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Childbirth

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

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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:

Guineapigwoes · 02/06/2023 10:50

Failure to progress…story of my life

Phos · 02/06/2023 10:51

Emergency

Because the midwives hadn't noticed that she had shifted position and had me pushing a baby who could never ever have been born considering where her head was. Ended up with worrying trends in her heart rate and blood oxygen (her poor little head with all the scratches) and they had to take me into theatre. I absolutely refused to consent to forceps and demanded a caesarean.

It was an absolute doozy. I had no pain whatsoever, my scar healed beautifully and I was driving and back to normal in 4 weeks. If we'd had a second I'd have had an elective no questions asked.

bussteward · 02/06/2023 10:54

First time, technically an emergency but not a big red button one – failure to progress, failed epidural, failed everything, me and baby knackered. I beat myself up about it for a long time – was it because of decisions I’d made – but in retrospect she wasn’t ever going to come out vaginally. C’est la vie.

Second baby, planned section. Wonderful. Never even considered a VBAC. Why risk another shitshow ending in an emergency section when I could just go in with a plan and come out with a baby bang on schedule? It was lovely. I wept with joy, relief, healing, forgiveness for the first go. It was everything.

olympicsrock · 02/06/2023 10:55

First was a failed induction. Bloody painful contractions, epidural, got to 10cm. Baby had massive head, foetal distress, crash c section with epidural only partly working. It was agony.

Second time was a planned section.
I wish they wouldn’t índuce first time mothers. Too painful and lower chance of success.

Tadah2 · 02/06/2023 10:57

I didn’t have a c section, but I did have a tear which opened and they refused to restitch. So I couldn’t go to the toilet sitting down, had to wee in the bath/shower for 4 months. Couldn’t walk very far, was in constant pain.

Another perspective is my close friend was left in labour too long and didn’t progress, and now her little DC has long term health conditions. So it might not feel like it was an emergency, but it is safer than the potential alternative (however rare).

CornishGem1975 · 02/06/2023 11:02

Emergency. After a 5 day induction, got to 10cm dilated, pushing and pushing but getting nowhere. Had a large baby and he just couldn't get down far enough I think. Heartrate was being affected, so was taken to theatre.

changedusername190 · 02/06/2023 11:04

My cord came down all very sudden and my husband missed it.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 02/06/2023 11:06

Elective as i hated labour with my first. No interest in a vaginal delivery again.

Meant we knew the day and roughly time, went out for a lovely dinner the night before, no stress of waiting to go into labour naturally, no contractions. Recovery was fine. Baby was out within 15 seconds of the surgery starting, i hadn't spent hours pushing so i wasn't exhausted that first night

Yerroblemom1923 · 02/06/2023 11:27

All those saying they wanted to protect their vaginas/pelvic floor, were you able to opt for a c section on the NHS or did you go Private?

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 02/06/2023 11:28

Yerroblemom1923 · 02/06/2023 11:27

All those saying they wanted to protect their vaginas/pelvic floor, were you able to opt for a c section on the NHS or did you go Private?

You have the right to choose on nhs you just have to have an extra appointment with a midwife who goes through all the risks of each option, the doctor will sign it off if you have done this as it's proof that you're fully informed

Yerroblemom1923 · 02/06/2023 11:29

Thanks @Unexpectedlysinglemum , I didn't realise it was so easy!

googledidnthelp · 02/06/2023 11:38

Mine was elective.

I had gestational diabetes and it was recommended to not go beyond 39 weeks and induction at 38 weeks.

There was no chance I was prepared to be induced. It was during Covid and I didn't want the potential of up to 5 days in hospital before DS was even born. I was happy to go to term but consultant made the risks seem very real so I said well if you're telling me he needs to be born then you can take him out but I'm not forcing him out.

I had heard to many stories about failed inductions and my SIL ended up with an emergency section after a miserable induction and I just couldn't put myself through the uncertainty.

Twiglets1 · 02/06/2023 11:43

scrantonelectriccity · 02/06/2023 08:21

I'm having one in 4 weeks because I can't go through labour again, I still suffer with birth trauma

I hear you, sister.

thehappyhaggis · 02/06/2023 11:51

I had an emergency section as my son was in distress, his heart rate kept dropping.

I had been on the fence about asking for an elective throughout my pregnancy as I was really anxious about destroying my vag and long term implications. But, ultimately felt that I should give it a bash.

Aside from my son being in distress, I was so relieved when they mentioned a section. It didn't feel 'urgent', I had a really positive experience and recovery.

toottootpipip · 02/06/2023 12:01

First was EMCS as baby was in distress in early labour

Second was forced elective after she went a week overdue with no signs of me going into labour. I wanted to try for a VBAC.

I hate my scars, they have adhered to the muscles and my belly (even though I'm a size 8-10) hangs over them like a pouch. Can't wear bikini bottoms and very conscious of the overhang showing in anything tight.

EliflurtleTripanInfinite · 02/06/2023 12:01

1st c-section was an emergency one due to baby getting in distress, heart rate falling more and more. Went from we need to get you up soon, to them bumping the emergency c-section ahead of me as DDs heart rate wasn't recovering, it was scary. 2nd turned into a c-section because I started to get the same cascade of problems I had when DD was born, couldn't go through that again so last minute but planned c-section. 3rd was a planned c-section and the only one of my births that was straightforward.

Kam610 · 02/06/2023 12:11

Both of mine were emergencies.

With my first, I was induced 4 weeks early due to pre-eclampsia. I was in labour for a few hours, but then my liver began failing and they were worried about my placenta. I also had GD and my blood sugar levels were dropping and wouldn't stay up. They told me that I was very close to developing eclampsia and had to take me to theatre immediately. I was in so much pain from constant contractions and was desperate to get it over with. My liver took a few weeks to recover, but thankfully my son was fine!

With my second, I really wanted a VBAC, and went into labour naturally. My waters broke at home, and 24 hours later I was still only 4cm dilated. They told me I could wait a while longer but they were concerned about infection due to my waters being gone. My contractions were slow but painful. I got given morphine but then I stopped feeling baby move, when they put me on the monitor they noticed her heartbeat dropping with every contraction, so decided that it was best I had another c section. I'm sad it never worked out the way I wanted for both, but so thankful that my babies are here safely.

Itslookinglikeabeautifulday · 02/06/2023 12:12

Emergency c-section - after quite a few hours of labour, midwife realised that DS was breach. I was feeling strong urges to push but I was only at 7cm. It all very quickly became quite frantic. Not a pleasant experience and I struggled a bit, psychologically, with it all afterwards and felt quite down. But DS was born v healthy so I was grateful for that.

I'm sorry you've had a tough time.

Incidentally, having one c-section doesn't necessarily mean you'll have to follow that route for any future children. I had my DD vaginally 2 years later.

Blahdeblahaha · 02/06/2023 12:14

Two c sections, nhs. First emergency fully knocked out due to distress. I had requested a c section beforehand as never wanted to give birth and been told no, they should have just let me have it as was very distressing and have no recollection of baby for first couple of days really.
Second elective after first experience.

spottysnail · 02/06/2023 12:22

Because he was measuring on the 99th centile and was over 10lb. Didn't want to risk birth injuries to myself or shoulder dystocia. The hospital were reluctant to give me a c-section but I am happy with my decision.

elliejjtiny · 02/06/2023 12:24

Dc4 was a cat 3 emergency c-section because my waters broke early and he was in a weird position.

dc5 was a cat 1 emergency c-section because of failed induction, brow presentation and sepsis.

carameldecaflatte · 02/06/2023 12:28

Emergency C section. My waters broke at 36 weeks. At the hospital I was put on a monitor where, just as they were about to take it off, baby's heart started decelerating with contractions.
While baby was being cleaned up the midwife rushed his cord over to show me the massive knot in the middle.

golk · 02/06/2023 12:33

I had a c section that was classified as emergency, but that was because it happened earlier than my elective c section due to going into labour and happened in the evening and didn't happen on the scheduled date. But I had an elective c section sceduled for medical reasons, as I previously had gynaecology surgery, and lost loads of blood. My gynaecologist insisted that any future pregnancies would need a c section as there was a risk of uterine abruption.

Never had any issues with the c section, there was no attempt to persuade me to have a vaginal delivery and I was happier having a c section. It was calm as there was no attempt at progressing the labour, although staffing was not ideal as it was a weekday evening rather than an early morning scheduled op. Breastfed baby for 3 years, discharged after 24 hours, scar healed fine, no ongoing pelvic issues or other problems that might occur after childbirth.

Penguinsandpuffins · 02/06/2023 12:36

I considered requesting one for DC1 as I had always been concerned about childbirth, but I listened to NCT nonsense too much. First midwife didn’t believe I was in labour and sent me away so I was pushing almost as soon as we got back to hospital. Massive rush and baby got blocked by my bladder so I needed catheter and episiotomy - and they needed to be resuscitated. They have ASD and most likely dyspraxia - they are fantastic, but who knows if that could have been avoided?
So I was 100% committed to a section for DC2, and even more so when they were breech. Went into labour early, but just about got an emergency section - best decision I have ever made and a straightforward recovery too. Really wish I’d gone for it first time round.

FrillyGoatFluff · 02/06/2023 12:56

I had to have a TFMR resulting in a a delivery at 22 weeks, which ended with a massive haemorrhage which nearly killed me, emergency surgery and blood transfusion. Then ended up with a retained placenta which was ignored for three bastard months. Had to have further emergency surgery and nearly died, again.

So, had no arguments when I point blank refused to give birth and insisted on a c-section for second baby. Absolutely no way I would have mentally been able to go through the birth process again, it had to be a different scenario.

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