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!

Another for ELCS.

I had an EMCS after failed induction. I had a placenta abruption, uterine tear, foetal distress and massive blood loss. The actual CS was a breeze!

Am 9 days post ELCS. A wonderful, calm and relaxing experience. No pain and even for DH it was a relief after the EMCS.

I was only on paracetamol as am allergic to ibuprofen. Although on three occasions I had tramadol - day of ELCS and after getting up from the bed.

Thanks again slug have just read the article. It's making me lean towards a ELCS I think....will discuss with consultant and read my maternity notes again to see what would be best but I am not so sure I want a VB again...

ELCS - every time - I know everyone is different but I had absolutely no trouble recovering from my EMCS. And it is an urban myth that you can't drive for 6 weeks after the CS - but do check with your own insurer.

ELCS! I'm having one after an EMCS with my first and can't wait! I recovered really well after the emergency one and I hear it can be even better with an ELCS! Excited :)

This is very interesting reading. I had an EMCS with DD 11months ago and am due DC2 in July and trying to make up my mind about vbac v elcs. I felt and sometimes still do feel like I failed DD by having a caesarean, a natural vaginal delivery was very important to me and I feel that my CS under general anesthetic hindered the bonding process. This is such a difficult decision to make!

beaker, I felt the same after my first emcs. I thought I'd failed my dd and was so desperate for a vaginal birth. I had a v long labour, 8hr second stage, 3x failed ventouse attempts, attempted manual rotation and an emcs.

Second time round, I just did not know what to do. I didn't want a cs, I didn't want another long and complicated vaginal delivery. What I really hoped for was a secret option number three whereby I'd sneeze the baby out during a nap. I just couldn't make the decision. I wanted a nice, natural vaginal delivery but didn't want to risk the nasty, complicated emergency delivery it might result in.

In the end, I had a marvellous consultant who was happy to set some 'rules' with me for vbac. How long I would labour for, when and how decisions would be made and lots of lovely and empowering options for if I did have another emcs.

I had another 3 day labour and emcs! But but but, it was positive and brilliant and peaceful and just a beautiful experience because I accepted it might happen and had planned for lowered screens and dh watching and immediate skin to skin and bfing in theatre. It was fab.

I found emcs recovery easy tbh. No painkillers, discharged quickly and back running at 8 weeks after dc2.

If I had a 3rd (won't happen), I'd have an elcs in a heartbeat.

emcs for the first one, failed ventouse so forceps for the second resulting in 3rd degree tear and elcs for the third - cs sooo much easier to recover from, no hesitation.

Cisforch, please update us on what eventually happened with regards your delivery.

Just to update everyone on what's been happening so far. Spoke to midwife about possibly going for an ELCS given my previous history of having retained placenta with both previous births but she told me that risk of haemorraging (sp?) is actually higher with CS!

Does anyone have any experience of this? I am also now scared s**tless because KK is saying that her womb might need to be removed because she had a retained placenta with North.

*Cisforcat

I don't have experience with retained placenta myself. I've only had one birth so far and it was a 16 hour back to back labour ending in an EMCS.

I'm opting for an ELCS with my second (29 weeks pregnant at the moment). Got my final appointment to discuss with consultant at 36 weeks but I'm not expecting to have to fight for it at that stage. Consultant midwife was understanding about my reasons, although was also very much supporting a VBAC for me. I have decided that I can't risk another 'hard' labour followed by an EMCS.

In your situation I'd ask the midwife to refer you to a consultant obstetrician (sorry, spelling!) so you can discuss the risks with them.