I don't think "too posh to push" cs should be allowed on the NHS

[SoupDragon]

And by "too posh to push" I mean can't be ar$ed to do it "naturally, want to fit the birth into a busy schedule or want it early to avoid stretch marks. That kind of thing.

Obviously where there is a medical need (and by this I include maternal fear/distress where it can not be allayed beforehand} then yes, they should be provided by the NHS.

In the same way, I did not expect the NHS to provide me with a birthing pool, pay for the electricity and increased heating costs or provide me with food for my home waterbirth.

(yes, I know this will descend into popcorn and hard hats but I don't want to clutter up the other posters thread )

am left

(cardiff)

londoner orignally though

I am too posh to push btw. but I did it anyway.

I've never met/heard of anyone having a "lifestyle CS". Do people have "lifestyle heart bypasses" too?

It's major surgery ffs. It's not a soft option.

lifestyle meaning for schedule/tummy tuck reasons. Isn't it funny how so many celebs have c sections?

But also women who have never given birth do ask for c sections out of fear, and as I undersatand it they do sometimes get them on the nhs. there is no non surgical way to acheive the resaults of a heart bypass so it's not the same thing at all.

Giving birth was dead easy for me, took 2 hours from start to finish, painless thanks to the epidural. Piece of cake. So no need to even contemplate a c-section, thank goodness.

If I'd been in labour 12 hours or in some other awful birth scenario, I would have chosen a c-section if available. Not the type to feel the least empowered by a tough, painful, drawn-out birth.

Think a lot of women who claim they want a c-section because they don't want to push or some such thing are actually just scared. And who can blame them? I was scared stiff of giving birth.

am in merseyside filly..the genteel bit, by the sea!!

CAT away, if not can MSN

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Well, SenoraPostrophe, who are you to judge whether or not someone else's fear is significant enough to warrant offering a C-section?

as I say, if there's a reason for the fear (like traumatic first birth) then it's a different thing. however I think counselling is a much better option for people who are contemplating major surgery because they can't face something that is quite natural isn't it? people who have dysmorphia shouldn't be given plastic surgery on the nhs either.

I was extrememly lucky and had a very good vaginal birth - most of my friends had c-sections mid labour as there were complications and one scheduled as baby was massive compared to her and breech and there was no other way to deliver which she was gutted about. All of them were very traumatised by it and had long recovery times so I've never ever thought c-section was an easy option and why anyone would specifically choose it so they didn't have to give birth any other way or to fit delivery into a schedule is beyond me!!!

Well, there is always a reason for fear, unless the person is psychiatrically ill. I personally don't feel equipped to judge whether or not thousands of other individual women's fears are well-grounded enough to merit being offered the option of C-section. I find it surprising that you do.

And vaginal birth in this country isn't much more natural than C-section anyway - it's thoroughly medicalised and almost as expensive.

I can never understand why woman elect to have CS rather a natural birth i had to have an EmergencyCS it was awful. Why would anyone rather have major surgery

I doubt anyone would without very good reason.

Just seen this thread, not getting a lot of time on here lately, its half term and I'm knackered. Went to Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve Centre today in the p*ing down rain but it was great really recommend it the ranger is lovely

Sorry

have not read all threads but here goes.

My initial thoughts are that all woman should have a choice, so long as they are properly informed about every pro and con with vaginal and caeserean birth. When we are pregnant you are carrying the most precious thing in the world, you hang on every word that the consultant and/or midwife says, why wouldn't you.

I think the majority of woman who opt for an elective caeserean believe they are doing it for the best, a lot of the time this is rubbish and it amazes me that the NHS basically encourages a medicalised birth.

Woman who opt to have an elective caeserean because of their career, timing of the birth etc I can't even begin to understand. They should pay!!

If there was more support for the woman from the start of the pregnancy and throughout her labour the NHS would save themselves thousands?? well loads of money anyway.

Sorry that was a bit of a ramble.

oh come on - vaginal birth is still the more natural option and is the better option in terms of recovery etc. I admittedly don't have the figures but the recovery time alone makes it substantially cheaper than c sections.

I am not presuming to judge the depths of people's fear, I just think it's silly to spend public money indulging it.

Well, lets hope you never have a birth experience horrific enough to make you eat those words, SP.

If I have another baby it will be a CS. No question. I think "indulging" my fears in this instance would be an excellent use of public money and would never begrudge the same to other women who felt they needed it.

Good!!

SP-Recovery for a C-section depends on the person and how many times you go through it. My sil had three and said that everytime it got easier. After her third she was home after 4 days (normal stay in US) made breakfast for her kids and got them off to school. She wasn't running a marathon but she could function without help.

'so if a woman says she had an "elective c-section" don't immediately crucify her as being too posh to push '
best thing said yet

How many people on here who gave birth vaginally had their delivery at home? Surely thats the cheapest option? To be honest I couldn't care how much any of it cost as I've paid enough into the NHS over the past 15 years to warrant it! I personally do not agree with c-section for convenience as opposed to necessity and that's the only reason I think it should be an entirely private option i.e. made that bit more difficult. I do know someone who though she had to have a c section would have had one anyway if she could have done as it meant she would have been able to choose when she'd had the baby and as she put it 'kept herself intact, after all who wants to baggy nether regions!!' - so there are some out there who do think like that.

what pisses me off is when people constantly refer to my section "oooh, ELF, you had a section, didn't you" and then go on about their perfect birth.

that pisses me off too, like you are some sort of failure by having a section and that you have somehow missed the whole childbirth thing WTF

See Elf I felt left out after my birth as I was the only one who hadn't had a c-section at first and I was made to feel guilty and always had my experience talked over with the other horror stories!!!!