ELCS or natural birth, advice please!!!!!

[Londonlass23]

Hello everyone,

Currently pregnant with 3rd DC, already have 2 DS. My main issue is childbirth.

First delivery was ventouse due to: distressed baby, exhausted mummy. Ended up having an epidural due to a retained placenta.

Second delivery was ventouse again although almost EMCS due to: distressed baby, exhausted mummy, blood loss. Again placenta was retained and so had to be taken out by force.

Now this time round DH wants us to have an ELCS because the second delivery was so traumatic for him (I had an epidural so no idea of how bad the situation really was).

Should I opt for ELCS, I am a bit worried about the recovery process afterwards but just need advice really!

I am in a similar situation in that my first was 3 day induction, epidural, episiotomy, forcep and then haemorrhage. DH has never got over it and wants me to have a ELCS but it's my worst fear due to recovery .

I can't remember how bad it got but he says I don't realise just how bad it was for me and baby ( dr was proper panicking - couldn't have a c sec as too far down birth canal and cord was stuck)

I'm 35 weeks now and this baby is transverse so may not have the option but id still try to avoid a c sec at all costs. It's major surgery, recovery is longer etc but everyone's different.

Do what YOU want and try not to be pressurised by your DH. It might be less stressful for him but he doesn't have weeks of painful recovery.

I've had 2 sections, 3rd coming up soon. First was an emergency, bloody awful for me and for DH to witness but the second was planned and fine. First recovery was far from easy whereas second was a lot more straightforward but still painful. Having had two of them I'm in no way anti section but it is major surgery and you need to consider the risks associated with that carefully.

There is no 'wants us' to have a section, harsh as that may sound, there is only you going through it, other than the risks to you and your baby there is medically no one else to consider and no professional is going to take your DH feelings into consideration. I would seek professional advice from a midwife/ consultant and arrange to go over your previous births with them before making any decision- you may find considering your history that they recommend a section.

If you go for a VB I would strongly consider having an extra birthing partner as well as DH, I would also ask your DH to talk to someone else about how traumatic your births were for him as I don't think it is in anyway helpful to go on about it to you.

I've had one ELCS so can't compare it to a VB or labour at all. All I can say is that an ELCS is an amazing, calm lovely thing and recovery was really ok. They kept me topped up with painkillers so I never once felt any pain. I was in hospital 3 nights and walked about 2 miles 5 days after the baby was born. I cannot recommend it highly enough but only you know what's right for you.

I had two. ELCSs and they were both lovely. They did not feel like major surgeries and recovery was absolutely fine. Then again I was lucky as I didn't experience any complications but there is no way of knowing in advance how lucky you will be.

It has to be a personal choice. Given your past history are you more concerned with the risks of a VB or the risks of a CS?

Thanks Ladies for all the advice.

Given my past history I probably feel that ELCS might be the better option but I am scared of the recovery process afterwards so Booboostoo you hit the nail on the head.

I am going to discuss it with the midwife at my next appointment because this has been on my mind for some time now.

Like you OP, I have had 3 vaginal births - all big babies, all prolonged labours resulting in tired mummy and distressed baby. Each time I have been wheeled to theatre to prep for EMCS but they have managed to pull them out with vontouse. The damage, the exhaustion, the fear and the helplessness at this stage is indescribable. Thankfully I have had three healthy babies but the deliveries have all been difficult.

Currently pregnant with dc4 and have opted for an ELCS. Yes it is surgery but it is controlled, calm, quick (couple of hours, not days!). I could not face the battle with the NHS so we have decided to go privately, which in itself means a decent surgeon (not a training one!) and decent rest afterwards as there is no postnatal ward but a quiet room! Interestingly, when I saw the consultant he looked at my history and said it was fair to assume that a vaginal delivery with dc4 would no doubt be similar to the three before and thought an ELCS was a wise idea!!

I had a similar first birth to yours (72 hours long from start to finish, ventouse, epidural failed, distressed baby, horrid recovery etc) so I fought to get an elcs for my second child. I actually told the consultant I would sue them for maternal distress if they didn't give me one! The thought of a vaginal birth terrified me.

My elcs was great. I had undiscovered placenta previa (!!) So that made it quite dramatic as they weren't expecting that at all (I had no symptoms and it never showed on scans) but even so the whole experience was 100000 times better than my previous birth.

I found the recovery better too. I was so sore from my vaginal birth I hardly wanted to move around and I couldn't sit comfortably. I was a bit sore from the elcs but not as bad and sitting down was fine. I was up and about the next morning which surprised me and I was hobbling up and down the road doing the school run with dd and ds in two 2 weeks later.

I'd have another elcs in a heartbeat. In fact I remember saying to dh in the recovery room "that was fine... let's do it again!"

I had an awful vaginal birth and was poorly afterwards for quite a while and recovery took much longer than it took my friend to recover from her ELCS. I have had other friends have v straightforward vaginal births and CS with less straightforward recoveries, but personally, if I were to have another, I'd go for an ELCS

I had an emergency section and though I was glad to deliver, I thought my recovery was ok until I was still having painful wound infections months later, a lot of antibiotics were needed. I had a great consultant too, but still a difficult wound. I'm not keen on any birth methods tbh

I have had 2 ELCS and they were lovely experiences. One night stay with each birth. Catheter removed 10 hours post op. Up and walking after 5 hours. Perfectly able to look after my baby myself, could pick baby up, put baby down etc. We went out for a walk 3 days post ELCS and I was driving 2 weeks later as my obstetrician gave me the all clear. Good luck with your decision

I will just tell you about my friend, 1 emcs, 1 natural delivery. She is still recovering from the natural delivery 10 weeks later, she ended up with an episiotomy without epidural and then ventouse. The 2 inch tear has not healed she's on 20 tablets a day and she has just had the tear cauterised. When she has finished having children she will need reconstructive surgery....my 3 sections were a walk in the park compared to her natural delivery!

Loved my ELCS, calm, relaxed, positive,

I don't know anyone who regrets their ELCS but I know plenty who regret their vagina birth because of the pain and mess they are in now.

The recovery from ELCS is nowhere near as bad as people would have you believe.

I recommend this book, recommended to me by lovely ladies on here.

www.amazon.co.uk/Choosing-Cesarean-Natural-Birth-Plan/dp/1616145110

Wow, Cathpip episiotomy without an epidural - your poor friend!! For my second birth, I requested an epidural and everyone tried to dissuade me from getting one (including the anaestetist!). Thank God I did because the birth would have been a million times more traumatic.

Kelly1814, thanks so much for the link I'm definitely a lot more informed now and more certain about requesting ELCS for this birth :)

Going to be speaking to consultant at hospital about this topic in a few weeks' time. I have had two previous vaginal births (first one lead to a third degree tear, second one lead to a second degree tear). I don't want to tear again with my third birth. I am in two minds at the moment.

slug did your consultant say you're more likely to tear a third time after having two previous tears? I'm actually thinking the odds must be surely tipping towards a third tear now after having two already....I won't be having any more regardless of what mode of birth I choose though! Three and that's me done, honestly. This is stressing me out already and I'm only 16 weeks.

I keep wondering is it something I did wrong to tear both times? Was I not listening properly at the pushing stage? Childbirth is supposed to be the most natural thing in the world and I couldn't even get that right. I do feel like a total failure when I look back, and I speak to other mums that had a 'graze' or a small tear that didn't even need one stitch.

Sorry I should start my own thread on this!!

ELCS.
I did it the other way round (ELCS followed by vbac 1 and 2) but I have consultant letter advising ELCS for any future births.
First ELCS due to suspected macrosomia.
VBAC 1 - back to back, long labour, prepped for EMCS, Vbac but lots of damage to me - DS was ready to go home, but I needed 5 days in hospital to repair my undercarriage... I think I tore rather than episiotomy, but not sure.
Vbac 2 - I asked for ELCS as vbac1 very bad... Told no clinical reason. Baby born brain damaged due to hypoxia (ventouse/ episiotomy etc)

I am really crap at childbirth. I think episiotomy without epidural is very common, tbh?

Please don't think that madwoman. You did as you were advised and you did your best.

OP - I've had two elcs (first twin birth, second I fought to have an elcs rather than vbac as my baby had 100% middle measurement - worried about should dystocia risk). My first experience was great, but my second wasn't calm or lovely and I was quite ill afterwards. Recovery hasn't been great and I still have pain some years on.

I hate to be a negative voice, but you just have to look at all the risks and think about what you are comfortable with. I was aware of the risks to myself from a second elcs, but I was personally more comfortable with these than the risks associated with a vb (ac in my case).

Thanks slugs will get a read of that link later when DC are in bed :) This will definitely be my last baby for health reasons, but also because of this tearing issue. I feel anxious about it.