Elective c-sections - did anyone regret having one?

[Gangle]

I don't want to put too much on here about why I want an elective c-section for fear of getting shouted down and lectured about the expense to the NHS but did wonder how many people had had one and then wished they had had a vaginal birth.

My first was an elective, not really my decision breech, second ended up being an emergency section. This time round elective all the way!!!

nope. not for a second. fab experience. fab recovery. lovely DS at the end of it.

Well, there are pro's and cons. I regretted having a c-section due to the large, unsightly and painful scar which got slightly infected, as well as the fact that I am now stuck with a 'shelf', a roll of flab which hangs over the scar. I gave birth less than a month ago (to my first baby) so this could be due to stretched skin which may shrink back eventually, I hope. (will it?) Getting up for the first time after the op was excrutiating. Also, having your abdominal muscles seperated when they do the c/s also weakens your back muscles which are already a bit buggered from being pregnant! I have MAJOR muscular back pain at the moment, will have to get physio. I also started the heaviest period I have ever had in my whole life yesterday, so heavy that I called my gynae. I am,
however, glad I did it this way for the following reasons: I have an extremely calm and chilled-out baby girl. Some women who have long and arduous labours can have babies who cry non-stop, or so I have been told by some other moms. Also I am happy to have spared my pelvic floor and perineum the possible trauma. (and so is my husband!)
Who knows what can go wrong if you go 'au naturelle'...

What are all these abbreviations? DS, dd etc.

DS - darling son, DD, Darling daughter; husband, partner etc. you get the picture?

ane333 your tummy shelf should almost go away with time. Then you have a little smile where you baby came out .

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and so looking forward to an elective section this time, unlike an emergency one first time.
Midwife has told me that electives are wonderful!

Just to second what Meglet said: Ane, you are not "stuck with a shelf" on your tummy, this will disappear with diet and exercise. It's only a month since you had your baby, so give it time! 9 months up, 9 months down, I reckon.

I thought my "shelf" would be with me forever too, but since I started doing exercise DVDs and sit-ups every night it has vanished. My section was 11 months ago though, and at your stage I still looked about 3 months pregnant!

Thats as long as you had a normal cut and they sewed you up properly I have a flipping dip in my stomach still from DD who is now seven years old and no amount of exercise got rid of it, I got to a size eight with every other part of me toned, but it wouldnt go.

It was suggested to me, as a diabetic, and I never fought for a natural birth, because I was happy to have one. So glad I had one. No regrets.

EMCS first time, elective the second. No regrets whatsoever.

had one, never wished it to be any different.

ds1 emcs
ds2 vbac. tore v badly. regretted it, but thought as 1st 'natural' birth, just bad luck & would be better next time.
ds3 vbac. tore vvv badly. said never again
dc4 elective. No way doing that again. You'll have to wait till June '08 to see if I regret it, but I doubt it very very much.

I'm with most of the posters on here in my experiences of cs. Had emergency with ds after non progressive labour which was scary but ok. Very quick recovery and mobility which surprised me.

With dd had elective cs after huge soul searching over which option to go for. It was a really great postive experience and I was out of hospital 48 hours later.

Pain was absolutely minimal and I did not find it difficult to look after my first child (or at least no more difficult than it is when you have a newborn in tow!)

I don't plan to have any more children and do not see the absence of vaginal birth in my life as a huge loss or failure.

Good luck with your choice which ever way you go.

I agree with TuttiFrutti that the shelf can and will disappear once you have lost the baby weight.

Do not regret my emcs (after the initial disappointment) nor my subsequent elective (which I decided on after much research).

LeonieD, you can only go home after a vgainal birth the same day if everything goes well, which it probably should do. I was desperate to go home the first day but after a very bad birth, interventions, episiotomy, bad tear, and placenta retained (which had to be taken out in theatre) I had to stay in hospital and for several days. I know several other people who have been in my situation, including the girl in the bed beside me who had her baby a few hours before me. A vaginal birth is not always straightforward.

DS was an emergency CS when his heart beat dropped. DD was an elective CS and it was lovely. I had no trouble looking after either myself and DS when I went home (DH was only there for one night then away for the six days, the local midwife was horrified!), or DS (who was then 2) and DD when I came home after her birth. Good luck with whichever method of delivery you choose.

DD elective for breech - v civilised affair, out of bed the same day really speedy recovery walking the dog by day 5.

DS attempted VBAC - ended in emergency section late at night, difficulty sowing me back together again as tisuues 'oozy' from being in labour so long, also needed drains in and wasnt allowed out of bed for 48hrs. much slower recovery.

28/40 and having an elective - v pleased with the desicion.