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!!

[aloha]

Yes, that's probably because it can kill you.

[homemama]

STM, whilst you have to choose what is best for you, I am always shocked at the number of women who would rather be cut open than give birth through a 'ready made exit'.
I was way more terrified at the idea that I might need a c-section than at the prospect of a vaginal birth.

[singleteenagemum]

it's probably a bit more of a traumatic experience as well...afterall we get lumbered with the outcome of these 'procedures' for the rest of our lives. We should be allowed the same right to choice as every other person in hospital, or don;t they want they popualtion to grow anymore, they just want it to become steadily aged!

oatcake not agreeing with you at all, you seem to be very narrow minded and not able to see things from others point of view. In terms of maternity care we are the same as everyone else - in hospital for treatment of some sort, whether it been surgical or not, either way the lives of two human beings are in the hands of these 'professionals' and thus we should be treated with extra care rather than less.

[flix]

I had a caesarian as my dd was breech and was not prepared for how painful it was. I was out of action for weeks, luckily my mum was in the country to help. All the mums who had natural chilbirths were bouncing around looking healthy, alittle tired. Whereas I was completely worn out, trying to deal with a new baby and recover from this op. Plus the hospitals in the UK are not that nice, I discharged myself after 3 days as it was dirty and the staff were rude and unhelpful, ruined what should have been ajoyful time. Please carefully consider your decision to have caesarian, labour is painful for a day whereas after a caesar you are in pain for a lot longer than 1 day.

[oatcake]

so can crossing the road aloha!

please don't tell me that childbirth can kill. I'm well aware of that as a senior midwifery student, who's currently got her nose into the confidential enquiry into maternal deaths...

[aloha]

Shocked???
What with all the suffering in the world, brutal torture going on right now with the collaboration of our own elected government, etc etc etc and you are 'shocked' that some women would prefer a civilised, painless birth? How odd.

[nutcracker]

I have had 3 sections. The first was an elective but I didn't have a choice in it as baby was breech.
The second was an emergency section as baby was in distress and then I had to have a 3rd section.

IMO you should only be given a section of you need one for a medical reason.

At the end of the day it is a major operation, can limit the number of kids you can have and has a long recovery period.

I would have given my right arm to have been able to have a normal delivery.

[aloha]

And please don't patronise me Oatcake. Childbirth is a serious business. It can kill you. I am sick of being told 'your body is made for childbirth'.

[aloha]

Come on, someone explain to me why people are so very keen to deny other people their choice?

[Rochwen]

Oatcake, would you like my SPD for a day? See if you still feel 'healthy'.

[janinlondon]

Don't want to get involved in this argument, but it may help you to quote Lancet 1996;347:544 (Al-Mufti et al) and Lancet 2001;357:722 (Gabbe and Holzman). I don't think the Lancet could be called a source of "urban myth".

[oatcake]

please chose your words wisely. I am not narrow minded but I apologise if I come across to you as being so.

You do NOT automatically go into hospital for treatment when you walk into the labour suite.

And, again, the women I have the priviledge of being with during their birth, and their infants are my total priority.

[aloha]

as long as they don't want a section, eh?

[motherinferior]

It's also not necessarily the case that labour is 'just a day' or that you get over it quickly. After my first (instrumental, vaginal) birth I spent a couple of weeks feeling as if I'd been kicked in the stomach by a horse, and necking down the painkillers.

I am, for me, a fan of vaginal birth, as it happens - for some reason which still escapes me, I decided to have my second baby at home. But I think it's far too glib to say 'pregnancy isn't an illness'; plenty of us spend nine months feeling absolutely appalling, even before going into labour.

[homemama]

As I mentioned, the choice is hers. I am shocked because I can't see why anyone would opt for surgery they didn't need.
Labour is painful but it only lasts a day or so and most women's bodies are physically able to cope.
I certainly disagree that it's more civilised.
Also, I am allowed to be shocked at elec. sections and still reserve some shock for the likes of Mugabe etc.

[motherinferior]

Mine was around two or three days, Homemama.

[singleteenagemum]

why is it midwives or midwifery students, senior or not! seem to think they are better than us that aren't. Surely we each know our bodies better than anyone else and shouldn't be told by these women/men who think they know best. We are told to take our pregnancy as it comes, not to feed too much off other peoples experiences becasue ours is likely to be toally different...so how can they give appropriate advice when they don't know them selves how it;s all going to turn. I don;t have anything against mw's just against people who seem to think they know better than me about something happening to my body, yes they may have seen it before but should look at it case by case and not undermine people that want something they don't personally agree with.

[nutcracker]

What if they say no STM ??

[aloha]

Why on earth are you 'shocked' though. What on earth is shocking about it?
I just don't get all this shock and outrage. You do your thing, and let others do theirs. It doesn't affect you if I have a section!

[aloha]

And you can't disagree that I found my section far, far, far more civilised than writhing around like an animal in a trap. You can say you feel differently, but that's a different issue altogether.

[oatcake]

better than you? certainly not. seen more obstetric stuff than you? probably.

There's too much vitriol going on now.

Let's just say never the twain will meet.

[singleteenagemum]

i might not even ask for a c-section yet. I'm not toally set on one. I want to consider all my options and believe that an elective should be an option. I;ve got plans for either having one or not.

[homemama]

MI, I had latent first stage lasting 3 days. Not too painful til last day tho.
Also had hyperemisis for 4mths then SPD too so not an easy pregnancy.

[aloha]

Singleteenmum, you may have an OK birth, you may not. I'm not saying you 'should' have any particular kind of birth. Look into your options. But in the end it has to be your business.