38 weeks C section or Natural birth?!

PeacefulPrune · 01/03/2022 11:36

You should be able to access NHS counselling pretty quick. Your midwife or consultant should be able to direct you.

If you have an elective c section you may to need extra time in hospital compared to a natural no complications birth.

notmelurking · 01/03/2022 12:11

I have the same fear, but in general I hate staying anywhere other then home. Don't care how late it is I'm going home to my bed 😂😂 I thought about this with my first but the thought of staying in after a section scared me. I also refused any induction or sweep! They thought he would be a big baby hence why they wanted induction. He was 7.7.!

My waters broke at 12 at night, i stayed home till five in the afternoon the next day untill contractions because close enough. I gave birth on my due date at half two in the morning and was home at 11 in the morning.

In the last week I ate very hot curries, had sex, walked ALOT! Went about my day cleaning and started on my ball. I'd try inducing the baby naturally, but that's my opinion.

I was petrified my body would change after birth and that scared me more. I had an episiotomy and second degree tear.

For me personally i healed amazingly. Nothing seems as though it's changed, I have a very very small scare from episiotomy but you can barely see it, I had stoped bleeding after 10 days and was completely back to normal. I understand a lot of people bleed a lot longer and everyone is different!

I'm currently 34 weeks pregnant with my second and if I can be going for a natural birth again hopefully.

Whatever you decide I hope you have a great birth, and good luck x

littlebitmermaid · 01/03/2022 12:16

@NewKidOnTheBlock99

Hello,

So I’m 38 weeks and at the last minute have decided that I may want an elective c section! I have an appointment to sign it off later today and I’m really torn. I was very pro trying to have a natural birth but as it’s come closer I’m terrified of tearing or being left incontinent etc- also it’s probs just my anxiety but I have this feeling that my hospital has just missed something. I am also really scared of having an induction - I HATE hospitals so the idea of being in one for days (if it comes to it freaks me out) Also, I’m now on Mat leave and the waiting game is getting to me - I know I have a week and a half left until my due date but I just want baby here now. I guess I’m looking for advice stories or anyone who shares this concerns?

I highly recommend an elective C-section. Best experience ever. I was very calm, everything was smooth. Baby was out very quickly. No issues with tearing or incontinence. The first week post C-section is very hard, you'll be in a lot of pain. But come second week you'll be coping much better. Overall by the third week I was perfectly fine.

Motherl0de · 01/03/2022 16:00

@littlebitmermaid can I ask if you asked for a c-section? Or if you were told to get one due to medical reasons?
I asked at my 30 week growth scan for one and they're really resisting, but I don't want to go the natural route. Working on having a really strong argument for my 36 week appointment and it's really useful hearing other's experiences.

littlebitmermaid · 01/03/2022 16:08

[quote Motherl0de]@littlebitmermaid can I ask if you asked for a c-section? Or if you were told to get one due to medical reasons?
I asked at my 30 week growth scan for one and they're really resisting, but I don't want to go the natural route. Working on having a really strong argument for my 36 week appointment and it's really useful hearing other's experiences.[/quote]
I asked for a C section as I didn't want to do it naturally. I did have gestational diabetes so they were worried the baby could be big but I did ask for it.

GlitteryGreen · 01/03/2022 16:21

I will defo take a C-section if I'm offered one...I am really hoping this happens (my friend had one due to position of placenta).

I know it's not the easy route by any means, but I'd rather know about and plan for a potential tough recovery from an op than deal with all the unknowns and stress of natural birth.

Daffythedill · 01/03/2022 16:25

You will need to be in hospital after your csection though. I was in five days after my first and three days after my second.

littlebitmermaid · 01/03/2022 16:33

@Daffythedill

You will need to be in hospital after your csection though. I was in five days after my first and three days after my second.

Agree. I was in 3 days after but found it useful to be in the hospital and have help from the midwives.

Cotswoldmama · 01/03/2022 16:39

I can't compare as I've only had natural births but I had good experiences, in fact I'd go so far as to say great with my second. My first I was in premature labour for about 4 days so obviously not ideal! I was really exhausted from not really being able to sleep those 4 days/ nights in hospital and I feel like that made the labour harder. With my second I was well rested and it was great! I had a small tear which needed two stitches but I didn't even notice. I just had gas and air. I had a graze with my first. No issues of incontinence either time. For me I guess it was such an amazing experience and that adrenaline feeling of pushing my boys out and then having them handed to me was just so amazing! If I could have given birth for someone else the next day I would have just for that feeling! Maybe the same feeling can be had whilst having a caesarian?

littlebitmermaid · 01/03/2022 16:53

@Cotswoldmama

I can't compare as I've only had natural births but I had good experiences, in fact I'd go so far as to say great with my second. My first I was in premature labour for about 4 days so obviously not ideal! I was really exhausted from not really being able to sleep those 4 days/ nights in hospital and I feel like that made the labour harder. With my second I was well rested and it was great! I had a small tear which needed two stitches but I didn't even notice. I just had gas and air. I had a graze with my first. No issues of incontinence either time. For me I guess it was such an amazing experience and that adrenaline feeling of pushing my boys out and then having them handed to me was just so amazing! If I could have given birth for someone else the next day I would have just for that feeling! Maybe the same feeling can be had whilst having a caesarian?

Yes! I'm a C section mum and I had the same feeling. It was very very exciting. I'm guessing an emergency c section is stressful but an elective C section is a very positive experience.

The next 3 days after are very painful though as you're not very mobile with a C section.

DappledOliveGroves · 01/03/2022 17:08

I had an elective section just under 2 weeks ago. I'd had a natural delivery with my first daughter which was fairly traumatic, so I opted for C-section this time and absolutely don't regret it.

The section was calm, peaceful, pain free. I was in hospital one night only and out the next day. Took painkillers for two days only and no pain after that - the recovery from the natural birth was far harder for me than the section. At the weekend I did a 7 mile walk and felt fine.

I'd definitely recommend a planned section.