calling all elective c section people

[hayley2u]

hi. iv just been to see consultant and asked about me wanting a c section on ground of traumatic birth last time. he agreed. but i have to come back to hospital in 3 weeks for yet another growth scan as my baby is measuring too big.when i come then he says i will be given my date for c section. i am 34 weeks now so that will take me to 37 weeks. is it normal to wait that long. and anyone knows what happens from then on

azure.
poor you, but lol sorry. my partner hates needles too, but he hopefully wont faint, i'll make sure he has a big lunch.

I am also thinking of elective c-section for any future births due to traumatic first birth.

Could anyone comment on what happens to your body after a c-section? Any numbness/discomfort around the scar? Do you get a permanent hanging belly over the scar?

Sorry if this sounds posh, but this time around, I just want to ask all the questions.

Hi Cote D'azur, After a section your scar will be sore for a few weeks. At first all around your wound and gradually just around the sctual scar line. This improves and by about 4-6 weeks post op i was feeling pretty normal. Re the overhang - I got rid of mine after about 1 year but some people never do. it can be done, but you have to work at it!

Azure - Are you my friend 'J' in London who had his DH (then DP) faint just before the c-section?

RedFraggle - Did you have a tummy tuck or a similar operation? Or did you just work out? I was told that the 'overhang' can be pretty large and whatever you do in terms of physical exercise, it just stays there, if only as skin.

CoteDAzur no I'm not J. Obviously your friend and I are part of a select group! Re the overhang, still got mine 2 years on (tomorrow).

No tummy tuck for me - no way I could afford it! (or want to have such major surgery just to lose a belly!)
I found running the best way to shift it. If you are overweight you probably won't ever shift it, but I could be wrong. I am not particularly skinny, just slim and I do enjoy doing exercises. I started a thread recently about this subject as so many people were saying that you "never lose the overhang" and I couldn't believe I was the only person who had! Do a search for it and you will see what other people who lost it did exercise-wise.

btw - I'm not claiming to have a six-pack or anything - just a normal, reasonably flat stomach...

everyone has covered a lot for you.

I found helpful in recovery

• big undies
• peppermint tea/cordial for trapped wind
• arnica tablets
• tea tree oil - few drops in warm water to bath wound - keeps infection at bay and helps it heal nicely.
• snacks for room - I had elevenses bars - fibre to help with getting those bowels moving water, water, water

recovered fine - had two electives and one emergency. Proper planned elective was at exactly 39 weeks. BY the time I had third section - Had it friday morning - home sunday lunch - not really recommended - previous two I stayed in for 5 days.

I had an emergency cs, and did have a nasty scar, but it has faded now and is hardly noticible.

I was overweight before the birth and had a big overhang afterwars but have since lost a lot of weight and it is all but gone.

Still a bit flabby, but for a while there I was doing a lot of situps and it did get better. Have put on a couple of pounds recently, need to get back to the gym.

When I cooked in the weeks before I was due, I made double portions and froze them. That way I didn't have to cook after I came home.

I had an emergency c/s with my ds 16m ago, and want an elective with this next lo (due next March, so plenty of time to argue my case with consultant).

I was home after 2 days and felt pretty well. Took paracetamol and brufen for a few weeks. My scar healed ok but is still very noticeable and raised (very much like a keloid scar). I seem to have made a much quicker recovery than a number of friends who had vaginal deliveries.

As for the little overhang, I'll deal with that once this baby arrives

Can anyone help / offer any advice. I'm really worried to the popint I'm not sleeping and have no idea what to do / say and whether I should go with what the midwives are saying or say I think a c-section would be better for me.

I am currentley 32 weeks pregnant and at C&W hospital in London.

I am still being considered for a natural birth despite the following:

a brain haemorrhage three years ago which has left a domant clot behind my left eye

a fractured pelvis about 20 years ago

severe migraines in pregnancy of between 2 and 3 days each and up to three times a week

a strong maternal family history of breach birth (4 generations - 16 babies all feet first!)

a low lying placenta - I am having another scan at 34 weeks for this.

I'm so confused and was wondering if anyone else had experienced any or all of the above problems and what happened to them.

Have you talked to a consultant, or is this advice just from midwives?

I think you need specialist advice. I would certainly demand a consultant appointment between 34 and 36 weeks. No way later than 36. If they can't get you in sooner, I would write a formal letter requesting a c-section (which should get you the consultant appointment even if you donàt decide a c-section is what you want).

But, to answer your question I would not want to deliver vaginally if I had either a dormant blood clot or a fractured pelvis (ouch). Out of curiosity, what happened to your pevis?

Pelvis injury occured aged about 10 doing a backflip on the beam in gym and I missed - foot slipped! serious amount of pain and bruising!!!!! - what an idiot!

I have seen several consultants (never get to see the same one!) they are so vague and say "c-section should be considered for this patient!" - I have no idea what that means in terms of % chance of me having a c-section and I have no further appts with them. Just midwives, GP (who helpfully said "what do you want me to do about it?" and my 34 week scan.

This is my first baby and so I'm totally unaware as to how the whole system works, whether I can insist on a c-section (although still at a loss as to why I think it's a more sensible idea than they do!)or whether to let them decide.

Have you got those consultant notes that say it should be considered (Which frankly I would read as "This patient should have a c-section")?

If you do, copy them pronto.

HAve you actually gon in and talked to consultant and siad right give me the low down. What are the pros and cons. And what would you do in my situation?

Don't let them fob you off. The NHS is terrible and giving all the facts to first time mums, which is why I take the time to type my experiences and opinions on here. I wish I had had mumsnet before having my first child!

Oh, and how many kids to you want? I think if you want 6 kids, then to start off with a section on the first one might not be ideal.

Thank you Eleusis! Will go to my next appt and be more assertive!

We would like to have two kids - hubby in the army so planning around when he's going to be in the country for long periods of time is a little tricky!

I would also suggest you start a new thread on MN titled something like "Help me decide about vaginal vs c-section. Am 34 weeks now and feel ill informed by the NHS"

You will get a lot more attention than you have gotten on thei thread. It might turn into an all out war. But you will have plenty of info you donàt appear to be getting from your doctor.

Two sections is no prob. I think 4 would probably be my limit. But, I only want two kids (3 if I win the lottery). So, I was quite happy to ask for a second. Remember that the NHS discourages sections because they are expensive and not because it is medically the best thing for you.

I am also concerned about the clot issue you mention. What would happen if the pushing in delivery dislodged the clot? Where would the clot go? And how do they know that it would be safe? I don't know the answer to these questions but I certainly would ask these questions to the consultants.

Oh, and what hospital is it?

I just feel hugely let down by the NHS because the hospital I'm having the baby at (Chelsea & Westminster) is the same one I spent 5 months in in 2003 with my brain haermorrhage.

They had no idea of who I was, no record of the fact I'd been to the hospital before (except for a record of some abnormal CT scans - the files were detroyed in a warehouse fire apparentley) and I have not seen the same midwife or consultant at maternal medicine twice yet.

I was sent back to see my neurologist who didn't think the clot would be a problem if I pushed unless I went in to labour on a day I was having a migraine but I'm just not convinced this can be right!

Will go now and try to work out how to start a new topic!

F'ing Hell. I'd definately ask for a section. Sounds to me like a NHS is seriously neglecting you.

How do you feel? Do you want a section?

And how the fuck are they going to ensure you don't get a migrain whilst in labour?

Sections are not bad... really! At lest that's my view. But then some people have this incredible desire to give birth. I'm not one of them. But you might be.

Get to the consultant and say "I want a section. Can we schedule it now, please" and let him/her attempt to talk you out of it. Then. maybe you'll find out what they really think.

Is there any chance you could go to Queen Charlotte instead? They are lovely.

My second birth was elective, due to a huge first baby and a traumatic birth too.

Second time was so different all controled and because I hadn't been in labour I wasn't as tired and stressed as I was the first time when I had a section after 48 hrs of labour. You won't have had any gas and air or pethidine so your head will be straight. More time to get ready, especially for partner too. Even if you do go into labour if a elective section has been agreed theey should still give you a section fairly quickly.

I had an elective with my second. First birth was quite traumatic (DS had shoulder dystocia, cord was wrapped around his neck and every time I was pushing it strangled him even more. I was very close to having a c-section, but ended up with ventouse and episiotomy but haemmoraged)

I became pregnant again very quickly and decided with my consultant that a c-section was my best option.It was a much more enjoyable birth.

Hi I had an elective section last Friday, baby breech. Ds1 was an uncomplicated vaginal delivery but the c-section was wonderful in comparison! My section date was 39 wks but if I had gone in to labour early the advice was to call an ambulance and tell them to inform hospital I was coming in for section. It's definitely a good idea to let lo get as close to term as poss if no medical reasons not to.

The only anxious moment was when they whisked baby out of theatre for tests without even holding her up for us to see and we had to wait until stitching finished before we saw her. The spinal is fantastic and painfree and you'll feel quite surreal able to chat to DH/DP whilst aware of some rummaging in the belly behind the screen.

LO was put to breast in theatre and I continued to feed and cuddle her in recovery while dp went off to do phonecalls and get some lunch etc. I was glad to be on a 4 bed ward with other mums, I thought I'd have preferred private room but the distraction of other people was nice. The midwives will have to do everything for you for at least 24 - 48 hours. Bring you lo to feed and change nappies etc. So just relax and take all the painrelief on offer.

I got out of bed on 2nd day, passed out and was returned to bed with doubled doses of painkillers. After that could potter about and change nappies, just sore getting in and out of bed or chair. Keep up the painkillers at home and stay in pyjamas and over bump (yes half size one still there) knickers.

With dd,I got my date at 37 weeks and the section was planned for 39 weeks and 5 days! the exact time that my ds arrived naturally!. Thankfully dd hung on in there!

It is normal to wait until 37 weeks before booking and you will almost certainly wait until 39 weeks for the section as they don't like to do it any sooner due to baby's lungs