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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

elective c-section?

47 replies

katzen · 29/09/2010 18:23

Hi all

Im 28 weeks along at the moment. All going well but now starting to think about labour and my options.

Im concerned that on my mum's side she and my aunts have all ended up with c-sections due to complications.

Im also concerned that I have extremely low blood pressure and blood sugar (fainting a lot) and feel an extended natural labour may not be the safest.

Though I do respect that a c-section is major surgery too- i just feel that I would rather not worry that my baby would be at risk if my blood pressure dipped for a long period as opposed to a c-section.

Any advice on how to approach things if i wanted an elective section?

thanks

OP posts:

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VivaLeBeaver · 01/10/2010 11:53

Epidurals and spinals may lower blood pressure but a Hartmans drip would be put up at the same time making it easier to control blood pressure by increasing the drip rate to combat any drops in BP.

They won't use a glucose drip unless the OP is diabetic and on a sliding scale.

emmyloulou · 01/10/2010 11:55

Oh and with all due respect, I wouldn't believe half of the posts here, firstly peoples experiences are very different.

After abdominal surgery you need a certificate for fitness to drive if before your 6 week check, most gp's are V, V, reluctant to give these before 4 weeks, due to the risks.

Also people who say they are back to work within a week, are lying, you have to have at least 2 weeks off work after giving birth, 4 weeks if in a factory, it's called compulsory maternity leave and is non negotiable by law. So do take these wonderful experiences with a huge pinch of salt.

Chynah · 01/10/2010 12:02

I have low BP and did pass out in recovery after first ELCS but was put on drip immediately and felt fine. With ELCS my BP went very low and I was in recovery being monitored for a while but felt absolutely fine (was on drip throughout).

I drove and lifted my toddler within a week with doctors approval ( I didn't need to get a certificate and to be honest my insurance company stated they had no policy on driving after a csection and put it in writing). Recovery both times was quick and painless. Was back out running within 5 weeks.

oh and Emmyloulou with all due respect its not nice to call half the posters on this thread liars.

emmyloulou · 01/10/2010 12:06

What that people are back to work within the week, when it's actual law that makes that impossible, I think she wanted factual accounts.

Chynah · 01/10/2010 12:08

There you are correct - it is the law. That was not the part of your post that I was referring to.

flowerybeanbag · 01/10/2010 12:09

"After abdominal surgery you need a certificate for fitness to drive if before your 6 week check, most gp's are V, V, reluctant to give these before 4 weeks, due to the risks"

That's news to me. My midwife said I was fine to drive as soon as I felt able and it would be a case of informing my insurers to see if they had any restrictions. But DVLA don't put any restrictions on it as far as I know. My insurers were happy for me to drive as long as I felt able.

emmyloulou · 01/10/2010 12:15

Well what part, that's the only bit I referred to as lying, which it is, as I am correct.

The first bit, I never said anyone was lying did I? I said everyones experiences are very different as the fact is most insurers do require a fitness to drive cert, many trusts advise not driving for at least 4 weeks, and a lot wouldn't be up to it. But there are so many variables, from trusts, to insurance comapnies, to how people recover.

But It's not the norm to be out driving within the week, which I standby. So anyone having a c-section, I'd take theat expectation with a huge pinch of salt.

So my post is more relaistic I'd say for the majority

Chynah · 01/10/2010 12:57

"Oh and with all due respect, I wouldn't believe half of the posts here, firstly peoples experiences are very different." ...
Implies lying to me...

BrigitteBardot · 01/10/2010 12:58

"Oh and with all due respect, I wouldn't believe half of the posts here"
Thanks for this emmyloulou. How lovely.

I was driving the week after both my CS.
And you do not need a certificate to drive, this is a myth.
I am only talking about MY experience BTW.

Chynah · 01/10/2010 12:58

Take it your csection wasn't a good one then Emmylou.

messylittlemonkey · 01/10/2010 13:04

I've had 2 c sections - one emergency with DD1 and the other elective with DD2. I chose the elective as I didn't want to run the risk of ending up with another emergency one.

yes, it's major surgery, but with both of mine were fine, I was up the next day (they make you do that!) and home the following day. You just needd to take it easy, don't try and do too much too soon. You feel yourself getting stronger as the days go by. Certainly after 6 weeks I was back to my old self. In fact, i would say that within a couple of weeks I was pretty normal.

Only you can decide, but all I would say is they really aren't awful.

Good luck

littlemisslozza · 01/10/2010 13:07

DS1 was delivered by forceps, took 10 days until I could sit properly and drive!

DS2 delivered by ELCS, also started driving when he was ten days old.

Insurance company said just need midwife/doctor to say you're ok, they say it's when you feel ok. No written permission needed, I checked very carefully.

It is an urban myth as far as I can tell, carried over from the days when cars didn't have power steering.

PJen · 01/10/2010 13:21

emmyloulou it's not true that to say that "Anyway gone are the days now when you could find a sympathetic consultant who'd do it on the NHS for no medical reason."

My girlfriend met a consultant last week on Thursday and she has absolutely no medical reason and he agreed to do it on NHS.

I also would be cautious before calling people liars. What proof do you have to say that they are liars... Also this post is clearly asking for advice on "how to get and elective section" and I am sure that the poster doesn't appreciate your personal views on NOT GETTING ONE. Why do people like you feel obliged to write something if your comments are personal views and not helpful?

TennisFan · 01/10/2010 16:15

Emyloulou - I take offence that you accuse me of lying in my post earlier today.
I have nothing to gain by lying in a post on mumsnet.

My doctors and midwives, along with insurance were perfectly happy for me to be driving as soon as i wanted on both occasions.

And with respect, i was back in work exactly one week after giving birth with my DD. I was working 3-4 hours every morning, and she came with me. I own a small business, and it is not possible to take 6-9 months off work and laze about at home drinking coffee. It was necessary for me to come into the office for a few hours every day to keep the business going and to keep everyone in a job. I am sure I am not the first, or indeed wont be the last woman to go back to work staight after childbirth. Sure women are doing it all over the world.

You are very rude to presume that people who have different experiences to you must by lying.

Scarabeetle · 01/10/2010 18:23

Emyloulou - you should excuse yourself from this thread and find somewhere where people bang on about the cosy homebirth they had if that would make you feel more comfortable.

If anyone on this thread is a fibber, I'd say you were - needing a certificate to drive, indeed! I certainly didn't ask permission, nor did I need it.

Hazeyjane · 01/10/2010 19:28

I'm not quite sure why this thread has gone so pear-shaped!

Everyone has a different recovery from all types of births, it took me quite a while to feel ok after dd1 - 3rd degree tear, I felt fine straight away after dd2 - 2nd degree tear, and it took about 8 weeks to feel ok after ds - c-section. Just because I took ages doesn't mean other people will, in the same way that just because one person felt able to work and drive after a week or two, that doesn't mean that everyone will feel able to.

Sorry Tennisfan, but with respect, there is no way I would have been able to go back to work after a week, whether it was necessary or not - I know that I was incapable of looking after my dds without help.

The attitude of "I own a small business, and it is not possible to take 6-9 months off work and laze about at home drinking coffee.", has made my heckles rise!

withorwithoutyou · 01/10/2010 20:19

"After abdominal surgery you need a certificate for fitness to drive if before your 6 week check, most gp's are V, V, reluctant to give these before 4 weeks, due to the risks"

I'd just like to echo that that is absolute nonsense.

withorwithoutyou · 01/10/2010 20:24

It's also only compulsory to take maternity leave straight after the birth if you are employed by someone else, isn't it? If you're self employed you can go back whenever you choose.

So not necessarily lying.

But then, people love to rely on myths to try and stop people having c-sections.

Facts and experience are far more useful, I think.

Ragwort · 01/10/2010 20:30

I agree that it is an urban myth about the insurance & driving - never had a problem with my insurance company; I specifically queried it as well.

Everyone's experience is different after birth - some (like me) have an EMCS and absolutely no problem - others may have a vaginal delivery with numerous (& horrendous) problems. Each individual mother will recover differently - some can get back to work quickly and yes, if you have your own business of course you can't take 'maternity leave'.

(But your comment about lazing around drinking coffee is a bit harsh TennisFan ).

Chynah · 01/10/2010 21:32

Maybe a thread should be started to provide people with realistic experiences from C-sections from people that have actually had one (both good and bad). Maybe I will go and start one....

Hevster · 01/10/2010 21:46

Chynah good shout, I will look for it and contribute after I have my ELCS on Tues.

Chynah · 01/10/2010 21:56

Thanks Hevster - thread started. Hope your experience is as great as my two have been. (also an additional plus I always had the nurses comment that you could always tell a section baby by it's lovely shaped head - tis true!)

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