Hi All,
Seeing lots of threads about women worried about giving birth or who have had traumatic births previously and are worried about a subsequent birth.
I'm not going to try to talk anyone out of requesting an elcs, I can absolutely see why many women would want that.
I just wanted to add, there are other options. I do think support is critical and I have supported quite a few women in this scenarion now (in all sorts of situations, from previous abuse and mental health problems, to EMCS, third degree tears, forceps under general anaesthetic and PTSD).
Having someone who is there for you, without fail to provide whatever you need, pre birth, during, and post birth (and your partner too) can make such a difference.
There are lots of ways to help make labour pain manageable and to help labour progress and shift malpositioned babies and if you have an experienced woman there with you, every step of the way (I have been with women from first twinge, as long as it takes)
Please do consider thinking about a doula, you can find info and doulas local to you at-
www.doula.org.uk/
I work in Public health at a university and there is real hard evidence that having a doula or experienced woman can shorten your labour and make you less likely to need augmentation, CS etc
I'm not trying to say you should subject yourself to more trauma or psychological damage and elcs may really be the way forward for you, but there are options.
You can read birth stories of some of the women I have supported here
Selina x