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!!

STM, NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) produced a report of C-Sections a year or so ago, which is here . This is now the "official" guidance to NHS consultants etc, and it is worth reading (or at least skimming). It does state that whilst maternal choice should be taken into consideration, a clinician can turn down a request based solely on maternal request (though should put forward for a second opinion).

Totally not relevant for this thread, but I was interested to note that the infant mortality rate for VBACs was almost 10 times that for repeat sections! I've never seen that statistic on the VBAC vs CS debates.

Oh and plastic shoes and cold soup-what's that all about???

homemama - which is exactly my point as well as mears, oatcake and several others and as i'd made a point of asying in my last few posts.

The head/pelvis thing is why human babies are so helpless at birth (and for so long afterwards) we would never give birth "naturally" to a baby with a fully developed human brain.

FWIW, I'm pro-choice wrt birth method but I do have reservations about c-sections performed without medical reason (and I include severe maternal fear as a medical reason). Mainly because of the (supposed) extra cost over a vaginal birth and the strain this puts on the NHS although I have no figures to back this up.

So how exactly is it 'helpful' to tell a woman who comes to this website asking how to get a section to be told that in various people's opinion she shouldn't be allowed to have one. Now that really does baffle me.

I think apart from anything it is a major operation and it does knock you about. I know after my first section (which was an emergency) I was in pain for days after, even weeks. It really does take a long time 'to get back to normal' My secong section was planned and i did find iut easier, but you still have 'afterpains' like you would with a vaginal birth and tbh the first day after the section you feel like you have been run over by a bus. Its a struggle to even lift yourself off the bed to tend to your baby

It's helpful to help her make an informed decision. Whatever that decision may be, it shouldn't be based on fear, ignorance or condemnation of any kind.

That's just the way threads develop though isn't it? It gets to the point where it's too late to remove the spur-discussion off to another thread.

It's not fair for her to be told that a c-section is evil OR that a vaginal birth is barbaric.

I was just being honest. i went through the whole of the labour with my first baby and she got stuck in the birth canal, this is why i needed a section. i wouldnt say it is the 'easier' option at all. it hurts like hell

A bit OT:

Did anyone watch the 'Panorama' programme about pregnancy and childbirth in Africa yesterday?

It was really really horrible and they did state that pregnancy and childbirth complications are the biggest (yes bigger than poverty, AIDS, or wars) killer of women aged 12 until 49 in Africa. The interesting fact was that they could have saved most of the women (and babie !!!) if they only had had the technology, medical training and blood supplies to give them c/s.

In that programme it certainly didn't look like we women were beautifully designed for pregnancy and birth.

On a personal note, I don't know what I will do if my request for a c/s gets denied.

I will feel helpless, angry, let down and absolutely terrified.

Good way to start motherhood, isn't it. PND here I come !

I'm sure you will get one Rochwen. It will be OK. Let us know what happens.
Of course giving birth isn't as pleasant as having a nice glass of wine however the baby comes out, but if you feel so certain then yes, I don't think anyone could think a vaginal birth would be better for you, no matter how fanatical they are. Good luck.

Rochwen - I am sure you will get a C/S as you have looked at the issue and have made an informed decision. If your request is denied, change to a different consultant. Not all consultants have the same views.

hi singleteenmum..havent read whole thread...just wanted to say that when pg with ds i thought c sec seemed better option and i wouldnt cope with labour etc..also had spd at the time and went 14days over due. However i was induced with ds and had him vaginally with little difficulty. When i went to the ward the girl opposite me had her daughter by c sec and all i can say is that for the amount of pain she was in for the following 3 days i was relieved the mw hadnt listened to my pleas for c sec. I could walk around etc while the poor lady had to call mw to feed her daughter etc as she couldnt move due to pain.

meant to add that i then told them by no means would i be giving birht without an epidural...when it came to the crunch i had gas n air and diamorphine once labour was soo much different to what i expected that 5mins after i told dh i would do it again...obviously nowhere near as bad as pre empted..lol

meant to add that i then told them by no means would i be giving birht without an epidural...when it came to the crunch i had gas n air and diamorphine once labour was soo much different to what i expected that 5mins after i told dh i would do it again...obviously nowhere near as bad as pre empted..lol

exactly nemo, i'm sure that that is exactly what most of us are trying to get out, other posters asked for opinions which were given and in no means meant as judging stm. information was given on where to get help/info and some other posters just had abee in their bonnet!
anyway enough said about that i really can't be bothered to waste any more time arguing with some of the narrow minded opinions on this thread.
i wish stm good luck and hope she gets all the help and info you need.

scooting swiftly around the argument...i would have to say that personally i wouldnt chose a cs. ive had two. the first one was unavoidable and the second i asked for. i asked for the second as things were going pear shaped and i didnt feel i could trust the hospital after what happened the first time...thats very sad but how it was. theres nothing i would have wanted more than a vaginal birth and 18 months on i could still cry about it sometimes. so think very carefully before you do this stm. make sure it is what you really want or you could regret it. good luck in what you decide.

well all i can say is that before I had my DS I was reluctant to have a CS but I had to have one due to emergency and I will have my next one that way too....I recovered the next day with a cs and I was walking about. Post op. pain was not as bad as labour pain....as I was in normal labour for 8 hours before the CS and was on Gas and air only. The hospital and midwife were great not to mention DH and my mom. I will definately opt for a cs next time round.

STM ~ there is risk with every medical proceedure..be it vaginal delivery or CS. People who think having vaginal delivery is without risk are naive and have no medical basis or evidence base when saying so. Yes it is a 'natural' process but like a CS, has its risks. Millions of women have vaginal delivery and are fine but millions of women have CS and are also fine. Its YOUR choice YOUR bady YOUR baby. Just ignore any ignorant people who think they know it all and can scare you. Giving birth is a risk in itself and if you believe in God then pray you and your baby are healthy no matter which route you choose.

I tried my hardest not to have a caesarean (non medical term - Section makes it too mad sounding) as I think that everyone should be able to give birth vaginally. I have now had one emergency and two elective (not that I elected to have them) caesareans.

Saying that though emergency ones are the worse. With labour pain you go through it before hadn and then it's mostly over when you get to hold your baby with a casarean you are drugged and laid flat for hours - not good for holding, bonding or breastfeeding!

Amanda (NCT Hants NE casearean birth group coordinator and bfc trainee)

STM, I'm sorry your thread has turned into an arguement. You've received advice which tells you how to get a section if you feel that is the right decision for you. One thing I hope you take from this thread is the point that people have made about not knowing how you will cope during labour and that you might cope very well, but obviously won't know until you try.

I've had 2 emergency sections but have gone through labour both times - with my first I had 4 days of contractions and 3 hours of pushing before getting whipped off to theatre for a section as she was stuck. I can honestly say that although my labour was obviously painful, the pain wasn't the worst bit (I'd rather have that than the pain I'm getting from gallstones any day!), it was the tiredness that really got me due to the length of time I was having contractions. Having said both my sections were fine, though the recovery time was a nuisance with a young baby that I would rather have avoided if I could. Good luck with your decision.