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.

Thank you Bellisima I believe everyone has a right to their own choice of birth and I do agree qwith you re: the irony of women (only some) on MN that I've come across - adamant that they get their choice of birth, that being a homebirth or water or whatever it may be because their birth plan should be their choice... yet they have no problem criticising women who want a c section as their choice of birth.

Sorry many would say it's not "criticising" but "advising" or even, "just giving the facts"
But... as you've pointed out - there are facts to support both choices. Women should be able to choose. Some women thrive on the natural birth experience... others quite simply, do not. I think it's really hard for people who have had amazing births and loved every minute of a vaginal birth/homebirth/no pain relief whatever it may be... it's hard for some to understand that not everyone feels the same or will feel the same. I have difficulty wrapping my head around someone who doesn't like chocolate and often think, well, if they just tried the M&S mint truffle bar, they'd know how lovely it can be . But if someone doesn't like chocolate, they just don't! Everyone is different. No one has any problems saying "every baby is different" well, adults are, too.

stripeyknickers I was offered the counselling you're talking about. I did it. I read books about birthing, had amazing support here on MN but was still terrified. I was absolutely horrified when I went in for the first internal examination after my waters broke. The nurse who examined me looked and said "stop acting like a little girl " I hadn't even started contractions yet at that point. When the ctx came 10 minutes later I kept referring to the note in my file from the dr saying I should have a cs and begging for it. They kept saying no .
I only hope that the 4 midwife shifts that I went through made them all wish they had just given me the damn cs .

for you starexpat with that "little girl" comment. My midwife with my first said something really stupid to me too and I will never foget it.

Well, I wanted to say good luck with whatever you decided and stick to your guns.

I do feel compelled also to mention that despite having a large baby, ventouse, forceps and stitches I am in no way incontinent.

But thanks for that

I'm not incontinent, either. But I think I'd rather be incontinent than traumatized. It took about 5 months of counseling for me to even consider sex again. Every time dh even got close to me in that sort of way I'd have these horrid flashbacks of people holding me down for the internal exams during the birth. I've come a long way, but I don't htink it will ever be the same again.

Have had an lllbs baby, and two over 9lbs (including my first), one forceps birth, one three day labour, one postnatal haemorrhage and one incidence of shoulder dystocia. All vaginal births. How complicated a birth is doesn't necessarily impact on how you feel about it afterwards. I came away from my births feeling very empowered and euphoric. And I'm not incontinent either!

Bellisima - the RCOG guidelines on CS (which draw on a range of good quality evidence) don't support the view that planned CS is safer for low risk mothers or their babies. I also assume the Canadian study you refer to doesn't factor in the increased risks to subsequent babies born after c-section (who are more at risk from placental problems because of pre-existing uterine scarring).

Not making a case that everyone should be forced to have a vaginal birth, if they feel strongly that it's not right for them!

Hmm, tricky one OP. I was definitely scared of VB in first pregnancy because of all the horror stories I'd heard but I did a lot of research on natural birth, had a detailed birth plan, and just decided to see it as a challenge and try as far as possible for a straightforward, natural birth without interventions.

Then I went 10 days overdue, ended up having a long, failed, induction and finally, 2 days later, an EMCS. I'm now 31 weeks pregnant and have booked ELCS for this baby.

Having said all that, I'm still a bit doubtful about my decision because even though, for various reasons, my chances of a VBAC aren't that good (I barely dilated at all last time despite everything they threw at it).

Yes, there are difficult natural births but I now know a lot of people who've had great, straightforward VBs with no lasting damage and no trauma. That includes home births, managed births with epidurals, even induced births. And I know people who've had serious problems with C-Sections - one had an accidental 'nick' to her bladder during surgery and therefore had to have a further operation.

Also my recovery from EMCS wasn't great. My stitches came open, were patched up again but ultimately took a long time to heal. I also had real problems with BF and DD ended up being mix-fed. And whilst I've more or less avoided the 'overhang' so far, I'm sure I'll get one next time and it definitely messes with your stomach muscles long-term in a way that VB doesn't seem to. So another CS is not a decision I've taken at all lightly.

I think the fact that this is likely to be your only DC makes a real difference actually and would imagine your other reasons for favouring a CS would be taken seriously and wish you the very best with your decision/birth. I've really just put all that down to try and explain why some people see it as an odd decision.