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Childbirth

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

chance of elective section??

7 replies

pattyp · 09/02/2011 19:42

Hi
This is my 1st post on here. Basically my story is I have one son evan who is 3 next month. I would love another child but due to the nature of Evans birth and period afterward I would like to opt for a section next time but not sure this would be possible. I had an horrific 42 hour labour with Evan. All in hospital so had no sleep. It was a ventouse and forceps delivery in the operating room. I was in hospital for 4 days afterwards. Due to the sleep deprivation I became an insomniac and had to take sleeping pills. I have a history of depression and due to the birth and sleep deprevation had to go on anti depressants and I had a complete breakdown.
I still take the anti depressants but feel pretty good in myself now and my son is my world.
I dont think mentally I could go through a natural labour again.
Do you think a section is something that would be granted to me. Any thoughts please?
Thanks x

OP posts:
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LadySanders · 09/02/2011 19:43

i think it varies from one hospital to another, but if you've had a traumatic first birth i would be amazed if they didn't agree to an elective...

flowery · 09/02/2011 19:45

I had a horrendous birth with DS1, catalogue of mistakes made by the hospital and myself very ill as a result afterwards.

I got a c-section second time around with no problem. Once I outlined to my consultant (at a different hospital) what had happened the first time there was no problem at all.

CilantroLarry · 09/02/2011 19:48

I had a traumatic delivery with dd, resulting in various attempted interventions (ventouse, manual rotation etc) and finally an emcs.

I have had quite a lot of counselling in the last year or so (dd is coming up to 4) and already have the offer of an elcs should I want one (I am actually 8wks pregnant but the offer was made while going through counselling, before I became pregnant).

I think your chances of getting an elcs are good. A good consultant will listen to you.

Have you had any counselling at all??

pattyp · 09/02/2011 21:33

I haven't had any counselling about the birth etc but I do some cognitive therapy at the moment. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't have a section. I know I could have an epidural but its the sleep deprivation etc that terrifies me x

OP posts:
lucy101 · 10/02/2011 10:15

I had a difficult birth in very difficult circumstances last year and likewise have suffered from depression and know myself well enough now that I need to have a better experience this time or things could be very bad for me post-birth.

However, even though I flagged this up from 16 weeks it has been very difficult to get an ELCS.

I am due any day now and actually want to try for a natural birth now (after lots of work with my midwife, hypnobirthing etc.) but want to have an early exit to CS if things are not progressing and have made it clear that I may well refuse intervention etc.... and finally after several meetings (some very challenging), letters from me, letters from my GP etc., I have a written agreement that if I am struggling in labour (and mentally not just physically) then I can go to CS.

I have actually found the whole situation totally disheartening and very upsetting, and after the birth am going to take up with the hospital (a leading London one) how they treat women with these kind of issues as I don't want anyone to have to go through what I have experienced.

Hopefully, like some of the other posters, you might have a straightforward agreement to have a ELCS, otherwise be prepared for a bit of a fight! You will get there in the end.

CilantroLarry · 10/02/2011 11:08

lucy, I have had it made very clear to me that if I opt for a vbac attempt then I am NOT allowed to choose a cs during delivery unless there are medical indications for it.

Having talked at length with my consultant about it I understand why and for me it is only a straight choice between elcs or vbac (and whatever that happens to entail). BUT the consultant has talked over every aspect of a potential vbac and we have agreed on what is and isn't acceptable with regards to time frames, levels of intervention, maternal exhaustion etc. And I'm very lucky in that I now know and trust my consultant (whose wife had ptsd following a traumatic delivery, so he has a personal understanding of what I'm telling him).

gloyw · 10/02/2011 11:42

Given your history, I'm sure you would get one - but you might have to be very proactive about it.

I would recommend talking to your GP about your fears now, to flag it up early - and if you don't feel your GP is sympathetic, make an appt with another one. If they refer you to a counsellor, take them up on it - it shouldn't be about persuading you to have a VB, but about helping you deal with your fears in general, and helping you feel you have more control over things (if you get a good counsellor).

They might be active about recommending you for a CS, which would give you some support. All this can be done before you get pregnant, and gives your arguments more weight when you are pregnant.

When you are pregnant, you need to be referred to a consultant very early on. MWs may be very reluctant to do this, but you have every right, and just need to request it politely and firmly. You should be clear that leaving discussions about what kind of birth you want until the last minute are not appropriate for you.

With other HCPs 'on your side', such as a sympathetic GP and counsellor or mental health worker, you will be in a very strong position to request a CS.

If at any stage you meet someone who doesn't take your fears seriously and tries to 'jolly you along', say you'd like to talk to someone else. Your mental health history is too serious for your anxiety to be dismissed.

Good luck.

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