Has anyone had an ELCS and regretted it/had a bad experience?

[Monkeynuts18]

Just wondering - I’ve seen lots of posts from women on here who had terrible vaginal births and wished they’d had a section, and lots of posts from women who had EMCSs and wished they’d been able to deliver vaginally. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen a post from a woman who chose an ELCS (with no clinical indication like breech presentation) and regretted it. In fact women who choose ELCS generally seem to be very pleased with their decisions.

I’m interested because I’m currently thinking about birth choices. I have a condition that means if I go for a vaginal birth I’m more likely to suffer a severe tear and/or prolapse than the average woman, but I’m still being encouraged not to go for a section by the midwife because of the risks.

Thank you in advance for any thoughts.

I'm not quite your demographic because I loved my ELCS. But I loved my EMCS too - it was such a relief after the prolonged failed induction.

I'd have a read up on the risks and percentages before making a decision. I'd also look at what the long term consequences of a severe tear and/or prolapse would be and whether I'd be prepared to live with that.

I did that when faced with the ELCS vs
VBAC decision and it was a real eye opener for me.

Ast the end of the day, if you're fully informed then you get to choose the risks that you're willing to accept, I think for many women with regrets it's the lack of information and/or control which is the significant factor rather than the delivery method itself.

I'm in a similar boat although I already have a child but had a very traumatic birth with a third degree tear. Am 32 weeks pregnant with my second and have a few additional medical issues so have opted for an elective section this time. Most people I speak to who have had elective sections seem to speak positively about them whereas most that had EMCS had a different view. I guess that's because often it comes after hours/days of difficult labour where the body of already absolutely exhausted.

Have you spoken to a consultant about your choices? I found the consultant a lot more positive and open to the idea of a section that the midwife was.

I loved my ELCS!

Would sign the consent forms in a heartbeat for another.

I loved mine, and am scheduled to have another one in a few months.

Yeah very happy with mine too

I had EMCS (traumatic after 24 hour labour), ELCS (wonderful, quick recovery), and am having another ELCS in Jan.

I know a few doctors and all of them have chosen ELCS over vaginal births, even when no medical requirement.

Not quite in your category because I didn’t choose my elective section, but I have done the hat trick: elective section, VBAC, emergency section under general anaesthetic. No surprise that the last was the absolute worst. The VBAC was the loveliest and the easiest recovery - I was offered a second elective section but decided against it.

However, as an honest answer if I’d had an increased risk of tearing and prolapse as in your situation I wouldn’t hesitate to choose an elective. Are you due to see a doctor soon for a second opinion?

Yeah sorry, very positive ELCS experience too.

If you want the honest truth, even a good recovery from a caesarean (which I had - no infection or anything) isn’t a picnic. It is serious abdominal surgery. Getting up from the bed was hard (push up with your arms), I could feel my scar pulling, it was a few weeks before I felt back to my normal self. But I’d say most of that was comparable to my sister who had a vaginal birth with lots of intervention (forceps etc).

A straightforward vaginal birth is the best I’m sure by far. But I’d say a planned caesarean is better than hours and hours of labour then a difficult birth or an emergency caesarean.

Good luck making your choice and I hope everything goes well for you whatever you decide.

I knew the risks to me when I opted for a second ELCS rather than VBAC. My didn’t go well for me - it was delayed by three days (so prepped and waiting for a day then sent home over the weekend), problems with the anaesthetic during and after, BP crashing during. They didn’t give immediate skin to skin as requested. Milk slow to come in. Then I developed an infection which was become sepsis and was on IV antibiotics for three days at 3w pp. I really wasn’t well and my body hasn’t really recovered - still have pelvic pain I guess from adhesions. But I knew the risks and accepted them. I preferred the poor outcome scenario for me with ELCS rather than the VBAC one.

I had EMCS with my first and ELCS with my youngest. I do not for one second regret my elective.

With my first, I had a failed induction and had him after being in labour for over 12 hours and him being in distress. The main reason I decided on an elective with my youngest was I didn't want to have to go through all the labour and still end up needing a section at the end of it.

In your position, where there is a risk of requiring corrective surgery or an emergency c-section, I would push for an elective.

It does carry higher risks. It is major abdominal surgery after all. The recovery isn't particularly easy either. Do your research and go into it with your eyes open. I understand why midwives push for a natural delivery and on paper it makes sense to try for a natural delivery, but if it doesn't work have an emergency c-section. But actually physically going through it all, it is emotionally and physically exhausting. IMO, it's better just to have a section.

I've had 2 ELCS due to breach babies. Fab. No trouble at all. Second one was even easier than first in terms of pain.
One VBAC in between and I seriously wished I'd opted for an ELCS.

I had an ELCS, I loved it too!

Super easy, great recovery, so calm and organised unlike my utterly horrific vaginal birth with DS.

I had an ELCS due to breech 3 months ago. I would never ever book an elective section out of choice after my experience.

The actual procedure was fine and positive, but it was the management of it by the hospital that was dreadful.

Because I was “low risk” I was last on the list and was nil by mouth for 18 hours. I had a load of IV fluids which affected me and my baby post delivery. The fact that I never went into labour and didn’t get much artificial oxytocin meant that I could t establish breastfeeding and as a result, my son ended up back in hospital on day five with dangerously low blood sugar. All of this almost put me on the edge of post natal depression. The IV fluids also caused dreadful swelling in my hands and feet, I couldn’t wear shoes for 4 weeks.

As a result of the CS, I’ve been left with gastrointestinal issues and the nerve pain I’m in is almost unbearable. This affects my daily life so much. I don’t know how I’m going to manage going back to work in 5 months.

Due to my section being low risk and planned, I was totally ignored on the post natal ward. Left for two hours despite buzzing for help to go to the toilet because other women were more of a priority than me.

If my next child was breech and I had to have a planned CS with no chance to go into labour, I’d be gutted. I cannot fathom why anyone would put themselves through this out of choice.

I hated my elcs. I had dc's 1-3 with vb, then dc4 was elcs due to positioning and his disabilities. Dc5 was a failed induction followed by emcs.

I don't regret it because there wasn't another option. He couldn't have come out any other way. However it isn't something I would ever want to repeat.

I was quite poorly after my second. Longer recovery and an infection. I would however, still chose it again.

I didn't have a section with my second despite strongly considering it, and probably only avoided an EMCS by the consultant adding me to an already over long list for induction after serial growth scans suggested DC2 was going to be a whopper...

Given how quickly I had to get back into wrangling 15kg of angry 3 year old with limited support, I would have had severe problems - had to pick up and carry 3 yo at 4 days post birth!

I had a VB with DS1 and had a horrific 3rd degree tear which took me about 3 months to recover from. I had an ELCS with DS2 just over a week ago and I’m already up and doing way more than I was able to with DS1.
I don’t regret my ELCS and found it to be a massively positive experience. As someone who suffered from a bad tear, it is horrible if it happens and you need to weigh up the risks between the two.

I don't regret mine because after my first birth I wasn't going to give birth vaginally again. However,put it this way, I won't be having anymore. I am just shit at giving birth apparently