Elective CS for First DC

[onebyoneNOTfourbyfour]

Maybe I'm being a bit thick or niave here, but can you elect to have a CS for your first baby and if so has anyone here had any experience of how to go about asking for it and how yours went?

I realise I'm opening myself up to a lot of tut-tutting from the natural-birth brigade but frankly am strong enough willed and intelligent to know what I'm doing. There are not medals/awards for having a long, painful, medical intervention free birth. My goal is to have my baby delivered healthily and without any trauma.

Thanks in advance for your input.

What are your reasons? Do you have any medical problems which would indicate the need for a cs?

If you are on the NHS, they will not normally allow an elective cs for a first baby based purely on maternal preference. If you are going private, you could get one but you will have to pay thousands of pounds for the privilege.

You can't choose to have a CS on the nhs - they will only do it if there is a good medical reason as it's not the safest way to deliver a baby and carries more risks than a natural birth.

I am sure everyone's aim is to have a baby delivered safe and well.

Frankly, choosing to have a major operation that you don't need is barmy.

You can't just ask for one because you fancy it.

I had an emergency section and it has impacted on my future life.

I would seriously think about this.

I am not tut tutting, but there is a lot of middle ground between grunting out your dc by moonlight with only some afalafa beans and whale sounds to get you through it, and an elective csection.

You are in the right place to find out about it.

I had an EMCS for my first then a VBAC, and I would say that although a Csection can look good on paper, and is ABSOLUTELY the right choice in some pregnancies, you must realise that the recovery can be an absolute bitch, and more importantly, a vaginal birth tends to be better for both mother and baby.

Labour ends after a day (or several) and yoiu will feel bad afterwards, but a CSection recovery can take more than a month.

I had to have two sections after 3 natural births cos the 3rd labour caused a 3rd degree tear which left me with problems which I still have. The sections were only easier in that I didnt have to go through labour, but the recovery was horrendous, drips, catheters, awful pain, also I haemorraged after one of the sections and was rushed into theatre that night and narrowly avoided a hysterectomy, was badly anaemic after. I would NEVER choose a c section unless I really needed it for medical reasons, it is not risk free and and it will take you a hell of a lot longer to get over than a natural one.

If you are really scared of childbirth, then why not go for a vaginal birth with epidural?
A friend of mine suffered from birth phobia (can't remember the technical name, but it was genuine phobia, not the normal level of fear). She had excellent support from her hospital,extra visits beforehand, a guaranteed epidural as soon as she arrived at hospital in early labour, and so she had a pain free birth without having to go down the csection route.

Statistically a medicalised birth with epidural is still going to be riskier than natural birth, and there will be an increased risk of forceps or ventouse, but it is statistically safer than csection.

If it's the pain you're scared of, it seems a good compromise. Or is it the whole thing about vaginal birth which frightens you?

I was offered an elective cs for my first baby. I had antenatal depression, and was irrationally terrified of something happening to the baby during childbirth.

I saw an ante-natal counsellor throughout the pregnancy. She pointed out that nobody can make you give birth in a way you don't want to. I'm not sure on the rules surrounding this, but i went for an appointment with a consultant to discuss my options. At the end of the appointment, she offered me a cs, and booked me a date which I had the option of cancelling if I decided to go for a natural birth.

However, a growth scan at 38 weeks showed the baby was in a previously undiagnosed breech presentation; the cs option then became a bit of a no-brainer for me.

I will probably get flamed for this, but it's your body, and you know what you want. I still think my body was telling me something TBH.

Whereabouts in the country are you?

I don't blame you for feeling this way OP.
If someone had given me the option of having my DC1 by caesarian before I had him, I would have grabbed it with both hands so to speak. I was petrified. As it was I had a straightforward natural birth with only gas and air for company and had no tears or stitches (my worst fear). I then went and did it all again 2 years later when I had DD.

It's completely normal to be frightened. You need to prepare yourself that's all and remember that you can do it!
I read hypnobirthing books and did yoga classes to prepare myself. I also have a few friends who opted to have an epidural as soon as they arrived at the hospital to minimise the pain. Do what's best for you.

I've had three sections for medical reasons and they worked out really well. But I would say to you ghat a normal vaginal birth is far healthier both physically and emotionally.

You should consider that the actual operation is pretty full on- spinal, catheter, sickness, stomach muscles wrecked.

Also I have numbness in the lower part of my abdomen, a slight over hang, very lumpy tummy - and this with a very fast recovery and nomajor problems.

You might think that we are all 'natural birth' nuts here - we aren't, we are women ewho have been through it ourselves.

I asked for, and got, an elective for my first DC. We have a family history of big babies and complications, I have never regarded natural childbirth with anything other than slight horror, I read yet another article about x% of female ob-gynaes would have a section, I asked my female GP in Fulham about it, expecting to get flamed, and she said put it this way it's the only way I would have one (she had seen too many women with complications). She said that luckily both hospitals in the area would do one (C&W and Princess Charlotte - NB this was 11 years ago) and made me an appointment at the former, where they agreed. Walked out of that apptmt as if a huge weight had been lifted off me! In fact at about 30 weeks I had some bleeding which put me in hospital for 48 hrs and it became clear that it was indeed a big baby and from then on there was no questioning (one of the docs I saw had been a bit sceptical, although his senior had agreed). Section at nearly 39 weeks, 9 pounder (I'm little!), no regrets and went on to have second child that way too.

Made sure I made a generous donation to the hospital afterwards. Its always getting flamed for it's section/intervention rate but as the docs pointed out, they have a particular (older, more unusual cases etc) cohort of mothers. I for one have always been grateful.

I've had 2 c/s for medical reasons and would not recommend it unless it is absolutely necessary - having a baby is stressful and traumatic enough without having an operation at the same time (which carries risks)

I had my first by elective section (NHS) due to my fears of childbirth and possible complications/damage. Should you be serious about requesting one make sure you read as much as you an on the pros and cons of each method and approach your consultant with a reasoned request and be prepared to argue your case. I took DH with me and he was fantastic at backing me up and I don't think I would have got it without him. If your consultant refuses you have the right to a second opinion (I had to do this). My CS was great and I am having another for this child. It's not the right choice for everyone but for me it is and I am well aware that CSs can go wrong just as natural births can.

Good luck - hope you get the birth you want.

I had my first by emergency c-section due to breech presentation. Was an amazing experience, hardly any pain and a quick recovery. No problems breastfeeding or picking up my baby. Really annoys me the way everyone starts banging on about major abdominal surgery and long recovery times - this is not always the case at all, infact I probably had the best birth experience out of all my friends who had natural births who ended up with major tearing etc. If you've thought it through and are aware of all the pros and cons then stick to your guns. You'll have a major fight on your hands though - I am currently 27 weeks pregnant with DS2 and although I am automatically offered a c-section due to having one previously, they still try to push you towards VBAC.

Why should it annoy you Gangle?

You were incredibly lucky. I had to have an emergency section and now can't have any more children so yes, we should bang on about it being major surgery because it is!

It doesn't matter whether it's on the NHS or private. If a consultant deems it necessary, then you should have it.

Be prepared though for their argument that the pain relief for a c section (epidural) is the same if you ask for one.

The women I know who have had c sections (not on an emergency basis) have all had good experiences.

But it is major surgery and this should be taken into account. There is the recovery process in addition to looking after a new baby, so factor this in when making your decision.

1x1 - can you tell us why you want it?

you seem very emotionally removed in your post

My first child was delivered by EMCS after reaching 10cm, because of brow (well chin actually) presentation but I have to say I found it completely untraumatic - I'd go so far to say as I was enjoying the labour until it became clear there was no way he was coming out.

By contrast my elective section with DD (overdue) was very very stressful. BF was no problem, and we were both fine, but I struggled to bond with her for a few days. Major abdominal surgery is no picnic, staying for several days in an inevitably overcrowded postnatal ward with a drip, catheter and drain attached isn't much fun either.

Op disappeared ?

I had an elective C section for my Baby (she is my first)

I had Gestational Diabetes, and at 34 weeks they told me that the baby was measuring 40 weeks. They also said they would induce at 38 weeks because of this and the other complications regarding my diabetes. I went away and thought about it, and after speaking to most of my friends, realised that inductions that early meant emergency section in a lot of cases. (baby wasn't ready, complications etc) I really didn't want an emergency section, and me and DH decided we would ask for elective section anyway. At my last scan at 37 weeks, the baby was lying diagonally anyway, so they agreed to do a section a week later.

My experience was great. OK, I won't pretend that being given a spinal, sliced open, stitched up and long recovery time was a walk in the park, but the hospital did their best to make the experience a positive one.

After I was stitched up and DD was checked over by a midwife (and Daddy) I was taken into a delivery room and given skin to skin contact with her for as long as I wanted, and the (frankly outstanding) midwife there helped me get her latched on and got us comfortable. They treated me well and with dignity the whole time, and as soon as I could be taken off the monitoring equipment, I was wheeled up to the post natal ward where I had my own room. What happened up on the post-natal ward wasn't very nice for me (issues with DD's blood sugar, and a threatening SCBU nurse who told me she would be taken to special care unit if I didn't allow her a formula feed due to her blood sugar and my milk not being fully established) - thats another story though.

I was in hospital from Sunday afternoon (for glucose and insulin monitoring) I had DD on the Monday afternoon, and they let me us go home Wednesday afternoon.

Sometimes, I do think to myself that maybe I should have tried to have her naturally (had ECV to turn her, and gone with the induction) but I love her so much and now she is 13 months old, the way she got here isn't important anymore. She is here, she is happy and she is healthy.

All this was done on the NHS. They were fantastic. (although I work for them too so biased ) My follow up care was brilliant at home, and I certainly wouldn't feel sad or cheated if I had to do it again.

But like above posters have said, It IS major surgery, and there are risks involved. In fact, I was terrified prior to the section, and came here for advice. I was convinced something bad would happen to me or the baby. However, the surgery itself for me, was good. The consultant and the anaestetist (sp?) were quite jolly and put us at ease.

I hope that whatever you decide, or whatever happens for the birth of your baby, that its a good experience for you. And your baby.

Oh, and she was 8lb 4, so the measurement of her was wrong all along

I had an elective in October for non medical reasons. I made sure I was well informed of the risks/benefits of what I was asking for and was very pleasantly surprised as to how understanding the consultant and his team were. I was asked to discuss my concerns with a consultant midwife which they termed a counselling session, which I of course did and thankfully also got her full support.
My section was straightforward, I was out of bed indipendantly mobile the same day and out of hospital after two night.No drips drains or complications.
I was very lucky to have such understanding health care professionals but believe it was because I was well informed and realistic (even if they agree you can still go into labour before your op date) that made the difference.
I'm in London and had my perfect baby in Paddington queen Mary's NHS hospital.

Do you have a phobia OP ?
Scout, why did you want on ? Did you have a phobia ?

I had two electives. Bloody marvellous. Negotiated the date with the consultant to allow for dh's birthday party for 2nd one and a lie in the following morning. All v civilised and lovely drugs.

Oh, and was up and about the same afternoon (took two days with second)

I don't go into detail as to my reasons for requesting an elective even with rl people as they are personal but no, no phobia as such.
It was the right decision for me and the best thing I ever did.

I had an elective section privately, but I was basically told by the consultant that I would have got one even on the NHS due to my complete horror of natural childbirth.

As others have said above, it's the best decision I ever made. And of course, as others here have pointed out, there are risks, but there are also very serious risks to vaginal birth and I know of two particularly horrific cases, which I won't repeat here for fear of scaring anyone.

My consultant (who works mainly on the NHS) also basically admitted to me that he thought elective c-section was, on balance, the safer option and the only reason the NHS put up such a fight in these cases of maternal preference was for cost reasons.

Both natural birth and c-sections have risks and benefits but for this reason, it should be up to each individual woman how she gives birth. It's an absolute disgrace that women have to 'beg' for c-sections in this country.

If your goal is to have the baby delivered healthily and without any trauma then research shows that vaginal birth is the best option.