Experiences of elective c sections (not interested in responses from the natural birth cult thanks! 😂)

[Lauratwelve]

Hiya ladies,

For those of you who have requested c-sections for your first. What are your experiences? I don't want to give birth vaginally so i'm just looking into requesting a c-section. I have nothing but respect for all woman and how they choose to give birth but vaginal delivery is just not for me. Ive had abdo surgery before so I know what to expect. Thanks guys 🌺🌸🌺

I can't really help with how to get it agreed before hand, I got mine basically because I refused to carry on with the induction after it just wasn't working and I was very sleep deprived. So, I wouldn't recommend that route, you need to talk to your midwife or consultant if you have one and get them to take your concerns seriously.

As for the procedure, mine was very straight forward. Change into gown, they put a cannula in the back of my hand, bit of a shave on bikini line. Walked down to the theatre with my husband, sat on operating table while they did the spinal block (not painful but bit of a weird sensation down my leg), told to lay down quick, couldn't move anything from my chest down, put up screen and the room filled with people. I freaked out a bit about not being able to feel my legs, asked the anaesthetist to tell me a story to take my mind off of it and started singing (that may have been the drugs!). Could feel a bit of pulling but no pain, baby out within 10 mins, they dropped the screen a bit so I could see her when she came out, which was good. My husband held her by my head which took my mind off it while the closed me up. Then off on a trolly back to the delivery suite for a little while, then whisked off to the hellish postnatal ward! Not much sleep that night (mostly because my daughter wouldn't sleep) and slowly regained the use of my legs. Lots of checks but all ok so we left the following evening. Recovery at home wasn't too bad, being so sleep deprived after days in hospital being induced was the worst thing I think. The pain was manageable, I took paracetamol and ibuprofen religiously every 4 hours to keep it topped up. Was out walking with the pram within a week, but traveling in or driving a car was uncomfortable for a few weeks (you don't have to wait 6 weeks, you can drive once you can operate the peddles without any pain).

Elecs are slighlty safer for the baby than a vaginal birth. After loosing my baby this my main worry. But thanks for your comment...

No I'm sorry they aren't. Maternal readmissions and mortality are much higher also.
After DD I had 4 mc's. DS was a terrible pregnancy and I did consider an ELCS. In the end I didn't and he popped out no issues. Good births are so common but you rarely hear about them - just the bad ones
I would honestly express your concerns to your midwife and ensure you make yourself familiar with your trusts NICE guidelines. Midwives are there to help and support - after DD I had a consultant midwife for support and guidance and she was honestly worth her weigh in gold. If you are not getting any help or understanding then it may be worth asking to speak to one.
Good luck with your pregnancy and I hope you get the support you need

For a first timers, my experience of women who have had ELCS have all been for medical reasons - e.g. the mum is an existing MS sufferer, had OC, baby was breech at 37 weeks and refused to have an ECV. Or people who had an EMCS with their first - even then, one of my friends couldn't get an ELCS booked because her midwife was hellbent on getting her down the VBAC pathway - she ended up having to make a compromise with her consultant that they would put her down for a VBAC with the understanding she would be taken for a CS at the first sign of trouble - she ended up having the VBAC.

I wanted to be booked in for an ELCS with my first, for similar reasons to you, although I was more of the view that I would happily give birth vaginally if I could be guaranteed it would be incident and intervention free, otherwise I wanted a CS. I was told a flat no and referred for antenatal counselling.

My advice would be to talk openly and honestly with your midwife and see how it goes from there.

Hey OP! I had two elective sections due to fear of birth and had no issue getting them. They were both amazing, back on my feet in a week. They saved me a whole lot of anxiety, PND, tearing, continence issues. You only have to look on the recent thread here of the huge number of women who have ongoing problems down below.

GherkinSnatch Thanks for your reply and advise. What happened in the end? How was your birth? Xxx 🌸

DenPerry thanks for your message 🌺

Well to counteract ShuttyTown's scaremongering, I had two EMCS and one vaginal birth, and the the vaginal birth was by far the worst recovery. My genital area was so sore with stitches and minor abrasions that passing urine was so intensely painful that I had to run a shallow bath and sit and pee in it every time I needed the loo.

It may be difficult on the NHS without a medical reason, depending on the consultant I suppose. So it might be worth looking into private options if that's a possibility for you.

(Sorry if that's already been suggested, didn't read the whole thread!)

In the end for me, it was taken out of my hands and I had DS vaginally. He was born at 36 weeks and I very quickly went from being monitored on the antenatal ward to being whisked down to the CLU for pushing! I didn't actually believe that I could possibly be in labour because I wasn't due for another four weeks, and the next thing I remember was being up on the postnatal ward with a baby because it was all such a blur. Thankfully I didn't suffer any birth injuries, and no intervention was required to get him out, in spite of the crash team in the room on standby!

Good luck with everything, and I hope things go well for you with talking to your midwife!

amelie427 Why should I have to go private when I pay my fair share of tax?

GherkinSnatch thanks, I'm glad it all worked out teally well for you x

OP I'm having an ELCS for my second baby (not pregnant yet). Am also interested in the procedure so following with interest. It sounds to me like you are firm in your decision, and you'll need to take this into your appointments. It's your body, your birth and your choice. You don't need to justify it to anyone on here. People don't seem to understand that mental requirements (like the anxieties you mention) are just as valid a reason for a ELCS as a physical one. It's not like you're saying 'I just can't be arsed'.

Laura I suppose 'birth anxiety' will be the reason.

My DH and his Ex Wife suffered a full term still birth (fault found with hospital) and that definitely causes me anxiety; But the reality of it is I have never wanted a vaginal birth (even as a young person I never had the romantised view of a vaginal birth that many people seem to have), working in health care and seeing female friends and relatives go thru long, long labours and inductions only to end up with an emergency section in the middle of the night when the baby is in trouble cemented my opinion that I have made the right decision for me.

How far along are you Laura?

I went private where the request for an ELCS was met with "of course you can" and no further questions.

Interesting way of looking at the tax system. I just didn't think sections were handed out that easily 🤷🏻‍♀️ - but good luck, hopefully you'll get a good consultant who understands your reasoning and helps you get there. I hope your little one arrives safely and you recover well. 😊

People who have csections are vain? Why? A csection scar and overhang has ruined my otherwise perfect body 😆

I had a beautiful elective c section. Great recovery and breastfed no problems. I have extreme tokophobia Google it. Its not simply anxiety yesi know sone militant vaginal birthers as well. Who cares as long as baby and mum are safe in my opinion. Good luck op be bloody firm! Don't take no crap x

But the reality of it is I have never wanted a vaginal birth (even as a young person I never had the romantised view of a vaginal birth that many people seem to have)

Am I alone in not knowing a single woman, anywhere, ever, who had or has a romanticised view of a vaginal birth?

Nobody I know "wanted one". They just wanted a baby, and that was, in most cases, the method of delivery that was most recommended.

Both my c sections were completely fine. Very calm birth although it was a bit 'medical'. I was walking the next day and apart from a little bit of pain for a few days it was okay. I know many people who were like that after virginal births too but that was my experience.

I don't have any advice on how to request a section on NHS. I was offered one immediately on both the NHS and privately given my obstetric circumstances - no questions asked. But mine's an unusual case and most others need to have a discussion with a consultant, perhaps several.

In terms of experience and recovery, I had a detailed thread on this recently with many people sharing very useful experiences:
Here

From whatever literature I have looked at ELCSs are slightly safer for the baby, while vaginal births are slightly safer for the mother. Having previously had a stillbirth and vaginally delivery (although the stillbirth wasn't related to the delivery mode in my case, it occurred intrauterine) I don't think I want to go through another vaginal delivery.

People have very polarising views on this - take what's useful and ignore the rest. I know what you mean by natural birth cult. I had one twat harangue me on the thread with nonsense about how I'd regret it long term. I try not to get outraged but just ignore and proceed.

Shame your body that was so perfectly designed for pregnancy and childbirth couldn't turn your breech babies and so you had to have ECV's then Vin isn't it?
What a load of bloody tosh

I had an elcs for my 3rd, and it was the most difficult birth of the 3. Ds had breathing difficulties, I felt very ill and recovery was hard. Despite researching electives and feeling very prepared, I was completely taken aback by how awful the whole thing was!