Why is everyone so anti elective c-section?

[Gangle]

I'm only 7 weeks pregnant but am sure I want an elective c-section. I've read extensively around the subject and think I'm well informed on the pros and cons of elective c-section v VBAC but it seems there is so much stigma attached to elective c-sections and that people will do/say anything to attempt to dissuade you from having one. Just wondering why there isn't more respect for your wishes about how you want to give birth.

Gangle a C section is a MAJOR surgery and major surgery should never be performed unless it is vital. You are having a baby(congratulations btw), trust your body, it can cope

Since lulumama isn't here right now I'll recommend any and all books by Ina May Gaskin especially "Spiritual Midwifery".

Also I'll recommend "Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method" by Marie Mongan.

My first 'natural' delivery had me in a right state for weeks. Forceps delivery cos they had 'run out' of ventouse. I couldn't sit up for weeks had loads of stitches and loads of bruising and very little pain free sex for some months.

Second natural deliver was fantastic by comparison with no drugs of any sort.

I would worry about a c section as it is surgery and all that it entails. Natural with fantastic midwives is the best way I think but 'natural' with inexperienced unprofessional midwives is not. I also had syntocin (sp?) where the wrong dose was given and lead to a cessation in contractions thus necessitating the lovely forceps.

I have known one woman who had a fantasic C section and one awful one.

Really they will help you form a more positive view on vaginal birth.

Also recommend hypnobirthing.

I was under the impression that an elective c-section was safer for the baby and only very marginally less safe for the mother than a vaginal delivery.
I have had 3 c-sections, I emergency (crash) and two elective. I have also had one VBAC which was successful in that I managed it but resulted in a failed ventouse, mid cavity forceps delivery with a third degree tear. It was much quicker for me to recover from the VBAC than the c-sections but my VBAC baby was delivered in the poorest shape of all four of them. He was term (to the day) and 9lbs 9oz. There was nothing remotely natural about his birth. His head was mis-shapen and very sore for a couple of weeks and I feel very bad that I allowed that to happen by opting for VBAC. It isn't all about the mother is it?

They arent anti-elective as such.

But risk-assessments (and funding) require NHS obs/gynae types to make a balanced judgement.

I'm all for choice. My friend is having an elective and I couldnt be more happy for her based on the results of her previous birth experience.

Thing is any birth whether it be by c or natural can be dreadful and any can be fantastic. DO as much research into natural birth as you have into c section and then make up your mind.

Gangle here's a reason not to have one.

Both of my sils had c-sections last year when they came to see me after the birth of ds2. They were surprised to see that I was walking and talking after the birth because neither of them remember their ds' first days because they were so drugged up after their surgery. One of them didn't even hold her ds the day he was born.

vb is safer than section, as baby goes down birth canal the babies lungs get slightly squeezed which helps than expel any fluid on lungs. as this doesnt happen with sections it means the baby is more likely to have breathing problems.

MKG - I have had 3 c-sections the last one four weeks ago. I held my baby immediately he was born.

i know things can go wrong with a normal birth but i have a friend who had a section as over due and inducement did nothing but things went wrong, the surgeons fault, and they could not stopped the bleeding they knocked her out and had to perform a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding but she had lost so much blood that they told all her family to prepare for her to die. she was in a coma for 4 mnths, 10 yrs on she has never fully recovered and still poorly

orangehead. That is a sad story. She is not an elective c-section stat.

Caroline1852--That is so wonderful.

Most of my friends that have had c-sections have been so high on pain killers after, that they really don't remember people coming to visit them, and don't get to hold their babies too much (dad's get that job).

It's nice that people have had positive c-section stories because most of the one's I've heard have made me scared to have one.

not sure what u would call it, not really an emer section as they booked her 3 days b4hand

I was really quite scared that i might have to have a section when pregnant with ds1. After a long unproductive labor and lots of things that went wrong I was begging for them to get him out with a section. Turned out I was right needed emergency section (undiagnosed breech). Recovery the first couple of weeks was rather slow but not terrible.

With ds2 I told my OB that I wanted a scheduled section. Since I was never in labor my recovery was much, much quicker and easier. The second day I pushed ds2 in his little crib/cart down to get his picture made at the other end of the floor and all the way back by myself. Dh and ds1 had a stomach virus when I got home from the hospital and so I was completely on my own taking care of myself and ds2 for a few days. No problem.

There is quite a movement towards primary elective section here in the US. Before I had ds1 I thought it was crazy but now I can really see the other side of the issue more clearly.

Gangle,

Really only have one if you have to.

I've had two. Both because they were needed. The second of which was because I had grade 4 placenta previa and had no option and had to have a blood transfusion afterwards.

C-section is a major surgery and not one I would ever wish to go through purely because I wanted one.

The recovery time is very long. Your stomach muscles never regain full composure and you're often left with a horrible 'lip' above your scar.

Once the drugs wear off it's absolute agony and you still have a baby to look after.

They make you sign a disclaimer in case your bowel or bladder get punctured and that is just for starters.

You feel like crap and are too ill on drugs to know what is happening for the first 24 hours.

Your baby is likely unready to come out (planned of course, not an emergency c-section) and invariably the sucking reflexes aren't there and they end up getting yellow jaudice.

It's up to the individual, but I'd give anything to have at least had a go at a VBAC with my second or even a vaginal birth with my first and 'nature' denied me that right. I don't even know what a contraction feels like. Don't do it unless you have to, it's major surgery and it's pants.

i'm not anti-anything, it's your choice at th end of the day, but i've had one vaginal birth and it was bloody amazing! that feeling of actually giving birth, i'm so glad and fortunate to have had that. remember, there are drugs to help with the pain if you need them, and it is what your body was designed to do. now, things don't work out for everyone, as with many things in life, but when it does, it is a wonderful and joyous experience, absolutely second-to-none. i'd do it all again in a heartbeat, it was fantastic.

actually, wasn't there a thread about this relatively recently? wher ethose of us who'd had positive experiences (and there were hundreds of us) talked aobut them?

aitch
do you NEVER sleep

have you seen my facebook thingie mrsjc? aitch is over-committed. btw your husband looks to be in a shit film at the mo. and he's looking a bit pudgy, don't you think?

3 VB's

1. long labour, episiotomy, pethadine - I gave her, her first breastfeed while they stitched me up, home in 2 days. Healed fine

2. short labour, no intervention, no drugs. Gave her a bath when she was 2 hours old, left next day. did get piles though

3. medium labour, home birth, stunning experience. Went to end of school party at 5 days

4. emergency C-section, dignity lost worse than VB's. Only had 2 midwives and husband for those. CS had a nurse shaving me, one sticking catheter up and many others that I don't even know what they were there for. Baby born very ill (not cs related) The next day, I needed to be bedbathed as too ill/pain to get up. Catheter removed. Spent 5 days in hospital. Baby spent 2 weeks in hospital, I don't know how I would have coped if she came home. I could barely move for those 2 weeks, I needed that time to heal

I now have slight urinary incontinence, prob from carrying 4 babies not from giving birth. I have an unsightly belly as nothing I do will tone it up and it is completely numb, so much so, i am forever trapping it in my jeans and I don't know I've done it

CS have a very important place in giving birth and they save mums and babies but why anyone would choose that over a VB for a first baby is beyond me

oh yes that's a good point, divorcee the dignity thing. i felt tremendously dignified and in control during my birth, not out of control at all.

oh god yes, kerry, there was someone like that on our ward, she was in a bad way.