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Original poster

Elective C-Section after Emergency last time??

86 replies

TKV · 04/10/2004 16:31

Hi everyone, sorry if this has been covered before.
I really like to hear from people who had to have emergency c-sections for their first births and what they chose 2nd time around.
I am pretty adamant about having an elective this time as DS birth was a horrible, traumatic 14 hours that ended in an emergency under a general and we almost lost him. They actually made the first incision while I was still conscious it was all so desperate in the end.It was terrifying to say the least and I never never want us to go through anything like it again.
My decision is mainly because I just don't want to risk anything happening to this one and to be honest, I didn't cope with the pain as contractions started two minutes apart and only go closer and I could have no pain relief it turned out as it messed with my blood pressure and his heartrate etc etc
I think my mind is made up but there is a tiny part of me that wonders if I should give it a go....?? DH if pressed, thinks it would be worth a shot.

I'm seeing my GP this Thursday and was going to tell her that I want a caesarian, which I know won't be an issue.

Any thoughts?

thanks :-)

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lulupop · 12/10/2004 20:32

Don't be intimidated by any consultant - having had a section before, it is YOUR choice about whether or not to have one again.

The consultant I saw this time to "discuss this options" was also clearly keen to fill the quota of vaginal births. He looked about 17, and actually SAID to me, when I said I was frightened of another horrible, painful, protracted labour experience: "Well, we do call it labour for a reason, you know". Patronising little sod. I said "Thank you, I know. I have been through it once already".

Stand your ground if you are sure you don't want to go through another labour, as of the 3 potential outcomes (VBAC, emergency section, or elective section), an elective section is the second "best" alternative for you and baby.

I recovered very well this time, although not quite as rapidly as the first time and obviously you do also have another child to look after once you get home. And , IME, husbands only give you the "precious vessel" treatment the first time round! This time, mine was all "What do you mean you can't carry your hosital bag back upstairs?" when I got home.

hmb · 12/10/2004 20:39

I had an emergency c-section first time and opted for an elective second time round. As it happened ds was a footling breech and quite big (9.2lb two weeks early), I also had pre eclampsia so I would have ended up with a section anyway. Both sections were excellent. Second time with the added advantage of not being knackered after two days without sleep.

Uwila · 12/10/2004 21:37

Hi TKV, Well we are very similar. I too had an emergency c with dd1. I am now about 8 weeks (just 2 more than you). And, I plan to ask for an elective caesarean. I'm expecting to have to defend and beg and plead to get it. But, I'm prepared to make that effort.

pupuce · 12/10/2004 22:10

You are right to have/request what you want.... can I just say (without being hammered) that a vaginal birth can be easy and good and healing after a caesarean... but maybe this is the wromg thread ?

BooMama · 13/10/2004 09:54

Hi - have just seen this thread on the home page.
I had a traumatic c-section with my ds. It was under a general as the epidural hadn't worked. I was very upset afterwards for a long time. I did get my notes and they helped me work through it. With my second I opted for a natural delivery but they were for personal reasons, mainly I wanted to do it for myself. But also it took me a long time to recover from the operation.
I decided to approach it as if I was giving the vbac a chance and at the first sign of any complications I was going to have an epidural set up straight away so that at least I would be awake if another c-section was necessary.
I'm glad to say it all went very well and I delivered my 8lb 10oz daughter after 4 hours of labour on gas and air.
But this was something I really needed to do for myself and even though I was happy with the plans I had made the fear of another trauma haunted my pregnancy.
I had a sympathetic midwife and I also saw my condultant from the first birth (who was very good) prior to getting pregnant again and he was very supportive.
Towards the end of the second pregnancy I did get booked in for a c-section as I had gone over my dates and the bump was measuring up very large. But the labour came on naturally in the night and it progressed very quickly to a wonderful conclusion.
Anyhow, go for the c-section if that's what you need to enjoy the pregnancy! I just wanted to say my experiences in case there was anyone else reading who was unsure!
Good luck!

MissTuesday · 13/10/2004 10:58

hi everyone

pupuce you aren't on the wrong thread , I appreciate your comments and I definitely know that for some people, the need to have a natural birth is really powerful and they feel it will heal the emotional scars of the emergency c-section and I understand, respect and HUGELY admire that. I'm just not that brave and I honestly don't feel that driving inner need to deliver this child naturally. The only important thing to me is that its delivered safely and any chance of the trauma of last time. That is possibly fear talking I realise as last time I was all for a water birth until it all went to pot.....
Hi Uwila! Great to find someone going through the same thing at the same time!! where are you based?

MissTuesday · 13/10/2004 11:02

BooMama did you get your notes from the hospital or did your gp/midwife get them for you? I think my GP said the consultant would have mine but I'm not 100% sure..

BensMum · 13/10/2004 11:42

Have only just found this discussion, usually use other site and have found this very interesting reading. I'm in a similar situation though a bit further on - 22 weeks, and due to see consultant tomorrow.
Ds was also born by emergency c section, after prolonged labour, failed induction basically. I was very unprepared for a section - hadn't even considered it, but by the time they suggested it I was so relieved that something was going to happen. I did ask afterwards what happened but I can't remember what they said, so intend to ask consultant tomorrow.
Initially I wanted an elective or nothing! So my mw put me down with a consultant who is more likely to go ahead with that! But now I feel I need to know what happened last time before I even think about what to do this time round!
Hopefully tomorrow I'll have more of an idea!

jollytot · 13/10/2004 13:41

HI Just saw this thread and thought I would add my 2 cents worth. I had an emergency C- section first time around, had the water-birth all booked, then developed pre-eclampsia at 39 weeks, so there was no way I'd be having a water-birth! Second time around, I was adamant that I wasn't going the natural route, fear of scar tearing and just fear, actually! everyone said to me, you can't have an elective c-section, has to be a medical reason, etc, but the consultant I saw, told me it was entirely my decision and couldn't be forced into going natural if that wasn't what I wanted. Happily, I booked an elective, which turned into an emergency when my baby went into distress while I was waiting! So the point of this long-winded tale, is...don't be forced into anything. It's your body and ultimately your decision.

Uwila · 13/10/2004 13:53

Hiya, MissTuesday. I live in Sunbury. Too early to say for sure, but I think I'll go to Kingston Hospital.

Where are you?

jabberwocky · 13/10/2004 14:06

Just wanted to say I had a horrible first experience with an emergency section. I am not pregnant now but if it were to happen again I would definitely go with an elective!

wilbur · 13/10/2004 16:39

TKV - haven't had tiome to read all of this, but thought I would second the suggestiong that you ask to go through your previous notes with an OB or senior midwife. I had an emergency cs (although nothing like yours - poor you, how scary) with ds, but actively wanted a vbac and got it with dd. Talking to the medicos really helped me get the birth I wanted and the vbac was fine. However, I totally understand your wishes to have another c-section, I think I would feel the same under the circumstances, so talk to people that you trust and make your decision from there. Your feelings may change during preg, so be aware of that too. Good luck!

BooMama · 13/10/2004 17:10

MissTuesday - as regards getting my notes it's all a bit of a blur (everything from that time is) but I seem to recall contacting the hospital about it as that is where they are kept.
... I've just gone and pulled them out. They are from my hospital's Health Records Department.
It's made my tummy go a bit funny seeing them again after all this time (it was 4 years ago) - I'm feeling oddly emotional now like I need a little cry...

suzywong · 14/10/2004 07:53

Boomama

I haven't read all this thread, sorry, but after seeing jabberwocky's post I just want to back her up 100%

I had am emergency C first time and wanted VBAC for the second. Consultant said there was no reason why I couldn't but in the end I had a far worse emergency C section with 2 litre blood loss and a hideous recovery time ( I have a stubborn anterior lip and 4kg babies so though I laboured spontaneously and was on epidural )

It is one of the biggest regrets of my life that I did not go for an elective the second time, largely because I would have been up on my feet sooner and better able to care for my first child as well as the new baby.

You know what some of us just aren't meant to pop babies out. Thank the lord for modern surgical techiniques.

Hope I haven' t misjudged the tone of this thread but it did appear to be asking for subjective opinions

HTH

suzywong · 14/10/2004 07:57

Sorry BM, I was addressing the wrong poster (am desparately trying to do MNwhile being climbed on by DS2, you know how it is)

TKV do what you feel is best for you. If you want an elective you have one.

I should add that I had a lot of internal scarring left over from the first C section which the doctor was unaware of when she made the first incision with the second. I had been labouring for 10 hours and baby needed to come out and it was a bit touch and go (I found out afterwards) and if I had gone for an elective this risk would have been greatly reduced and I wouldn't have felt like I had been butchered by sweeny todd.

snmum · 14/10/2004 07:59

I havent read the whole thread either!

I had a very traumatic emergency section first time

2nd time I had an elective section and it was a dream

very simple, but true

suzywong · 14/10/2004 08:02

god I wish I hadn't been so stubborn and taken advice like this TBH whe I had ds2, however on a postive note the second scar went dircetly over the second and you can't tell I've had 2.

SNmum, I heard a rumour you are Fio2, is this true

BooMama · 14/10/2004 11:41

suzy - sorry to hear about your bad experience. I have to say that is the outcome I was worried about when I was preparing for a vbac. I just know for me the c-section was very difficult and I found the recovery very hard.
For me a vbac was the right choice as I had a lot of 'issues' still from the first time - I was able to put these to rest after the vbac.
I think if you are concerned about the delivery and don't mind having a second c-section you should go for an elective. Personally, I really didn't want a second c-section and I was lucky that it wasn't necessary. However, I was open to the possibility of it right up to the second my dd was born. It was always a case of one day at a time, and we kept our options open as much as possible. If I had to have a c-section I suppose it would have been an 'emergency' in so far as it wasn't booked in advance but I had made plans as to the anaesthetic etc to try and keep as much control as possible.

MissTuesday · 14/10/2004 11:42

hi everyone
thanks so much for your all your posts on this. another question, does anyone know anything about blood pressure? the lastest twist is that I have very low blood pressure which is apparently one of the reasons ds and I both reacted so badly when they tried to give me an epidural last time. My GP is now saying that she would recommend a natural birth with no epidural as the ideal for this one( ummm no thanks!) and that if I have an elective it will most probably have to be under a general if my blood pressure stays the way it is. She said that they would put me on a drip and try and 'pump up my blood'?? and give the epidural a shot but that it might not work and a general would be safer. I really want to have that experience of being awake when our baby is born and having dh there with me and share that moment of 'oh my goodness thats our baby is it a boy or a girl'... I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the consultant says. So glad to hear that electives have been real successes for other people second time around with no regrets..

BooMama · 14/10/2004 12:01

That's thrown a spanner in the works - and just as you had decided which way to go. I'm afraid I don't know about low blood pressure - my c-section was because my blood pressure was too high.
Really don't want to preach about vbac's if that's not for you but if it's any consolation my vbac was a very fast delivery and I only had gas and air. How far along did you get with your first labour? I attempted delivery (with a failed ventouse) so maybe my body had already been 'prepped' for a vaginal delivery and so 2nd time round it was easier?!!?
Could you have a c-section with a spinal block instead of an epidural? I don't know much about it but I seem to remember it as an alternative option - maybe it is just another term for an epidural...

pupuce · 14/10/2004 12:07

MissTuesday - can I make ANOTHER suggestion.... what about getting a doula ! I do VBACs regularely all without any pain relief and I promise you the mothers are not any different from you! Some of them had horrendous birth the 1st time around and for their reason (which isn't always a desire to birth vaginally) they chose to go for a VBAC.
If you have laboured once you will have a much higher chance to have a straight forward vaginal birth! There is a new thread on that....

Uwila · 14/10/2004 13:52

I think a block is just a stronger medicine in the epidural... I had everything there was to offer with my first birth (except for pethidine, which was the one thing I refused).

Pupuce, I think her whole point is that she doesn't want a drug free vaginal birth.

Now,I'm sure no doctor would endorse what I'm about to say, but can you get your blood pressure up somehow. Eat lots of salt? Okay okay, that might not be sound medical advice, but if it was me I think I'd give it a go (and I too have quite low clood pressure), however, I would perfectly happy with the general option.

MissTuesday · 14/10/2004 14:02

thanks Pupuce and Boomama
part of the problem the first time was that I just didn't dilate. I was nowhere near being ready to have ds after 14 hours of contractions every 2 minutes apart. the consultant said that if he was being VERY generous, I was barely 3cm.
I had dh and our shiatsu practitioner with me the whole time. I saw her all through my pregnancy and she specialises in pregnancy and childbirth so I guess she was there in the same vein as a doula would be. Interestingly, both my sisters have had 6 children between them by caesarian as they don't ever dilate either! So it all seems to be pointing me in the direction of an elective section being the best option, I just would rather not have it under a general. BooMama, I asked the same question about the spinal block and unfortunately its basically the same thing, it just goes into a different area of your spine but would have the same effect on me.

pupuce · 14/10/2004 14:36

Uwila - I understood that but if she can't have a section or an epidural she could have (dilation problem "aside") a positive and easy vaginal birth without drugs.... my point being that a vaginal birth without drugs can be easy and good

snmum · 14/10/2004 14:43

yes suzywong