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???.

I would hazard a guess that 5% of your midwife's patients is a far larger sample than 50% of your friends, blueshoes.

50% of my friends would be about 2 people.

I know one person (my sister) who had significant trauma for her first time baby. He was undiagnosed breech, the cord prolapsed and she had a blue light EMCS. My sister is 33% of my siblings.

Anecdotes are all well and good, but if you're not comparing sample sizes and you're going to quote statistics, they're fairly meaningless.

Toby, I have more friends that had babies than 2 people.

But I take your point about anecdotes. It is not the only basis for my decision. It is all in my post.

i had both mine ELCS due to my fear of giving birth vaginally

both lovely, calm experiences

yes, was painful afterwards when the epi wore off but took every pain killer going, i was fine

was walking to the shower 12 hours afterwards both times. pushing dcs round in their prams after about 5 days

downsides: IME your bump takes a bit longer to go down cos of the swelling etc but bothered me. plus you have a scar (although mine is barely noticeable 4 yrs after my last cs). and the pain doesn't fully go for around 2 - 4 weeks, but again, painkillers are your friend

obvs i do not have a v birth to compare it with but in my case they were lovely, positive, happy, memorable births with a good outcome ie healthy babies

good luck and do feel free to pm or msg me on here if you have any more q's

another advantage of course if no perineal / vaginal trauma i had sex with dh 10 days after dds birth

I think it is very difficult to generalise, which is why experienced consultants should be the ones to give their views on a case by case basis rather than random people on opining on what's right on Mumsnet.

I am having an ELCS after an EMCS plus a bunch of other risk factors putting me at high risk of birth injury. I find it irritating to be dismissed as part of a 'trend' - I'd love a nice straightforward VBAC as recovery from a section is tough, but I, like many others, have to balance up the fact that in my case the likelihood of a low risk VBAC is slim. I honestly can't see how anyone but an experience medical professional would have a valid view on the balance of risks in my case.

I do wonder as well if some "traumatic" stories are taken out of context. And I say this as someone who blueshoes would class as having had a traumatic labour - I had forceps and a third degree tear, which resulted in surgery right after DS was born. Thing is, though, I still don't consider my labour traumatic as there were no long term niggles and I have never felt emotionally scared or traumatised by what happened, especially as I recovered quite quickly and have no long term issues. I am having another baby soon and would be totally fine with a similar birth experience again if it means the same recovery time.

I appreciate everyone recovers at a different pace and that my experience may be unique, but that's my experience nonetheless.

Blueshoes, I speak as someone who works in a maternity unit, on labour ward, postnatal ward and in theatre. I am not a doctor (although doctors only ever deal with complicated pregnancies so have very little experience of normal births) but someone who has seen literally thousands of births and I can assure you that most vaginal deliveries are without horrific tears and obstetric emergencies. There are of course some and a friend of mine has a child with very severe medical problems due to a birth injury. An elcs would have been the safest way to deliver him but we cannot know before hand who these things will happen to. To suggest that in the absence of any clear indication an elcs is safest would be an injustice to mother and baby. Of course we hear more about horror stories which is probably why so many first time mums are petrified of birth! It's only since the increase of intervention ie, induction, epidurals that the need for cs has increased. I just want to reassure people that I have seen far more straightforward births it's just that these mums who have had no problems are not the ones starting threads on mn!

Crazyhead, elcs after emcs is obviously a very valid reason. There are many medical indications for elcs and a few physchological ones too. I'm just concerned at the people who think that without any indication, elcs is safer than a normal delivery.
OP, I'm sure your outcome will be good regardless of your decision. Being well informed is key and I hope the few people talking about their unfortunate experiences don't push you into making a choice you may later regret. I hope the pregnancy goes well and that circumstances allow you to be the one to decide. Good Luck!

I had nightmares during pregnancy about c sections - the thought of not being able to move but be conscious, complete loss of control, the risks (I know small) of them cutting the baby, being stuck in hospital for days after?definitely my idea of hell.

In the event I was one of the statistically lucky ones who had an entirely natural drug free birth in the pool, I was in hospital for less than 10 hours in total (arrived mid morning, was surprised to be already 6cm, had baby at 4 then discharged just after 8pm). I know I was incredibly lucky, but I just want to put it out there that some people (me) are more scared of c section than natural! Personally, I was surprised that although it hurt, it didn't hurt as much as I expected based on what I had read an heard from other people.

Goes to show everyone is different.

Natural can be absolutely fine - brilliant in fact in my case. I hope if I have another I am just as lucky :-)

oh and I had a second degree tear too, a bit grim but I think the local anaesthetic for the stitches afterwards hurt more than the act of giving birth stage.

have had 4 sections for medical reasons. different pain, but still hurts and uncomfortable. need regular strong analgesia first few days. please do not think a section is pain free OP. they hit my spinal nerve when they did my epidural and bugger that hurt.
i do think that you shud not get a section because you are scared of the pain. how did you think baby was going to get out?

One small piece of advice, don't tell the nhs you would consider it privately. Cynical...me??

Kilmur: "how did you think baby was going to get out?"

Is that helpful?

I think the birthing experience is about what each individual wants. C-Section may not be right for some but its right for others. I dont believe any of us that want a C-Section think its an easy option. We are all fully aware its major surgery. VB can also be dangerous, my sister nearly died giving birth vaginally. I wish she had been in the hands of a surgeon at the time things may have not got as critical as they did. The only person whose opinion matters is the woman giving birth. That's why been informed in a non biased way about CS and VB is important.

Personally there is nothing that will change my mind about having a CS after all I saw what happened to my sister when she had a VB and it was beyound traumatic.

Littlepeapod I couldnt agree with you more and very well said

Munch thank you, I am tired of the anti C-Section brigade telling me what I should and should not do with my body and how I deliver my child... I don't tell/judge them for their decision to have a VB...

I'm a huge, huge whimp. My pain barrier is practically non-existent and I'm such a whiner whenever I get ill, but I actually dealt with childbirth really well. It hurts, yes, that's undeniable, but (for me at least) knowing there was eventually going to be an end and that, everything well, that ending was going to be happy and positive, made me able to cope and do really well. So much so that I'm actually really disappointed that I won't get to experience vaginal birth this time around (having to have an ELCS due to shoulder dystocia last time).

I'm not saying that you should definitely go for vaginal birth, because that choice is completely up to you, I'm just explaining my experiences. Also I ended up opting for an epidural and let me tell you you can't feel a thing ('twas fabulous!)

I.am having my ELCS in 8 weeks., first baby... and no amount of negative or biased comments will change my mind. I know my body and mind and what I can and cant cope with. I have my families and fiance full support...I am just excited to meet our little princess soon

Munchkin I couldn't agree more.. It's good to hear hat others feel the same because you don't get many talk openly about choosing an ELCS probably because of the reaction they may get...

I get the same reaction all the time and dont even start me on the same topic of breastfeeding lol all I can do is my best as a new mum and I wont let others opinion get me down. my partner and parents support me .

my mother went through three days of labour then had an emergency c section and we were both intensive care for two weeks, both nearly died. she couldn't have more kids after me , I am her only child after many miscarriages. she knew from the start she would need a c section due to me being a 10bls baby and her being under 4ft 10. she new from the start and they refused every step of the way. my mum says a woman knows her own body and baby and I agree with her 100%.

They dont mention the risks of natural ..... im just grateful for the medical and family support I do have and wish all ladies got the same

I think most people r terrified about giving birth! I was so scared and feel funny just going to the gp office! I get panick attacks when filling a cavity! (thankfully only had two my whole life!). Anyway, I opted for natural birth, with epidural. It was perfectly fine with epidural! I didn't get it until 8cms though, which was quite painful! If I got it 5cms would have been a breeze! But going up t 8cm was quite painful. I would recommend natural birth if u can w epidural. I was able to push baby out just fine. Even though I could not feel a thing when pushing! Heck, didn't even know if I was pushing! Now I'm in for round two. I'm a little nervous baby will come fast and not have time to get epidural! First one came at what felt like a fast speed! It was 12 hours and would have been quicker if I didn't get the epidural! The epidural stopped my contractions. They waited 3 hours until they gave me pitocin to start them up again.

a severe fear of childbirth isnt a simple matter of asking or recommending someone to 'try' natural.

thats like saying someone with a fear od snakes should go visit the reptile house at the zoo. not gonna happen anytime soon.

no one says fears are rational but they are very real to the person who feels them. along with anxiety in the mix its not a fun mental state to be in and telling someone to just try it as if its a switch...well...not gonna happen. .not for me anyways.

I haven't read the whole thread, but I really really want to advise those of you who will be giving birth by ELCS to have a 'prem plan'! I was meant to have DS1 via CS for medical reasons (extensive previous pelvic floor surgery) and no-one considered for even a minute that anything other than ELCS at 39 weeks would happen. Then I went into labour at 32 weeks, and as I'd never considered this possibility, had no documented 'plan'.

For starters, no-one would believe I was in labour, I was about 7cm by the time anyone examined me and he'd arrived under 2 hours later. My whole labour, from first twinge to finish, was 11 hours, but only for the last 5 did I consider things might be happening. I was denied a section despite being absolutely desperately terrified, and by the time anyone listened to me it was too late for pain relief, let alone a section. Although I recovered well and none of the anticipated complications from my previous surgery materialised, I suffered PTSD and PND following the birth.

I'm 23 weeks with DS2, and this time have stamped my feet so hard to make sure I have a plan for every eventuality that I have the Supervisor of MW and the head Obstetrician at my hospital in charge of my care. I will NOT allow my early days with what will be my last child to be affected by a poorly planned birth, and would hate anyone else to go through what I went through.

Featherbag that's really good advice..I asked my obstetrician what would happen if I went into labour early as my c section is booked at 38 weeks and 6 days he said unless I was one of the lucky ones who had an extremely quick birth considering this is my first then I would still get a c section due to my anxiety, medical issues etc etc...better make sure my partner gets me to the hospital quickly

Munchkin, make sure it's documented ALL OVER your notes that this is to happen, despite literally begging through contractions I was forced to give birth naturally. When I reviewed the birth notes with the supervisor of midwives to gear up a plan for this time, they'd actually documented that I'd agreed with the medical team to aim for a vaginal birth despite being 'very anxious' about things. I begged for a section, and was terrified and sobbing, and that's what they wrote. They nearly gave me an episiotomy instead of a section (as they hadn't bothered reading my notes and thought it was the pushing that would do the damage), by this time I was in too much pain to argue, but this was my biggest fear and would've led to extensive surgery post-birth for me.