What would you do, ELCS or try again

[Sausage1986]

Currently pregnant with my second child. First baby was a difficult birth, large baby, long labour which resulted in wrong positioned head, shoulder dystocia and Kielland forceps. Babies head was very bruised, cuts to head and ear and 2 large hematomas that took months to heal and some dents to her skull. I was also pretty beaten up, we had a week in hospital, large episiotomy and a catheter for 3 weeks. Unbelievably, neither of us have significant lasting damage

I’ve seen a consultant who has been less than helpful about my next birth, said it’s up to me if I want a ELCS. Risk of dystocia increases to 1:10 from 1:150 with a second child. I suppose I wanted them to make the decision.

I'm looking for some other opinions, wwyd?

ELCS all the way. It would be a hell no to another forceps delivery for me [never mind a shoulder dystocia risk]

Doctors have targets they are supposed to meet for natural delivery. Your consultant won't be seen to "encourage" an ELCS unless it is absolutely medically necessary to recommend one. So bollocks to any inference you are chickening out. Not risking sub optimal healthcare and managing the risks to you and your child more like?

Thank you for all the replies, it has been if genuine help!

@Dinosaurus86 we are very close, I’m almost 31 weeks. I have another appointment at 32 weeks and a scan, plus a birth reflections appointment at 36 weeks relating to my previous birth.

amazingly I had very little blood loss but a very large episiotomy. The worst was having a catheter for 3 weeks and not being about to really sit down for 3 months. I did also have some nerve damage to my bladder etc for about a year but that’s now healed. I am very surprised neither me nor my baby have any longer term damage.

I think I too wanted them to make the decision for me and I just need to really think about it for myself and baby at this point.

I think after some helpful perspectives here and from my community midwives, I’m going to opt for a C-section. I’ve felt quite upset about the response from the hospital antenatal consultant and have considered asking to see someone else, but maybe that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. I was also surprised the increased probability of shoulder dystocia was only raised by me and down played by her!

@TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams thanks for this! It’s only now as well that I realise my after care and breastfeeding support was basically nonexistent and things happened that I would not allow this time round