Would I be allowed to request a c-section

[ladymarian]

I will try to keep this brief.

I have a 3 yr old DD. I gave birth to her "naturally" (I'm laughing bitterly as I type this) and had a horrendous time. I ended up with PTSD and PND which my incompetent HV failed to diagnose for over a year. I am still on ADs but am feeling much better now (going to try and come off them in the next few months) and have had several months of couselling to deal with the PTSD.

Anyway I feel under pressure to have another baby and am unbelievably starting to feel a bit broody. My DD is an only child and she has no cousins and is unlikely to ever have any (my sister probably won't have any children).

I feel that I simply could not go through another traumatic "natural" birth and would ttc if I knew I could be in control and request a c-section.

Is this likely or had anyone experienced this??

I think you could ask for a CS for these reasons.

I should certainly think so. And you should be supported in whatever helps to make the experience a positive one.

A long time ago I'd have thought it bonkers to request a c-section at all. I now know that some so called "natural" births are so hideously managed that it should be the god-given right of any woman who has a traumatic time of it to ensure that she never has to even chance suffering like that again.

Good luck. And get in touch with AIMS if you can't get the right support in your own area.

Thanks for your responses.

I am going to make an appoimtment with my GP soon to discuss all this further. She has been very supportive and I need to talk about getting off the ADs.

You could ask for Consultant care from early on.

I asked for CS with my first. In the event it didn't happen. Had two other planned CS afterwards.

I had counselling with an obs consultant following a very traumatic delivery and ensuing ptsd (was an emcs in the end though). I had the offer of elcs in writing from him when not even thinking about having more babies. He also said he would deliver any other babies I had in whatever way I wanted to try.

ladymarian, yes, and you are doing the right thing raising it with your GP this early on. Ultimately, you will need a consultant to agree a CS for you, but they are far more likely to to do this if you are already 'in the system' and have flagged up your problems with your GP/counsellor, mental health care team or whoever.

If you have a supportive GP, great. If you don't, get an appt with another doctor and keep going until you find one. If they go for a 'do nothing' strategy until you are actually pregnant, be politely clear that's not enough (unless you're happy with that), and push to be seen by a counsellor with a background in traumatic birth counsellor, or a consultant at your local hospital. If you feel that being pregnant with extreme anxiety about birth hanging over you would be intolerable, and you think it would worsen your depression, then tell them so.

I'm very sorry you had such a bad experience with your first birth, and I'm sure you will be able to have a happier experience the second time round. Good luck.

ladymarian I am sure you will get many people on here going on about how a c-section is "major surgery" etc, but under normal circumstances the risks involved are incredibly low and recovery can be very quick and easy.

I had an EMCS (but not blue lighted, mine was due to foetal distress and failure to progress) and I was driving within 7 days, and felt physically back to normal within about a week. I think I was fortunate, but other mums at my group have all had similar experiences with c-sections. Of course things can go wrong but as you have seen, things can go wrong with "natural" births as well.

Good luck.

ladymarian I am sure you will get many people on here going on about how a c-section is "major surgery" etc, but under normal circumstances the risks involved are incredibly low and recovery can be very quick and easy.

I had an EMCS (but not blue lighted, mine was due to foetal distress and failure to progress) and I was driving within 7 days, and felt physically back to normal within about a week. I think I was fortunate, but other mums at my group have all had similar experiences with c-sections. Of course things can go wrong but as you have seen, things can go wrong with "natural" births as well.

Good luck.

i was the same with ds and when i had dd i asked for a c-sec based on the tearing and horrendous labour and got one. Its down to the consultants discretion.

I've never had a cs so I can't comment on how good or bad it is. In fact I avoided having one with dd2 (she turned from transverse to head down the day before cs was booked) and with ds (he was turned from breech at 37wks but was still advised a cs due to SPD, I disagreed but a back to back labour has made me wonder if I did the right thing!)

I wholeheartedly agree that it is major surgery and to be avoided if at all possible (which is why I fought against having one). There are always medical reasons why it is impractical or even unsafe to do so.

I'm sure that a sympathetic consultant would agree that medical reasons do not always have to be physical. Mental trauma and distress can be just as dangerous expecially if you have to look after a baby which is, in itself, a demanding thing.

Did you ever have a debrief following your last labour? It might be worth chatting to your gp to find out whether you are able to speak to a consultant before conceiving. Many areas offer this facility so do ask.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I hope that with a less traumatic delivery you are left enjoying the early days this time (if you decide to) rather than the horrible experience you had last time.

Sorry - should have said BUT there are always medical reasons etc

Would second what Ozzigirlie says. I have had 2 ELCS and had quick recoveries from both and no pain. Totally back to normal and back out running within 5 weeks both times.

What ozziegirly and Chynah said. I've had one planned CS, for my 1st DC - wonderful experience, very quick recovery. Much quicker than I was expecting.

Thank you for all your kind responses! I love mumsnet

That is a really interesting and useful thread you linked to loopsymumsy. Some of the stories are awful.

I am having an elective C section due to 3/4 degree tear in my first delivery; I didn't even have to ask (in fact at first I turned it down and had to backtrack ) the midwife booked for me to see the Consultant to discuss birth options and he offered it. I'd be very surprised if you had to fight at all to get one, I didn't and had nothing like your problems.