Elective C-Section (medical/non medical reasons)

[LittlePeaPod]

I understand this subject has been done before. I also know that ECS particularly as personal choice rather than as a medical need is an emotive subject and the debate about CS birth can be particularly contentious.

Considering 1 in 4 women in the UK experience a CS birth I have been disappointed to see how inadequate access to CS antenatal information is, so women can make a truly informed decision. Personally I think it's short-sighted to focus solely on VB and continually emphasise managing pain relief. The NHS is so focused on their target to reduce the 1 in 4 CS due to cost that they are neglecting their responsibilities to those women that choose or want a CS birth regardless of medical need.

I am currently 23+6 and I have chosen to opt for an ECS. There is no medical reason for a CS but this is a birth choice that I want. I understand that CS and VB both carry real but different risks but I believe these risks should be explained to women so we can make informed decisions about which birth risks we wish to take. Unfortunately this is not the case and the push for VB is so endemic in the NHS that women are not receiving the true facts on CS.

For those women like me that want an ECS birth. I just wanted you to know that due to the new NISA guidelines if you want/choose a CS the NHS now have to give you one. They will do everything they can to try and change your mind to the point of trying to scare you and make you feel guilty about your choice. But, regardless of medical need if you insist that a CS is the right choice for you the NHS have to honour your wishes and give you a CS. I am fortunate to have been able to privately pay for independent advice on VB and CS from three different very well respected professionals in the UK (two consultant obstetricians and one consultant in fetal medicine) and also received advice from a close family friend who is a consultant anaesthetist. I was shocked to hear how target driven VBs are in the NGS and how in fact this is what's driving the push for women been made to think they should have a VB and not the safety issue.

Ladies it is your choice how you have your babies and what you do with your body. If you want a CS you can have a CS regardless of medical need on the NHS. My DF and I have just spent a lot of money finding that out. I am 23+6 and the NHS have now confirmed I will be having an ECS and there is no medical or psychological need. I am having it because its my choice. I wanted to share this because prior to spending a fortune getting non biased information I was under the impression that I had to prove a VB was medically necessary, would psychologically affect me or that I had a fear of VB before a CS would be authorised by the NHS. Well that's not the case, its about personal choice. VB or CS you have a right to choose and the NHS have to honour your choice. It's just a shame and has royally pissed me the fuck off that if your choice is an ECS for non medical reasons the NHS are making it so difficult for you to opt for that choice in an informed way.

slinky - I'm not sure how I feel about it really. I mean, nobody wants to have major abdominal surgery and if a C-sec can be avoided then that's much better, especially in terms of recovery. I have been thinking it over and over and I do think I would prefer a VB with epidural if I have the chance. I need to do more research into it all though from the angle of how successful these labours are, because if a high number end up with a CS being done anyway then I may as well just have the ELCS. My health has stabilised a bit now, hence why my needed level of intervention has been downgraded, but I'm not convinced I'm 'well enough' to completely rule out the ELCS option. I'm currently 28 weeks so still lots of time to think about it. She has however already booked my date on the Labour Ward which I was surprised about, I didn't think they would do it this early.

i was in a similar quandry, although slightly different. Let me explain. At a minimum i would need an epidural. This is statistically more likely to end up in medical intervention, forceps ventouse or emcs. Having gone through these options as highly likely to be traumatic and something i need to avoid if at all possible. It effectively ruled out an epidural, so the next step is elcs.
I hope you can see how i got through the decision process. You need to weigh up all the options you have and the risks and outcomes etc. As they are related to each other im hoping it might be easy to do.

Do you have any official statistics about the rates of labour under epidural resulting in some form of intervention? This is exactly what I'm worried about you see and would love it if I could go to my next appointment armed with knowledge

not personally as i have no access to the internet :( anyone else?

Not to worry - I will get Googling

Hi PeaPod how are things a week on? Hope all is well!

having an elcs on tuesday. was wondering if anyone has any tips or anything that helped id like to hear ur experiences. anythin u packed in hospital bag that u couldnt have done without?

Hi tgamble13 I'm having an elcs on Tuesday too - good luck!

Is this your first baby? Mine will be dc2, and to be honest I'm not really packing anything different to last time (induction, leading to emcs for undiagnosed breech in labour).

I recommend bringing your own pillow, and maybe one of those boomerang shaped feeding pillows if you have one? So you can get comfy in bed.

Oh, and am sure you're aware you will need MASSIVE knickers?! They're called "full briefs" and it's best to size up so they don't rub on your wound.

I have had a vb and an emcs for dc2.

I'm sorry but I think it is irresponsible to encourage others to opt for major abdominal surgery without a medical or mental health reason.

The major issue for me is taking up resources for people that need it, c sections are primarily used to save lives, it was sadly unable to save my son who died shortly after birth, but it saved my life, my son and I are a statistic, an example of why c sections are so important and should not be taken advantage of.

My recovery was fairly quick and was walking about 4 days after, the experience itself was not traumatic but was not to be taken lightly.

Sorry should have said, DS did NOT die due to the emcs, it was a pre existing condition and the emcs gave him the best chance of surviving.

thanks slinkyb! this is my first, my baby is breech so my idea of goin au natural have been flung out the window but am not too bothered as long as my baby is fine good luck for tuesday too! only three more sleeps eeekkk!!

Its been gone over before Rosduk, but all mums should feel able to give birth however they need to regardless of cost or resource. If you follow your arguement then we should be all giving birth naturally without pain relief or doctors and at home because its going to save money. or resources.

I know it's been gone over before, but I'm allowed an opinion based on my experience.

In an ideal world it would be great if we could all have the birth we want, but it's not the way the NHS or the hospitals run. Its nothing to do with cost, but in my opinion- lack of resources.

It's not ideal, but it's real life. 9 out of the 14 staff in my section were pulled from unrelated departments due to staff shortage and an elcs that was already taking place that day. That's a resource issue. It's not any labouring women's fault, it's the way these hospitals run and as with everyone's labour it's the luck of the draw on the day, for example, how many if us have been refused/delayed pain relief due to a scheduled c-section?

We can agree to disagree you know, as we all have different experiences. As I said, I completely agree with c-sections due to medical or mental health reasons.

I wouldn't have thought an ELCS would be authorised anyway unless there were medical or emotional reasons???

What other scenarios are there??
Do some really want them 'just because'?

Exactly writer, I think if there was no medical/clinical/psychological reason then you wouldn't be able to get an elcs on the NHS anyway.

Is it true that most inductions end in cs? I'm being induced at 38 weeks due to t1 diabetes and would be disappointed if I had to have a cs.

I don't know VJ - I wouldn't have thought so? If you look in the Childbirth forum there may be a few threads about inductions. I've seen a few and although the induction took a long time they still tended to have vaginal deliveries.

Good. My diabetes midwife said inductions at 38 weeks often don't work because it's trying to force labour a few weeks before the body is actually ready. I will hang onto the fact that it may not end like that for everyone though.

theres a higher risk certainly. any intervention carry a further risk of more.

My induction at 40+11 ended up in an emcs, but that was due to undiagnosed breech. I have heard that inductions do tend to mean a higher chance of more intervention, but I'm sure there are plenty which have gone smoothly too.

littlepeapod I am going to ask for a C-section. It is my first so I understand they wil try to dissuade me a lot. Any tips would be hugely appreciated. I'm going for my first Consultant Obstetrician appointment on Tuesday when I will be 16 weeks. Thank you

They may not try and dissuade you coco try and stay positive. For what reasons are you requesting one??

I was induced at 38 weeks twice and had vb's both times.

You are absolutely right OP about the push for VB & HB's being about cost saving. Most obstetricians wives have had ECS & so did I & it was a lovely calm pain free birth for our DD and I recovered so quickly. Much quicker than my friends who have had horrible tears etc after VB's.
Have the birth you want & don't let the birth mafia make you feel bad about it Xx
Ps I look forward to doing it all again ;-)

Littlepeapod, you can DM me if you want.