Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Has anyone said 'no thanks' to an elective c-section?

35 replies

Gem13 · 21/11/2006 14:07

This isn't a pros and cons discussion but I'm intrigued as to whether anyone has gone against the consultants opinion and gone for a vaginal birth and what happenend.

I saw a consultant the other day to discuss my options but after a quick look through my notes she said 'so you'll be having a section then?' and seemed very surprised when I said 'no actually'. I went in wanting a vaginal birth and left feeling undecided. I haven't made up my mind yet and need a further scan, discussion with a different consultant, etc. but I'm interested to learn who has done their own thing.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Elibean · 21/11/2006 14:17

Gem, I did, with dd1. The OB's recommendation was based on my being a first-timer over 40 with rising blood pressure. He thought I'd end up with a section anyway, so might as well skip the trying.

I wanted to try, didnt' mind a section as such - but didn't want the feeling of 'what if'. So I was induced at 39.3 weeks...but unfortunately, dd's head disengaged, my cervix wasn't favourable, I ended up with a section anyway. But I was and am glad I tried - no one was at risk, so I lost nothing.

This time around, there's more risk and more people involved - so I think I'm going with the recommendation (and I trust the OB much more!) but it all depends SO SO much on the reasons given for a section in the first place. Good luck, whatever you decide!

curlew · 21/11/2006 14:32

My ds was very big and the consultant said that I could go for a section if I wanted to - I was well over 40, had rising blood pressure as well. I said no, and ds was born 2 weeks weighing 10lb 6oz after a two and a half hour labour - I made the hospital by 27 minutes! Why do they think you should have a section, Gem, if you don't mind saying.

Original poster

Gem13 · 21/11/2006 14:49

Thanks for your posts.

I had a 3/4 degree tear with DS (5.5 hour second stage, forceps, ventouse, talk of blood transfusion - hideous birth, great recovery) and an elective with DD 18 months later (lovely birth, tough recovery). The tear hasn't caused me any problems but to avoid any further tearing a c-section is advised/assumed? this time. Plus the baby is transverse at 34 weeks, as it was at 21 and 26 weeks.

It's just I know I can do what I want but I'm trying to research different experiences to weigh it all up. Being due a few days after Christmas with a 4 year old and a 2 year old isn't helping either!

OP posts:

curlew · 21/11/2006 14:53

Gulp. In your circumstances, I would go for the section. But I'm a coward!

Elibean · 21/11/2006 14:56

Well, like you said in your OP....the scan may make your decision for you. Transverse lie is non-negotiable, though as you might have seen in my other post they can turn late!

I suppose the tear v. section is the hard part...I have seen people recover well AND badly from both. Maybe talk to Lulumama and others about tearing, and if anything can be done to help minimize risk of it happening again? And also talk about what made your section recovery difficult, and what could be different a second time? ie arm yourself with more info before decision-time..

Original poster

Gem13 · 21/11/2006 15:03

curlew - it's funny because if anyone else posted it, that's what I would say too!

elibean - I'm kind of keeping my fingers crossed that it stays transverse and then I don't have to make a decision. I'll have a look through the archives for lulmamas posts.

OP posts:

Toady · 21/11/2006 17:23

I said NO to having an elective after two previous sections.

First (lady) consultant was cautiously optimistic and kind of took me on as a "project"

Second (man) consultant said NO and when I said NO back he stabbed my notes with his pen

Head of Midwifery and midwifes were supportive from the beginning.

lulumama · 21/11/2006 17:29

mine was a case of me saying i want a trial of labour..him saying ok, these are the odds and these are the protocols and me saying ok...! i now know that you can refuse the monitoring and you can labour your way , sometimes you have to push for it.

a water birth might be good...supports the uterus, which is great in circs where there is a scar on the uterus.. & perineum, less chance of tearing and makes a hands off birth..better for you!

and if not water....do lots of perineal massage ( should try it anyway if considering vaginal birth) and try birthing on all fours to take some pressure off the perineum.

if you went in wanting a vaginal birth,then go for it!

snugglebumnappies · 21/11/2006 20:35

I said no to an elective cs for breech presentation to which the cons said "I wouldn't be happy if you were my wife", to which I smiled sweetly and ignored him. Laboured spontaneously at 41 weeks and got to 8 cm but ended up eith cs as she had turned to oblique breech, deligted with my birth experience though as I felt in control all the way through, even when I needed the cs.

OonaghBhuna · 21/11/2006 20:42

I had to have an emergency c/s with dd and I am now 34 weeks pg and have been told that it is highly unlikely that i will be able to have a natural birth with this one. Initially I was gutted but now I would rather go with the safer option for the baby and myself. recovery is tough after a c/s I gave myself goals every day, by 10 weeks I was walking a few miles every day and was doing moderate exercising.Unfortunately if you have had a c/s you wont be allowed to have a water birth... It sounds so nice!

lulumama · 21/11/2006 20:43

why is a vaginal delivery not possible oonagh....

don;t feel obliged to answer!

OonaghBhuna · 21/11/2006 20:47

Your not nosey!!!!!A couple of reasons, I had cephalo pelvic disproportion with dd basically my pelvis was too small to give birth vaginally, it took 24hrs of labour to discover this.She was a large baby. It looks like this one is on the large size aswell, plus the placenta is lying low, but I know this could move.

avocadoatrix · 21/11/2006 20:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lulumama · 21/11/2006 20:50

well, that is perfectly reasonable then !!! csection would seem to be the most safe outcome ! do hope all goes well for you oonagh...

you can have a water birth if you have had a c,s...but i think you would have to fight for it! which is a shame as water supports the body & uterus....

OonaghBhuna · 21/11/2006 20:53

I wanted a water birth with dd, I had bought a really nice swimsuit for the occasion!!!!Never got to use it although I take DD swimming and have been wearing it recently. I am a water person, I find it so relaxing. Ive got to the stage now where I just want this one out

lulumama · 21/11/2006 20:54

yep..it gets like that !

NotSoupyOhNoNoNoShesOnABreak · 21/11/2006 21:23

I did with DS2. I was offered an elective c-section or early induction as DS1 was over 10lbs and I declined.

kama · 21/11/2006 21:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Elibean · 21/11/2006 21:52

Gem, just popping back in to say thanks for your post on my other thread...it was lovely. Good luck deciding! xxx

belgianmama · 21/11/2006 22:34

Gem, I think it is perfectly possible for you to have a VBAC. Many women who have had a previous C/S end up with successful vaginal deliveries for subsequent babies. Ask your consultant why he thinks you should have a C/S, because if his answer is the fact that your fist baby has been born by C/S, than a VBAC should definitely be an option for you.
Lulumama, I've just written an assignment for uni on waterbirth and also found research (by D. Garland) which has shown waterbirth to be a safe option for previous c/s. I found this quite interesting as most units seem to have a policy of using the birthing pool only for 100% normal women. I really think it is something that is really underused and too often refused for women who could benefit from it.

lulumama · 22/11/2006 07:32

thanks belgianmama...will have a look for some more info!! xx

Original poster

Gem13 · 22/11/2006 11:05

Thank you all. Interesting to read of everyone's experiences. I clearly need to be less swayed by the consultant - it's all those years of respecting medical opinion to blame (I'm currently trying to get my mother to question her GP more and here I am not asking for more info!).

I spoke to my doula last night who was very encouraging and is going to come with me to my 37 week scan (to check the baby's position - has been transverse for a long time) and see the consultant afterwards. The basic plan is to go for a VBAC. If I have to have a c-section because of the position then I will wait until I go into labour or 10 days after my due date whichever comes first to make sure the baby is really ready. I'm confident with the doula on my side that I should be able to fight my corner if needs be.

OP posts:

curlew · 22/11/2006 11:34

It's interesting that as I get further away from my births, I find that it harder to understand why I was so fixed on having a particular type of birth. I was very lucky in that I had easy drug free labours dispite two big babies, but thinking about it now, I was very lucky to have had such an easy time, particularly with ds - I was 44, had high blood pressure and he was 10lb6. I realize that the medicalization of childbirth has led to some hideous abuses, but we need to remember how lucky we are to have the opportunity of refusing intervention. The vast majority of the world's women would be delighted to have the luxury. Sorry, sermon over.

Original poster

Gem13 · 22/11/2006 11:59

I agree with you curlew but I think it's easy sometimes to be a 'good' patient and overlook what one wants or needs - physically and emotionally. It's only through women questionning childbirth practices that we aren't all given enemas, shaved and put in stirrups. As far as I can tell, the NCT, doulas and midwife organisations are there to help women make an informed choice and they can only do that by asking questions and getting answers.

OP posts:

curlew · 22/11/2006 12:10

Absolutely -and I agree that things should be questioned, questioned and questioned again. But I'm pretty sure that some of my questioning and some of my choices were about me getting what I wanted on a particular day because I was so focussed on the birth rather than on what might have been best overall for my, the baby and the rest of our lives. I'm just musing because I think it's a fascinating subject. I know that it's of more than academic interest for a lot of women on here, and I'm sorry for the hijack into more philosophical territory.

Flip

1 2