GlorianEleusis - I need your advice on elective c-sections

[Gangle]

I'm 23 weeks and mentioned to the mw at my 22 week appointment that I wanted a c-section. She checked with the consultant who said that we would discuss it at 36 weeks. Does that sound like to you that they are likely to agree to one? Would be interested in any advice you can give.

Thanks

Gangle.

Hmmm, they do like to keep you hanging on, don't they?!!

I'm not GloriaEleusis, but just thought I would stick my neck in anyway. Have had 2 c-sections. What is your reason for requesting one?

Hi TuttiFrutti

My reasons are a bit rubbish (terrified of vaginal birth) so not sure they'll give me one.

What were your sections like?

gangle, you can request one, but what might be an idea is to speak to a MW , or ask for a referral to deal with your fear of birth. tokophobia is a real fear/ phobia and you should be offered some help.

I had two elective Caesareans because I have complete terror about birth. They hummed and ha'ed a bit, but I told them it was a real phobia that I'd had since very small and they took it in the end. I did not find Caesareans as bad as people make out actually, but I have not done natural childbirth so have nothing to compare. I'm not sure what your rights are here, but if you play up what bad panic attacks you get even thinking about birth then it sounds like they might consider your request. Good luck

Aquarius, were you on the NHS and did you ever have any doubts? My gut instinct is that a section is the best option for me and that I would regret a natural birth but every so often I change my mind and think I should try a natural birth but somehow it doesn't feel right. I think it I stick to my guns then I will get one. The midwife and dr were much more receptive to the idea than I was expecting - from what I'd read on mn I was expected a flat no!

Gangle - I had emergency c section after 25 hour labour, failed to progress and baby in distress. 2nd time I chose an elective c section. I have lots of scar tissue inside due to gynae problems and found pregnancy agony and labour bad but the pain relief was good

I know that you are terrified of a vaginal birth and I can completely understand that, but you may suprise yourself. If you went down the vaginal birth route (excuse any puns) and it wasn't going how you wanted you could then request the c section.

The consultant who dealt with me for my first baby (male - popped in to see me for 2 minutes) wanted me to have drip to progress me, epidural (which they had refused to give me as I was "too far") and forceps delivery, my son was spine to spine so they were suggesting putting forceps inside me and turning him by his head 180 degrees to get him out. We refused and very easily got the c section with the full support of my midwife.

I don't want to talk you out of the c section, and I am not trying to but until you have gone through labour and maybe looked at hypnobirthing and addressing your fear you do not know what you are capable of.

I actually found my endometriosis to be as painful as labour, it was only when they put an internal clip on my son's head to monitor his heartrate and this inhibited me moving around that the pain really kicked in

Hi I had no choice about my first c section as ds was breech. I really wanted a 'normal' birth with my dd but after an 8 trial of labour with back to back pain I bottled it and asked for a c section. Because of my experience I think they are great but do get the docs to explain the implications of a second pregnancy as I wasnt allowed a waterbirth or an active labour. Had to be strapped down and monitored every 20 mins incase of scar rupture. My friend had hypnotherapy for her fear and thought it was fantastic. Im glad I tried labour but in the end a c section was best for me. Make sure you talj through all the options. NCT might have some advice as well.

Do think about addressing your fear of childbirth as well as the possibility of a c section.
Although we see them all the time they are major abdominal surgery with all the risks that they entail, infection, damage to other organs, recovery, impact on breastfeeding etc. Think about the implications if you want more children too.
In my experience hospitals are more than happy to carry out sections as they can book you in on a certain day and plan accordingly.

Gangle. Sounds quite normal to me - you won't be booked in for a CS until later on in your PG anyway. If you want a CS, you will get one, although you may need to insist.

gangle, your reason (fear of giving birth) isnt 'a bit rubbish' it's a genuine cause of stress/fear for you,

if you have decided this is what will be right for you, you can have it: you cannot be refused, but you must be persistent

i understand you want to get the signature on the dotted line so they can't change their minds, so it will feel 'settled' in your mind, i was the same,lol

gangle - don't forget that the statistics they try to scare you with (mortality etc) are actually very, very, very small. Stick to your guns - they cannot refuse.

So sorry, I just noticed this thread.

If I were you, I would mark up the birth plan loud and clear saying I want an elective section and I agree to schedule it at 36 weeks. Copy the birth plan. Go see the consultant at 36 weeks (or sooner if they let you). And don't take "no" for answer.

They did make wait until 36 weeks to schedule my elective, my had already documented loud and clear that any vaginal birth would be very much against my wishes. And, I did have a previous section on which to base my request (demand).

Have you got any medical reason to go on? Family history of sections?

No family history of sections but I do have a history of anxiety and phobias which can only help. I am so confused about which is best. I originally thought section and haven't really swayed on that but so many people are very anti section which makes you think that there must be valid reasons against it. It's huge relief to know though that I will probably get one if I stick to my guns. As for counselling, I have had counselling/hypnotherapy for other isssues and phobias and it has never ever worked!

Gangle,
What hospital are you booked int? Do you know anything about their policies? For example, how man anaesthetists are on duty in the middle of the night. If the answer is one, then there is a good chance you could be denied an epidural in a vaginal birth (because he/she might be in theatre with a section and they will get priority). What is their policy on breech baby? What about failure to progress... how long before they move to section?

For me, if I were having my first baby and had ne reason to think thing would not go to plan I would go fo a vaginal... but then that was exactly my frame of mind with my first child and it landed in emergency section. So, if you go vaginal, you do have to remember that there are no guarantees.

As for....
"so many people are very anti section which makes you think that there must be valid reasons against it" I don't buy this logic even for a second. People are very judgemental about many aspects of motherhood. It didn't start and it won't end with method of delivery. I for one believe that a planned section is the safest way to deliver a healthy baby in the UK. Best for mum and best for baby. The only convincing reasons against are 1- cost and 2- if you plan to have lots of kids and this is your first. By lots I mean 5 or 6 or more. 2 or 3 sections is not a problem.

Gangla

I have a specific phobia which I have been helped for with CBT and believe this is an excellent approach if you're motivated... You can see a significant improvement in your phobia with just a few sessions, but you have to want to overcome it...

And I've also had 3 sections, 2 emergency, 1 elective and though I completely understand your reasons, and am not 'anti-CS' by any means, just want you to think about the 'costs' if not the extreme risks, cos it is a tough option also... I'm NOT saying these things to try and put you off what sounds like an already made decision, but just to forewarn you to be prepared:

• Managed to BF all 3, but undoubtedly harder for CS mums IMHO. Holding and picking up baby can be difficult in first few days, and sometimes milk comes in a bit later. You need extra help in hospital which is not always available

• Pain is not insignificant and most CS women are on painkillers for a couple of weeks at least, some longer

• your general recovery is likely to be longer than women who have an uncomplicated vaginal delivery - think 4-6 weeks till feeling normal rather than a couple. Obv those who have difficult labours are in a similar position

• each CS gets a bit more difficult - with no.3, scar tissue was extensive and so lots more grappling to get baby out: had to have forceps and elbows on stomach etc. And Lots of stitching up afterwards

• not to mention scar tissue and belly overhang!

On the plus side, a CS is fairly predictable and manageable experience, the, er, undercarriage is left intact (!) and with the right painkillers you can be up and about reasonably quickly... You can even request things to make it closer to a 'normal' delivery - I had immediate skin to skin contact with my last baby...

Gangla? I've turned you into Gansta Gangle...

oh god I'm losing it.. MUST learn to preview... or even Gangsta Gangle

CS mums can breast feed just as well as VB mums.

I hear it hurts when you have them vaginally as well. If you have a section you can sit down without sitting on a ring, and you can go for a pee without extreme burning sensation. If you have a section it will hurt to go from lying on your back to sitting up and it will be difficult to pick things up.

I found that my second section was much easier than my first. Maybe that's because it was planned, maybe it's because it was at 39 weeks and not 42, or maybe it's just because I knew what to expect... or maybe it was the lovely arnica. Who know? But I certainly don't think it was harder than the first one.

Very true GIE, I didn't say CS mums couldn't feed as well as VB mums (after all, I also breastfed all 3), just that it CAN be harder for some IME, and agree about the pain - I also know lots of VB women who were suffering afterwards.

I meant more difficult to operate on I suppose since there just is already scar tissue there that has to be cut away with a second one. But yes, I also agree that a planned section is MUCH better than an emergency one.

I am just suggesting to Gangle that she fully informs herself about the potential issues that do affect lots of CS women, none of which is to say she shouldn't request it, just that she needs to know the real potential outcomes.

I agree with GIE: my second section was much better than my first, but like her, the second one was planned AND I took lots of arnica, so both of those could be good reasons for the quick recovery.

Gangle, in terms of recovery, the first section took several weeks for me to feel "normal" again. But then I had endured a 23 hour labour before the surgery, and I had a big haemorrhage afterwards, so there was quite a lot to recover from. I needed morphine the day after to cope with the pain.

With the second one on the other hand, I was walking a few hours later, was told I could leave hospital 24 hours after the operation (chose not to though!) and just took paracetamol for a few days. No pain at all from my second section, just slight discomfort for a few days.

i had real problems establishing breast feeding after my emergency c section. I was 41 weeks but still took ages for milk to come thru, compounded by unhelpful midwives, etc. I'm going for an elective this time around, not going thru another 40 hour labour with the baby's heartbeat dropping, so hope breastfeeding will be easier this time around. Is arnica ok with breastfeeding a newborn?

Hi Ruty. Yes, arnica is fine. You can eat tons of it. It may or may not help, but it won't hurt.

I struggled with breast feeding too. Just never had much milk supply. But I have no reason to think it had anything to do with having a section.

When is your section?

thanks Gloria. My section isn't for ages, I'm now 5 months pregnant. but when i raised the possibility of a c section this time the consultant said that was totally understandable and said it would be fine to have one. I eventually managed to get into the breastfeeding after a few horrific days, when someone really kind from the breastfeeding clinic visited me [she knew i' had a horrible experience with a midwife] and then it was ok [sore cracked nipples notwithstanding!] But it was a very stressful few first days. I do hope this time my milk comes in better and earlier, but no idea if it will.

Hello gangle,If I were you I would try to deal with your fear rather than having a c-section that isn't medically indicated. I suggest you read Ina may Gaskins guide to childbirth. It expalins the process of childbirth and normalises natural birth, unfortunatley we only tend to hear the horror stories concerning vaginal birth, but there is no reason why you shouldn't try to have a vb.
also I had a a natural birth and didn't have to sit on a ring and it didn't burn when I peed.

I think the OP might be offended at the suggestion that a phobia is not a medical reason.

I don't have any true phobias so I don't know. But I just suspect that might have been a tad offensive.

Gangle, have you actually made up your mind? I ask because I don't want to persuade you to have a section if that is not what you want. But if it is what you want, then I think you have the right to one. I strongly believe that the method of delivery should be the mum's choice. I do know people who have had sections on the NHS because they wanted them. One was really terrified of childbirth and the other wanted a bit more control over the schedule so she could be sure that her DH was there.