elective c section yes or no??

[katrinaxx]

im absolutely terrified of giving birth because im a weakling and I dont have a very high pain barrier some people think I should have an elective c section but im not sur just wondering what the recovery is like afterwards and if you think I should of shouldn't???.

Op I am in exactly the same position and feel the same as you. I have already decided to go down the elective C-Section route although I am finding it a bit of a battle with my MW. I have already told her that I will be going private if NHS refuse but I want written confirmation with an explantion as to why I cant have one because the NISA guidelines state that we can choose to have an C-Section if we want.

My SIL had a C-Section and she was driving within 2 weeks and only had some discomfort for the first few days. However I appreciate everyone is different.

Good luck

hello ... im having an elective c section. I think how you choose to give birth to your baby is a very personal choice.

I have had a vew nasty comments because my reasons may not be 'valid' to others.

I had my c section approved last week with the nhs after talking to two different obstetricians etc etc.

I suffer from anxiety, have a serve fear of child birth ....if a woman is in labour on tv I feel like.im.going to pass out. walked out the antenatal class twice in tears. nearly fainted when the midwife went through tearing etc etc.

I really admire ladies that can go natural. I just know its something that is not for.me.

I am just so relieved that my midwife listened to me and said it was my choice. the obstetrician did say they dont give it to everyone as you have to have good reason. but after going throught ny medical history agreed to it.

I would suggest reading up on both and seeing pros and cons for both and work out what is best for you

I'm also having a c section for the same reasons. I think its totally personal choice. It's your body at the end of the day. My route to getting a c section has been straight forward with a lot of understanding professionals x

I'm placeholding in the hope of getting some good info on recovery etc.

It's looking likely that I'll have to have an ELCS despite it being the last thing I want. So I want reassurance for a different reason!

I'm having an ELCS, for medical reasons, but I am very happy about it.

So many nightmare stories from friends who have had vaginal births and never recovered, then chosen to have ELCS the next time and much preferred it.

I'm having an ELCS with pregnancy number 3 after two emergency sections (#2 was a failed vbac).
In terms of recovery, it's important to remember that it is major surgery and it will be painful afterwards! With both previous sections I was immobile for a few hours afterwards, had a two day hospital stay and took it as easy as possible while DH was on paternity leave.
I was driving within about 4 weeks.

I'm 5 days after having a c section, after starting with a home birth. So I can only give you advice as to how I feel now. My first day in hospital was very shuffly, but I still managed to get myself in and out of bed. My birth was 5am and by 7pm catheter was removed and I could take myself for a pee. Obviously a c section wasn't what I 'wanted' but my recovery hasn't been as harrowing as I thought. I'm still picking up my new (gorgeous) baby, I'm just steady and slow getting on and off the sofa and I have a very willing husband who is at my beck and call. A professional may well tell me this is terrible of me, but this morning I had my 2nd shower and hair wash (alone), loaded a washing machine and unloaded a dishwasher. My husband could have course done these, but I felt able and it's boring being glued to the sofa. I'm still on paracetamol and ibuprofen as painkillers every 8hrs but if I were to run out it wouldn't be the end of the world.
So to recap, if section is what you want, the recovery process of a section far outweighs any anxiety and worry you may gave about the pain in the lead up to birth. It's really not that bad and I know I'll be driving waaay before 6 weeks!
Best of luck and fight your corner!

Just to give you the flip side... My elcs was lovely and calm but extremely painful. It was a pain right at the top of my bump so the anaesthetic didn't reach that far. My vbac two years later wasn't nearly as sore and a much more 'productive' pain. Recovery was similar for both, neither were too long. I would have said I had a very low pain threshold before.

I think that the most important thing to remember is just like a vaginal birth, a c section is different for everyone and no one can completely predict what it is going to be like.

I have had a EMCS (blue light affair), VBAC (3rd degree tear), EMCS (but not a rush job) and then a ELCS.

My recovery for all has been different and I felt more myself quicker after the VBAC but the ELCS was a close second.

For my third (but second section) my wound started to reopen after doing too much around the house and I was far more physically drained than after my first two births. I planned a lot more for the ELCS and had a cleaner for the first 6 weeks along with my mother in law to do the school run for the first two weeks. After that I was walking at least 5 miles a day albeit aided by painkillers.

It is of course your choice and while birth is terrifying so can the surgeons knife be; I hope you all get the birth of your choice and it is as straight forward as it can be. Just remember that what is easy for some is not easy for others. While an ELCS may be the best birth choice for you, you can not pick your recovery, but that also applies with a vaginal birth.

I am also hoping to have an ELCS. My route in has been as follows: saw consultant, said I suffered from tokophobia. Said they don't offer ELCS unless it was a psychological problem, which tokophobia is. They then referred me to the perinatal team. Saw the shrink who sent a referral to the consultant rec'ing me for an ELCS. Went back to consultant who said it was fine for ELCS. Basically followed NICE guidelines to a T. Have a read of them if you want.
Personally and somewhat naively I think an ELCS will be a walk in the park compared to natural pregnancy, you don't go overdue, you know the date you'll give birth. Anyone I know who had one said aside from it taking a little longer to recover, it was a much more civilised way to do it.

I caveat all of what I have said above by saying that I have not told anyone of my decision. The natural birth brigade can get a little judgemental. I say to each his own, so do what you need to do.

It's important to remember that a c section isn't a magic bullet for a guaranteed trauma-free birth. Mine ended in severe bladder damage, a further operation under general anaesthetic (meaning I didn't get to hold my baby until the next day), massive blood loss (which meant I produced no milk and couldn't bf), a giant scar and months of unpleasant recovery. That's before I even get to the psychological side effects and recovery.

The risks of this kind of injury are small and my experience is very much a worst case scenario, but lightning has to strike somewhere. Make sure you fully understand the very real risks of having a CS before you decide you're having one.

Good luck and I hope everything goes the way you want it to!

I know there are worse case scenarios in both cases being c section or natural. I've spoken to a lady who had a 4 degree tear took a very long time to recover and even now incontinence in both ways. so there can be extremes even in natural birth.

giving birth natural or not is never risk free.

can I ask what lead to the complications in your c section?

I want to have an ELCs for medical reasons - I have epilepsy and a heart condition and I'm worried my conditions wouldn't cope with the stresses of labour very well.

At what point in the pregnancy does the midwife discuss birthing options with you?

mine never brought it up really. I had to at 27 weeks. I think they assume everyone wants natural. I would suggest bringing it up the soonest you can so they can start the referral process.

I have my booking in appointment this afternoon - maybe a tad too early though?

Mind you, if the midwife is taking all my medical history it may be that it occurs to her anyway?

its never too early to bring up or discuss in my eyes, as they will refer you to an obstetrician and my first referral took 5 weeks to come through. they like to discuss it alot of times before deciding and you may get referred again which I did. I know for me until getting approval last week I was on edge until I knew the final outcome. I was 29 weeks last week so the sooner the better , plus if you need to argue your case gives you time to without feeling to stressed the further along you get

Just to follow up on the comments about driving within 2 or 4 weeks. Some insurance companies do not cover you if you drive before the recommended six weeks so double check this.

Do call your insurance company but the 6 week threshold is a bit of a myth. Most insurance policies are not as specific as putting in a 6 week limit post-cs. They just (sensibly) require that you be able to perform an emergency brake. Which I could do after 1 week, but decided to play safe and leave it to 2 weeks before I started driving.

My recovery from an emcs and elcs were very uneventful and swift. Elcs for a first birth is fine if you don't intend to have a big family.

Jess we don't know what led to the complications in my cs. I was just unlucky.

I certainly wasn't saying that a vaginal birth is without risk however, as I also know people who've had a terrible experience with it and totally get why it's not an option for many people - it's just that I worry a bit for people who see a cs as a less worrying option, as the risks are very real.

I would never think to question your reasons for asking for a cs though - that's none of anyone's business but yours! It'd be nice if the stork could just bring them, wouldn't it?!

or teleport them out

sorry I wasn't having a go at all

i was just curious if there was a reason that led to complications. I hope all is well now and you are ok ?

I totally agree with you that it shouldn't be viewed as an easier option.

there are risks in both avenues and I really do admire ladies that go all natural

Just got back from my Booking appointment and it wasn't mentioned. The midwife deemed my pregnancy as High Riskand wrote it all over my notes and so I have an appointment with a Consultant on September 20th. I will probably mention it then. Me and my hubby have discussed it a few times and definitely think an ELCS is safest for me and baby.

Rallytog really sorry to hear your experience. Sorry you went through that.

Part of the reason I can't go through / fear going through with a vaginal birth is because we nearly lost my older sister when she had sever postpartum bleeding and a third degree tear when her youngest was born. She had a really traumatic vaginal birth.

I totally understand C-Section is major surgery and entails risks but I just cant go through a vaginal birth. The thought makes me feel sick. I just cant do it and DF and I have agreed if NHS wont do it then we are going private.

I had an ECS just over 2 years ago due to medical issues I had had throughout my pregnancy. I didn't want one but the doctors were adamant about it and I spent the night before it in cold sweats terrified about it. Prior to having it, one of the doctors came in with forms for me to sign advising that if I died on the table, my family could not sue the hospital. His exact words were, 'If you haemmorage, i will do my best to save you.' Didn't help me and my already fragile state but they have to say it how it is. It therefore really annoys me when people say that an ECS is the 'easy option' as it has so many risks with it and at the end of the day, it is major surgery.

As it was, both DD and I were fine when it came to the delivery.

In regards to my recovery, i stopped taking painkillers after a couple of weeks as the pain wasn't too bad. After a few weeks I was feeling fine so started doing housework and then my bleeding got heavier. The HV told me that this was my bodies way of saying that I needed to spend a little time longer taking it easy.

littlepea sadly the NICE guidelines DO NOT say you can choose a CS, you can request one and if the consultant you see says no, you have the right to be referred to another who may be more sympathetic.

OP my advice is do your research, ensure you know and understand the pro's and con's and formulate a well reasoned argument to put to your consultant. I did this and got one agreed in principal with very little problem, but also know of others attempting the same at my PCT who failed miserably. Speaking to them it was clear they had not understood the guidelines or processes and had a weak argument. Getting it wrong will undermine by your case and could end up in not being taken seriously.

Aren't the NICE guidelines just that -- guidelines?

In my maternity pack it states that my trust's policy is not to do elective c-sections unless there is a medical reason to do so.