To C-Section or not to C-section?

[redrobin123]

Good evening all,

I am 20 weeks pregnant with dd2. Dd1 is 21 months and was a planned CSec due to her being breach (born at 39 weeks).

As it's dd1 was c section I've got the option of having another one.

My first experience was absolutely amazing, I was a bit gutted at first as had prepared myself for a natural birth, but was so grateful after hearing all my friends horror stories afterwards. I was out of hospital in 24 hours with minimal pain, no complications and found the whole experience brilliant.

As it was so brilliant I thought it was an easy choice to have a csec second time round, but not I'm thinking I might be being a little naive as I've spoken to a few women who've had horrific experiences!

Again might be sounding very naive here but my main concern is getting out of hospital as soon as possible so I can be with both DD1 and DD2? Has anyone else had this experience? What did you chose to do and how did it go?

I have a consultant appointment next week so will ask lots of questions then. But interested in what other people think?

I feel like I am massively unprepared for either option now so any advice would be amazing!

Thanks so much xxx

Thanks! Good luck with your csec x

@NothingOnTellyAgain oh really? Good to know! I would've thought that having 2 close together would be a consideration, as in the US they seem to think so. But thanks for telling me :)

Im surprised with the comments. I thought a virginal would be easier than a c section as recovery time is shorter with vaginal as it's not surgery? Correct me if I'm wrong, as I've never given birth before! I'm pregnant with first child.

Everything I've read has made me think a section is more painful in the long run and if it gets infected, adds more complications?

I know you can still tear and hurt with a vaginal though!

chloe recovery from VB is quicker than with CS, but only if it is a straightforward VB. There is no guarantee of this, whatsoever. Women's risk of complications will vary depending on age, weight, medical conditions, size and position of the baby, circumstances of any previous births, etc, but even with all those factors taken into account it is impossible to predict whose birth will go smoothly, and whose won't. You can only cite broad probabilities. It's something of a lottery.

Section all the way!

My first was natural and my second ELCS at 39 for a breech. Honestly found the recovery much easier 2nd time round. My advice, ask questions to health care professionals, make an informed decision.

In the same situation as you I chose a second c-section.

If anything, it went better than the first (which was an emergency)

It was actually quite relaxing (except for the obvious nerves) I knew exactly what to expect and it felt very positive.

I spent a long time needlessly beating myself up for not getting the natural birth the first time around, I’m now glad things happened the way they did.

I had a C section for DC1 who was breech like you.

I elected for VBAC for DC2 as I wanted to recover faster and I didn't want major abdominal surgery twice. DC2 was born in 4 hours, I lost a lot of blood & needed stitches for 3rd degree tear. It was STILL better and easier recovery than the C section.

I could not sit stand properly for a very long time after my 1st VB. My second VB birth gave me long term injuries.
My 3rd was emcs due to failure to progress and thanks heavens I ended up having csection. My recovery was easy and most importantly the mental state of myself and my partner was in good place.
For me VB was way harder that gave me life altering injuries. CS was fine but I had a lot of support around me to help from family.

I had 3 VB's, then ELCS because baby had disabilities and was in a really awkward position. I really hated the ELCS so tried for a VBAC with baby 5 but ended up with a failed induction and an EMCS. If you had a good experience with your first ELCS then I would go with that again.

I also had a planned c section about 6 weeks ago. I healed perfectly and I would 100% do it again

chloem93

The 'hierachy' of birth in terms of recovery seems to be;

1. Straight forward vaginal birth
2. Electrive c section
3. Emergency c section
4. Complicated vaginal birth
5. C section with complications

Thing is, vaginal birth is VERY unpredictable. An elective section is very predictable. Most emergency sections aren't true emergencies (i.e. not life and death). A complicated VB tends to result in life long difficulties for the mother. A very bad vaginal birth results in life long damage or death to the baby. A very bad c section can cause life long issues or death for the mother but is unlikely to cause damage to an otherwise healthy baby.

When looking at c section risk stats, it's important to remember they don't distinguish between emergency and elective sections and also babies who have a known risk (e.g. very poorly in utero) are also included in the stats and are also almost exclusively born by c section.

Most advice given by NHS maternity specialists/ leaflets provide the benefits of vaginal birth and the risk of c section, which is not a balanced argument!

If you have an ELCS, you will likely be out later than you would be if you had a straightforward VB, and earlier than you would be if you had a more complex VB and certainly an EMCS. And as you say you don't have a crystal ball, it's a tough call!

Things I would take into account in your situation: do I want more kids in future, my age and general state of health, how well I recovered last time, position of baby not just in terms of breech but also back to back and engagement of head.

I am debating the same thing but am likely to go with ELCS. I had my first 'counsel' as you have to have two people talk to you before you are allowed one when it's elective because it's surgery. I found it very bias towards VB, I was hoping it would be more of a genuine discussion but it just seemed very much about all the risks and complications of a C section targeted towards my reasons why I don't want a VB, but non for a VB which clearly isn't the case! Also quite vague on stats to support argument. Have known more people with terrible VB stories than C section ones. They also don't differentiate the figures between emergency and elective and planned so it's very hard to get an actual genuine response I am finding.

Following - I'm in a similar position with my second DC and currently 25 weeks pregnant. My DS was born by emergency CS two years ago as he had sepsis which caused liver failure. We had no idea but I was counting his kicks and he didn't move all day when I turned 38 weeks. I went in to hospital at 20:30 and he was delivered just after midnight - all very quick, wonderful care but a very scary time as he was so ill and ended up being transferred to a liver unit.

He's now a strapping 2 year old and the picture of health! His little sister is due in March and I just can't decide what to do. In my heart of hearts I really really want a VBAC.

Ive been told one option would be (if I can't decide) I could book my csection for 39-40 weeks and give my body and baby the option to 'decide' how things go. I can also apparently change my mind if I do go into labour and think 'I can't do this'. Useful to know either way!

My mind was almost made up but seeing the risks just scares me silly - you aren't alone!!

Totally agree that ELCS recovery is way way easier than complicated VB. DS 1 vb with induction, forceps,tears, episiotomy and shoulder dystocia. 5 days in hospital in all. Then ELCS for Ds2, CS 11am weds, walking that evening, home3pn next day.

I have had 3 sections myself with only one being elective. My planned one was a lot more relaxed than the first two but I still regret it. We’re planning a 4th baby soon and will deffinetly wait the start of labour and see how things go, even if I end up with another section I will be happy to know that my baby was ready to be born and not being me picking a random date.

I found ELCS and EMCS fairly similar in terms of recovery. Main disadvantage of the emcs was that it was in the middle of the night so the sleep deprivation felt worse. With the elcs there was a lot of waiting around beforehand which was horrible as I was so nervous. At least with the emcs there was only 23 minutes between the Dr deciding I needed a c-section and ds being born.

I had a natural first, c section second (breech twins) so had the choice next time. I opted c section as it made a scheduling easier.

My first was a complicated birth so wasn't an easy recovery.

C section is hands down more painful and my second one was really painful due to scar tissue, but I could plan better which helped a lot. I had a lot of complications on all my previous children so it became the safest option anyway.

I’d be having a CS every day of the week. The experience and recovery with second baby was so much nicer compared to first baby which was ventouse VB requiring surgery a year after to correct the botched stitching. The pain with VB recovery was far worse than CS recovery. I was scared about CS recovery after hearing stories etc and already having a toddler but it was fine and I was up and about doing things after 5 days. Didn’t need much in way of pain relief. Such a positive experience!

In the same situation I chose another C-section. I just preferred the devil I knew! And it made arranging childcare easier. All went fine and I have no regrets.

I had a natural birth (first time mum) contractions started at 6am, mild. Went to hospital as they got stringer at 16:15 baby out at 17:35 one tiny stitch .. I think it just depends on the day and the baby it's hard to 'plan' I was certain it was going to be long and painful but I had no pain relief either. One thing I didn't do was sit down and there was a rope in the room like what you would find on an action course so I pushed with every contraction .. I truly believe this helped push me along

I had an EMCS on Saturday, waters broke Thursday morning at 5.30am and labour progressed then slowed then progressed then slowed. By Saturday 9.30am they had slowed to every 8minutes when at the peak it was every 2/3mins. My MW said I could wait it out but to be aware of the increased infection risk due to my waters being gone for over 24 hours, then they suspected merconium in my waters, again I could wait it out and see but I think that was it for me, I had had a feeling for weeks and couldn't see myself delivering the baby for some reason. Got to the hospital who confirmed it was merconium and said they would put me straight on drip which was my idea of hell but on examining me to see if I was favourable they discovered the baby was an undiagnosed breech and I ended up with an EMCS, the complete polar opposite of the home water birth I had planned for. I managed to stay calm and we were even laughing in theatre with the anesthetist when I said it just felt like someone was giving me a deep tissue massage, that was until the nausea and pain in my rib area started so ended up on gas and air and out of it for the next 40minutes or so whilst they closed me up. I sent my partner out of theatre to be with the baby and do skin to skin which I had planned as it was pointless him being with me as I was getting further and further out of it, and when I finally was wheeled to recovery I was initially too shakey to even hold my son. My partner had to leave just three hours after the birth leaving me high as a kite on oramorph, attached to a drip with one hand, and an automated pressure cuff with the other, on a bed with a mattress too big so it dipped in the middle making it even worse to get in and out of under normal circumstances let alone just after surgery, all this with a newborn and dumped in at the deep end. I was discharged just after 24 hours later and have since felt like I've been hit by a bus, and each day when I expect things to have gotten better I find a new pain. I've been teary and cried because it just hasn't hit me what's happened and I've been shell shocked, and I have no time to recover whilst also dealing with a newborn who won't sleep of a night (not just constantly waking, just won't sleep). My midwife came round the day after I was discharged and assured me I could always have a HB VBAC in a pool next time. My instant response? Nope, I'll be ELCS. Regardless of things having gone hopelessly wrong, and the way I'm feeling now I can still look at the midwives who reassured me on finding out I'd be going to surgery and I'm amazed at how kind and lovely and reassuring and amazing they were with me both before and in theatre. How amazing the anesthetist was who talked me through everything and gave me facts and figures that made things less scary, who held my hand and reassured me that if I needed to he could put me under if it was too much and made us laugh and came to check on us in the ward the next day. Then there were the nurses and midwives on the antenatal ward who took my son so I could get a few hours sleep, laughed with me, were bluntly honest with me, have advice and treated me with so much respect and dignity when I felt lost. Yes there were still issues, but I honestly think the experience I had was actually better than what I would have had and had planned for home even if it hadn't all gone wrong. I'm humbled and I actually feel quite emotional at how it could be so traumatic but so nice at the same time and completely not what I had expected from being in hospital. I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm not sure why VBAC is so important to some, I guess that's their experience and their perogative, but I just wanted to give the flip side, from someone who was dead set against even being in hospital let alone dealing with an emergency csection, which had its negatives, but even so, who would still opt for one next time. You should do what you feel is right, a C-section is familiar to you, and if that's what you need then go with that, if giving birth naturally is important to you, then go with that. Nobody will be able to tell you otherwise. Good luck with whatever you decide OP x

I had an emergency c section after 24 hours of labour. I was really keen for a natural birth - did hypnobirthing etc which definitely helped with my anxiety, and helped me to feel in control of things. However, things didn’t go to plan (of course!).

The section was difficult, and an odd ‘J incision’ as DD was stuck. Not safe to try for a VBAC as very high risk of rupture with this type of incision. When the consultant told me, I was so relieved! I would rather another emergency section than 24 hours of labour again.

Hoping to TTC later this year, and will actually look forward to an elective section!

Hijacking the thread, does anyone have experience of a planned section but going into labour first? How did that work out?