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

[Gem13]

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.

Hi there Gem, my friend opted out of an elective last year, she really wanted to deliver naturally after c section with ds1. Unfortunately, she had to have emergency cs, as head got stuck! (babies, not hers!) She has said that she now wishes she had gone for cs to begin with, as she was v exhausted by the time of the op, and felt that her recovery was slower because of the long labour on top of surgery. Sorry, is probably bit depressing, it seems some people have opted out and it's gone fine, but don't think I'd risk it myself. I agree with earlier post, we are SOOO lucky in this country to have the option of a safe birth for mama and baby, although its easy to feel cheated out of natural delivery, being safe is the main thing!

I did. Had a vaginal delivery and a trip to theatre to remove the placenta.

imnot - absolutely the main thing is for everyone to be safe and well. I'm sure if the consultants or midwives had any concerns at all they would be quite insistent in their discussion. It's that quick glance down one's notes and a 'decision' made in a minute that I'm querying. Part of the problem is the lack of continuity. In this pregnancy I have seen 6(?) different midwives and 2 consultants - someone different at every appointment. Plus being a third timer I get the feeling they think I should be pretty well sorted by now!

belgianmama - have you got a citation for that Garland research? It's something I'm very interested in for possible VBAC for (purely hypothetical at this stage) DC2 and I'd value having some up-to-date research on the subject.

Hi Gem13, can I butt in at this late stage - its something I felt v strongly about during my last pg. My 2nd birth was horrendous - he was 10lb 6oz, shoulder dystocia, nearly didnt make it etc though I did recover (physically) pretty well. Because of this I was referred to a Consultant with pg no 3 who immediately said "elective cs" - to which I said I really wasnt keen (2 other children, live out in the sticks, no family nearby) but would think about it. When I saw him near the end of my pregnancy I told him Id decided to try to go for "natural" birth - fully supported by my midwife - but agreed that if things were taking a turn for the worse during it (altho dystocia by its very nature is impossible to predict) I'd go for a section (just like anyone else having dififculties during labour I guess). My dd was over 2 weeks late and I eventually had her with no induction, no drugs other than G and A, only took 30 mins to push her out and she was nearly 10lbs! The fact that it was such a fab birth has finally laid the "ghosts" of my 2nd birth to rest - it took ages to get over the emotional trauma. I know each case is different and you sound like you had a traumatic time last time, poor you, but in answer to your OP - I have said "no thanks" to an elective section and it worked out wonderfully. Good luck with whatever happens

Lemonaid, here are the references I've copied from my assignment. The oldest one is actually part 1, where she decided that it would be valuable to expand her study for another few years. Hope this will be of any use to you.

Garland, D. (2006) Is water birth a ?safe and realistic? option for women following a previous caesarean section? Completion of a three year data study. Midirs Midwifery Digest, 16(2), pp. 217-220.

Garland, D. and Crook, S. (2004) Is the use of water in labour an option for women following a previous LSCS? Midirs Midwifery Digest, 14(1), pp.63-7.

Thanks for that - that's the experience I'm after too! I'm not against having a section in itself but I want to make sure the baby is ready to come with all the hormones present in both of us that should be there. If that is at 3 in the morning on New Years Eve rather than at 10am on a weekday then so be it

Thanks, belgianmama!

After 2 c-sections the consultant also thought I would want another. I did not and because the hospital were so negative about my chances I hired an independen midwife and got my home birth on the 1st july this year.