Why are so many women anti c-section?

[jivegirl]

Despite planning a peaceful waterbirth at home, I ended up having a very scary OP/ventouse delivery with my daugher nearly 2 years ago (delayed second stage, retained placenta, 3rd degree tear, plus internal tearing which had not healed after 6 months and required cauterising)

I have been offered a C-section and will see the consultant again to make my decision in just over a week. At present (35wks) bump is transverse, so the decision to have a section may yet be taken out of my hands. However part of me is secretly hoping the baby stays transverse so I don't have to justify having a section.

I can't understand why so many women seem to be anti-sections. It seems admitting a preference for a section is almost taboo.
I still get horrific flashbacks to delivering my daughter and can't think of anything worse than going through that again (my DP rates it as the most traumatic day of his life!! ) The thought of a calm, planned c-section sounds like bliss. Am I being naive?

I should also say that I will have excellent support from friends and family to help me cope with caring for an active toddler and a newborn in the weeks that follow - so I am sure I am luckier than many..

Would love to hear some opinions on this ladies!

Pixelherder, it was a very scary experience mainly because I had so little information. No-one discussed it with me and I'd only glanced at the caesarean pages in the pregnancy and birth book. I just didn't expect to have one. Given the percentage of women who end up having an emergency CS, there really should be more information.

i had private expensive poncey birth classes and they were vehmently anti CS all chanting an incantation, visualising and getting centered etc. they were very "i am woman" competitive that a good birth was pain free no analgesia, preferably squatting in ythe organic forest

Anyone who elects for a c section must be brave-I was terrified at the thought! I can see that if you get to the point of an emergency one then you are past caring, but I had never had an operation or been cut open so was a nervous wreck at the thought! When my baby was breech I spent ages hanging upside down off my bed as the midwife said it would give more room to turn! After all the effort, he turned when I was standing upright. I felt that I was walking on cloud 9 afterwards at the thought of not having an operation!

I was determined not to have a c-section. No idea why. But I was also determined not to have an episiotomy and I ended up with one of those and I survived. I am glad that I had 3 normal births but if an emergency arose I think I'd have accepted a CS with open arms (so to speak). I did recover very quickly though which can't be said of the only woman I know who had a Cs (elective not emergency).

Turniphead1 that is incorrect - the 6 weeks until you're insured again is an urban myth. You are fit to drive again (& therefore covered by your insurance) as soon as you can perform an emergency stop.

The only people I know (in real life, the internet is a different matter) you've had ongoing & disabling health issues resulting from childbirth are those who've had complicated vaginal deliveries and everytime I hear of their problems I'm silently thankful for my c-sections.

Oh riven, that's awful.

Thanks SO much to everyone, you've really made my mind up and given me the courage to ask for what I know is right for me and my baby!

PIxelherder, Lyra, I think the points you've made are really interesting. Why would hospitals and midwives essentially prefer to shield the truth and not discuss emergency c-sections, and dismiss anyone who wants one as someone choosing the 'easy option'?

I beat myself up for a long time after the birth of my DD (and still do) as I found it such a traumatic experience, yet others in my antenatal class seemed to have breezed through it with no problem. It wasn't until the consultant looked through my notes at my booking in appointment with number 2 (he essentially read them out to me!) that I realised that it wasn't all in my imagination - it really was a difficult birth and I was lucky to have a perfectly healthy daughter at the end of it (if only with a mangled scalp after the ventouse!)

Lots of people seem to be scared of the thought of being cut open - that doesn't worry me one little bit! I'm more petrified of being in a room full of people on emergency mode, wielding scissors round my delicate bits, yanking a delicate 6lb baby out with a sink plunger and everyone covered in blood whilst I nearly black out in pain!!

Scottish mummy - I was totally in the mindset of hippy music, candles, water and homebirth all the way. Don't even get me started on fecking hypnobirthing... GRRRRRR!!!!!!

It's such a relief to actually hear of some positive C-section stories at last - thank you! I will keep you all updated after the consultant appointment next week...

Claire

One of our NCT classes (very lavender scented, earth mother-type instructor) focused on what happens at an emergency cs, who is in the theatre, what they do, what instruments are used - mind you, I didn't really care by the time I got to have my em cs, just wanted it done and dusted! But it was VERY helpful to know beforehand what was going on, and something you might want to mention if you're doing classes and they haven't gone over it yet.

minister both the midwife and my car insurance when I rang them said i wouldnt be insued for 6 weeks.

6 weeks is the general period advised to allow deep tissue healing and ability for full unrestricted movement and ability to perform emergency stop.Check your insurance cover to see there are any restrictions about driving after a Caesarean, some companies require your GP to certify you fit to drive.the nhs baby book 2006 did advise 6wk wait prior to commenceing driving

however it is not a definitive rule, most people do wait this length of time. depends on your individual insurance

After my C-section eight months ago, the advice from the hospital was it is fine to drive after two weeks, obviously so long as you feel fit to. I called my insurance company previous to going in, they didn't need to know that I was having a C-section. This six week thing is maybe old advice but still bandied about, I think to put people off C-sections.

Having had a crash section, and then an elective, which may or may not have been entirely necessary, I believe it's my body, and I should be able to make my own decisions about what happens to it.

I can't understand why C-sections are so frowned upon, and it made me quite cross when I felt as though I had to justify my reasons for electing to have a C-section second time around. I decided the best option was to just avoid mentioning it! And each to their own, but I don't have any regrets about having never experienced the final stages of childbirth.

I also think that most of us don't take the C-section option lightly, and are fully aware of all the risks. So after weighing up the pros and cons it usually is the best option for that particular woman.

I was driving after three weeks no problem. Tried to after two, but was a bit too sore!

My sister had a planned C-section because of the baby's large size and medical condition (which was corrected by major surgery at 4 months after birth). She is very glad she did it. It minimized the trauma for her and the baby. Because the c-section was planned, there was no frenzy. Her consultant did the operation. And yes, she could drive 3 weeks later. No stigma, because she had the C-section in the U.S.

"I have noticed that there is always a group of people who are anti the way you decided to give birth.
The anti c section people
The anti epidural people
The people who are quick to call those who do it with no pain relief martyrs.
People who think homebirths are crazy"

Hmmmm......

So - if you are one of those people who are concerned about the increased rates of intervention associated with epidural birth and you express your thoughts on this issue - does this automatically put you into the 'anti-epidural' camp? Or if you worry about the fact that the c-section rate has nearly doubled in the last 10 years without corresponding decreases in stillbirth - does that put you into the 'anti-c section group'?

Is the only 'politically correct' opinion to have on any of these things is not to have an opinion at all, except to say 'whatever floats your boat'?

I'm all for maternal choice when it comes to mode of birth or pain relief, but anyone who knows anything about the way birth is managed in this country and who cares about the health of women and babies, should have something to say about the unnecessarily awful and dangerous experiences of vaginal birth ending in emergency c-section that so many women are having right now in the UK.

I think it's a very cruddy situation when we can't even discuss our concerns about these things without being labelled as being misogynists (aka madamez's post), or as judgemental towards individual mothers.

I had a crash section with DD and was totally unprepared for it. As others have said I had no idea what the statistics were and so just skimmed over the pages in the pregnancy book and it wasn't even mentioned in out antenatal classes.
As it was by the time it came to the section I didn't give a toss what they did, I just wanted my baby out alive. I am so thankful that we have the option to have c-sections. Years ago my baby and I would probably have died. I had PTSD and PND afterwards and struggled to bond with DD. I had counselling after the birth, once to get over it and again later to enable me to think about trying for another baby.
When it came to having baby 2 I knew that there was no way I could put myself through that level of anxiety and trauma again. So I opted for an "unnecessary" elective section. When people say "too posh to push" it makes me sad, I really believe the number of women who choose to have surgery just to preserve their fanjos is very rare.
A healthy baby and a happy mummy are vital, all this judging over childbirth methods is insane.

Incidentally, the elective section was very calm and lovely. With both I was home on day 3 (couldn't wait to escape - I hate hospitals ) I didn't drive until 5 weeks post-op though as I wasn't confident I could do an emergency stop. Would hate to have an accident and kill someone in my eagerness to be driving again... My insurance company did say it was entirely my decision when I called both times.

I'm 26 weeks with DC2 at the mo and have an elective booked. I know that it's the most sensible thing to do, but have a nagging feeling that I'm copping out. Copping out of what though? My only conclusion is that I feel that I should go through the pain, discomfort and uncertainty of a vaginal birth. Why though?

Yes, I'm sure the recovery is faster and if all goes well, a vaginal birth is better all round, but after a fairly traumatic time last time, ending in an emergency cs - by far the easiest bit of labour - a c section - and a planned one at that with none of the rushing around of the medics, exhaustion on my part after a long labour and worry for DD - feels like the safer option. Even after a difficult time last time with scar problems, my recovery was still easier and quicker than friends who had average times giving birth vaginally.

Im due anytime now (if only baby would listen!) and I'm not anti c-section, Id rather not have one but thats because I am a little freaked out by the cutting (although I cant imagine that V-birth will be much better..) and the post op healing can be a bit painful I've heard.

However I know that things dont always go exactly as planned (both my SILs and a number of friends had emergency C-sections) so i made a point of getting the infomation. Wasn't given a lot in anti-natal classes as the emphasis was on natural birth, however when we got our induction date the consultant explained everything about what they would do and when/why they would do c-section so although its not my first choice I'm happy for it to happen if that means I get baby out ok and Im ok.

I think people can be anti C section because they compare the 'risks' of a C section to the risks of a normal birth (and by that many people assume uncomplicated). Unfortunately, for a lot of us, normal births do go wrong and the ramifications of that can last for years. I'm still not right, 18 months on, still needing treatment etc ... I know other women who have bad vaginal births who have had similar issues, sometimes with problems lasting years afterwards, but never heard of anyone who has problems with a C section lasting years afterwards.

If there's no reason to suspect that you'll have a bad birth, then personally, I'd go for a vaginal birth, but given that that is not your history, I would be looking at my options very carefully. Like you, I had a third degree tear, and personally I would never have another vaginal birth again (but then docs told me I wouldn't have to - too risky).

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

I am personally terrified of being opened up in a dirty NHS hospital by a surgeon that I have never met. Pushing a baby out through my fanjo is scary enough but at least I won't get MRSA that way!

If there are no contra-indications to a vaginal birth, I don't think women should be able to choose a CS unless they pay privately.

Very unreasonable of you. if a woman's surgeon believe she has a legitimate reason for CS (inc fear) then yes she should get it on NHS

Jocesar - if you think pushing a baby out of your fanjo will mean you avoid MRSA, you'd better hope that you don't meet any complications (episiotomy, tears etc.) because believe me, I didn't have a c-section first time around but there was still plenty of cutting and blood!

Plus you're highly unlikely to have met any of the hospital staff attending you in labour full stop, let alone a surgeon (which is what makes hospital births so rubbish - what's the point of having a community midwifery service only to have the continuity of care end abruptly when you go into labour and get treated by hospital midwives who have never seen you before and never will again?)