Traumatised women should not be forced to give birth vaginally against their will

[Ushy]

In the childbirth section, one of the biggest posts on the childbirth forum -nearly 800 replies - is about women who have had traumatic previous deliveries who are begging for a caesarean because they cannot face a vaginal birth again and are terrified.
This is just plain cruelty - can Mumsnet campaign for a bit more sympathy from maternity services? There is nothing wrong with promoting vaginal birth for most women but there has to be more understanding of the terror and desperation some women who have had traumatic births feel.

kendodd - I was (am) phobic about birth, and recently had a CS for my 1st DC. I guess I'm the opposite of you in that I'm deeply, deeply grateful and happy that I had the CS.

At my age and with my ishoos, this was the only way I was going to have a baby. To look at my DS and think he might not be here if a CS option wasn't available to me is just awful.

scarabeetle - sure, I take your point. As a feminist, I agree that characterising women as frightened and emotional ain't helpful - then again, as someone with a phobia, that's exactly what I was!

I'm not sure how much various agendas coincide here? I know women who would grudgingly agree that someone with PTSD after a traumatic birth could have the option of a CS, but would have flatly denied me the chance of a CS for my 1st, and refuse to accept that anyone would/could opt for a CS out of choice.

Personally, I don't have a problem with individual women weighing the pros and cons of all birth types, and making a choice. I have a problem with the lack of clear info publicly available, but that's another story...

Nanbullen, I know I wasn't the poster you asked but my advice would be to write down what you want to talk about with the consultant and take it with you. Also do research so (and this is just an example) if you suffered a third degree tear and research (from a reputable site) has shown you are now more likely to suffer from incontinence when older because of this then that can be part of the reason you want a c-section this time to prevent further damage IYSWIM. Don't be intimdated by doctors they are only humans and it is your body.
There is a thread in either pregnancy or childbirth offering support and advice to those requesting csections after traumatic births that you should check out.

Good luck.

I think women with PTSD, not just from a traumatic 1st birth but also from sexual assault/rape should be given a choice but that choice MUST be informed, accompanied by a debrief about what went wrong, a presentation of the options and a supportive environment.

I speak as a survivor of rape expecting DC1 and 6 months ago I would have been beating down the door for a CS but I have a very supportive trained midwife who has helped me articulate my fears, reassure me, and helped me work out what the triggers are, how we can avoid them and under what circumstances I would want to opt for a CS after labour had started. I'm now relatively comfortable with the idea of a VB on MY terms.

If someone had told me I had to have a VB and there was no support or understanding I'd be a wreck....

I had to battle for a VBAC!

With my first I had a very long labour that ended with complications, they tried to get him out with ventouse but he got stuck and went into distress and I had to have an emergency c-section under GA. Both DS and I had to be resucitated.

When I was pregnant with my second they assumed I would want a c-section and I had to fight for "trial of labour". DS2 was born by ventouse, and it was definitely a healing experience.

Unfortunately DD had to be delivered by elective c-section as she was a transverse lie. I was distraught. An elective c-section, although not as bad as my first delivery, was far worse than my second IMO.

i think everyone should have the option of a c-section if they have fears of vaginal birth, i understand why this isn't the prefered choice by most and nhs and it has its downfalls, but everyone should have the option.

Total support from me.
Nothing on earth would have made me go through a second vaginal delivery. I think it's utterly ridiculous and cruel that traumatized women could be denied such a choice.

Would never happen if men had babies.

Means nothing of course since I don't live in the U.K., but still.

I think support is the key, isn't it? Support, advice, counselling and a level of understanding of the woman's fears, as opposed to high-handed dismissal and "we're the medics/professionals, we know best".

Some people have found their second birth to be healing, others may not have done; I agree with the OP that no one should be forced to have a VB if it's going to cause them huge amounts of anguish. And if support, counselling, advice and all the rest make no difference to their anguish, then let them have a CS. Knowing that they were in control of the second birth may be just as healing to them as having a good VB is to others.

As always, thumbwitch has said it better than I ever could.

Mwah, darling. (It's JM. :))