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.

that's why the

i meant your reasons. i wouldnt attack anybody for their choice but am curious to know why a major operation seems the best option to anybody (apart from for obv medical reasons) havent managed to read through whole thread yet

RedFraggle, thank you for your comments. I appreciate that you've thought of me as a highly sensible "voice of reason".

I think I am and I can also see that the birth choices we make might affect our children and that these affects could last into adulthood. It is a theory that intrigues me, as I said, and I also said I would welcome more research to find out if we are witnessing these affects in society today - "There needs to be much more research into this before we might know if this is a valid theory but I do have to wonder considering the rising crime rate and rising mental health problems... "

This is way too big a topic to get into here I think. This is something we could have a lengthy discussion in person about over and over again! Must get back to reading my copy of Primal Health, it's been on the back burner for a little while.

Perhaps I shouldn't have put this into the mix on this thread, apologies for lack of forethought!

given the statistics regarding the trauma assocaited with vag births (ventouse, forceps, tearing/episiotomies, scalp monitoring of the baby, distress etc) and the possible negative impact I figured it may have on bonding and initiating breastfeeding - it (a vag birth) was a risk I wasn't about to take.

Pain doesn't bother me, but I was very surprised how painless the CS was.

I'm delighted a CS enabled me to start motherhood in a positive frame of mind.

It isn't for everyone, but we should be able to make the bith choice that suits us.

There are some great posts here that answer your question. I hope none of us are anti-life-saving-surgery-sections.

It's easy to jump on the bandwagon of the woman's right to choose. Even when you are informed of all the vastly increased risks you may still want, for some reason, to take them. Fortunately in this country we still have obstetricians who will stand up for what is best for the unborn baby, which is a trial of labour, even if the child's mother cannot.

Sadly that is not the case elsewhere, where medicolegal concerns are allowed to come first.

fair enough, as i said earlier its entirely the individuals choice. i just never could weigh up the pros of a section and believe vb is best

That was meant to say obstetricians will stand up for the baby even if the mother doesn't - was a very poor sentence.

I was told that my original obstetrician (I had to do my pregnancy in two countries, I didn't leave him because of this!) demanded that women who wanted an elective c-s saw a psychiatrist before they proceeded.

well done mlf, that is a very good point and something which the op should consider.

I felt exactly like you when I was pregnant. I really did not want a vaginal delivery but not for any "medical" reason. I discuseed it with my consultant who agreed to me having an elective.

In the end I had a em section at 32weeks.

I felt like crap immediately afterwards but that wasreally due to the fulminant pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome not the section. I did have wound dehiscence which took weeks to heal but you know what, I would have a section again.

You have loads of time yet, read lots, hear positives and negatives but if you feel the same nearer your due date/time when midwife is asking you to write a birth plan then discuss it with your consultant. Having an elective section because you feel it will be best for you is nothing to be ashamed of, I'm certainly not!

Not read the whole thread, but I always joked that if I ever got pregnant I would want to be under general anaesthetic and have an elective c-section. It is safe to say I was slightly phobic.

When I actually got pregnant, I knew I had to do something about The Fear so I went to Hypnobirthing classes. And had a swift, uncomplicated home birth with only gas and air. And it really wasn't as awful as I had expected (although it did tickle more than I had been lead to believe in Hypno-classes! )

I guess it's a state of mind thing. And probably cultural as well (seems de rigeur for celebs to deliver by CS.) I think it's a shame how birth is portrayed in the media etc, it's all so negative.

Maybe (just answering the OP) it is because people who have had a section know exactly what it is like and would not choose to have one. You can read all you like but no one can explain how it actually is to have had a major operation and a new baby to look after. Peopl who have been through it know exactly. I have had an emergency section followed by 2 VBACs and I was driving my baby around at a week old. First time around at a week I could barely leave the house.

My mum had me by c section, I wouldn't say that it had any affect on me but I would say that it wasn't the easy option for her. Nearly 30 years on she has still got muscle damage as a result of the op which affects her general strength particularly in driving or pulling her self up from lying down etc. She went on to have two very quick vaginal deliveries with my brother and sister of 2hrs and 1hr and I know which she preferred.

I also had a very quick labour that lasted just 3hrs and delivered at home with care from two midwives and personally I think that is the most comfortable/best option if there is one for a normal healthy pregnancy without complications, not the pre planned c section, simply because its all to your schedule and your baby comes when it is ready. I was very relaxed because I knew I had fantastic care from people I trusted and knew, i simply had a bath and went to bed with my new baby afterwards. The medical profession is there in hospital if you need it but there is no saying you will.

One of my closest friends recently had a fairly unpleasant c-section so I do think that finding out a fair bit about the factual side of possible complications from someone medically qualified is worthwhile before you go ahead. My friend had a reaction to the epidural and was unwell for about 3 months and its not a thing you hear about that often. She also had problems with her scar healing, and had an open wound at one end for a long time. I think the reason many people want to warn away from c sections that aren't being carried out to save you or your baby's life is because there is an extended healing time and its not the easy option that many people think. Even though vaginal birth is hard work your body does know what it is doing.

There was a thread on here a few months back called positive c-section experiences where many women outlined the great experiences they had had. I don't see it as the easy option, just the option that I want. I find it remarkable that people can't understand my point of view, even if they don't agree with it. People keep emphasising that it's major surgery and yes it is but it is also very safe. Vaginal birth isn't without risks either - why is noone drawing attention to those? There are pros and cons to each method. Someone also posted a link to the Observer article on c-section and the work of Nick Fisk at Queen Charlottes where, fortunately, I'm going! So there is a school of thought that can see the benefits of a c-section. I can't be that bonkers!

Vaginal birth is STILL safer than a section, it just is.

And why do you want one? You haven't explained.

And the NHS, rightly imo, does on the whole take the view that you shouldn't get a section on demand or just because you think it's a nicer option.

And those of us that can't understand your pov can't because you haven't explained why you hold that pov.

here is the link - very interesting article observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1723773,00.html.

Having read through the pros and cons as listed in this article it is still things like: "There are risks attached to both sorts of birth. If you have a caesarean, there is the risk of wound infection. There is a longer recovery time. Women who have a surgical birth will take longer to conceive a second child - although this finding is from data taken years ago when infection rates were higher - possibly affecting their fertility. There is also double the risk of the subsequent baby dying in the womb, although the reasons for this are not clear". That would put me off choosing one (as opposed to elective for medical reasons where clearly the benefit outweighs the statistical risk).

I'm not sure why the OP is getting so het up - it is your choice after all. But if you are so convinced - which seems a bit strange to me at just 7 weeks, why ask if it is just going to wind you up that the majority of people do, indeed, see elective c sections for non-medical reason to be a negative thing? People have shared their experiences, good and bad. Would you prefer they lied to you?

If you scroll to the bottom I did give some reasons - lack of control over the process, problems with getting stuck etc, lack of dignity when you're writhing around in agony screaming like an animal (as one friend described her labour). If there is a calm, quick, dignified process with no material increase in risk to the baby then why not? Also, I've read stats saying up to 50% of women are left with some degree of incontinence from giving birth vaginally. In addition (and this is an area noone wants to talk about) what about sexual function after giving birth vaginally?

Gangle of course everyone's experience is different but like I said after one vag birth and one subsequent pregnancy I have not had ANY issues with my genitals including incontinence or sexual function (apart from being too tired with a newborn of course!!) and all was back to normal within a few weeks of the birth. Don't know how typical this is. There are horror stories on both sides of course.

Barbamama, I think we're still trying to establish that it in the fact "my choice" - if you read down you'll see the vast majority of posters disagree that an elective c-section should be a choice. As for winding people up and getting het up, I think I've stayed vey calm given some of the comments and responses on this thread and the generally bullying atmosphere and lack of respect for someone else viewpoint. Also, this is a discussion board - noone is forced to post!

gangle they disagree it should be a choice on the NHS - no one is saying you shouldn't be able to pay for one. And I didn't say you were winding people up, I said it sounded like you were getting wound up which it does. You don't appear to want to discuss the pros and cons, and it appears you have already made your decision so why bother asking? I do respect your viewpoint I just can't agree with it, sorry.

Gangle -- I don't care how you choose to give birth, although asking the NHS to pay for it stings a bit... but more importantly, some of the things you said suggest you're misinformed.

For instance, you wrote:

"why would anyone choose to give birth naturally when they can have a c-section. I just think the whole process looks awful -"

Major surgery and post-op scars look pretty, do they?

"you have no control, no dignity"

I think lots of people have given many examples of the indignities of C-sections.

"you cannot be sure the baby will be ok/won't get stuck"

Er, babies in C-sections may not be okay, either, plenty of things can go wrong (as described here).

"plus the stats show that 1/3 - 1/2 of female obstetricians would have an elective c-section. "

But the only links I can find only say 1/3 of UK female obstetricians wanting elective CS regardless of circumstances, and even if it were 1/2... that's still 1/2 who are against the idea, so hardly a definitive vote one way or the other, is it?

Strive for what you want, girl, but don't be surprised if people think you're choosing it for the wrong reasons.

Has anyone mentioned the flatulence? Don't post CS women often fart hugely for a few days (see MN thread). Oooh... very dignified, that sounds.

I haven't read the other posts yet but in answer to the OP - c-sections are more expensive than a vaginal birth. There are also all sorts of complications (more so than a straightforward delivery). I think there is a place for them but I don't believe that they should be performed without good reason.

I speak from some experience as I have had 2. The first was an emergency and the second elective (I went overdue and they wouldn't leave me or induce me ). It is major abdominal surgery and it hurts like hell afterwards. The recovery time is a lot longer too.

I have a friend who had 2 sections, the first an emergency, the second elective; she was due to have a 3rd elective but went into labour early and delivered very quickly. She found the birth traumatic (I understand quick deliveries can be a shock to the system) and in the immediate aftermath said that she would have preferred a section, however a week later she was amazed at how quickly she had recovered and returned to normal.