To Be Weighing Up Elective C-Section vs Epidural Birth

[anonymousxmasposter]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant (first successful pregnancy after six losses) and trying to make an informed decision about my birth plan. I'm strongly leaning toward an elective c-section and would love to hear experiences from others who've had either c-sections or epidural births.

Why I'm Considering C-Section: I've given this a lot of thought, and here are my main reasons:

• I've had severe childbirth phobia since childhood - it was nearly enough to stop me from trying for children altogether. This isn't just normal nerves; it's a deep-seated fear I've carried for years.

• Several close friends who had vaginal births have told me they'd choose a c-section if they could do it again, which has really influenced my thinking.

• I know myself well enough to know I handle prolonged, manageable pain much better than intense, acute pain. The controlled nature of a c-section appeals to me more than unpredictable labor.

• I have a 20-year history of recurring vaginal health issues (chronic thrush and extremely sensitive skin), and I'm concerned about how vaginal delivery might impact these existing problems.

• After experiencing six miscarriages, Having a planned c-section feels like a way to regain some control over my birth experience after so much loss and uncertainty.

There are some factors giving me pause:

• I have a clotting disorder which increases my risk of blood clots post-surgery
• I'm worried about reduced mobility during recovery and the potential for isolation/depression
• The possibility of long-term nerve damage around the incision site concerns me

I know for certain that unmedicated birth is not for me. While an epidural birth seems like a middle ground, I have significant concerns about:

• The epidural not being available when needed
• The possibility of it not working effectively
• Missing the window for getting one

I'd really appreciate hearing from others who've been in similar situations or had to make this choice. If you've had either a c-section or epidural birth, what was your experience like? What do you wish you'd known beforehand?

Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences and insights. 💕

If you are fearful of childbirth then go c section.

Ok I know you were very specific in asking for either c-section mothers or those that had an epidural, and I had neither, but I do have an opinion!

Given your phobia I would opt for a section. You will book your date and given you don't enter spontaneous labour before, you will have that certainly and control.

Epidurals are not always immediately available. They can take up to half an hour to administer and another half an hour to work. You have to wait for an anaesthetist to become available and if your labour progresses quickly you will miss the window for one. I laboured very quickly with my first and didn't have time for gas and air let alone an epidural!

Epidurals also increase your risk of requiring an instrumental delivery, and emergency section. From what I hear from friends, the difference between a planned section and emergency section is night and day!

Congratulations on your pregnancy x

C section all the way.

If you value control very highly, I'd personally recommend an elective. That's why I went with one for DD2 after DD1 nearly died when I was in labour trying for a vaginal birth (with epidural in the end) and I had an emergency section in the end.

I had a very calm and gentle elective with DD2, back driving at 10 days PP, very little pain, well rested for her arrival, no lasting issues two years on.

I would happily have another elective (except I don't want more kids, but the surgery itself was absolutely fine!)

And my emergency wasn't awful (I mean it was highly traumatic as we thought DD1 was going to die, but the actual surgery) but it was night and day compared to my elective in terms of pain and recovery. The elective was such a breeze that I kept kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop and it never did.

I've had two vaginal births. Epidural don't work on me, which wasn't discovered until they gave me one and it didn't work.

I had remyphentoline (sp?) with my second, and she was 9.5 pounds but it was manageable.
Needed forceps with my first because there were.complications.

I can't comment on C sections.

I've had two vaginal births - both times I wanted an epidural and neither time I was able to have one. The first time was because the unit was extremely busy and there was no aesthetist available until i was too far dilated. The second time because my active labour was 1hr. I did both with just gas and air. If epidural is the only way you would consider a vaginal labour, then i think you do need to consider ELCS. However it is major surgery, so it might be worth asking for a birth options discussion with the consultant midwife as I'm sure she'd be able to discuss each of your points with you. I had mine around 28w.

Given everything you’ve posted here OP, I would 100000% opt for an elective c section. I have had 3 c sections, all emergency, and whilst the recovery, I won’t lie, isn’t easy, a planned one is generally safer than an emergency one as a result of a long and difficult labour. It’s a big operation but I have no lasting issues from mind. Also do bear in mind what happens if you go into labour before your elective c arching date. This happened with my second and third, luckily I had consultants who were on board with me not wanting to ‘try’ for a VBAC and indeed strongly discouraged it! Good luck.

The NHS can't be trusted to provide you with a timely epidural.

I had elective c-secs for similar reasons and don’t regret a thing. Go for it!

Haven't had either, I delivered vaginally, but did have very painful stitches from an episitomy, imagine c section is similar. Was really hard to breastfeed!

I’ve not had an epidural but have had a spinal for each of my 3 births - one vaginal, 2 elective sections.

To be totally frank, I have long term issues from the first 2 births (first was induction, forceps with no pain relief (spinal for stitching up), second was elective section) but would always vote section. It’s so controlled and calm. And recovery an absolute breeze compared to the forceps birth.

I've had two epidurals. They are very effective pain relief. The second was a "walking epidural" and was not as good as the first full epidural but was topped up promptly when I said it wasn't enough! I would make it very clear when you call the unit and when you arrive that you would like an epidural as soon as possible. I did have a wait the second time due to emergencies taking priority. The gas and air was quite good whilst waiting on the epidural. My recovery was quick and fairly painless. Ventous deliveries with episiotomies.

I had a really positive birthing experience with an epidural and would recommend it to anyone BUT I’m not in the UK and I’ve heard far more stories about people there being left without their epidurals and also being given episiotomies as standard (which is no longer best practice AFAIK).

If you’re going to go for it, you need to have a partner or maybe even a doula who can advocate for your needs, understand your birth plan and get you what you need as you progress.

My first birth was a birth with a spinal block because they got stuck and I needed help. My second birth was a c-section because baby was breach. I’ve got a third on the way, and I have no idea what to do at all.
But, I will say to you, my overarching thought whilst I think this through is the recovery. The recovery from a c-section is huge. It was by miles, rougher and tougher, than the epidural birth. The first few days post c-section are hard. It took a good year for my scar to not hurt any more, 4 years on it’s still numb. Yes, it was controlled and calm. But the c-section recovery is so hard compared to what an epidural recovery will be.
You need to also consider any future births, and the risks that can increase with each c-section. As you will know, you could go in to labour and due to how you progress/an anaesthetist being available, you may not get a chance for an epidural. Could you ask for a spinal block on arrival instead? I’m honestly not sure if that’s an option, but you could ask your midwife for a consultant appointment where you talk this sort of thing through.
Honestly I think you need to weigh up the hardship of a c-section against your reasons for having it. I think we’ve had fairly parallel lives reading your words. Honestly it sounds like your reasons for having a c-section probably do warrant having one as they seem more prevalent compared to not having the c-section purely because of the recovery.
I’m currently in a place where I feel like I’ve made a decision, and then a few days later I have a panic and change my mind again. I’m constantly back and forth.

Congrats on your pregnancy! I had a vaginal birth first time, with an epidural that didn’t work. I had an elective section with my second. I’d choose the section - in an ideal world I’d have loved a successful vaginal birth with both but my experience first time made me pick section for second. It was a really positive experience, recovery was painful but manageable and as long as you stay on top of pain meds it was fine with me. Good luck with whatever you choose but if I had a third I would choose elective C, it was a great experience.

I was going to have a planned c-section. It was brought forward as an emergency c-section.

I had a very easy recovery which I put down to the fact that I was a) mentally prepared for a c-section and b) didn’t go through days of exhausting labour before having an emergency c-section.

It was a calm and controlled experience.

To address your specific concerns -
I was encouraged to be up and about as soon as possible which was about 12 hours later. I just walked very slowly for the first 48 hours.
I was doing grocery shopping 5 days later (DH was driving) and I was ready and able to drive after a couple of weeks. The six weeks thing is a myth - check with your own insurance company.
The scar is low enough to be hidden in even the most revealing bikini. I haven’t had any abnormal nerve damage. Two years later, it just feel like a long (3.5 inch) straight scar. There is a very slight bump and it doesn’t feel exactly the same as the rest of my skin. It feels like a scar - less sensitivity but I still have feeling there.

There is only one study that I know of that distinguishes between emergency and planned c-sections and it supports my belief that a planned c-section offers the best outcomes for both mother and baby.

I’d very happily have another c-section. In fact, my doctor (who remembers me from last time) didn’t even ask me about VBAC and just gave me a c-section date.

Good luck with whichever option you choose.

Given all that you've written, I'd say a c-section would be better for you. I was induced with my twins, and so much can change in the blink of an eye, that, if control is important to you, this is not probably not the best way forward.
I wanted an epidural, but had to wait hours for the anaesthetist to finish up in theatre. He then put it in wrong, twice.
I ended up with an emergency c-section anyway. I didn't find the procedure itself that scary. Recovery was fairly quick. The lack of mobility wasn't too much of an issue either. There were a few things I wasn't capable of doing, but it wasn't the end of the world.
I don't have any sensation around the scar anymore, but I can't say it's ever been a problem. I don't think I've ever given it a second thought!

Do not rely on the NHS to give you an epidural promptly and on time. Chances are they won’t. Please bear this in mind if you are making a choice.

Thank you all. I spoke to someone today who I guess made me doubt the decision a bit.

Neither way is ideal I guess but I do feel the elective c a the lesser of two evils

My first birth I had an epidural and eventually an emergency section. My second was due to be a planned section but he arrived too quickly for the section or an epidural - so I've managed to try most ways! Based on what you've said, I would opt for a planned section. I was lucky and didn't find the recovery from my EMCS too bad, and have heard than it's even better from a planned one - and I was out and about within a week or so, so isolation doesn't necessarily need to be a worry. So long as you keep on top of pain relief (don't be brave about it!) it's fairly ok. Good luck with your lovely baby!

This has really helped me, thank you. We’ve had the same two births. But my recovery from the forceps/spinal was an absolute breeze, compared to my c-section recovery which was really hard. I’m going in to my third birth soon and it’s really good to know that what I experienced isn’t ‘standard.’

Another reason is that NHS have let me down with many health problems I don't trust the healthcare system at all, and I believe natural births mean more decisions have to be made on the spot which I don't trust.

I also know for a fact my hospital is busy and if epidural wasn't available I would have meltdown and panic so bad

I’ve had neither type of birth but based on what you’ve said your reasons are I would choose an elective section in your shoes.

Congratulations btw.

When I spoke to the doctor in my first pregnancy he actually advised me not to tell anyone I was having a planned c-section because of the judgement.

As it happened, I did because I thought his comments were funny and I am a blabbermouth but I usually prefaced it with ‘my doctor told me not to say anything because….’. So if I have received any judgement, it was behind my back and I don’t really care, but you might want to take that on board with your decision in case it helps.