Ooohhhh.... Dare I open this controversial can of worms!?!

[MrsRV]

Who'd choose a C-section and why!?!

I'm not for or against elective C's but on a pro note, read an article about cs's that was very cynical of NHS, basically that they're not more encouraged because of cost... And also, 'natural' isn't so natural anymore as our lifestyles have changed so much that babies are a lot bigger than they have ever been...

Discuss.... Ha ha ha (have sat far to many exams!).

OOOOOOH...A big can of worms this one been discussed on mn many times!!

I think the vast majority of mums to be would always opt for vaginal delivery where possible so the financial implications of the new ruling that you can have an elc if you want I dont think will change for many health authorities.

There are risks with both procedures childbirth however it is performed is a very precarious event, you will hear horror stories of both vaginal & C-section births as well as stories of how both were calm, controlled & even dare I say quite pleasant. I think the key to a "nice birth story" is to be in control & knowledgable, do lots of research as to what kind of surroundings & pain relief might suit you. But however if you are determined to have an elc then I don't think you should be refused if the thought of a vaginal birth is upsetting you that much. (in comparrison the NHS offers some dental patients a GA for some procedures that the majority of us would just need a little bit of local anaesthetic for)!!

I am having an elc with my 3dc ....reasons being 2 previous c-sections, the 1st an emergency & the 2nd a planned one at 34 weeks because my child had suspected health problems... she was resusitated at birth 4 times so no way would she had survived a labour & vaginal birth. This time I did kind of think I would love a vaginal birth birth as it was my last chance to experience it but was advised not to & as my 2nd dc's pregnancy & short life was so traumatic I know a long labour & the worry of something going wrong would be too distressing. I will however always have a slight sadness that I never got to bring a child into this world in the way our bodies were built to.

I know people who have had a fairly horrendous first labour (with physical damage) or who have SPD and are worried about how they're actually going to manage to give birth - they've had to wait and see if they're allowed an ELC.

That's massively stressfull and disempowering.

For dc2 I'll have a CS. My reasons are that I had a pretty long drawn out traumatic birth and didn't get to be with my ds for the first hour of his life as I was in theatre with a surgeon trying to stop me from bleeding. My dh had to spend that hour wondering if he could cope without me. So no I won't put myself or my family through that again.

I am not naive enough to think that a CS will be plain sailing and am well aware of the complication risks. For me however this the option that I want/will have.

I am all for women being supported to have a vaginal delivery but I don't think it is the be all and end all. Just as much as i personally think that home births for first time mums isn't a great idea but support the right of woman to choose that, so I would hope that other women would support my right to choose an elective c-section.

At this moment 39+3 i would choose whatever method will get this baby out asap so when yesterday i had to go to the hospital because my baby had turned I have to admit to being a smidgen disappointed that they weren't going to section me then and there as it head down again. However back to original HB plans i know in the long run this is what i want and will be all the better for having and I know i'll be glad after i just hate the uncertainty of everything and having been overdue twice before can't face the possibility of another 2 weeks.

Given the choice when not at this awful stage i would choose VB everytime but preferably with a firm date attatched

I think some ladies think a section is a walk in the park, far from it!!!

I had an emergency c section with dd, was in labour for a week, her heart dipped alot, she pood inside me, became distressed, they lost her heart beat, when they got it again (through the little thing they popped on her scalp) her hb was even lower, she them got stuck and it dropped even lower. Plan was to go to theatre and try forceps then a section. When we got there she was pretty much dying so they went straight for a section.

Having spoken to my consultant with this pregnancy (I was keen for section) she agreed, she said a similar thing would probably happen again. I'm only 4ft 11 and apparently some ladies just are not made for vaginal deliveries (they are not 'normal' births but vaginal births)

So I've chosen to have a planned section because we have all agreed (me, consultant, mw,oh) that this is the safest way for this baby to enter the world. I think those that claim they are scared of labour and birth need help, not to just be offered a section! Lol makes no sense at all.

I had an ELCS and agree with gasblue - total breeze and definitely no regrets.

I made my choice because of the risks of VB to the baby - brain damage due to lack of oxygen if things go badly. Very unlikely to happen, but catastrophic if it does. Now, other people may prefer to tolerate that risk and not accept the risks of surgery, or just prefer natural. There isn't a right answer and we all have different risk tolerances.

Polly - An ELCS is VERY different to an EmCS. I've had both and the EmCS was awful, ELCS fab!!

And please, I chose to tolerate one set of risks rather than another. Why does that mean I needed help??!!

I didn't much fancy either!

I wouldn't choose a section off the bat just because I'm a bit squeamish about being cut open and [shallow emoticon] having a scar.

I don't think it takes anything away from the "birth experience" (vom) and am not convinced giving birth either way is particularly safe as you just can't plan these things!

Then again I was very lucky both times to have straightforward labours with no interventions, tearing, lots of support etc - if I'd had a traumatic time or there were any health concerns I wouldn't think twice about opting for a section.

I think you have taken what I've said the wrong way Peppa. What I was meaning was when some ladies say they are scared of having a vaginal brith and they want a c section, they should be offered counselling and support to help them get over their fear of vaginal birth, not just offered a section. Which as we know is major abdominal surgery and comes with so many risks and much longer after care.

I'm a first timer and haven't got a preference. C -section and 'natural delivery' scare the crap out of me. Either way, I'm in for some pain aren't I? Beforehand with the labour pains or afterwards with the healing. I suppose for those who have had a bad natural birth experience will be understood for wanting a c-section next time as an alternative to the suffering they endured beforehand?
For me these are my fears:

1. Tearing
2. Toilet issues after a natural delivery
3. Needle in my back for an epidural (c-section)
4. Sneezing/coughing and 'pulling' my stitches after a c-section
5. Painful and healing scar tissue
6. Not being able to move about as freely as I would like.
7. Pain management during labour (this makes me laugh cos no matter what 'pain relief' you get, is it REALLY relief - it's gonna hurt regardless!!!)
8. Modesty down there!?

I'll find out on the 9th December if I need a c-section so I'll deal with it then! This week I'm looking forward to Friday - my last day of work!!!

A couple of people have said it upthread but I'll add my 2p: I'd rather have the virtual certainty of an elective CS than try for VB and then end up with an emergency CS. Part of this is that through 3 miscarriages I've had some pretty shocking treatment from midwives and ward nurses but when I had an ERPC at the last miscarriage the theatre staff just seemed 10 times kinder and on the ball. So I'd rather go with the people I trust.
(In any case I'm having twins so the benefits of even an uncomplicated VB are marginal for me, particularly for the second twin. But up until the NICE recommendation I was worrying that they would try and force me to go for VB - it's a huge comfort to know I can ask for an elective CS.)

I'll be asking for an elective section. I'm going private so will be paying myself. I'm not in the UK (Ireland)

I have no interest in giving birth naturally. I don't want the pain. I don't want to stretch/damage my vagina. I don't want incontinence problems afterwards.

I've got a tilted cervix and so do both my sisters who had horror births due to this factor, one baby went spine to spine, ending in a crash section and the other needed one but no anesthestist available so had to be ventoused after a gruelling unproductive labout including plenty of agonising internal. Total horror shows. No thanks.

In both cases they were so wrecked tired that breastfeeding got off to a bad start and at 42 years of age I need every bit of spare energy I can get to actually keep the baby alive instead of wasting it on an unneccessary labour.

I also have asthma and am already severly breathless, there is no way I will be able to get through 2 days of natural labour.

I know sections are no walk in the park but weighing up all the options it's best for me.

I had an emergency c section ,supposed to be planned 2 weeks later but my twins kicked off early.

Have to say, emergency or not it was a breeze. Totally calm and efficient in the operating room, back on the ward in and hour.

Was completely mobile the next day, upright and without the strange post natal shuffle that the vag birth ladies had.

Zero pain,,,,was actually chucking away the pain killers when they werent looking as nothing was sore and that was inspite of having a bad cough at the time.

Twins born July 1st, and I ran a very speedy half marathon on the 1st september! I would have driven right away too if my husband hadnt stolen my car keys to stop me doing it!

I am due in january with a singleton, and think I will do elective again.

I have no worries about missing out on the "natural experience", I have no wish to do that actually, the two hours of contractions before they got me into the theatre was hell enough thank you.

My only reservation is that I might have to acknowledge that I am a bit of a "feartie" when as a sporty person I have always considered myself "well hard"

However, if I am indeed a bit of a cowardy cat, so be it, I wouldnt swap my fear free and pain free experience for all the stitches in china!