choosing a c section

[SammyFirstBaby]

can I choose one? I am physically sick at the thought of a vaginal birth and have panic attacks
when would they do it weeks wise?

looloo has pointed out one of the risks of CS which I am worried about. Birth is a painful and risky business whatever happens. If you have a vaginal birth you may tear if you have a CS you get all the risks associated with a major operation. Good luck with whatever you choose OP x

I was fearful of normal childbirth because of problems both my sister and mother had experienced. Both had long labours which failed to progress ending up with emergency sections and post partum haemorrhages. I expressed my concerns with my healthcare team and was told there was no familial link to their experiences and just coincidence. So, I tried hypnobirthing to help with my fears and did really want to have a normal straight forward vaginal delivery. I had 10 sessions of one to one hypnotherapy and listened to the recording of our sessions daily until I was full term. I had to be induced and guess what after 4 days of labour, and it failing to progress, baby struggling I also had an emergency section. My experience shows that if you don't have a text book birth any amount of preparation isn't going to prevent medical intervention. There are risks to both vaginal birth and section births and I really believe you have to do what's right for you. Everyone's experience is different, some are lucky enough to have births that happen as nature intended, some do not. And of course if you are likely to have a 'straight forward delivery' vaginal birth is the best way. But for some of us it doesn't work out that way so a section ends up being the safest for you and your baby. Due to my previous experience I considering a planned section but part of me still dreams of having a straight forward birth. Please, when I say straight forward I do not mean easy or pain free. I mean the physiological changes the body goes through taking place as and when they are meant to.

I am a doctor and I would definitely avoid having a c/s (if given the choice). Obviously if medically needed then it is a different matter but you really need to be aware of the risks of c/s. it is a major operation with both intraoperative and post operative risks - blood clots, bleeding, infection & hospital stay. It is definitely not the 'easy option'.

In contrast your body is designed to give birth, yep it may be painful but so is recovering from major surgery. My 1st it took 7hrs and yep tested but that wasn't too bad either really - few stitches that healed relatively quickly. Up and at them straight away afterwards!

The NHS is brilliant but but I would always try and avoid as much medical intervention as possible - I have seen too many snowballing of investiagations/tests/treatments/post operative infections/complications etc.

Please consider your options very carefully before choosing a c/s. there have been 8 babies born to my group of friends in the last year, 7 of these vaginally - none with any complications or prolonged hospital stay, 2 requiring an epidural. Yep a vaginal birth isn't a walk in the park but neither is C/S.

Taking1 - women are offered choice in the NHS but the risks with having a major operation need to be weighed against the risks to the individual and often these do not add up to be the patients interest. No doctor wants to put their patient at increased risk, resulting in ill-health, prolonged hospital stay (and increased cost to the nhs) because everyone loses in that situation. I am glad you are paying privately for it but don't expect it to be a relaxed planned affair you envisage just because you have gone private and planned it. Nothing with the human body is that simple or easy to plan I'm afraid.

Ps taking1 - just reread your post and if you do have anxiety or pelvic problems - you may actually be entitled to c/s on the NHS. Sorry if I was a bit harsh

Hi OP

I had an emergency c section after a failed 14hr induced labour. I recovered well from my section and felt completely awake and with it during the op and after. I was walking as soon as the drugs wore off and I think the quicker you move about the better. I can honestly say I didn't find it overly painful but totally understand that everyone is different and will heal differently but just wanted to let you know that my experience despite it being emergency and not how I wanted to give birth, it was still a positive experience. Good luck! X

I strongly disagree with those saying that a CS is a major deal compared to a vaginal delivery. The NICE research and guidance which came out in November 2011 just doesn't back that up - there are different risks to both ways of giving birth but a C section doesn't obviously come out as a worse option.

publications.nice.org.uk/caesarean-section-cg132/guidance#planned-cs

If somebody has told me I'd be left permanently incontinent following my natural birth I wouldn't have been quite so in favour of it. Nobody asks you to sign a consent form for the risks of vaginal delivery.

Many of my friends have had very positive natural births but I think it would be fair to say experiences vary.