Elective c section- advice?

[Pink Pamplemousse]

Hello, just looking for a bit of advice. I'm currently 36+2 weeks and pregnant with my second child.

My daughter was almost 2 weeks overdue so I was induced. Long story short- pessary failed, waters were broken 30 hours after this, hormone drip followed. Held out on an epidural and when I eventually had one it only worked on one side. Labour was very slow to progress, almost ended in c-section but managed to deliver- forceps and then a significant PPH. I found the whole induction pretty stressful and traumatic to be honest.

Discussed my concerns with my midwife, said I'm happy to go for vaginal birth if labour happens spontaneously but reluctant to have another induction. For this reason and following discussion with obstetrician, I've been booked for an elective c section at 39+3 weeks.

I feel my midwife thinks c section isn't necessary as 'second births are usually quicker and easier'. I know only I can make this decision but I really don't know what to do for the best. Ultimately I want the safest birth for both baby and me. I'm worried about recovery post c section but the thought of being induced again fills me with dread, should labour not happen spontaneously!

If anyone has been in a similar and wouldn't mind sharing their stories and advice it would be really appreciated x

Btw: completely aware the decision may not be mine and baby might throw a spanner in the works and arrive early

If that’s what you want then go for it. Don’t worry about what the midwife or anyone else things.

First time I had DD (2021), she was only two days late when I went into labour. She was in distress but my contractions weren’t close enough. So the team wanted to put me on an oxytocin drip to spead up my contractions in order to get DD out. They said it was really painful so I’d need an epidural to tolerate the pain of the drip. Whilst having the epidural done, the anaesthetist punctured my spine and I suffered from a spinal headache.

I was in hospital for a total of about 3/4 weeks as procedures were being done to try and rectify the issue. I also lost 1.5L of blood during labour as my uterus didn’t contract after pushing DD out. I had a debrief with the head of the anaesthetist team, the Matron and one of the top professors within the maternity unit.

I got pregnant again 3 months later😅 I refused to go back to the same hospital and this time round I said that I want a C Section. Everyone was very understanding because of my past. I also had a physiological birth plan in place which my therapist helped me write up. Everyone in my care team had one so that they could understand what my worries were. C Section was amazing (I wish I had it the first time round). Only downside was that DS was in NICU for around 6 weeks so that was really stressful however the process of the C Section was great.

It’s your body. Some medical professionals may try to persuade you to have a natural birth but if you really do want an Elective then stick to your guns. The consultants won’t tell you that you can’t have one. Good luck!

I had a drawn out first induced deluvery at 42 weeks with the recovery associated with third degree tear etc etc

I had an ELCS second time at 39+5 - like you I would have been happy to entertain a vaginal delivery had it spontaneously happened, but at 39 weeks it wasn't showing any signs of happening. My recovery was so much faster second time around so I had no regrets. But we're all different!

Couple of thoughts if you do go for a second go at a vaginal birth… it’s worth remembering too that not all inductions are the same - it’s not that uncommon for women who’ve had a vaginal delivery before to just need something to ‘get things going’ and not need the dreaded drip. Also, having had a disappointing epidural once doesn’t necessarily mean that’d be the case a second time if you did feel you wanted one. HTH.

Is this a response to my comment? All I was doing was sharing MY own experience. No need for the petty ‘HTH’ which we all know what tone that’s meant to be read in.
You seem like a lovely person

no, it wasn’t a response to your comment.

Similar experience to pp i had a induction with my first and it was horrific, ended up with a emergency csection and baby in nicu. It put me off having another one for 5 years, but i went for elective with number 2 and like you said i would be happy to try vaginally if things started on their own... i had a few people try to convince me to attempt it but i stuck to my guns had the c section and omg it was a amazing experience. I would 100% recommend. It was lovely not having the worry and anxiety of possible induction again and im glad i got to experience the nicer side to childbirth.

Again everyones different and all births are different, but wanted to give you my experience

Thank you for all of the responses. Every birth is different, as are people's preferences but ultimately its really helpful to hear about those different experiences! X

My first birth was very similar to yours, drawn out induction, forceps, PPH, transfusions. I had an ELCS 6 weeks ago with my second DC and the experience was excellent and the recovery has been significantly easier ( physically and mentally). Would definitely take that approach over a second induction

Update: no baby yet but due to have elective section in 2 days.

I've now worked myself up in to a right state about whether it's the right option and terrified of something going wrong we can't win can we?!

Has anyone due to have an elective section felt this way? I'm feeling scared and guilty before it's even happened!!

@Pink Pamplemousse hey, hope you're okay! I'm so sorry you went through all of that first time around, how scary 😞 this will definitely be playing into why you're so worried this time around too ♥️

I can only comment from having a section side of things - we had a really straight forward pregnancy that ended with ambulance and emergency section due to an abruption. I was genuinely terrified of having a section all the way through being pregnant but even through in my debrief I've been cleared for VBAC should we have another, I'd go for elective section.

There were a few in the mums group I was part of that had electives and they said it was really calm (albeit quite a lot of waiting around the morning of - they'll get you in really early and you might be twiddling your thumbs a bit depending on the order!).

They'll make sure you're completely numb before doing anything, I promise. You'll be on your own for getting the epidural in but once you're set up they'll bring your partner in. You won't be able to move yourself for ~12 hours so make sure in recovery they put you in a position you're happy in!

When you go home, take a pillow for the car to put over your scar, and have lots of pillows for in bed. I found the worst bit was sitting/getting up; once up it was sore but manageable. Keep on top of your painkillers - after about 10 days the pain should be nowhere near as intense.

Finally massive congratulations - in 2 days you'll be having baby snuggles and your daughter will be a big sister. You CAN do this. Sending you lots of love and really hope it goes well for you x

@Pink Pamplemousse

I had an ELCS 5 days ago. Best decision I've made. Totally the right thing for me. Our births with our first babies sound basically the same, I suffered for many months after my son was born 5 years ago, and was determined not to have the same experience again.

The section itself was incredible. Please don't be afraid of it, it's genuinely an amazing experience.

Recovery is up and down for me atm. I can't take N-SAID medication so can only have paracetamol so that has been interesting, but I'm learning daily what I can and can't do, and there have been moments of real intense pain but that is absolutely not all of the time. In fact I'm amazed at how mobile I can be!!

I had moments of "I can't / shouldn't do this", but in my heart I knew it was 100% the right decision.

So pleased you're all booked in!

I was booked in for an Elective. It turned into an emergency three weeks earlier than planned due to pre-eclampsia but the procedure was exactly the same as I wasn’t in Labour.

It was fine. In fact, I had a really easy recovery.

I do think a lot of that was because I was already planning an elective so I was mentally prepared for it.

I’ve since learned that most women have a positive birth experience if it matches their expectations. You are already expecting a c-section so that helps (rather than laboring for days and then having an emergency).

Things very, very rarely go wrong with a planned c-section. It is routine surgery for the doctors. I have read somewhere (and I can’t remember where or I would cite sources) that it is the safest way to give birth for mother and baby.

The hardest part was when I was home in my own bed and turning to get out of bed. I had to wriggle down to get past the next to me crib. Still didn’t pull any stitches though!

You (and your baby) will be fine! 💐

What lovely messages of reassurance to wake up to 💜 thank you so much @DifficultBloodyWoman, @justanothernamechangemonday and @dkedm15

I'm so pleased things worked out OK for you all. I know this is most likely nerves the closer it's got and I'm sure I'll be feeling much better once he's here in a few days!

@Pink Pamplemousse definitely will be last min nerves and it'll be because you actually know the date as well instead of waking up each morning thinking ooh I wonder if today is the day 🤣.

The other thing I will say is stock up on maternity pads, it sounds so daft now but I never thought about needing them after a section but you still do bleed for a few weeks (yay 🙄), oh and don't overdo it!

Will be thinking of you on Wednesday but promise it'll be okay ♥️

Yes 100% pads - I bought a whole box of Tena lady pants but they stuck to the scar so I'm back to boots maternity pads - they're the best!!

And high waisted 100% cotton knickers!

100% the right option. The exact thing happened to me with my first 5 day failed induction but I ended up with an emergency section.
Planned sections are amazing, they are peaceful, they are calm, you will be looked after so well. Yes recovery isn't fun but I can't imagine it is for a natural either.
I had a planned for my second as the induction was so awful and I have literally no regrets! X

Thanks all. I'm feeling so much more positive and reassured now! Going in to hospital at 1pm tomorrow so I'm guessing it'll be any time in the afternoon where there's a slot eek! 😃 xxx

How exciting @Pink Pamplemousse!

I'm currently 30w and under consutlant led care due to DC1 birth - I need to make a decision as to whether to go c-section or not and reading through these posts has made me think c-section is the way to go.

My elective was the best decision ever.
I remember it very fondly. One advice for recovery: peppermint oil (they had in in the hospital). It helps deal with trapped wind which can happen after a section. It was the only unpleasant thing about the whole experience.

Good luck!!

@Pink Pamplemousse hope it all went okay for you today! ♥️

I hope it all went ok OP! I had an ELCS for DC2 just over 10 months ago. I was bricking it beforehand but once I got in there I was fine.

My advice, do not panic if days 2 and 3 are very painful. It’s normal. You will be ok and it will get better. Take the meds and ask for more if you need them, do not feel like you need to struggle. Also do not wear anything remotely tight around your tummy for a while. I was desperate to wear my “normal” clothes again and my midwife told me I was not helping myself and to consider wearing pj bottoms for the first two weeks or very very loose sweatpants. She was right, I bought some maternity pjs in a size above and lived in the bottoms for quite a number of weeks!! No vanity sizing either, go up at least a size or two in bottoms and knickers!!!

Ah thankyou- bit of a different outcome than expected today as I'm currently sat at home with no baby 🙈.

After fasting from 6am, two lots of antibiotics, sorting childcare for the day and arriving at hospital with my hospital bag all sorted... was sat waiting for my turn in the maternity base and the consultant obstetrician arrived only to tell me they'd overbooked for today due to an error with their new IT system and my section would likely be cancelled.

Not only that, the consultant has now recommended I wait another week at least before it's booked back in (so 41 weeks) to allow me to go in to labour naturally as there's no 'medical reason' for me to have an elective section and that as my baby is measuring 26th percentile I'd risk harming him if I'd had my section today. So essentially guilt tripped me.

I appreciate all of the above, I'd been unsure about today anyway but it just feels a bit rubbish being messed around. I get that emergencies happen but it just sounded like they were unwilling to do it today and there's clearly no communication. What was the point in a pre op last week and a phone call to confirm yesterday? If id just had a phone call this morning it would have helped tremendously and saved a lot of stress to myself and disappointment to others!

Anyway, rant over, I'm sure he'll turn up at some point- whatever way it happens 😂🙈