Planning a caesarean? What are the benefits?

[Uwila]

Hello,
I have already decided that I want a casarean this time round (just have to convince the consultant which shouldn't be too difficult since I had an emergency c last time).

I see lots of stuff in the media about how caesareans are bad for mother and baby and what a bad thing it is that we perform so many in this country. But, I personally think they are a good thing. And I think recovery is much easier than is usually described in places like the all natural NCT classes.

Anyway, I just wondered if anyone else who is pregnant now is wanting a caesarean and why? I assume I'm not alone in thinking there are actually benefits to a caesarean (like I won't break my pelvis!).

Ok

there is pain involved in a c section ! I have had a c.section ,and a vaginal delivery..and i would go for the vaginal delivery each time!

it would be really worth while looking into some specialist help with this

yes, childbirth is painful, whichever exit route the baby takes ! labour is painful, but it is pain with a purpose, which is different to other types of pain

i would say, go to antenatal classes, look at things in a bit more depth, rather than simply in terms of how much pain. The NCT run nationwide classes,there are private teachers and hypnobirting teachers..all worth looking into

also, look at maybe having a doula to support you , that can be a great benefit to women who are afraid, or need extra support

whatever you decide,make sure you have all the information first !

i am 33wks pregnant and currently have just began to seek help over my phobia of childbirth. i am due 2have my first couseling app in two weeks. im really worried i wont hav enough time to get over my fear and would therefor like the option 2have a c section my consultant point blank refuses...is there anythibg i can do??? Surely a person whos afraid 2fly isnt expected to get on a plane after only 5sessions with a councelor!!! .
This is my second birth and have had reoccuring panic attacks ever since my last experience. please any advice much appreciated. Thanks xxx

artyjoe just wanted to tell you not to worry, I am also very big and a huge wimp (like practically pass out going to visit someone in hospital!). I had an emergency section in October and it wasn't that bad at all, although I am still a little tender I recovered much quicker than I imagined and was out for Coffee with my DH and baby 1 week after my section. Although I felt able to drive I didn't drive for the recommended 6 weeks and I think this did me the world of good as it meant I stayed at home and recovered. I have been advised that I should have a section in the future (due to complications) and it def hasn't put me off having another baby.

I know this message is a little late ... but I have a very low opinion of women who have caesareans because they don't like the idea of giving birth!

Unfortunately I could not have an emergency caesarean as the registrar was otherwise engaged .... performing a not so urgent caesarean!

Of course there are consequences because of the actions of these people .... like my son having Cerebral Palsy.

Caesareans should be used for medical reasons, not vanity or laziness, if you don't think you can cope with giving birth, don't get pregnant!

Raine3

I'm very sorry to hear your story and of the outcome for your son, it must have been a dreadful experience for you.

I do think you are making light of the reasons why people choose to have C-sections however. It is just not true that a consultant will agree to a section if the mother is simply 'vane or lazy', or 'too posh to push'. There must be a genuine reason to suspect that natural childbirth would pose a serious risk to the mothers and or babies physical or mental wellbeing. The NICE guidelines are quite clear and of course hospitals are reluctant to spend their tight budgets on unneccesary procedures.

Maybe you could take up your quite understandable dissatisfaction with the hospital trust. From the limited information you have given it does sound rather more likely that the 'blame' for your experience lies with the trust for inadequate staffing levels and/or poor prioritising of patients needs rather than the poor woman having an elective caesarian.

I don't think you can blame the wopman having a caesarean, but rather the hospital should adress their staffing issues. Or maybe there should have been a decision for you to move to caesarean before hers started.

Very sorry, however, about your son's CP. It must be very difficult for you (and him!).

im 36 weeks and planning a C-section. Im very petite and having a C cos of my small size. i could have attempted a natural birth, but then again, i hear all these stories how women do natural labour and then end up having a C anyways (after hours of pain!) - why should you suffer AND your baby?

The only benefit of a C-section is if your life or baby is threatened- do you have any medical conditions that justify the risk- a c-section is still a major operation, there is a risk of death to you & baby more than twice that of vaginal birth-( there are more risks to the baby with c sections, babys that are born by csection have more problems with breathing and breastfeeding, babys have been known to have been cut by the surgeons knives...) pelvises do not break they are designed to stretch- to avoid a c-section a woman should avoid lying reclined on a bed and do what nature intended- squat or lean over on all fours- have confidence in your body, as a woman- I have had an emergency section and 2 vbacs and the recovery was better in my vbacs both emotionally and physically. Try not to be scared of labour, debrief your experiences and realise that your body can do it if you listen.
Doctors don't always allow normal birth they follow a medical pattern which is not always in the best interests of a labouring woman- a labouring woman needs privacy, quiet, support from a midwife, doula partner, and belief that birth is a normal physiological process. C section is not normal

Now there's an unbiase post if ever there was one.

There are many benefits of a c-section, including the one you mention of avoiding and emergency section after the pain of labour.

If you want one, go for it. Good for you. I can't think of any reason not to.

Goodness, I saw most recent post, and wa shoked to see that Uwila created this thread in Dec 04. Thats nearly 4 years old. Good grief.

I am looking forward to my 2nd cs. Just hoping it goes as well as first cs did.
I am not unaware that it may not. I am just hopeful.

I am a huge advocate of the elective caesarian ... had one with my first, and will jave one with my second (due March 09).
Having heard the complete horror stories associated with "natural birth" (i.e. everyone in my antenatal class had a shocker, apart from one girl), I really think c-sections are the way forward if you want a pain-free and easy birth.
I was absolutely pain-free after my c-section: and felt great. No problems with breastfeeding. Out of hsopital in 3 days. Driving within 10 days. Scar is fine, with no complications. Baby healthy. Really cannot see the downside.
2 of my very close friends, who were massive supporters of natural birth (before they actually went through it) have now told me that they will be going for c-sections for their next babies because they had such a horrendous experience.
I know loads of people do not agree with me, and are critical of those who go for elective c-secions. All I can say is that I was entirely happy with my choice, and will be doing it again.
Good luck!

I hope you checked your insurance when driving after 10 days as I suspect you will find that you were uninsured,most policies exclude cover for at least 4 weeks after abdominal surgery ,this is one of the reasons you cannot drive.I knew of someone who drove in these circumstances and they were prosecuted for driving without insurance,you are laso putting your child at risk should you have an accident.

By the way I am not anti c section I had one myself with ds1 (he was breach)wanted one with ds3 but actually had a fantastic birth with very little pain relief,i was staggered!

My insurance company said I could drive whenever I felt I was ready.

I did check with my insurance company, and they tld me that as long as my doctor was happy I could drive then I could. My doctor was happy. so I was not uninsured!

.... nor did I put my child at risk .....

Hello all, only 7wk but already thinking about what birth I will have. I had quite a long labour with ds which resulted in emergency c-section. My recovery took a while as I ended up with a general anithstetic. I so wish i could have just pushed him out. My scar took weeks to heal as it became infected and after 7 years I still have numbness around it.

I think a section should be on the docs advice not just a life stlye choice. I have heard lots of stories about quick births with little pain. Epidurals are available plus other drugs. A normal vg birth doesn't always mean a hours of horrendas pain and a horrible experience.

Yeah, that whole "you are ot insured for six weeks" thing is a myth propogated by midwives and the anti-section brigade. On very very rare occassion I see a poster on here who confirms that her insurance company confired it. But it is far far from the norm.

I believe a planned section is safest way to have a healthy baby -- for both mother and baby. I had a emergency section with DD and then a planned one with DS. I chose the planned one because I felt it was medically the best option, not because it was a means to avoid pain (although that was a nice side benefit). I would trade section recovery for the very unappealing experience of delivery any day.

The probalem with the statistics is that wehn a vaginal birth goes wrong and ends in a section they but those stats in the section category when actually it was a vaginal birth that went wrong and the section may have saved the birth from being part of a mortality statistic.

Do you know what statistic I would like to know? I would like to know how many mothers who have a child born with birth defects that result from a vaginal birth complication choose to have a section for their next baby. I suspect the number is very high.

I have just rung my insurance company regarding my caesarean section and they said as long as the DVLA is happy with women driving after caesarean section then they are.

Rang DVLA and they are happy with mothers driving after a caesarean section as long as they are following their local hospital/doctors advice.

So for me that is 4 to 8 weeks depending on when I feel able to perform a emergency stop safely.

Has anyone on this thread been refused a caesarean they wanted or been heavily persuaded out of one? At the Birth Trauma Association we've had a number of women who have been talked into or forced to give birth vaginally even though they were terrified and ended up with post traumatic stress disorder and depression. If this has happened to you, can you contact [email protected] or the website www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk - we are trying to collect more evidence to lobby the NHS about ending this cruel practise. (We are a registered charity).
Regarding good and bad points of caesareans, we find women have the best outcomes when they receive good quality information and the decision they make is respected. Whether that decision is a caesarean section or a home birth is ENTIRELY up to the woman.