Elective C Section, advice please

[April229]

I’m 11 weeks pregnant with baby two, who will be our last.

DD1 was a natural child birth but I was induced, epidural, cut, ventose, stitches, and very close to forceps. Before I was induced I was in labour for 24 very painful hours.

This time it had crossed my mind to consider am elective c section. First appointment with the midwife this week who said that as I will be 40 when the baby is born I would be under consultant care and may be induced, if not early on the dot of full term due to increase in issues relating to my placenta.

I didn’t know all this was a thing post 40, although realise that there are higher risk factors. My thoughts are that a smooth natural birth is probably lots better that a c section and it’s after care....however, when you start getting into cuts, stitches and forceps delivery I think the gap between a c section being lots worse than the alternative closes a bit, or is this madness?

Anyone experienced a difficult labour and a c section, is the difference bigger than I’m thinking? Anyone been induced early as they were over 40? Anyone else pissed off that in 2017 giving birth just really sucks apart from the baby at the end?

I opted for a elcs after an emergency one last time and three day failed induction. I said I was willing to go to 41 weeks, in case my body decided on natural labour. Refused stretch and sweep act.
Great decision for me and family. A bit painful, but not like the trauma of induction.
Everyone supported my decision

I had emergency spinal, epesiotomy foreceps, and a retained placenta with first and elective c section with second as she was breech.

The experience with the second was exponentially better than with DS. Recovery was better, birth was controlled and relaxed and I spent the same amount of time in hospital with both.

However, I do think that a lot of that was due to different preparation. I knew after a section I wouldn't be able to drive, lift things etc. So I made arrangements beforehand to have help and support which made all the difference. With DS I pushed myself far too hard thinking that I should have been fine.

Having number 3 at the end of January and going for a VBac because I want to get out of hospital asap and am very focused on a good recovery so planning for a week of bedrest at home if I need it.

I did think long and hard about it as my c section experience was so good so I wouldn't discourage anyone from taking that option.

Very difficult and traumatic 1st birth, issues with retained products, 2 post partum haemorrhages, 16 week recovery. Awful. Just awful.

Second birth, elective section, up and moving the next day, Home day 3, felt completely back to normal after 2 weeks. I had something called a PICO dressing (vacuum pump pressure thingy stays on for a week) marvellous bit of kit, made me feel all held together. My incision healed beautifully. Would definitely go down that path again were we to have more children. The only thing that was a pain was the blood thinning injections I had to give myself every morning. I didn't like that but in the grand scheme of things not that terrible.

I'm 35, 34 at the time.

1st - that’s awful, I hope there is no repeat next time!
JEN - good luck to you :)

Daily - I think the concerns for me are that I can quite close to interventions that would cause quite difficult recovery and the issue of incontenance is a strong consideration.

@duggehugs I have put aside some time this week to have a good travel through the RCOG website. All is really good with the pregnancy so far - 20 weeks now! I was really annoyed by the consultants approach, she was a bit patronising and put my suggestions down to not wanting to handle the pain of VB (would an epidural help?) yes, I had one of those and everything else going, the issue is the interventions that happen next and the long term damage to functions that I cherish - like bladder control. It didn’t help that in the appointment there is a consultant and a midwife, so it feels a bit hard to make a case while they are both looking at you - I also feel a bit uncomfortable challegening their expert opinion which is that VB should be the way to go.

Interestingly, part of the hand over of information was a suggestion that I should be careful where I read about things on-line when researching and that not everything I google would be of the same qualit of information, so it will be interesting when I return with a physical copy of some of the information on RCOG.

Oh, and @deadbut and @sitip sorry to hear of the difficult times you both had - hope your feeling much better now. And @snow mini break! That’s making me feel very encouraged!

First birth: induction followed by forceps delivery and 3c tear, blood loss, trauma, long long recovery. Second birth: elcs - smooth and trauma free and believe me, recovery is a walk in the park after trying to recover from a 3c tear

You are completely within your rights . I haven’t had kids and will not ever be having a VB when I do . If my consultant doesn’t offer me one I will find a private consultant that does . I’ve already worked it out and I can have a private consultant yet be seen in an NHS hospital rather than going for full on 15k+ private elcs !

^ also not too posh to push , have severe mental issue with VB

@April229 glad all is going well

I've just remembered that the NICE guidance on CS (I think 2.1.9.6) says that if your consultant refuses they need to pass you to a consultant who will go ahead with a CS. I think it depends on your Trust as to whether they follow the NICE guidance.

At the end of the day though, you should be allowed to choose which risks you prioritise. It shouldn't be a fight.

Awesome - thanks @dugeehugs! I’ll keep you posted :) next appointment is on the 28 Feb. X