How do i get a c-section?

[singleteenagemum]

I know this probably sounds really stupid, but i really want a caesarean, how do i go about getting an elective one?
What's the process for it all? am i just plain stupid wanting one?
HELP!!

[womba1]

Kelly1978... i became greatly attached to my catheta too! I had an emergency c/s and the thought of being able to pee whenever was absolute heaven. When the midwife eventually came to remove it, i begged her not too... the drudgery of having to visit the loo was just too much for me to handle!!

[Flossam]

Reassurance RE hereditoryness! My mum - 2 day labour. Stopped dilating - emergency cesearian. Me 10lbs 6!!!

Me, contractions started about half 4, hopsital at quarter to nine, DS born with gas and air at 11.15 same evening, at a far more pleasant 7lbs7.

[Flossam]

Mears, you with your vagina's and me not spelling hospitals - we'll be being accused of being trolls next

[gigglinggoblin]

my cousin has 4 kids - 1st was emergency caesarean after hours of labour not working, 2nd and 3rd were elective caesareans and 4th ended up being a caesarean, but only after she tried for a vaginal birth. so not everyone prefers caesareans after having one.

i dont think you are going to know until the time comes, and lets face it, if vaginal birth was that bad, all of us with more than 1 kid would have had caesareans for 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc - but most of us havent

[Tissy]

stm, you say, "think that i need to be able to consider all options fairly and make my own decisions without midwifes and doctors telling me what i can and can't do with my own body and with the way my baby comes out of me"

yes, you should be given all information you need to make a decision,if a decision has to be made, BUT I don't agree that you have a RIGHT to an elective section, for no other reason than that you want one. You are lowering the obstetricians who perform these major abdominal operations to the status of birth technicians (my own term). With good midwifery, most babies can be born without intervention being necessary, that should be your right, analgesia as required, yes you can have that in my ideal world, but an elective section? No.

BTW, I have had an elective section for a medical reason, there is no way my baby would have been born without it, and without intervention, we probably both would have died. It is not an "option"- it is a medical treatment. Yes I know plenty of celebrity Mums have elective sections done for a variety of reasons, but you can't expect the same kind of treatment on the NHS, when we have limited resources. Sorry.

[vickiyumyum]

i don't think that you are stupid for wanting a section, just scare dof the unknow, which is perfectly understandable!
i have had 2 sections first emergency and the second elective for breech ( was absolutley gutted at the time as was desperate to do it naturally!)
what i have a problem with is people saying i have paid so much into the nhs, why can't i choose! it really isn't that simple as oatcakes (hiya!!) said earlier your taxes, national insurance are divided amongst a great number of agencies and a minimal amount goes to the nhs.
Why not approach birth with an open mind, give it a go having seen quite a few births now as a studen midwife, i would say that a fair number of the mums who were scared of giving birth, who ended up with vaginal deliveries, said that it wasn't anywhere near as bad as they thought it might be.
with regards to pain relief, i wasn't quite sure what you meant by having a spinal block. i assume that is for a c-section as they wouldn't give you a spinal block for a vaginal delivery.
i alos believe in that having a section for your first delivery limits your future options including factors as to how many sections you could/should have.

[vickiyumyum]

celebrity mums argument really doens't come into it, because tehy all pay for private treatment and so are not costing the nhs money. (hope you agree tissy)

[homemama]

I think it comes down to the fact that you have to choose the best route for you. It's not going to do you or baby any good if you come away feeling that you didn't get the birth you wanted.

Having said that, I'm quite shocked to see how many of you were happy with a recovery time of two or three days! My main reason for wanting a vag. birth was recovery time.
An hour after he was born, I was up, showered, dressed and downstairs getting some fresh air whilst I phoned everyone I knew. (DS was asleep in DH's arms upstairs) I wanted to go to tescos to get choccies for MW but they wouldn't let me.
They said it was policy for first timers to stay over night even tho DS had been given the all clear.

[Tissy]

vickiyumyum, yes I agree the celebrity mums don't cost the NHS anything, but they do a lot of harm by giving the impression that is "normal" to have an elective section, so some non-celebrities seem to expect the same!

As mears said lower down the thread the decision to remove the baby surgically (perhaps that is what it should be called!) is and should be made on medical grounds, not cost grounds. Some people get elective sections for severe psychological reasons- I'm fine with that, as long as they accept the risks (of which there are several, ranging from minor to severe). I had a spinal for my section, and still have a numb patch on one of my heels where the extremely experienced Consultant Anaesthetist managed to prang one of my the nerves in my back!

[singleteenagemum]

i think we've got totally off the point here, and that's totally my fault.

I think instead of judging someone for wanting a delivery that is not the norm, isn't right, but appears to be what most of you are doing.

I'm not being funny about the NHS and that was merely a blow away comment.

I really wish i hadn't asked now.

[Tissy]

I don't understand your comment, stm.

You say you want an elective caesarean section,

"it;s not the pain i'm worried about it's just, well i don't really know what it is, just know that i won't be able to cope i suppose."

My point (which I think is pertinent)was that you shouldn't get an elective section on the NHS just because you want one. You clearly need a lot more information and input from midwives to make you feel confident that you body can cope with the physiological process of birth. Intervention should be there if you need it.

BTW, I'm not getting at you for appearing to demand an elective section as your right; we have had threads on here in the past which have got inlammatory with people arguing both sides of this question. I work for the NHS (not in this field though), and do get pretty sniffy if people come along, having done a bit of research into their condition on the the internet and try to tell me my job!.

[mancmum]

I knew that we would get stick for this you have a right to have the birth you want - and stuff what every one else thinks it is your birth and your memories and your child -- go with what you want...

[vickiyumyum]

forgive me if i am wrong, but i am assuming from your nickname that you are a teenager (by this i mean someone aged 16-19), if you feel that you are not getting enough support from your midwife or you just feel that she doesn't understand there are plenty of groups out there that are there to support teenage mums through pregancy, birth and beyond. they give you realistic information about pros/cons for pain relif birth etc. they can put you in touch with specialist midwives (it may be worth checking with your hospital as to wheter they have a teenage pregancy or surestart midwife). i think that what you need is good unbiased realistic information, forget th friends/relatives who want to give you horror stories and get informed.
ask yourself some questions, ehat is it exactly that you are scared of, write questios down to ask the midwife/parent craft teacher. use books and reputable websites.
i suppose the thing that puzzles me the most about your question is your 2 completley different birth options. c-section or water birth? if you feel that you would behappy with a water birth discuss this as well, most places you can have a water birth, but if the pain becomes to much you can get out of the pool and have more pain relief, at the end of the day we all have been there and none of us truly knew what it would be like before we did it.

[Rochwen]

STM, I'm glad you asked because I'm in a similar situation.

I want an elective c/s and I've already have my appointment with a consultant in two weeks time. I'm really worried he's going to refuse. How do I get him to agree? When people say 'you'll have a fight on your hands' what do they mean? How do I fight this out? Is there a chance I can win? Do I need legal support?

BTW, I read an article which states that 2/3 of female consultants would opt for an elective c/s instead of a vaginal birth. Also, in Germany and Switzerland you can choose the birth you want whether it's a homebirth or a c/s. As for cost I read that a c/s costs £ 750 more than a 'straight-forward' vaginal birth, so I reckon that a long complicated vaginal birth with all the drugs going, instruments and stitching surely must cost the same than a c/s, no?

I also can't understand how you can force a woman to go through labour and a vaginal birth if she is totally terrified of it and doesn't want it, I mean birthing does take some input from the mother, doesn't it?

[mancmum]

Rochwen you need to plan what you are going to say put down your thoughts on paper and make sure you are very clear why you want a section I did this and got what I wanted... some obstretricians more open minded I found my female one far more easy going about it (having had 2 deliveries herself in the previous 5 years) than the 60-odd year old male who would have let me give birth in a field as according to him it was "not that painful.."

Not sure about legal grounds but I found it achievable so I hope you do to-- I too read the stats about the number of female docs who want sections... must mean something!!

[vickiyumyum]

i think a lot of the decision lays witht eh consultant and the nhs trust. sad as that may seem that someone can take away such an importnat decision form you.
i think that you need to go in fully aware of the facts, foget the argument about costs, most consultants will be concerned about recovery times, possible complications, they will also like to see that you are in reasonable health and shape a ther are added complications with certain illnesses/ health issues, and complications to do with being overweight, if i remeber correctly from a lecture we had on the subject one of the main reasons women die during or as a result of section is due to obesity.
i would go in with research from articles such as the british medical journal, lancet, british journal of midwifery, nice guidelines, royal college of obs and gynae, not tresearch that you found on a website, thats credentials hadn't been checked moast of the above are avaliable online and at your local library.

[Rochwen]

I was told by a friend to refuse to leave the room until they have given me a date and a written guarantee that, should I go into labour early, I will still get my section. I just hope I have the guts on the day.

Any other advice?

[vickiyumyum]

that becasue they are doctora and not midwives, therfore they only normally become involoved in birth when it becomes complicated so they don't have a true picture of what is happening out there. they don't get to see the staright forward vaginal deliveries, they just get called in for section/ventouse/forceps/stitiching of third degree tears etc.

[muppety]

With ds1 I had a long second stage and ventouse, episiotomy and his shoulders got stuck. Consultant recommended a section with ds2 as he was bigger. It was in my opiniopn a much more scary experience than labour. Recovery is taking a long time and it has put me off a further pregnancy so please think carefully!

[kid]

I was insistent the 1st time round that I wanted a section. I was encouraged to have a trial labour and see how it went. I did have the trial labour and it was ok. I had gas and air and an epidural after about 15 hours. I really am a wimp and I found it bearable.

2nd time round, I was able to ask for a section as they thought I could end up needing one anyway (due to presentation of first baby)

I personally would go with your DR/MW advice, speak to them about what it is that bothers you the most. They have probably helped lots of people in the same position as you.

[Fimbo]

I have had two sections. First one because dd was breech and it was a breeze. Second was elective because by then we were living in England, having moved from Scotland and whilst I had friends, I didn't really know anyone well enough to phone them up in the middle of the night to ask them to mind dd. The consultant was really nasty to me and told me that I couldn't have a section for "social reasons" and I would have to find someone to look after dd. I started to get really tearful (pg hormones!) and dh took over and said my mind was made up and eventually she agreed. Thats when my problems started, I had a combined spinal block/epidural - the epidural went in at the wrong place and I was left with a spinal headache. Despite ani-sickness pills, I threw up during the op, after the op and continued to do so for a week. A lot more happened as well but I don't want to scare you, just share my story, c-sections are not always the easier option.

[triceratops]

I was frightened of labour the first time round and thought that cs would be easier. I went for a natural birth because I was convinced it would be better for the baby. I had a great birth experience it was quick and not too painful or scary. I was home within a hour and felt fine the next day.

Now I am pg with no 2 I am terrified again in case it doesn't happen as easily this time around. I hope you manage to find the confidence to let your body do this amazing thing. However if you really are terrified I hope that you get all the help that you need including a cs if necessary.

[singleteenagemum]

Rochwen - i'm glad i'm not the only one out there...thanks for speaking up.

i have already spoken to midwife, she just wasn't very open to discussion about anything. Seemed to have more important stuff on her mind.

Got my 28week scan tomorrow and will see a mw at the hosp then and she if she can give me any advice.

Rochwen - just a quickie, why is it you want a c-section?

Vicki - i understand what your saying, but there aren't as many support groups available as you may think. We all get told to see your mw,who tells you to ring another support group who then says this is really a matter to discuss with mw...it;s a vicious circle and noone wants to know regardless of age.

[singleteenagemum]

Rochwen - i'm glad i'm not the only one out there...thanks for speaking up.

i have already spoken to midwife, she just wasn't very open to discussion about anything. Seemed to have more important stuff on her mind.

Got my 28week scan tomorrow and will see a mw at the hosp then and she if she can give me any advice.

Rochwen - just a quickie, why is it you want a c-section?

Vicki - i understand what your saying, but there aren't as many support groups available as you may think. We all get told to see your mw,who tells you to ring another support group who then says this is really a matter to discuss with mw...it;s a vicious circle and noone wants to know regardless of age.