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 🌺🌸🌺

Quack That's exactly how I feel about vaginal birth... just can't face the idea of it but a section was a welcome prospect. I think women should all be able to freely choose their method from the start, as in actually asked "would you like a vaginal birth or section?" as we are all different!

I'm always surprised at how all my friends and family in the US and in India all just seem to opt for c-sections without any thought. I don't believe all of them are "coerced" into it the way impostress says (not an academic, but half my family is from one of cities she mentions and the other half is from another Indian city). But there is this general belief that csecs are the best way to get a baby out among urban educated Middle and upper class folks who can afford it. And of course if means significantly more money for the doctor and clinic (in the private sector.. it doesn't work like this in the NHS) and helps the really high profile obgyns manage a very hectic calendar.

On the priest and MiL thing, that's a tad overstated IME. If you are Hindu, as 80% are, and you're asked to freely pick between 6 different times to do a task.. you will most likely want to check with a priest. No one is suggesting emergency surgery or anything is delayed / advanced because of a priest.. but we have superstitions about certain times of the day and certain days of the week being auspicious. So if I was going to pay the registration fees for my school leaving exams, it would just be understood that I wouldn't go on a Tuesday at an inauspicious time. Similarly if I was planning a wedding or a surgery (which is effectively planning a child's birth, and hence that child's horoscope for the rest of her life) I'd probably just check with a priest.

That may sound like BS to you. Much like dressing babies up in fussy white clothes and anointing some adult as the keeper of their religious fidelity sounds quaint to me :)

But it's not like pregnant women are sort of dragged into the OR on the whim of a mother in law and a priest and have the baby cut out of them.

Anyway, I digress.
Good luck to you OP I hope you have an uneventful pregnancy and birth, and a happy healthy child and mum at the end of it!

I tried for VB for ended up with EMCS. Every time I hear mums of babies my age talking about how sex is still painful and their internal piles and stitches hurting 5 months on I silently thank my consultant for not forcing me into a natural birth. I will never have a natural birth. CS is quick, painless apart from some pain after which is manageable and you heal pretty quickly. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.

I had an emergency C-section. So I can't advise on how to access it on your first, but I do recall my aunt, a midwife of thirty years, absentmindedly telling me that I was lucky, because for any subsequent births they will allow me to go straight to ELCS. In hindsight, she was inadvertently telling me I think that CS is easier.

My recovery was textbook. The experience itself was maybe 10 minutes from them wheeling me down to baby being born.

As it turns out, I haven't had any further pregnancies, but would 100% go for a CS again, should it happen (which I really do not want to happen!).

In my view and it is just my view C-section is much more dignified and humane. I've read too many horror stories about vaginal birth injuries leaving women's lives turned upside down. Ain't nobody got time for that!

I had 2 vaginal deliveries and 2 c sections OP. The 1st C/s was an emergency and was terrifying, by comparison the 2nd was pre planned, and as lovely an experience as a surgical delivery can be. I had a shower, waited to be taken to theatre, received a spinal with no issues and from going into theatre to delivery was no longer than 30 minutes. Baby emerged within 5 minutes of them starting to cut. I felt nothing other than a weird sensation of movement and tugging. I had 3 days in hospital, some fairly heavy painkillers for the 1st 24 hours and then paracetamol. As childbirth goes, it was fine.
But, and this is a big assed but, I then went on to develop chronic internal scar tissue which has wrapped itself around my uterus and bowels meaning ongoing issues for many many years later. I could never have chosen a surgical delivery thinking it is "easier" or less stressful, trust me, it isn't. You need to talk very openly with your consultant about potential future issues, because they do and can happen.

Ive has both natural and c sections, 2 c-sections, my c sections would be classed as elective. I had a rough rough labour and difficult recovery, but my c section was also fairly horrific, analgesia wore off in BOTH of them during surgery. I had previous abdominal surgeries, thought a c section would be manageable but they pain was way worse than I had anticipated.

I would personally chose natural over c section, but I do understand your fear. I was equally devastated when I had to have my first c section because my twins were breech. There was several reasons why c s section was safer for my last baby, but ultimately that is what I chose, depending on the doctor I saw they all had opinions, in the end I was just firm that weighting up my options this seemed like the safer option.

I have heard of patients requesting c sections for birth phobias, not sure how far align you are but think you would have had to make that case early on. It sounds more like lats minute fears, which I get, who wouldn’t fear it, but there are ways of reducing those anxieties. What have you done to reduce your anxieties about birth? I think it’s very unlikely you can get one by just saying your scared by others experiences, so make effort to explore ways to manage that. Unless your private it’s very unlikely they will do major surgery, c sections Carry a lot of different risks too, and higher each time so you need to consider if you want more kids too.

I do understand your fears. I think you need some support to make the right decision. Please be open minded when you speak to your midwife.

I had a VB for dc1, but I would have loved a CS if I'd been offered one. I don't honestly know why I didn't request one, except that my mum had fairly straightforward births, so I assumed I'd be the same. I was wrong! My birth was long and complicated, (assisted delivery, full spinal block, morphene at one point, shoulder dystocia and then a poorly baby resulting in being readmitted after we'd been home a few days. Then I was readmitted too - both had infections of some sort which was never clarified for me). Anyway, it was complicated.

BUT, I will say that my physical recovery, (apart from pyrexia which led to me being readmitted), was great. I only had first degree cuts and my bits returned to normal really quickly, which I never would have expected. It's given me a lot more faith in the fact that I can have a baby hauled out of me push out a baby and still have a completely healthy mum, baby and vulva. Dc1 is nearly three and neither she nor I have had any problems since the very early days. My only concern is risk of prolapse in later life if I have a second long labour.

I'm considering ELCS this time, (already been offered by consultant). I would have bitten their arm off if I'd been offered one for dc1 tbh, but actually I'm giving it a lot more thought this time. I'll take their advice of course.

Basically, I now realise that neither is an easy or completely guaranteed, safe option.

Funny about the vanity comment btw, as I know a woman who says she doesn't want section as they're so worried about having an 'overhang section tummy'. There are positives and negatives to both. We are all very different and things which are important to one woman will be less significant to another.

It's quite funny, as I was about to start a thread asking about another VB vs ELCS, but was going to ask please for no comments from people who have never wanted to attempt a VB. I've seen people saying things like "my private ob, (who I'm paying for an ELCS and who has never given birth before), says they'd never want a vb, so that must mean everyone should have ELCSs". I'll take a consultant's advice about me personally, but I don't think you can draw the conclusion that you or anyone else need an ELCS just because that's what your doctor would choose for themselves. We're all different. Also, a number of my family are hospital doctors and they have told me some tales which have maybe made me question some things said by doctors operating in a private setting.

I have had a VB once now and honestly wouldn't have believed in a million years that I'd even be thinking of turning down an ELCS offered to me on a plate before. But there we are!

Also, a friend of mine was so phobic of birth that she always declared she would never have children. She just gave birth to a little boy - she had a homebirth with no pain relief, which I never thought she would want to do.

I am rambling a bit sorry. I think my point is, keep an open mind.

I have had two sections - one emergency and one elective, the elective was a really pleasant experience. The only negative is being unable to drive for six weeks. You may find that your hospital/midwife is reluctant to give you an elcs without a medical reason (i had placenta Praevia so no option to give birth naturally), my friend who had same horrific experience of an emergency section as me, baby born unresponsive, scbu etc first time was pressurised into vbac. You will need to go in prepared to defend your decision as they will try to talk you out of it. Good luck and hope it works for you.

I had an elective section first time around as I have extensive internal scarring from fistulotomy surgery and vaginal birth carries a very high risk of severe tears for me. At the time of this surgery (long before I had kids) the consultant made clear that I should have a section if the situation ever arose, so I was clear in my mind that I would need an ELCS right from the start. It also made it easier to make my case ("the consultant told me..."), but I still had to bypass a junior doctor who tried to insist I give birth vaginally. She listed everything that could possibly go wrong with a C section up to and including death for both of us, although no risks of vaginal birth strangely, then asked if I understood 'the risks' as she'd explained them. I replied that in order to assess 'risk' you need to have an idea of how likely each thing is as well as consider the alternatives, and repeated that my previous consultant had told me I needed a section. She disappeared to consult with her superior, who immediately said "fistulas = section" and that was the end of it, but if I hadn't have insisted it could have ended up very differently. All in all, you need to be very clear in your mind what your reasons are and make sure you have your case prepared beforehand, with official guidelines supporting you ideally. Be prepared for a bit of fight as they have targets and budgets to consider, and a C section requires surgical time/expertise rather than just letting you get on with it on a ward. (Of course, damage from vaginal birth also often requires surgery, but that doesn't seem to really factor in their calculations.)

I went into labour before my scheduled date so technically it was semi-elective I suppose, but it was a very relaxed (pleasant?) experience. The baby popped out with APGARs of 9, and my husband held him near me while they sewed me up. Recovery was very easy - much much easier than my fistulotomy surgery. I was walking around pretty much as soon as the spinal wore off (no choice due to shocking post-natal care but that's another thread...), took paracetamol for a couple of days but then only had the mildest of discomfort after that so didn't need them anymore. No infections or complications, both healthy. I did have some issues with delayed lactation, but I know plenty of women who didn't.

As I understand it, the biggest risks come with subsequent pregnancies as complications are slightly more likely, so if you want a really big family that's something to think about.

The only negative is being unable to drive for six weeks

Although you can drive before this if you feel well enough and the insurance company is ok with it

I had a CS for my first baby. I actually enjoyed the experience and was up walking in 6 hours and found the recover easy and not painful. I was careful in not lifting etc but on day 3 I went out with baby in a sling for a coffee.

I have chronic health problems and ended up with severe pre eclampsia and an “emergency” CS. Everything was pretty relaxed though. He just needed evicting as I was really ill!

Interesting post. I too am not a mom yet, but if I do become pregnant I will request a c section. I've done tons of research, even going to the lengths of FOI-ing my local trust for stats for first time moms over the age of 35 (my category!) to get details of modes of birth, injuries, outcomes for mom and baby, re-admission data etc. In my opinion after looking at the data, and with my issues (I have a phobia of doctors/medical professionals and keeping as much control as poss is a HUGE thing for me) and with the potential long term effects of vaginal birth, ELCS is the only option for me. That's despite the fact I'm petrified of doctors, needles etc. What I need is for my mental health to be given equal consideration as my physical health, and in my circumstances I believe the best chance I have to have a "good" birth, and to properly look after a little one after that birth into the long term is with a section. I'd recommend birthrights.org.uk and caesareanbirth.org for more info.

And on the cost front in this article www.theguardian.com/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2011/nov/23/health it says nice say that a maternal request section could be considered a cost effective alternative to planned VB (I guess taking on board the possible on costs following complications)