C-sections aren't all bad, surely?

[newbiemummy1]

Hi there,

I'm newly pregnant and just found this site and thought I'd jump in at the deep end and ask a question about childbirth!

I'm pregnant with my first and have been reading up on all sorts of births. From what I can tell a straightforward vaginal birth is optimal for mother and baby. I have read that c-sections carry an 80% lower risk for oxygen deprivation though - isn't that quite a high figure???

It's just I know a few people in RL who are snooty about c-sections but to me I can't understand how they can be so submissive when they obviously can be better than some natural births.

Just wondered what it was all about really? I'm sensing some people get a bit competitive about this kind of thing? The whole world of competitive mothering scares me a lot!!

That's interesting, thanks eidsvold.

Anyway, I'm off to bed now, thanks for the answers!

OP, I was worried about this aspect of the NCT too - I was expecting our antenatal teacher to be some hairy-armpitted hippy, but in fact the classes just served to furnish us with the facts (pros & cons) of the various options without trying to force us down a particular route. I remember a discussion about home births, and we all just looked at the teacher and said "er...no thank, move on.....".

But it meant that when I was in labour and the midwife suggested drugs I KNEW what she was on about and could make a decision based on knowledge, not just rely on her to make a decision.

Night, newbiemummy. And good luck, whatever you decide - it's the next eighteen years you should really be worried about!

I have had 2 ELCS by choice - they both wonderful and I have 2 wonderful children. It was definitely the right choice for me. I recovered very quickly and didn't even have any help at home after 2DC birth.
There are pros and cons to both CS and VB but I do think that although a CS is major surgery the majority of people having ELCS seem to have a positive (and safe) experience.

With an emergency section my first child would be in a box in the ground.

Because I have had a section previously my last child and I nearly were in a box in the ground.

All very emotive.

A c section is a major operation and the repercussions don't end once the operation is over, they can stay with you for a long long time.

With a vaginal birth there is the risk you could tear badly or the baby could get injured if stuck badly.

Without an emergency section...

Interesting to see how some posters have piled into the OP without bothering to find out why she thinks she is likely to need a C-section. Not every C-section is caused by a mismanaged over-medicalised birth. Just because something is statistically common it does not mean it is going to be the case for every single person. It seems there are special considerations with pain management in this case, and that's just one of those things you have to factor into your calculations.

I was not stressed at all with either of my births, but one ended in C-section because the baby turned out not to be very well. I don't suppose a pool of water and a few candles would have changed that. Sometimes you just have to work with what you get.

As it so happened, I recovered very quickly after my caesarian, but tore badly during my vaginal labour (dd's head got stuck) and took nearly a year to recover. But that's just one person's experience.

There is also always the [possibility that the OP doesn't NEED a section but may just WANT a section. Not everyone is after a drug free VB.

Hello again!!

Just to clarify - I'm not saying that I think I'll end up needing an emergency c-section - more that I would prefer to be in a situation where I have a planned section than one where a vaginal birth goes awry and there is damage to the baby and me.

Newbiemummy - exacty where I was coming from and exactly my reason for not attempting a VB - luckiy for me my sections have been great. (and I know where I'd rather have stitches!)

I disagree with StarOfValkyries overgeneralisation that natural births "..are far far far better" for mother an baby. This is obviously the case in totally uncomplicated situations, however, where there might be complications, this is not at all true. I had an ecs after trying to naturally deliver my little girl for 2-3 hours. Her heart rate and distress levels were increasing during this time. As it happens she was in the very awkward back to back position and just could not be moved down. I tried positions that are recommended for back-to-back but none of these worked. Finally we had to rush to theatre for a section (tried forceps first, but she could not be turned). In her case a c-section would not have been my preferred option, but I am convinced that it was by far the safest way of delivering my baby in the end; and consequently by far the better option in this case.

Like eidsvold i have not found the recuperation a major problem (so far anyway!). I was discharged after two nights and have been doing a little walking since day 4 post-birth. In the short term you do end up a lot less mobile than those with vaginal births, which is a bit frustrating - though no tearing is a bonus! I did have a lovely healthy baby and i don't think she minded how she arrived too much.

So, i guess i think that c-sections are a real saviour in many situations, though unfortunatley you often don't know whether a c-section is your best option until labour begins. I can understand why you might want to consider a section from the outset, but if it is just out of fear or anxiety, i would suggest that you look into hypnobirthing and yoga etc., because labour does not have to be scary... challenging but not really scary . But if you find yourself in complicated situation, e.g. breech, the c-section is the way to go. I have to say, though i laboured mostly with gas and air or no pain relief, the spinal block for the section was the business!

Actually, im begining to think that mode of delivery is something mums-to-be get obsessed about more than babies.. The excessive focus on mode of delivery is a bit of a mystery given that things like health of the baby on arrival, and in the first few weeks is so much more important.

Best of luck!

I think every birth experience is different and therefore only a decision you can make yourself on the information you have.

As with previous posters I have had both c-section and a vaginal birth. I am now pregnant with number 3 and have been given a choice of which I want to try this time. I'm definitely going for the vaginal delivery, but this is because out of the 2 this was the least painful, quickest to recover from etc. for me. Doesn't mean it would be for you, or indeed me this time!

OP, FWIW I have a chronic pain condition, and I managed without pain relief for my delivery (albeit unintentionally!).

Unless you have very convincing reasons, or are going private, you are unlikely to be granted a CS just because you want one, really. I had SPD and they wouldn't consider it. I understand your concern WRT damage to you both, but the thing, regardless of how it happens, childbirth is risky and dangerous, and things can go wrong in all scenarios. Not to frighten, but just to make aware that just because something seems "safer", it isn't necessarily. Neither are easy, and neither are without risk.

The other thing is, you have to trust in the staff - they know what they are doing, and they wouldn't allow avoidable risk to either you or your child.

Thank you everybody.

Sirboobalot, I know my condition and I know it's agony with even just a small bit of irritation down there (e.g. full bladder) so I will definitely be going down the epidural route one way or another.

I'm more than happy to go private if it comes to it, we can afford it and I'd rather spend thousands of pounds on the right birth than on a holiday or a car!

I have only had an EMCS after a 20 hour labour. There are many reasons why you could end up with an EMCS - mine was failure to progress; had pre-eclampsia and so was induced as it just kept rising. My DS wasn't in any distress, it was just seen that I was exhausted.
I made sure I knew all the facts - pain relief, choices about where to have birth, positions etc. Sometimes, the choice is taken out by something like pre-eclampsia.
I think an EMCS is harder to recover from as you have probably already been in labour for a long time so you're tired, and it's traumatic.
I plan to have a ECS next time - although I healed well and was moving around fairly well as is encouraged, I was exhausted. I don't want this next time, so am cutting out the risk of having a long labour or another CS.
Just have a chat with your midwife, talk to the NCT and consultants.

Thank you riven, I know it isn't hereditary, not sure why my post reads like that.

I wasn't telling you not to

Riven, that's interesting, thanks for that.

I recovered very well from an elective section and was up and driving and walking the dog with babe in a sling..... on the moors in 3 weeks.

It took years to get over my 'normal' vaginal birth and my daughter was pretty poorly at birth

I know which I'd choose

I have to completely agree with Dilys and Fab, it might seem to you that a c-section is the safest way to deliver this baby, but you must consider your own future health and family. Dd1 was born by elective section because she was breech. I didn't really think twice before agreeing to the section because I was assured it was the safest option. I would probably make the same decision again.

However, during my pregnancy with dd2 I had a condition called placenta previa with accreta (basically placenta covering the cervix and stuck to the wall of the womb). According to my consultant, this was probably caused by the first section. After 8 weeks in hospital both dd2 and I almost died at her birth. She ended up born prematurely, struggling with breathing and was in intensive/special care for a week. DH and I will not be able to have any more children as my history now makes future pregnancies very dangerous.

I'm not trying to scare you, my point is that I didn't think about the risks to future pregnancies at all when I agreed to the first section and now, when I hear women considering sections I try to make sure that they do consider those risks!

I too would recommend the NCT, my teacher did not force any opinions on us and she explained the procedure for a caesarian which was hugely helpful to me when I went into my first. She also explained how to mix & use formula (although obviously providing information on breast feeding first and formost).

Good luck with your decisions and enjoy your baby!

Hmmmm, thanks.

We don't have plans to have more than one DC together, primarily as DH already has 3 boys from his first marriage and I've never wanted more than one anyway.

I guess we could change our minds, but I don't think it's very likely.