C sections, just wondering

[overprepper]

We will be trying to conceive soon and I am attempting to research all aspects of pregnancy, birth & beyond so that I and we are fully prepared and embark on the journey as informed and clued up as possible. I’m reading books, but thought it would be good to gain some opinions too from here

I understand there are lots of variables in pregnancy & to expect the unexpected.
I am wondering if a caesarean section is a preferable choice over natural delivery, given how unpredictable the latter can be. I know a straightforward natural birth is best but you can’t be sure you will have one: two close relatives had horrific first births and for their second both opted for an elective section. Among friends I don’t know many people that actually had a straightforward first birth. This might be anecdotal though.

I am petite and little over 5ft, whereas DH is 6ft 3 and he himself was a very big baby and always on higher percentiles. Of course this is an unknown before pregnancy but I would imagine there’s a fair chance any future babies will be big like he!

The stats for both our nearest trusts maternity departments aren’t the best, lots of assisted deliveries & most the inductions lead to emergency sections. Again one relative (maternal side) birth needed instruments and baby was left with damage from forceps. I don’t like the idea of going through labour and being exhausted then having unexpected/rushed major surgery, when if that’s a likelihood anyway it might be better to just plan for the section and go in well rested.

I understand recovery from major surgery is a lot for anyone to handle. That said we do have a lot of support and I am maybe naively thinking that dosed up on painkillers it might not actually be that awful.

I know you can’t plan before you’re in the situation, but knowledge is power so I’d be grateful for anyone weighing in with their own thoughts and experiences.

I technically had an emergency c section but I call it an unplanned one rather as I knew the night before that I was going to have one. I had a failed induction, I really didn't want a c section but it was safest. I found the pain really hard to deal with but apparently the difference between a planned and an unplanned is chalk and cheese so I'm hoping my next one will be easier!

Itl also be good logistically as I can sort out childcare for our daughter and my husband can book time off work etc.

It's a tough decision and one ultimately only you can make. Fortunately now you are allowed to chose. I was adamant through pregnancy I wanted a natural birth, I'm 5ft and partner is 6ft2. However I ended up with an emergency C-section. Now I've had one I would elect for a planned cesarean next time. However, you always hear the scare stories of births. So bare in mind people don't really say alot about their positive birth stories so you do tend to only hear the bad stuff. Cesareans can go wrong and come with their own risks. The recovery was better than I was expecting.

That’s true. I just think there are so many unknowns and this seems like the lesser of the ‘unknowns’ as you can try your best to plan for it.

I struggled to carry a baby to term so when I finally managed I opted straight for a planned section. When I raised it with my consultant he said ‘better for baby, not better for you’.

I was only ever going to have one baby, I had a lot of support from my husband so the extended recovery time didn’t phase us. It was one of the nicest days of my life, I have such fond memories of it and my recovery was straight forward. I would 100% recommend it but it is major surgery at the end of the day.

I’ve had 2 elective c sections and the recovery was fine, far better than friends who had bad tears. Yes it’s not without risks but it’s less risky for baby and if something does go wrong I feel more confident being in an operating theatre with a full team than in a poorly staffed birth centre.

This is along the lines I’ve been thinking.

Thank you for shring. We are undecided between having one or having two but definitely don’t want a bigger family than that!

Yeah I can see that being a big plus. Especially if you're someone who likes to feel in control of things. There's no point spending your pregnancy anxious about giving birth.

Have a look at @ birth-ed on instagram or Google. Brilliant advice about making the right decision for you in pregnancy and birth

I have had 3 sections, albeit first emergency and then 2 planned. I have a few doctor friends and they all had planned sections. Speaks volumes to me! I am very petite and was delighted when my 1st birth didn't progress and they sent me for emergency section :-)

I was convinced I’d need a section- the odds were stacked

-all of the women in my family had CS from
my grandmother down.
-I am 5ft 3, DH is 6ft 3
-I was old (41), had GD and was not allowed to go over EDD due to risks of placental failure.
-I was induced (or at least they attempted it).

I spent a large part of my pregnancy planning for a CS, I even tied the rope to my bed to aid getting up as recommended by friends!

DD born vaginally in 6hrs with no damage. Too quick for epidural. I didn’t even need a paracetamol afterwards and was fighting fit in hours.

I am so glad I waited to see how it went. It was horrifically painful but brilliant.

I’ve had two vaginal deliveries. Both fairly straightforward. Recovery for my second wasn’t as easy but still preferable to a section. I wouldn’t have personally opted for major surgery or being prohibited from driving as I live rurally and don’t have family on the doorstep.

I really wanted a C-section throughout my pregnancy tbh as the unknown felt scary. I didn't even feel I could voice this though. As it happened baby was breech the entire pregnancy and at about 37 weeks I was booked for a C-section a week later. Would definitely have a section again as the fear of the unknown was totally removed for me. Recovery was hard, painful, ended up with sepsis and hospitalised about 3 weeks PP. But I don't know of many smooth sailing vaginal births so much of a muchness really.

Thank you for this perspective!

Ah so you would’ve had one anyway! Funny how things turn out. Yeah, was thinking similarly. I don’t like the idea of a hospital stay but to be fair if a vaginal birth goes pear shaped you could be staying a lot longer in hospital than a straightforward section

If you're planning on more children, be aware that a CS causes scar tissue inside the womb and so greatly increases the risk of placenta previa and accreta for the future.

Thank you. We think we want either one or two, unsure yet

Hi Op. My DH and I are exactly the same heights as you and your other half! My son was actually low weight for gestation. I’m pregnant again with a girl and she is also currently small. Yes it can happen that women have huge babies but in most cases, your body shouldn’t make a baby too big for your body, unless there are other factors such as diabetes.

If it looks like your baby is huge nearer the time, you can change your birth plan quite late in the game.

I never went into labour so had to be induced. It didn’t work (partly due to hospital failures), so I ended up with EMCS. I’m having an elective section this time. My placenta is at the back as normal (my first pregnancy it was anterior) and so far it’s been complication free.

The difference between the 2 being not contracting/in pain/stressed from an expedited delivery that 'wasnt your intended birth outclme' at the time of an elective.

The difference in the wound and post op pain is v unlikely to be any different as the operation is identical (particularly in your case as semi elective cases are just as chilled from an anaesthetic/surgeons perspective as a total elective), sorry to say

Op if you go through my previous posts I've explained csections many times (I anaesthetised for them).

Its personal choice. Pros and cons. I wouldn't elect to have one but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I had one. You can have a birth preferences appt if u wish to discuss pros and cons

I had an emergency section - was in pain for 2/3 days but could still do stuff. Fine as long as I kept on top of painkillers. Was pretty much back to normal within a week. I didn't find it at all bad and going to have a second. Didn't need things like a rope by bed or anything, found getting in and out of bed fine

I had to have a C-section, due to a chronic health condition I have, and it was an absolute dream. I have very, very good core strength (lifetime horse rider!) which helped I think, but the surgery itself was straightforward and the recovery very easy. I was up and about with minimal pain by the next day.
Compared to my closest friends who had babies around the same time as me, I think I had it best really. None of them had planned sections, albeit one had an emergency under general, the rest were vaginal births.
My sample size is, obviously, very small, and I was very lucky, but I’ll have another C-section next time, for sure.

I am quite small, my Dh is over six foot. Baby was quite large with head on 97th centile so it was a c section all the way for me.

Had you thought about this choice all the way through your pregnancy?

I had an unplanned c-section, was induced as 12 days late and essentially I think it just didn't really work. It took me over 12 hours to get to 4cm, but I've also recently found out my son was back to back which can apparently delay things and also make labour more painful which does correspond with my experience - contractions weren't the problem, it was constant overwhelming pressure on my pelvis and lower back which makes sense now I know this! I honestly don't remember them telling me this at the time, I found out on a call with the VBAC midwife just this week as I'm expecting no2. My experience wasn't terrible, I was up and about I think 6-8 hours after the op and the pain was very manageable. Regardless I'm going to try for natural this time simply as I have a toddler and I hope that recovery might be a bit easier to manage that way, you never know though! I'm still keeping an open mind and probably would like to avoid an induction again so I think if I get to 41 weeks or something I'll just book a c-section. So many variables though! Good luck whatever you decide.

Great, thanks so much going to look later onz