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Original poster

looking for unbiased information on c sections

20 replies

peeapod · 04/11/2013 20:15

not even the nhs offer this, as im sick of reading about normal birth. it implies that im somehow abnormal for considering a c. there are medical reasons potentially why i might find a 'natural' birth too traumatic. i dont feel able to talk to mw for the same reason...

any ideas for genuinely unbiased information?

OP posts:

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SomethingOnce · 04/11/2013 20:54

What do you actually want to know that you think the NHS don't offer information about?

Original poster

peeapod · 04/11/2013 20:56

anything. information that doesnt make me feel like a failure for considering it. or making it out to be big and scary and full of horror etc.

OP posts:

superram · 04/11/2013 21:02

I had an emergency section. I had already had epidural as baby back to back and it hurt-a lot!

Was fine. However, I found recovery hard and was in a lot of pain. I needed help for about 5 weeks.

I have had a ventouse and the emcs and if I had another-which I won't I would have a planned section.

Leopoldina · 04/11/2013 21:06

Well you may not want biased views but I will tell you that I think they're wonderful. Without the first, we might not be here today. The second was planned, straightforward and easy with a fast an simple re overy. From my experience, I strongly recommend them and anyone who makes you feel a failure for having one is not the sort of person you want to hang out with. Nobody gives prizes for putting yourself through pain without the assistance of the modern medicine cabinet.

Original poster

peeapod · 04/11/2013 21:13

thanks. positive c section, realisitic c section stuff is good. thanks

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 04/11/2013 21:16

Of course youre not a failure! But you will need to talk to your midwife. Good luck x

ChaffinchOfDoom · 04/11/2013 21:20

dd1 = so-called normal birth. induced..retained placenta..3rd deg tear..further surgery..10 day pn bleed ..further surgery. 6 mths to recover

ds2 = planned csection. smooth, great experience. bit sore after. basically back to total normal in 3 1/2 weeks

d?3 due March 2014 = planned section

SomethingOnce · 04/11/2013 21:22

Umm, Wikipedia? Caesarean section. Should be fairly neutral.

You might want to skip any bits which talk about the risks compared to vaginal birth. I wouldn't myself, but if you're feeling so sensitive you'll probably feel got at no matter how neural and evidence-based the information is.

SomethingOnce · 04/11/2013 21:22

neural neutral

Mintyy · 04/11/2013 21:29

I think you need to accept that any information on c-sections will start with something like "in the vast majority of cases a vaginal birth is preferable for both mother and baby."

Just accept that and move on without being defensive.

Its much like breast feeding is better than formula feeding. It just is (most of the time) and no denying it.

There will be a few hundred threads chock full of positive c-section birth stories on Mumsnet for you to read through. If you use Advanced Search, you will be able to find them all. They have all been archived, since Mumsnet began, more than 10 years ago.

curiousgeorgie · 04/11/2013 21:37

I've had 2 C sections, both elective for breach and failure to progress.

With DD2 they wanted me to try a VBAC and I fought them on it, because I loved my section so much.

It didn't feel really sterile and overly medicalised, the day was the best of my life and truly amazing. The spinal wasn't bad at all and I was first on the list (9am) so by 11 was sitting in bed with my new DD, completely happy and with it, hardly any pain, up later that day and home the next day (signed myself out as I felt great!)

Recovery was fine, I was pushing the pram shipping the following week and had no problems at all. Bonded with DD straight away, they laid her on my chest. It was perfect.

With DD2, I thought it wild be the same.
I waited until 3pm as they had emergency sections to do, they took a long time to do my spinal as I had allowed a student to have a go and they had to let me have a break as it was so hideously painful and took 30 minutes.

The section itself was fine, much the same as the first time.

Afterwards I was so desperate to see my DD1 I made them take me out of recovery and to my room where she could visit me, she and my mum, my DH and our new baby were sitting in my room chatting to me and to be honest I felt like shit. Dizzy, sick, pain.

I stayed in 2 nights and DH helped me at home for 4 weeks and I was still in agony. My scar opened, I was allergic to the stitches (they had used metal the first time) and had to have them taken out with gas & air.

I got pnd, I was poorly and it was horrible.

I can't be more honest than that, two sides

hazchem · 05/11/2013 00:08

peeapod I agreed with Mintyy that it might be useful for you to move on from worrying about normal because while vaginal birth is obviously biologically normally it might not be the best for you in your particular circumstances.

I've had a brief flip through NICE guidelines and they look factual.

If you are feeling anxious at the thought of having a C Section you could look into hiring a doula. I good doula can support you thought a C Section birth so that is a positive birthing experience for you.
Also the team of health care professionals should support you in making an informed choice about how you birth, if they are not ask for more help. The team of HCP around you should help you to make an informed decision about the type of birth you want or need, if they are not helping you or a hindering you from doing this you might have to make some noise to get the help you need.
Oh and I'm pretty biased towards homebirth but I'm passionate about wanting women to not feeling like they don't have the right to make decisions about their own bodies.

hazchem · 05/11/2013 00:15

Ugg that was terrible last sentence. I mean I want women to actually be able to make decisions about their own bodies, not have that taken away by media, or doctors or other women or what ever.

Foxeym · 05/11/2013 08:44

I had my 3rd c section 3 weeks ago and all 3 times I have recovered really well. I know everybody has a different rate of recovery but I am more or less back to normal. My Doc signed me off last week to drive, so I was driving 2 weeks after section which is a godsend for getting older 2 DC's to school, appointments ect. To be honest the sleep deprivation of a newborn has been harder to deal with :)

JoJoManon · 05/11/2013 16:41

This is a thorny topic but since you asked, OP...if you push hard enough for an ELCS on the NHS, you will get one. (Having one in 2 weeks time).
I have 3 friends who had ELCS and said they are a "dream" compared to vaginal childbirth. But be careful, people get very judgemental if you aren't willing to have a vaginal birth and ideally without any pain relief. Send me a private message if you want more info, I'll tell you what I did to get my ELCS.

ChicaMomma · 05/11/2013 17:07

peepod, do whatever your gut is telling you to do. I'm 50/50 on it myself, and woudlnt be surprised if i opt for a ELCS also. My OBgyn isnt against it by all accounts.

Ideally, if she thinks physically i'll be able for a natural (natural? huh? lol) birth then i'll opt for that- but some people are more likely to have trouble delivering, if she thinks i'm one of those then i'll opt for the section. I've heard all sides of the story- good and bad about all deliveries/types, but i can tell you what my absolute NIGHTMARE scenario would be- 17 hours of labour that ends in an emergency section in any case. I would say approx 50% of my friends and family have ended up in that situation and i really dont want that to happen.

ChicaMomma · 05/11/2013 17:08

BTW, if i do end up opting for an ELCS, i'll be telling people it's because the baby is breech. (is it breech, or breeched??!) I agree with JoJOManon, people are judgmental about ELCS still- too posh to push etc. THey should just mind their own business of course! But to save the hassle, lie and say the baby is breech(ed)

rainbowfeet · 05/11/2013 17:15

I've had 3..
1st was an emergency not too bad but recovery was long (as often the case with emergency) already had 19 hours of labour including 2 hours pushing!!

2nd & 3rd were elective much better, calm, planned & organised. Recovery much quicker. 3rd & last was actually amazing & just a little amount of discomfort afterwards was back to running around as before after 6 days.

However I'm not sure many trusts are in favour of doing them without very good reason most don't offer an elc simply as a choice.

Handbagsonnhold · 05/11/2013 17:25

I had an elective cs 4 years ago and it was extremely civilised and calm to be honest. I am going to opt again for the same with current pregnancy. You must think what is right for you as we are all different....thank goodness we are!

Good look with your choices and remember they are yours to make x

Damnautocorrect · 05/11/2013 17:29

I had an emergency. I was virtually in my own from day 1 at home from day 1 as oh was at work. So the recovery in that sense was ok, but 5 years on I'm still in massive amounts of pain with scarring and have had numerous operations to unsuccessfully fix it.
It is a major operation, but I couldn't manage a natural labour so a healthy baby is what matters however you get there

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