How to get an elective c-section?

[islabonita]

Hello there Ladies.
Is it really possible to get an elective c-section without any "medical reasons" such as placenta previa etc. Is total panic towards childbirth good enough reason to get one?
Is there anyone who got a c-section just because they felt like it was right option for them?
How did you get it and how difficult it was to persuade the consultants?
thanks

Most people have a more compelling argument than "just because I do". And just because you think it isn't valid doesn't mean it isn't.

Understaffed maternity wards who neglect mothers and end up damaging or killing babies seems a damn good reason to me. That doesn't happen to have been my reason (well part of it perhaps), but I don't think it's up to you, Kitty, to go around telling people their reasons aren'tvalid.

I'm not actually convinced that a natural birth is better for baby or mother. I think it comes with more risks, not fewer.

And, where does the definition of unwell begin and end? How bout liposuction? Plastic surgery? Hip replacement with less than a four month waiting time? What about cancer drugs? Acne treatment? How about complication of SPD that were treated in pregnancy and made worse by being forced to have the baby vaginally?

Those are all hypothetical. How bout a real one. What about my neighbors twin neice who has cerebal palsy because of birth complication which would not have happens if the twins had been born by section? And what about Bo Bubble who is saddly not with us today?

Vaginal birth is not safer or better on the NHS. Has it occured to you that the sad state of the NHS has contributed to the rise in elective sections and not the other way around?

eleusis, I think you can work out for yourself the definition of well and unwell.
It is not a valid reason to have a section because you are worried about a vaginal birth.
It seems to me that your views are rather rigid and negative. You have your reasons for this I'm sure, but that you consider an elective section on non medical grounds to be something that is a medical necessity is just completely weird to me and completely 'wrong'.

That's just it, Kitty. You can't see that you have your view of pro natural vaginal birth and other have theirs of pro medical. There are two perfectly acceptable schools of thought. But, you see one to which you do not subscribe as "wrong".

And your tone is very agressive about how people are just plain wrong. So I've come back quite strong to present the other view. Much of what I have said on this thread has been tongue and cheek. But, no more absurd than some of what you have said.

I personally think every woman should been given all of the facts (which is certainly not what the NHS doestoday) and then given a choice on the preferred method.

Hi All- New to mumsnet, joined tonight. I too feel I would like a c-section but dont know how to go about it. I am 41 yrs old, Had an enlarged kidney on right side which is not functioning for the past 4 months and have now developed severe back pain due to a condition called anklinosing spondulitus (excuse spelling ha ha) I feel like crap, cant remember when I had a full nights sleep and been on strong pain killers forever which i dont feel is good for baby. Anyway going to see consultant on Thursday any advice please on what i can say to hopefully have a section or be induced early, also how early can they do a c-section on medical grounds. Hope you dont mind me joining this thread and thank you if you can help with some advice.

"poking and prodding...then cutting, then stitching, then piles, then incontinence"

Unfortunately all of these are also highly likely with a c section anyway. The latter too from the actual pregnancy perhaps, rather than the birth itself.

I had a c section because of failure to progress, following induction. It was a very positive experience and I did heal pretty well and quite quickly afterwards.

But the recovery time is a big inconvience and I would not recommend it unless you are really sure. I hated not being able to get out and about, being restricted in my movements, not being able to pick my baby up easily in the first few days, etc.

I also now have a medical condition, which has caued me a great deal of pain, as a result of my c section which is requiring surgery - going through it presently 5 years after the c section. This is a rather uncommon side affect however. But it has put me off another c section if, following my second surgery, I reagain my fertility and have another child. I know that this is not going to happen to every one, and it is fortunately very rare...but all side affects and risks should be taken into consideration IMO.

Kayla, the first thing is to talk to your consultant. You might want to first google for the nice guidelines so you can go in informed.

eleusis people who smoke and drink pay for their health care due to the extra tax they pay on those products, without smokers and drinkers lots of money (more than it costs to treat diseases) would be lost from the health service. Why do you think the government make it difficult to smoke but do not ban tobacco sales? How does a pregnant lady pay extra for her designer c section. If you want to pay for it privately I'm all for it by the way, your choice.

Also I can vouch that NO Cosmetic surgery for vanity reasons are available on the NHS. Breast implants are used with breast cancer patients as are testicle replacements for cancer. Liposuction is also not carried out on the NHS unless it is necessary to perform a procedure i.e. revision of a bad scar line in the abdomen usually caused by surgery. (quite often after a c section as it happens)

Tori, I was just making a point. I wasn't really suggesting we cut the NHS services from those groups I mentioned.

But, if healthcare is going to be free at the point of entry for all, then it should certainly include childbirth.

And if we are going to start charging for our medical care, I'm okay with that too, but only if people have to charge across the board and just for maternity services.

Do you think people who request home births should also pay since they are getting one to one care from a midwife that those in hospital don't get?

Kayla you should be able to get a section on medical condition. Alkylosing Spondylitis affects the spine and therefore labour and your ability to push. They would not do it any earlier than 36-38 wks though to ensure there is minimal risk to baby, that he or she is well enough developed.

one extra midwife at home will earn approx £200 for her shift if it lasts 24hrs. Going into hospital costs lots more for a section, as a theatre nurse I can tell you that in one theatre you have to pay for these staff
Aneasthetist
senior registrar
house officer to assist.
peadiatrician
operating theatre practitioner
theatre support worker
scrub nurse
cleaner
porter
recovery staff
not to mention the sterilising of equipment
drugs
drapes for the patient
Add it up.

The most extra you will pay for at home is gas and air.

Sadly, given the state of the NHS at present, certainly in my area's trust, the only way to be sure of a safe delivery is to have an elective CS, IMVHO.

And yes, ele, If we are going to start charging for elective Css then we should also charge for home-birth's and the 'unnecessary' one-to-one MW care they provide.

sorry while I'm on a rant did I mention the cost of ward staff post op, dressings, analgesia, food, district nurse for follow up. I could go on but it would take longer than I have.

If the NHS was safer, Tori, I think more women may consider VB.

Sadly it is not, IM(very bitter)E.

The same NHS would be performing the c section! Only to add to the risk of bad Vag delivery you want to add the risk of HAI to mother and baby. Far safer to have a vaginal home birth if possible than a c section in hospital. I have covered all this in a previous elective section thread. Also, what about the aneasthetic risk of pulmonary thrombosis, chest infections, aspirating on vomit, cardiac arrest due to anaphylaxis. Surgical risks such as wound infections, bleeding internally due to sutures rupturing etc.
Sorry I feel you have very misguided visions of good childbirth if you feel a section is preferable due to fear. The fact is that if half of all births were done this way every hospital in the country would need to build extra theatres and staff them which is just not feasible and once it has been allowed in one case where do consultants draw the line.

eleusis how on earth can you subscribe to pro medical birth? it's just unnatural. To never have tried even. that's what get's me, the not even tryting to do it the way it is meant to be done, I shake my head in disbelief, I really do.

But those things apply to all medical attention. Are we going to start charging for all surgeries? If the NHS is out of money and NEEDS to charge for these things that's okay, just don't cherry pick maternity.

((((((hugs for bubble))))))))

Eleusis, it's UNECESSARY surgery.

See Kitty. tis your way or the highway. Incidentally, my first section was far from planned. I hadn't even considered it, but there I was under a GA at 3am for an emergency section. So, I planned the next one and it was lovely.

Medical technology is a good thing. I don't want anyone but medical doctor delivering my baby. And in this country you have to have a section to get that.

In your opinion.

SOrry, I can't stay for this debate. tis way past my bed time. But I will check back tomorrow...

Sorry you had a bad experience with your first, however, at least you tried to have a vag delivery before planning a section.

I also had a bad first, 33 hours at home and then a section under GA (having been cut into when the epidural had worn off and could feel everything), so I could also opt for a section this time. I however will do everything I can not to have another that way. I also had poor assistance after and very little sleep while in hospital.

Jumping in tentatively to remind that VB is statisticaly safer than elCS which is statistically safer than emCS.

Caesarean Section for Maternal Choice? and Mothers choosing Caesareans should hopefully be interesting reading.

I'm afraid that I think I'd be far more terrified of ending up with a hysterectomy than dealing with the pain. I'd be searching for ways to help myself to deal with it first. Only going ahead with a CS at last resort and having to remind myself of the pain after a CS, of the walking around doubled up, clutching my stomach, terrified I would burst open, trying hard not to laugh or cough in case my guts spilt and because it was painful each time, finding it difficult to feed my baby, painful to pick him up....

I understand that women think they can't go through a labour, but like to think they are given the chance to explore their fears before going ahead with CS (to be sure).

But am also all too aware that we are all being let down, We may be on different sides of the fence but we are all on the same shoddy fence, unfortunately

second all your comments klaw as I had the same experiences of cs.