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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Last minute nerves about ELCS

24 replies

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 19/01/2018 16:49

I’m booked in for an ELCS very soon with dc2, following complications with dc1 birth.

I’m starting to have last minute nerves. The baby’s head seems quite well lodged into my pelvis and I’m a bit worried about needing forceps during cs. We had ventouse with dc1, which resulted in an episiotomy and a baby who couldn’t feed or even be picked up without wailing due to headache. Wondering now if we needed forceps during cs, would the same thing happen again.

They didn’t say I “had to” have a cs and left it totally up to me, so I could cancel it and try for another VB if I wanted to.

Help!

OP posts:
Saz1995 · 19/01/2018 16:59

I would go for vaginal birth personally, recovery is easier xx

MisstoMrs · 19/01/2018 17:07

Oh my god - I didn’t know they used forceps during a c section?!?!? How does that work????

I have been promised a c section for any future children as I had a horrific first birth with forceps. I’ve just had surgery to try and fix the horrendous episiotomy I had 18 months ago.

To be honest, I don’t think anyone can tell you which would be better for you; we’ve all had different experiences. If your recovery was ok from the delivery then I would be tempted to try vaginal as the second is supposed to be easier, but with the caveat that you move straight to a c section if your or the baby have any issues. There should be no issue with that.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Wetwashing00 · 19/01/2018 17:11

I had forceps assisted c-sec with my second, I didn’t even know until I saw a little mark on his head and asked.
It’s pretty standard to use them during c-sections I’ve been told. There’s not much that they can do if babies head is well engaged during a c-sec.
I loved both of my ELCS, calm and easy.
My baby didn’t seem to be affected in any way from his birth.

Original poster
TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 19/01/2018 17:15

Sorry to hear that @miss.

Yes, my understanding is that they do sometimes use forceps or ventouse during CSs if the baby is quite well lodged in, which is my worry, as this baby feels pretty well lodged in there.

Recovery was ok from dc1 birth and we have no lasting issues, BUT we did end up with serious infections, which came on / we only noticed, after we’d left hospital and which led to hospital stays for both of us. I think that could possibly have been avoided if we’d not been left so long after my waters broke tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 19/01/2018 17:16

Oh glad to hear that @wetwash!

OP posts:
RatRolyPoly · 19/01/2018 17:21

I nearly bailed on my elective section on the day! But I didn't and I'm glad. Recovery can be quicker than a vaginal birth, but not if you tear badly, or have lifelong continence issues or... or all sorts really! Birth's a lottery any which way.

Don't worry about the head being well engaged. I had an EMCS with my first and was 9.5cm dilated, so his head was almost as low down as you can get! They didn't use forceps, although the midwife did have to give him a push back up again - which won't be necessary unless you're in quite advanced labour I imagine.

Good luck, whatever you decide :)

RatRolyPoly · 19/01/2018 17:22

Oh, I should say a friend had a forceps assisted ELCS, but the forceps were because baby we breech and his head was stuck under her ribs.

sunseasand25 · 19/01/2018 17:23

I had an emergency section with ds 2 and an elective with ds3. I’d say both were easier to recover from than ds1 (vaginal and forceps). It’s so good being able to sit down. I didn’t notice forceps being used on my emergency section (he wasn’t moving far enough down and I remember him having a ring round his head from wherever he was stuck). Good luck whatever you decide. Maybe see if you can have a chat with your consultant to allay your fears.

KimmySchmidt1 · 19/01/2018 17:27

They’re extremely clever and talented, hbut we have studied for decades, and they know what they are doing - have some decency and faith in the experts.

KTD27 · 19/01/2018 17:37

My son was a forceps CS too. Didn’t realise until I queried a tiny tiny little mark on his cheek. He was proper wedged in there. But no dramas. APGAR of 10 and my CS one of the nicest experiences of the whole pregnancy journey. Personalised playlist, skin to skin immediately just a lovely birth.

Original poster
TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 19/01/2018 18:08

Oh this is so reassuring. Thanks all, except @Kimmy, Confused.

Sorry, @Kimmy, but in the nicest possible way, I don’t really know what the fuck you’re on about Grin. Do you mean the doctors? They have consistently left the decision up to me entirely. What is “hbut”? Who is “we”? Are you a doctor? Sorry, I really don’t want to seem rude, but I don’t understand what you mean.

OP posts:
Uhohmummy · 19/01/2018 23:04

I had a horrific birth with DC1 that ended with forceps and a baby in NICU.
For DC2 I opted for an elective c section. They needed to use forceps, which I hadn’t heard of before then either! Baby was fine but I had a haemorrhage and while on the whole the recovery was ok the immediate aftermath (first few days) was very hard.
Now pregnant with DC3 and I’m going to try for a VBAC but with a low threshold for a c section if things don’t progress normally (eg if there are any signs of baby in distress). I really want to give myself the opportunity of a quicker recovery this time.
I agree with the comment above - birth is a lottery! All you can do is weigh up the advice and go with what feels best for you. Good luck.

DEMum101 · 19/01/2018 23:14

I had an EMCS with DC1 and an ELCS WITH DC2. My recoveries from both were good but the ELCS was a breeze, even compared to the EMCS. The only thing I would say is I think the CSs interfered with feeding but maybe that was just me.

DailyMaileatmyshit · 20/01/2018 01:22

@saz1995 not always. 2 years on and I'm not in the least bit recovered from mine. Friends who had a chance section have recovered and gone on to have a second child, recovered from that c section too. Yet I'm still here, not recovered.

Blueskyrain · 23/01/2018 12:54

Mine was a breeze. Far less pain than expected, and was up and about before most of my friends with vaginal births.

WanderlustHenpeck · 23/01/2018 14:01

I had a traumatic birth with DS1. Forceps, bad tear etc. Recovery was hard, physically yes but also it was really hard emotionally. I have no lasting damage but I decided that this time around I'd go for a section, as that would pretty much guarantee no further damage down there for me AND it seemed more likely to be straightforward and predictable, meaning I could prepare for it better.

I was shitting myself going down to theatre, but I can absolutely echo what has been said above by a previous poster. It was almost enjoyable! The theatre was calm and it was completely pain free.

I was apprehensive about the recovery. I was in no pain at all for the first few hours. Whilst in hospital I took all the painkillers I could and I would honestly say I wasn't really in pain, I was of course uncomfortable but it was so well managed. The first few days were hard work in that getting up and moving was difficult, but certainly doable. By day 3 I was home and doing the stairs slowly but easily enough. By day 5 I was physically able to do most things I wanted to so long as I didn't over do it. A week after the section I was more capable than I had been at 36+ weeks pregnant and was more than able to do short trips out and short walks. Again, I couldn't do LOADS but I could do enough, if you get my drift. A month on I'm able to do pretty much everything now except lift and carry heavy things and empty the bottomg of dishwasher. I still have to take it a bit easy, we had a big day out on Saturday and I was mindful that Sunday needed to be lower key so I didn't end up totally shattered.

I would, in all honesty really recommend it. It's not the easy option, but I found it really healing to have such a positive birth experience when my first was so shitty. I feel like I had some closure.

Lules · 23/01/2018 14:09

They had to use forceps during my ELCS. It looked like they were doing a tug of war he was so stuck! But it was fine apart from the pressure made me vomit. The baby had a couple of bruises but they faded quickly. It really wasn’t a problem.

lalaland255 · 29/01/2018 07:20

The baby will feel forceps with the same pain as ventouse! At a seminar i attended on childbirth the lecturer sucked the ventouse onto my arm and it was so painful, just to give you an idea. Perhaps you can talk to your midwife about the other options available to you. Good luck!

lalaland255 · 29/01/2018 07:22

PS. babies body stores the memory of the birth experience so if you can make it a positive one in whatever way you can it is best for you and baby. Birth can impact things like posture and attachment and moods in later life.

Original poster
TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 29/01/2018 07:49

I am currently cuddling my beautiful baby boy, who was born last week by ELCS.

They didn’t need forceps in the end. The surgeon asked for them at one point, as the baby was very well wedged in, with rather a large head! But, just at that minute, the baby decided to cooperate and out he came.

Lucky for me, it was a lovely, lovely birth. I cried a lot of happy tears and I’m now recovering well.

The wound has been quite painful at points though and I still can’t stand up for any length of time, but it’s definitely getting better.

OP posts:
Wetwashing00 · 29/01/2018 09:01

Congratulations 🎉

lalaland255 · 29/01/2018 10:19

Congratulations!! Amazing!

Original poster
TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 29/01/2018 13:02

Thank you! He’s just lovely Smile.

OP posts:
user1471134011 · 29/01/2018 13:09

Congratulations!

Lala what was this seminar you attended? Was it a medical seminar?

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