Natural birth or C Section . Advice please !

[Tigersparklespink]

I will try to keep this brief . Please be kind .
I am 31 and about to give birth for the first time . I am 35 weeks pregnant. I am classed as a low risk pregnancy . I have suffered mental health issues and received great support . I think this will be my online pregnancy ( however no one can say for sure but I imagine I won’t be able to cope again )

The baby was breach until yesterday when my midwife said she “ thinks the baby has moved but can’t be sure . I have a scan booked for next week to check .

The issue is I had told myself as the baby is breach I will have an Elective Section . Now reality is that baby might not be . So my midwife asked me - what would you like to do about birth ? She said she happy to fully support my choice for a planned section .

Im just so confused . I have read so much on both . I feel I would be so much calmer knowing I was booked for a selection at 39 weeks and knowing that was the plan . However , I am well aware a c section is major surgery and can have potential for infection and a really hard and sore recovery . It is not an easy option .

I feel extremely scared to attempt to give birth , I’m scared I’ll be over due and then have to be induced . I am also really worried about tearing and having a traumatic birth .

I am also under the impression it is best to pick a section as apprised to just try and give birth and if I can cope then have an emergency section . So I don’t think it’s right to say - I will try natural birth and see how it goes . I don’t know ????

I’m not sure if I have just terrified myself with fear and I need to be brave and just go for the natural birth . I just can’t help feel this is not what I want to do . But I’m confused !

I realise no one can predict the future. I have ordered a book on hypnobirthing and a positive birth book to try and prepare myself and then make an informed choice .

Does anyone have any advise ?

had an elective c section 4 weeks ago- amazing experience virtually painless start to finish. Recovery for me was virtually painless and really quick.

Had a natural birth with my first and was left with PTSD from it. Horrendous experience. Nothing medically went wrong I just though it was the worst and most painful experience of my life.

Night and day in my opinion and I think it's crazy people are giving birth naturally when you have the options of c sections which really are a 2/10 pain scale be 10/10.

I found having my wisdom teeth removed under anaesthetic a more painful experience and recovery than my section

I didn't want to give birth either for a long list of reasons, it just wasn't right for me, it's my body so I asked to have a section and I had one. And then for my second too. No ill effects! I still look back and feel relieved and that they're the one of the best decisions I ever made.

Just seen your update. I’m glad your happy with your choice.

I wrote this before I saw your update but it still applies and I’m not trying to change your mind at all.

You can plan to have a vaginal birth and if you go over due say I won’t have an induction but will have a c section.

My c section recovery left me PTSD symptoms and needing therapy. My VBAC (vaginal birth after section) was a dream in comparison.

Vaginal birth is much more beneficial for your baby if possible.

So if they're no longer breech then don't put yourself and them through the surgery.

@TacoTues don’t talk crap and shame women for their birth choices. What an appalling post, and seriously misinformed.

@Tigersparklespink hope you're enjoying your pregnancy :-) I am someone who asked for an elective because the baby was so big with a big head but was persuaded not to because I was young, healthy, first baby etc.

You guessed it - he got stuck and it could have ended in a tragedy - the alarm was pressed and baby was out in 15 mins via emergency c-section. I'm still traumatised.

Insist on a c-section - sounds like your instinct said it will end in one.

Think of your MH

Thanks for the update OP, it was great to read. I was in a similar predicament to you not knowing what to do and decided to opt for the section. I'll be having the surgery this coming Tuesday.

I tore badly after my last baby which was a vaginal birth, hemmoraged and was left with a prolapse, sepsis and PTSD.

I'm hoping my elcs will be a breeze in comparison. I'm prepared for the long recovery but expect even that will be shorter than the recovery from my vaginal delivery, given the issues I had and the fact I was in hospital for 2 weeks.

Many congratulations to you x

@TacoTues

Vaginal birth is much more beneficial for your baby if possible.

So if they're no longer breech then don't put yourself and them through the surgery.

Gotta love these sweeping statements with literally no clarification as to what 'much more beneficial' means. Also, the baby doesn't have surgery in a c-section, only the mother does. We can't ask babies but I'd much rather be removed through the sun roof in a calm atmosphere than squeezed down a birth canal with the possibility of getting stuck and needing to be sucked out head first. For that reason, I don't want to put my daughter through that either. You do you and stop trying to force your views on others!

Love all these positive c-section stories. Thank you all for sharing! If all goes well, I'm having mine on Tuesday. I never wanted/want to experience a vaginal birth. Ever. Hope my little one stays put until then. Congratulations to all the c-section mammas in this thread 💪💐

@Notoday it looks like we're c-section buddies!

Aww congrats, OP!

I had an emergency section but was amazed by how straightforward the recovery was and I've been left with no lasting issues other than the scar. I'm pregnant again and will be requesting a section, which I never thought I'd say as prior to DC1 I was so convinced that a section would be awful and was my worst nightmare! I'm looking forward to experiencing it in a bit of a calmer situation and after a good night's sleep first

[quote Labyrinth86]@Notoday it looks like we're c-section buddies![/quote]
Oh that's lovely @Labyrinth86 I hope you have a wonderful delivery and comfortable recovery, please do come back and @ me and let me know how it goes for you and I'll do the same!

@Notoday I definitely will 😊 I'm wishing you a calm delivery and a speedy recovery! Wishing us both all the best for Tuesday 😁