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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Advantages and disadvantages of a c-section

67 replies

Gangle · 05/08/2007 12:54

Sorry to open up a controversial and over argued debate but I've just found out I'm pregnant and know for sure that I want a c-section. Just wanted to hear the positives and negatives for those who have been through the experience, particularly in terms of recovery times and scarring.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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Jackstini · 06/08/2007 13:19

Hayley 2U it depends on the hospital but I had emergency CS on Thurs am and was out Sat pm. May be better him having the time off when you get home as you generally have to be on a ward after a CS with limited visiting hours anyway.
For the OP, this was one of the major disadvantages - dh had to leave us same day and could only come in for 6 hours per day visiting. Also my scar is a mess and your tummy is NEVER the same. Can't comment on natural as never managed it!

MrsPuddleduck · 06/08/2007 13:25

Jackstini is right - it depends on the hospital.

I have had two c-secions - first time around I would never have got my meals if my husband hadn't been there as I was somehow expected to walk and get them.

In fact why is it that they tell you not to lift a kettle but its OK to be carrying trays of food around a hospital ward for the first 3 days?

RedFraggle · 06/08/2007 14:04

Hayley, you will probably need your dh with you at home more than in the hospital. In the hospital there are other people to help you out. At home it will be mainly you and your dh will be a great help then.

My scar first time was very neat and faded top be hardly visible and my tummy did go back to being the same. This time around my scar is neat but still very red (9 weeks post-op) my tummy is currently still like a plate of blanchemonge (aargh can never spell that!) but I will be taking up running again as soon as i feel well enough and plan to lose the rest of the weight and tone up my tummy again. It can be done - seriously. I can't be the only person to have done it!

witchandchips · 06/08/2007 14:18

In our hospital the cribs were trolleys and we had to push los down the corridor past cross midwives saying "buck up girl, in my day we only had half an asprin", "don't be silly dear, you've got ages yet...quick quick she crowning.." to the canteen to pick up plates of inedible slop and put them on the tray underneath the babies. Back to our ward and then realise that we'd used more calories in getting the food then were in the meal as a whole. quick phone call on rip of hospital phone "DH I NEED CHOCOLATE AND I NEED IT NOW!"

eleusis · 06/08/2007 14:45

I think it depends on the hospital. What hospital are you going to? Do you have other support around? Mum? Sister? Friends? I think i would want DH to come to the hospital and then would try to get a sister or friend to stay with me for a week. Then, I'd be happy to be on my own once I could drive again. (which could realistically be in more than two weeks)

SweetyDarling · 06/08/2007 14:46

My friends who have had CSs have had no more difficulty getting thier tummies back into shape as my friends who had vaginal deliveries. My DM didn't have any prob either after 2 CSs. Not sure there's much to that one?

hayley2u · 06/08/2007 16:49

going to arrowe park hospital wirral

eleusis · 06/08/2007 17:03

Don't know anything about it, but you can look it up on www.birthchoiceuk.com.

RedFraggle · 06/08/2007 17:20

I had my section 8 weeks ago there Hayley! Don't worry, the staff were lovely and you were not expected to get your own food for the first 3 days (at least I wasn't and I actually got told off for trying to walk to the canteen)

They put you on a post-section ward for the first night, after that you can either stay there or request a private room (at extra cost). If your DH is away then maybe it would be best to stay on the ward though.

mymatemax · 06/08/2007 22:19

my first was a natural, average length labour but with tearing & stitches & painful piles, i also lost lots of blood (sorry tmi) & took weeks to recover,

My second as an emergency C section at 28 weeks, my recovery time was far shorter. Paracetamol for about 24 hrs a bit sore & stiff for about 48 hrs. Discharged from hospital after 48 hrs (although went back to ward to daily wound checks as ds was in SCBU).

hayley2u · 07/08/2007 08:43

red fraggle was yours a planned c section. going to ask consultant for one when see him wed any advice

MrsTittleMouse · 07/08/2007 09:16

Quick question here about pelvic floor: I thought that the main problem with having a baby is that the weight of it during pregnancy effects the muscles. So having a C section doesn't make much difference, unless there are really bad problems. Is that right?
Have to say in response to the OP that there are people who have very difficult recoveries from C sections and people who have very difficult recoveries from vaginal births, and there is no way of knowing in advance if you're going to be in either camp.

eleusis · 07/08/2007 09:23

MrsTittleMouse, most of the damage to the pelvic floor is done during delivery. There is some damage during the later stages (when baby is heavier) of the pregnancy. But, most happens as things are stretched and ripped in order to push a watermelon through a hole the size of a lemon.

Of course there are cases of natural deliveries where pelvic floor is not a problem. But, then there are some horror stories too.

RedFraggle · 07/08/2007 10:33

My section at Arrowe was planned. I had a nightmare time with the birth of my first baby (at a different hospital) and suffered from PTSD afterwards. I requested a section this time around as I was starting to suffer flashbacks etc and just couldn't bear the thought of any complications like the first time. My consultant did offer counselling to try to help me go for a VBAC but I had already had lots of counselling just to become pregnant again and I just wanted to know it would be a straightforward delivery - hence the elective section.
Just try to be calm and outline the reasons why you want to have a section. I was very emotional due to the past history and couldn't stop crying which probably helped in some ways but it frustrated me as I couldn't outline what I wanted to say properly! Write it down if it helps to stay focused.

RedFraggle · 07/08/2007 10:35

MrsTittlemouse, some damage is done during pregnancy but the main damage is during labour. It is an individual thing though how much your pelvic floor is affected. Apparently a lot of it is due to genetics and how stretchy your skin/muscles are.

hayley2u · 07/08/2007 13:37

thanks miss fraggle. do you remember who your consultant was, ine is mr ellard. i see him at 11.15 tommorrow. i have written lots of ponts down. going over on to two pages. i have not actually recieved councelling about the birth but would i have to agree to it before they agree as dont really want any.
i really hope my consultant is bearable and understand my needs. i am getting more and more nervous now as i am already 34 1/2 weeks. hope its not too late

eleusis · 07/08/2007 14:32

Hayley, write on your notes that you really want a section. Document that you have formally requested a section. It makes it harder for him to say "no".

When I asked for my elective section, the doctor wrote up some notes to say I wanted to discuss method of deliver but tha tI was happy to wait and decide later. This was not the coversation we had and I then wrote my version of the conversation on the notes. Next time I went in, I mentioned that I had copied the notes.

Out of curiosity, why do you want a section? I'm not judging you, I'm all for freedon of choice for any reason. Just curious.

Lorayn · 07/08/2007 14:50

I really cannot believe that you are choosing to have a c-section. My DD was born prem, at 32 +4 and I had to have an emergency, cs, when I found out I was pregnant with my son, I was desperate not to have another c-section, but the consultant was convinced I was having a large baby and didn't want to risk my scar, so I had to have another c-section, DS weighed 8lb 7.5oz and my midwife says I could've probably had him naturally with no problem. If I have another child I refuse to have an elective c-section,(have been told this is safe, and that a team can be on stand-by in case of any problems) it is a major operation, and although I didn't have many problems with it, I cannot understand why anyone would choose to do childbirth this way.

eleusis · 07/08/2007 15:20

Lorayn, you are entitled to your choice, and the OP is entitled to hers. That story is not helpful. And, quite frankly, I don't think it's wise to have a VBAC after two section. I don't think it's wise after after one section. But, I don't go on threads about home births trying to convince the mum to be that a planned section really is what's best.

As far as I'm concerned, midwives are not the ultimate authority in childbirth. Consultants are.

Hayley,
I am the queen of strop when it come to demanding what I want. If you want any help or advice with this feel free to CAT me or find me on the chat boards.

eleusis · 07/08/2007 15:25

Uterine Rupture Support Group on Yahoo

Tinkjon · 07/08/2007 17:05

Lorayn, just as you can't imagine people choosing a C-section, other people won't understand you choosing a VBAC - everyone is different The biggest problem I faced with wanting an elective C-section was that people didn't understand the difference between fear and phobia. One stupid midwife even said to me "well everyone's worried the first time, dear!" Er, no - being in tears all day every day, having constant panic attacks, unable to cope with normal life, having no sleep whatsoever, regretting the pregnancy... that's not just being worried, that's phobia. Such mental problems are just as valid reasons for a C-section as physical reasons.

eleusis · 07/08/2007 17:28

I don't think you evenneed to go to that level to justify it.

"Because I bloody want one" is good enough for me.

Let us know how it goes, Hayley. Good luck.

Katiekin · 07/08/2007 17:41

I have had 2 natural births and 1 section. The natural births were more painful at the time (I only had gas and air so I can't speak for pethidine or epidurals). However I felt back to normal within a week and even took my first baby to a wedding 3 hours away. After the section I was in pain on and off for a month and didn't feel right for 3 months and I also put on 2 stone. Just one case for you to consider more sharp pain short term or chronic pain longer term.
It was all worth it though, I'd do either again for another child - still trying to convince DH

RedFraggle · 07/08/2007 17:52

Hayley, I had Mr Alum (or Alun?) can't remember how it was spelt now! He was nice enough. He didn't insist on counselling and they can't make you, but they might suggest it. Just state your case.
It's not too late - I didn't have my appointment to arrange the planned section for me until 36 weeks. Don't panic - it will be ok.

Lorayn -lucky you that you feel emotinally up to trying for a natural birth. After the trauma of almost losing my first baby in a complicated labour, surgery seemed the much safer option. Everyone has their reasons for choosing a c-section and it is not a decision taken lightly.

SweetyDarling · 08/08/2007 11:21

Lorayn, my mum can't understand my choice to have a vaginal birth (she had 2 CSs) and nor can my MIL who had 4 vaginal deliveries!

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