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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Do hosptial staff look down on elecs?

19 replies

PrincessScrumpy · 20/12/2010 21:49

After a traumatic and damaging 1st birth, I have finally (after 3 years) decided I want a brother ot sister for DD. I have given it a lot of consideration but really want a CS.

I'm worried that by choosing an elective CS, the midwives will look down their noses at me - probably me just being paranoid, but does it happen?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
TheYuleLogLady · 20/12/2010 21:52

individuals may or may not have an opinion on the way you give birth. in fact individuals across the planet will have an opinion on every single thing you do from birth to feeding to what you dress it in to what school it goes to and beyond.

listen to the bits you agree with. ignore the rest.

your birth - your choice. doesn't actually matter that much.

Chynah · 20/12/2010 22:01

I have had 2 ELCS by maternal choice (never had a VB) and have never felt that I received any different treatment due to my choices. Anyway why care - they are onl in your life for a very short time so do what you feel is best.

Helloginger · 20/12/2010 23:20

What Chynah said. Flipping heck, you don't need anyone else's approval and any healthcare PROFESSIONAL will behave in a professional manner, and care for you appropriately.

swampster · 20/12/2010 23:31

To hell with what anyone else thinks about such an important decision.

But, yes, having had two emergency Cs (one a true hurry-up-and-get-tis-baby-out-quick job the other more pragmatic) and one elective, I think they can be a bit sniffy until you have satisfied their prejudices that your section was a vital necessity.

So get ready to sigh sadly and say you really didn't want an elective but they wouldn't let you do it any other way.

lucybrad · 21/12/2010 15:29

i foud that the midwifes are very anti, but the doctors not so much. Shouldnt worry about it though. Every one keeps asking me why i am having a cs this time, its quite annoying!

SantosLHalper · 21/12/2010 15:38

I work with a lot of midwifes etc and I think they're just so busy they don't give a damn if elective or not.

Don't stress it.

Mumcah · 21/12/2010 15:41

My midwife was advising me to go for an ELCS rather than a vbac!Her thoughts were why go through it all again when u can have a nice relaxed ELCS.
In the end I went for a Vbac but ended up with a c section.

You will probably be asked why you are having a section but agree with others that the staff will all be professional.The most important thing in their eyes is a live,healthy baby.

NellyTheElephant · 21/12/2010 15:43

I really wouldn't worry about it. I have had 3 sections (one emergency and 2 elective). No-one expressed any opinion about my electives (one midwife gave me a leaflet about VBACS but it seemed to more a box ticking exercise rather than in anyway questioning my choice). When it came to the day absolutely everyone from the midwives to the theatre staff to the recovery room nurses were about as supportive and happy and encouraging as you can possibly imagine. My 2 electives were super happy occasions

KangarooCaught · 21/12/2010 15:48

With my 1st & 2nd the was definitely an anti ELCS attitude amongst mw, actually anti any kind of intervention, but with my 3rd, everyone was advising an ELCS (after traumatic delivery/long term problems) & were lovely. It helped that the Obstetric guidelines has changed to 'strongly advised' and I had tests that indicated an ELCS was needed.

barkfox · 21/12/2010 16:00

In what was otherwise a very positive experience, I ran into some hostility from a couple of MWs when I had my elective CS.

The MW attending my birth was good - the consultant MW and community MW who dealt with me and helped arrange the CS were wonderful - a couple of MWs on the MW led unit where I spent one day of recovery were eye rolling about 'maternal choice', as it said in my notes. So what, you might say -

Fair enough, but there was a cock up with my painkillers (one of my doses was missed completely and the next one was late, so on day 1 after a C-section I was only on paracetamol. Not the agreed protocol, and not adequate). Establishing there had been a mistake, and that I wasn't on adequate pain relief took longer than it should because of the MWs who told me that a 'you will get pain after a C-section', and made a comment about my 'choice' meaning I would experience more pain.

In fact, on standard painkillers, it wasn't painful, just uncomfortable. And my overall recovery was excellent.

I also had an unpleasant meeting with an anaesthetist, who was not up to speed with my notes, and made a whole host of unwarranted and patronising assumptions about why I was having a 'maternal choice' CS. He subsequently apologised, I think after the consultant MW had a word with him.

Tbh princessScrumpy, you might well run into negative attitudes from folk in general, and other mums, if you have an elective CS, and it does help to be comfortable with your own feelings about it, and frankly, have a quick 'get out' line prepared for any intrusive or judgey comments.

On the other hand, you might come across people who have nothing but sympathy for you, and have been in the same boat!

If it's a decision you are happy with, or as happy as you can be, and you know your own reasons are good, then that's as much as you can do.

swampster · 21/12/2010 16:30

I had a similar experience after my first emergency C-section, barkfox - no one would top up my painkillers so I was on nothing but paracetamol for the first day and narrowly missed seeing the anaesthetist on his final round of the night - section had been just before midnight the night before. I was never entirely convinced that the omission of the fact that I had had a section from my notes was a mistake.

1of4 · 21/12/2010 16:40

I know it isn't what you asked, but I was wondering if you might consider counselling/ a debriefing regarding you first traumatic birth. I believe many hospitals offer the service now. And have heard from others how helpful they can be, both in how you look back at the traumatic birth and in how you prepare for a future one.

Lcy · 21/12/2010 17:32

I have just had an elective c section after a very traumatic first birth that ended in an emergency c-section. I was also worried that people who did not know my birth history would not respect my decision and I dreaded people trying to convince me to VBAC right up to the day i had the section. However the care I received was outstanding from all the professionals I came into contact with. My midwife and consultant (who are both very pro VBAC) gave me a lot of information about VBAC and EC and then totally supported my choice. No one questioned my decision in hospital and the midwives that looked after me actually acknowledged what a difficult choice it is. Everyone involved made it a very special day for myself and my husband including making sure we were first on the list as they knew I was anxious.

It is amazing to spend these early days just enjoying DS rather than my first experience where I was trying to recover from the physical and psychological impact of DD's birth.

Good luck.

PrincessScrumpy · 21/12/2010 21:53

1of4: Thanks, I did have a debrief but my notes are gappy. Labour was only 2 hours 5 mins (fab) but DD came so quickly and MW refused to believe I was in labour despite me telling her waters had gone and it hurt. I went from no contractions to 3 in 10mins. MW told me I was in early stages and had at least 12 hours to go, and it was going to get a lot more painful. Turned out I was 10cm and DD was in my arms 20 minutes later. MW ignored every single point of my birth plan including calling my doctor (village doc who comes to the birth). DH had to ask 4 times and the fourth time he was furious (not usual for my calm DH)!

TBH if the mw had listened and reassured me I may have felt better, but my main reason for wanting a CS is the pain I felt from the 37 stitches I had. The thought of going through that again actually raised the conversation of adoption instead.

The notes didn't include any explanation for my experience and even the MW doing it was reading then thought it odd that it skipped to baby born.

OP posts:
Helloginger · 21/12/2010 21:55

37 stitches! You poor love! What a ghastly mw! Did you complain?

PrincessScrumpy · 21/12/2010 22:05

i think i was in shock and happy to have my baby. it's only since talking to other mums i realise how bad my mw was. DH wasn't even allowed to stand by me until pushing when a different mw came on - they swapped shifts while pushing me down the corridor as i wasn't in a delivery room. I was the only woman in labour that night so hardly busy!

I thought 37 was a lot but still only counted as 2nd degree as i tore down the sides not back to front.

OP posts:
Helloginger · 21/12/2010 22:11

Not that you need to justify yourself to anyone, but I think muttering "last time 37 stitches" will be quite sufficient to shut anyone up! I had an elective CS and had no stitches, just staples and it was v calm, painfree and v positive. I hope that's the sort of experience you have next time. You're v brave to face this again. V best of luck x x x x

Lcy · 22/12/2010 20:41

Poor you! Good luck with whatever you decide x

Bixie · 23/12/2010 12:45

Sod them!!! I had an appt with the VBAC counsellor for an hour and we discussed everything from my birth... I suffered severe PND after my first birth, mainly down to the 4 day failed induction and 14 internals (posterior cervix; agony!!!) Caused me masses of problems psychologically and surprised i managed to get pregnant again!!! Hahahahaha...
She, was brilliant and came to the same conclusion as me; that a ELCS would be better for me...
However, going for my anaesthatist appt late on today and haven't seen a midwife since 34 weeks (now 38) and thought that a bit odd and the midwife i spoke to asked my why i was having a section and i told her that i had had one before after a 4 day failed induction and didn't want to go through it again and she said "and?" BITCH!!!
Your Birth; Your choice :) Well said!
Good luck
xxx

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