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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Why did you have a C section?

144 replies

Awkwardusername · 02/06/2023 03:37

Recovering from an emergency c section for “failure to progress” (my waters went, I got induced and made it to 7cm and couldn’t get any further) and curious about others.
Struggling to come to terms with it so hoping this might help!

So if you had a c section, was it emergency or elective?
If an emergency, what was the reason?
If elective, what made you choose a section?

OP posts:
elm26 · 02/06/2023 03:46

Hi @Awkwardusername

I didn't have a C-section but will offer another perspective. I was induced, all methods failed until they broke my waters and put me on the drip. It took me hours to go from 4cm to 10, 2 failed epidurals meant that effectively I didn't have any pain relief apart from gas and air which I found useless when I was in that much pain. I was begging for them to take me to theatre, I was exhausted by the time it came to lush and DD was born with cord around her neck, I lost a fair bit of blood and I was completely out of it when she was born from exhaustion and pain.

I got offered a C-section when I was 37 weeks at my growth scan and turned it down and in hindsight wish I had accepted as now I'm suffering some kind of PTSD where I can hear myself screaming as I fall asleep every night.

C-section recoveries are harder but I really regret pushing for the oxytocin drip, it was unbearable.

I'm so sorry you're struggling to come to terms with your birth, I am too but the opposite way. Sending love xx

elm26 · 02/06/2023 03:51

Sorry I meant took my hours to go from 1cm to 4cm x

skulldungarees · 02/06/2023 03:54

Exactly the same reason as you, but I didn't get past 3 centimetres after +24 hours on the induction drip. It was an urgent c section, technically classed as emergency but very chilled.

I feel happy my baby was born safely but sad I didn't properly get to experience birth. It's something I'd really looked forward to.

EL8888 · 02/06/2023 03:59

I had an elective a few months back. Because:

-twins
-twin 1 was breech and twin 2 was transverse
-lm 43 (more likely to experience complications statistically)
-IVF pregnancy -it took us the best part of 5 years to get to this point
-didn’t trust my local hospital to monitor us properly. This fear was validated when they didn’t pick up on my pre-eclampsia

ChiefPearlClutcher · 02/06/2023 04:02

I didn't want to give birth vaginally again.

pinkunicorns54 · 02/06/2023 04:04

First - emergency, same as you although had group b strep so wasn't even given 24hours after my waters broke.
Second - I had gestational diabetes and they wanted to induce me. There was no way I was going through that again.

Planned section was amazing and so so calm!

sheworemellowyellow · 02/06/2023 04:06

Didn’t want the pain.

Wanted to organise childcare for DC1.

My DM struggled almost all her adult life with bowel, back, hip and uterine problems after vegaibal deliveries. I wanted to avoid that at all costs.

I didn’t want the risk of bladder or pelvic floor problems.

I didn’t want a long labour.

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/06/2023 04:11

elm26 · 02/06/2023 03:51

Sorry I meant took my hours to go from 1cm to 4cm x

Basically this. I was hours of induction and buggering around. 3 weeks late. I never went over 4cm.

I couldn't walk, lie or eventually stand. Projectile vomiting was a treat. The midwife got the surgeon in to talk to me. He talked me through what I could do, have a c-section now or wait until morning. I said, "so maybe I could have the baby naturally?". He laughed and said, "oh no, you're having a c-section, now or in the morning". I had one then.

I do understand that the PLAN is important. But it actually isn't. We are some of a tiny, minuscule, microscopic number of women in history with these options. I didn't die, DD didn't die. 100 year ago at least one of us probably would have.

We've been fed a line that birth can be magic and wonderful. The fact is that it is the most dangerous day of a woman's life. I came through healthy, DD is healthy, I know there are generations of women before me who were lucky. I had science and a great surgeon and anesthesiologist on my side. I'd rather be me than them.

Hornicorn · 02/06/2023 04:36

Same as you… failure to progress. I got to about 5cm but I my baby was showing signs of distress and I was bleeding quite a bit and they didn’t know why, so eventually they said I needed an EMCS.

A few years later I had my second baby by VBAC after a really quick labour (within about 3 hours of arriving at the hospital). It was a completely different birth experience second time around

WeekendInTheBoondocks · 02/06/2023 04:39

I didn’t want to destroy my vagina or risk the life of my baby.

Thrilled with my decision.

MissHoney85 · 02/06/2023 04:50

First time around I was induced but it didn't work so I ended up having a c section. Technically an emergency but it was very chilled and actually a lovely experience. So good that the second time around I chose to go for an elective and again had a really positive experience. Recovery was quite straightforward both times so I was lucky.

It's funny because for years I really wanted to experience a natural birth. I watched countless TV programmes about it and imagined it so many times. I don't really feel disappointed though. It's what felt right for me, and there are advantages - lower risk of birth injury to me and the baby, no long term pelvic floor issues etc. My babies are here safely and that's all that matters in the end.

Sundaychild · 02/06/2023 04:54

Baby was breech, plus that old cliche: I’m small in height and take size 3 shoe. The next time I delivered vaginally.

Imogensmumma · 02/06/2023 04:54

Was going to have an elective c section due to age and BMI to reduce the risk - I was also really scared of the pain so quite happy when dr recommended a c section-

Ended up an emergency c section due to drop in growth and pre-eclampsia

she’s here happy and healthy and that’s the most important thing

Superstar22 · 02/06/2023 05:10

After going over due by 10 days I was induced & everything thrown at me. Two days after they’d broken my waters I still wasn’t progressing without drip & baby was distressed. Turned out baby was huge so they’d have never have made it out. I was taken to theatre not knowing which way they would cut him out. Ended with emergency c section. Was “very emergency”.

everyone was perfectly fine in the end. I was all set up for a water birth at home, so complete turnaround. But I’ve not dwelled on it because I was also very flexible to “anything can happen”. Delighted with the outcome (baby safe & happy)

FrogsHiccups · 02/06/2023 05:20

Sort of planned, sort of emergency. I was referred to consultant 7 days before due date due to accelerated growth. The day before my due date and ultrasound scan showed a 9lb baby (he was actually 9lb 1oz). My consultant was concerned that baby would get stuck during labour, so we discussed c-section, induction or waiting for spontaneous labour and seeing how it goes.
I opted for a c-section which happened the next day (also baby’s due date!). I hated the whole experience - I found it very overwhelming and struggled with the recovery. BUT it was 100% the right decision for my second sons birth.

Missingmyusername · 02/06/2023 05:26

Elective- breech. Happy as didn’t want the pain, it was calm, my DH is often away so it meant he could pre plan, take time off to be there. I could plan, get everything ready.

Monkeytapper · 02/06/2023 05:29

I had an elective c section with my second baby as when I had my first I had a 3 rd degree tear and episiotomy so my doctor said it would be a good idea to have c section incase I tore again

user1483387154 · 02/06/2023 05:38

Elective c section. Always knew from my early 20's that if I had a baby I wanted a surgical birth as was traumatised as a child watching birthing scenes on TV.

My Drs tried to encourage me to have a natural birth but I refused, when my son was born he had his cord wrapped 3 times tightly around his neck and the Dr said he would have probably died if I had given birth naturally because of the placement and how tight it was.

I have a huge respect for all women who give birth, surgically or naturally is beautiful and amazing. There is no right or wrong.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 02/06/2023 05:39

I had a planned C Section with DS2. I don't like the term elective as I didnt choose it, I'd have preferred to give birth naturally.

DS2 was a (face down) transverse lie and I had polyhydramnios. I was admitted to hospital as if my waters broke I would have had 5 minutes in which to have a c section before DS would have been at risk of brain damage due to cord compression. I had to stay there for 2 weeks before having the c section.

I did ask what would happen if I refused to have the. section. The answer was that DS would die and then I would die.

DS was 10lb at birth so I was relieved I'd had a c section.

Onceuponatime56 · 02/06/2023 05:40

I had an elective section to avoid flaring my autoimmune condition with a long labour. I didn’t want to risk getting exhausted and triggering a flare, plus being too exhausted to push. The first consultant disagreed and pushed me to have a natural birth.
It was the best decision to have one, I was as well rested as possible and didn’t experience any flares. I did have some pain during recovery but that can also happen with a natural birth. My scar has healed so well you can barely see it.

110APiccadilly · 02/06/2023 05:48

I've had two inductions which both went pretty much exactly the same - failure to progress followed by a section. I never dilated more than 4cm for either. I have had moments of regret, but mostly I feel so lucky that the option was there for us. I'm alive and I have two healthy children. There's a lot of women who lived before me who'd have given a lot to get that.

Triptastico · 02/06/2023 05:50

Elective as I was carrying triplets. All went well, good recovery, can no longer see scar.

The thought of giving birth vaginally terrifies me so for that reason alone I was so glad that

Triptastico · 02/06/2023 05:53

Oops pressed too soon.

So for that reason alone I was glad to be carrying triplets.

However, I'm fully aware a caesarean is not for everyone and I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling with it. Flowers

Melonportal · 02/06/2023 05:55

Emergency section. My waters broke at 34 weeks and I went into hospital. We knew the baby was breech but the consultant pushed for a vaginally birth - he told me that the c section recommendation is only for full term babies. This didn't sit well with me but I was exhausted and didn't fight. I ended up with a cord prolapse and crash section.

Virgo1989 · 02/06/2023 05:59

Exact same reason as you - failure to progress!

Had been having contractions for 4 days by the time I eventually had the c section - spent a glorious day in the birthing pool with gas and air but couldn't get past 5cm despite my waters being broken and feeling like I needed to push!

I was eventually offered the oxytocin drip but was so shattered by that point couldn't face the thought of waiting another 4-6 hours to see whether I would profess anything further, and I was so shattered that I was convinced I'd need a ton of intervention if I did manage to get to 10cm.

The section itself was absolutely fine and I have no regrets about choosing to have my baby that way, but I have struggled with how out of it I was when she was eventually born - I felt quite detached and was quite jealous of my partner who got to do everything for her (aside from feed!) in the first few days after I recovered.