I was totally asleep and she stayed with me in recovery - not her normal job - so she could answer my repeated questions (from the drugs) about my DH and my babies. Understand that I have a very rare genetic condition that affects my heart and all connective tissue. A full-blown labour probably would have killed all of us. This is not what happens for 999/1000 c/sections.

Just so you know despite all the drama, I recovered really quickly from both surgeries. I was up and around early the next morning, a bit tender, but upright. I walked as much as I could around the hospital and as I loathe the woozy feeling of painkillers, I was just taking paracetamol and ibuprofen after day two. It was fine.

I haven't had a section to compare it too but I've had two vaginal births. First was induced, medicated and assisted delivery. Second was spontaneous unmedicated delivery and so so much easier.

Induction and other interventions do drastically increase the chances of a section. In some hospitals induction increases the chance of a section to a 1 in 2 risk so would recommend querying this with yours if it's suggested. IMO this is why so many first time mothers have sections - they're more likely to go over on their first and have induction recommended for being post dates.

Like another poster mentioned epidurals also do increase intervention too. No matter how you give birth it's going to be painful at some stage, whether during or after, but it's so so worth it to hold your baby. All birth is valid but I am a big advocate for unmedicated after seeing the difference in how smoother my labour and recovry went with this option. Hypnobirthing was really helpful for it, and being prepared for the pain but knowing it's temporary.

I'm currently 5 weeks post my second delivery and feeling fantastic. Fully healed within 3 weeks, even with a second degree tear, and having birthed a 10 & 1/2 lb baby. I was up and walking around the room 45min after birth. My son also had a very smooth delivery and was healthy and well throughout. To me, this was worth a few hours of pain.

I've had four natural births and one c-section (planned due to a transverse lie). The natural births were the best as I was bounding round the ward soon after like nothing had happened. The c-section was awful - felt like a hand grenade had gone off in my stomach and I needed help to pick her up for days. I still get pain and tingling in my scar sometimes. My daughter is now 33.

I have 6 kids, 5 natural labours and last baby born last year was an emergency c section after 27 hours of labour not progressing and then he was getting very stressed out in the womb and his heartbeat was going through the roof.

I would rather natural labour everytime.
The recovery after creation is horrific and I feel like you never truly recover. They cut through so many layers to get to baby and mine was rushed so my scsr isn't straight. I was devastated to have to go through a c section but it was an emergency and I just wanted him out. And when he was.born he had breathing problems and I was freaking out behind the curtain if he was dead or alive.

The recovery is more difficult than natural labour.
Trust me. You can't move properly and the midwives are pushing you to move more. It's terrible. Worst ever. I would like to have our last and final baby number 7 but I'm scared it will be a c-section again. It was rough

They should change the terminology to unplanned. Mine was an “emergency” section. It makes things sound so much more serious than they were in my case. I just had a long labour and wasn’t progressing enough. The whole surgery was very calm, and quick but not rushed. There was no fear over getting baby out quickly (of course some cases there would be). We were joking with the clinical team about a stupid tattoo I had as a teen, it was all very relaxed.
When I was told I was going to end up needing a C-section I burst into tears because the fear of the “emergency”.

Try not to worry OP. I’d stick with whatever your preference was, but just mentally prepare yourself that it might end up with a different outcome, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

If you want a c section you're entitled to one - they can't refuse you.

You've got good reasons for wanting a planned section but you'll need to advocate for yourself.

I had an emergency section, the physical recovery was fine.

They sound change a lot of the terminology associated with pregnancy and birth!

I’m currently pregnant and planning for this kind of birth. I had a planned c-section the first time round (breach) but I’m terrified of needles and won’t have another Epidural.

Honestly, if you’re planning an epidural anyway then ask for a planned C-section. As PP said there could be an increased risk of emergency section with an epidural anyway so I’d rather plan for that. My planned C section went well with quick recovery but appreciate not everyone is the same. It’s a shame I’m so scared of needles or I’d do it again 😂

Good luck!

To address one of your points - I had an emergency section and (in the best way) as a layperson you never would have known it was an emergency. The staff were so calm and upbeat - wonderful experience. All the best for the rest of your pregnancy and whatever you choose to do, OP.

Induced on due date with both mine as DS1 was large and DS2 kept turning breach.

Coped with both deliveries on TENS and gas and air only.

I actually cried when l was told I'd need a section for DS2 as l knew how difficult it would be post surgery. Thankfully the little shit darling turned at the last minute!