i want a c section how do i get one

[hayley2u]

i am 32 weeks. and absolutly terrified about giving birth.i already have one son who gave birth naturally too. it was horible experience and was so torn a nd sore but they never gave me stiches when i was told later i should have had at least 5. i'm so scared and would love a c section just having nightmares about it. does anyone have any advice as think doctor will just laugh at me

[ginnypotter]

i had my dd by c-section cos i had a horrid 1st birth, my sitiuation was v.similar to yours, and i didn't pluck up the courage to ask for a c-section until i was 37 weeks!
i phoned comm midwife team and told them i wanted an elective, they sent a midwife round to see me and she talked through all pros and cons and she made an appointment for me to see the consultant.
saw the consultant at 38 weeks (had to kick up a fuss to see actual consultant and not one of is juniors) and he was lovely. told him about the agony i had afterwards and temporary incontinence and that i just didn't want another vaginal birth (ds was a 36hr forceps delivery, i had 3rd degree tear).
he said fine and booked my c-section for 39 weeks exactly.

i won't say having a c-section is easy - it was scary and i was in agony for the first 24 hours, but it got better every day and the drugs helped lots, and by 2 weeks post section i felt fine (compared to still being in pain 6 months after my vaginal delivery).
i definately made the right decision for me - despite loads of people saying 2nd babies are easier, you'll be ok to have her naturally etc etc. i'm glad i had my caesarean, and if i ever have another baby (not likely!) i will def have another c-section.

hope that helps, and i hope you get the birth that YOU want

[fizzbuzz]

Docs will take it seriously. I had horrific 1st birth, and was terrified of second.

I was at a big teaching hosp, and they had a specialist midwife who helped with this sort of thing. Fear of childbirth is called tokophobia, and is a genuine fear.

I had a planned c section with second, and it was amazing. Fantastic, wonderful, mindblowing experience, and would do it again tomorrow.

Pain afterwards was managable and much much faster recovery than natural birth, and much less painful recovery as well.
No fear of going to loo afterwards either.

However it did knacker my stomach muscles! But guess you can't have everything.

Best experience of my life ever, whilst first birth was probably the worst, although did get ds from it.

You are entitled to ask for c section, and if doctor refuses you can ask to see another. Stand your ground and good luck

[CHOCOLATEPEANUT]

I demanded a section with my first.At 39 weeks I had the most horrendous pain in my ribs that I could not breathe or move.I got to see the cons and said that having see my sister deliver two children, I knew that starting off in the state I was already in was not the best way to enter labour and under no circumstances was I going to end up having ventouse or forceps becuse i was unable to push.

The cons was a bit snotty and said i would soon forget about the rib pain once labour started and at that moment I got a braxton hicks and she saw the look of pain on my face and she said I will do it in the morning.

It was a very calm experience and yes I was dripped and cathed up for 12 hours but next day I was showered and on feet. I took arnica and recovered v quickly.I was driving in 10 days and though a bit sore straightening up it was nothing really.(dd was born with a twisted foot as it was lodged between my ribs, shes ok now)

Next one was a natural but at 25 weeks as baby died.It was painful but bearable (the physical pain) but i think if baby would have been born alive i would have considered it v easy.I know she was prem so I had none of that burning sensation at end,but i had an induced labour and docs said pains would be worse if anything than natural labour as baby dead so not helping self out.Sorry to go on, just trying to compare both natural and cs but mine not very natural?

now pg with third and they want to do sc at 38 weeks as they will do anything to ensure alive.But I am desperate to give birth to a live baby.So i will leave cs until 40 weeks and HOPE to go into labour before then.

Good luck with whatever you choose,but if you want a cas you can demeand one,i did

[jcscot]

I had an elective c-section 11 months ago with my first son. During the pregnancy I'd been under the care of three different PCTs (husband is in the Army and we moved a lot last year!). First PCT was incredibly reluctant, despite there being sound medical reasons for a section ("I've never heard of that condition and if I don't know about it, then it can't have any obstetric implications."). This was despite my coming armed with letters from both the specialist clinics I attend in London.

Second PCT didn't really matter as we were only there temporarily.

Third PCT was fantastic. I saw the Ob/Gyn consultant at 29 weeks and she was great. I told her about the condition and she'd not only heard of it but was aware of the risks. We discussed the pros and cons of a natural birth v c-section and we opted for a planned section with the proviso that if nature took its course prior to the date fixed then I would go with the flow - premature and fast labour is a risk with my condition.

I had my section at 37 weeks and there were complications. I had a PPH and the baby was born flat and had to spend 48hrs in SCBU. I was out of bed - albeit gingerly - 24hrs after surgery and was able to lift and handle the baby when he was put in the room with me. I was out of hospital 5 days after the birth and was out pushing my pram - again a little gingerly! - two days later.

I had a couple of minor complications with the wound (an infection that was cleared up quickly) but little to no pain. Yes, it's uncomfrotable for the first few days but, like anything, the sooner you get up and try to stand up straight and walk about, the better. I'd had abdominal surgery a few years ago, so I knew roughly what I was in for.

I can honestly say that the care and support I got from the hospital where I gave birth was fantastic - both before, during and after. I can't say that a c-scetion is the way to avoid a 'bad' birth but nor is it a 'bad' birth in and of itself. It was judged necessary for me and I would have no hesitation in having another one.

Giving birth, no matter how one does it, is a lottery and the only way to prepare oneself is to discuss everything with ones consultant and to be happy with whatever decision is reached.

Good luck!

[fearscape]

I would agree that it is a bit of a lottery, you don't know how you will recover from natural or cs birth until it actually happens. I've read a lot of people saying that recovery from an elective cs is easier than em-cs so I just thought I'd stick my oar in! I had cs with no labour, so sort of elective (although classed as em as only planned from the day before) and I was in A LOT of pain. Took all the painkillers I was offered including morphine, didn't have to lift ds as he was in SCBU, got up and walked around a lot (maybe too much?) as advised by the mws, and still struggled. Don't want to scare you, maybe I'm a bit of a wuss , just thought you ought to know that it can be a difficult recovery. I was only able to walk any distance (say for more than 5-10mins) after about 4 weeks, and took painkillers for about 5 weeks. So if you go for cs I would make sure you have someone on hand to help you just in case.

Really sorry to hear about your first experience, I hope everything goes well for you this time round whatever you decide to do.

[newgirl]

just to add - i had no trouble bonding with babies after c-section, or breastfeeding

i think bonding/feeding etc is a complex thing and is probably best achieved by a happy relaxed mum who has had the birth she wants - whatever that is

[eleusis]

How are you, Hayley? Have you seen the consultant? If you want a section (and sounds like you do) it is possible to get one. But, you might have to kick up a fuss.

[typhoonsmum]

Hi hayley was wondering how you got on with Mr Ellard.

[spugs]

hi haley, i had my first dd1 when i was 20 and like you didnt get pregnant again till dd was 5 as i found the experiance so horrible and initially didnt want any more children. i was left alone for long periods of time even though there was no one els in labour and to be honest didnt really know what labour would intail. i spent the whole time lying on my back and ended up pushing for an hour and a half and tearing badly ( not as bad as you) i remember afterwards feeling fairly tramatised and thinking never again. we decided to have another baby and my birth was completly different, i had a really good mw who stayed with me the whole time, i stayed upright and walked about the whole time and gave birth squatting. she only took 2 min to push out and i had no stitches and the whole thing was a fantastic experiance. i know your first birth was probly bad for totaly different reasons to mine and if you want a c section then go for it. but i just wanted to let you know that they can be much better and im hoping dc3s birth is as good. anyhow what a ramble, i hope you get the birth you want hun

[hayley2u]

just a =n up date my appointment was cancelled going on wednsday now for a scan and on the letter it tells me my appointment with consultant will follow. not to sure if this means illl see him after scan or they are going to give me a new appointment afterwards to see him. but i'm 34 weeks now so times pushing on x

[pobletsmum]

Best wishes for wednesday Hayley.

[hayley2u]

hi went for my appointment today. my consultant was actually really nice iv explained the reasons and he says that its my decision and if i still feel same in 3 weeks when i have to go for other scan he will give me a date then.was expecting a real fight but was suprised how easy and nice he was. so i'm pretty pleased with my self

[pobletsmum]

That's great news. Now you have 'permission' you'll be able to decide for yourself. One friend actually told me that once she had 'permission', it took the pressure off and she decided to go for a natural delivery after all!

I hope it all goes well for you, whatever you decide.

[hayley2u]

thanks pobletsmum.xxx

[fedupwasherwoman]

So pleased that things went well for you hayley.

I honestly enjoyed my pregnancy more once I had a c-section date booked. A huge element of worry had been taken out of my life.