Can you ask for c section with baby1

[AhhhhABaby]

am not atall high risk but am just absolutely s*ing myself about labour and get myself really worked up and anxious. Don't think my body would cope naturally.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated

I'm guessing this is your first?

I sympathise sweetheart, I think every first time mum feels apprehensive about labour. But the truth is, no matter what happens during labour you WILL cope and you are not alone, there will be a team of people ready to give you any help you need.

And TRUST your body, you will be amazed at how it just knows what to do. Trust your feelings and instincts, they will get you through. You will have access to all the pain relief you need, no-one has to suffer agonies in labour.

Remember a caesarean is a major operation and will mean you are unable to lift your baby for the first few weeks - not the best start and really best avoided. If it becomes medically necessary, fair enough you will cope, but it will really be easier for you if you can avoid it.

Talk to other mums and ante natal classes- they will reassure you.

Lots of luck I am sure everything will go well and enjoy your new baby

A caesarean doesn't mean you can't lift your baby! Mine was over 11 lbs and I did from day 1.

Have you had any counselling about your fear of giving birth? I think that would be your first step. Speak to your midwife and see what support they can potentially offer you.

I was similarly terrified, but did a hypnobirthing course and had an absolutely beautiful (tho 53 hr long!!) birth. I was amazed by how much my feelings about it all changed.

You can ask, but you are likely to have a fight on your hands to get it. Talk to your midwife in the first instance, and you will then have to talk to your consultant. He or she will recommend counselling as a first step - in fact that's what the NICE guidelines state should happen. The guidelines then state that if after seeing a professional with expertise in mental health support, you still firmly feel the same, you should be offered a c/s ; but the guidelines aren't law, and many consultants will be very resistant to the idea of a c/s without medical need.

You can ask. You would first be referred for counselling before any decision was made. Different hospitals have different criteria.

Also not being able to lift your baby is utter horse shit. I've had 2
Sections and the general advice was not to lift anything other than your baby.

Have a look at this link under "planned (elective) C Sections". www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/caesarean-section.aspx#close

It states: "If you ask for a caesarean section because you are anxious about giving birth, your midwife or doctor should offer you the chance to discuss your anxiety with a healthcare professional who can offer support during your pregnancy and labour. If you still feel that you do not want a vaginal birth after you have discussed this, you should be offered a caesarean section."

So in other words if you are absolutely certain after you have heard all the advice then you should be offered a section.

Article 8 of the European Directives state the same and there is also case law which went to the European Court of Human Rights which states women should have the choice of how they give birth. The case is Ternovszky v Hungary (2010), it concerns a woman's right to a home birth but the principle can be equally applied to C Sections.

I am also going to elect for a C Section and have an appointment next week to have a little fight with my consultant!

I felt exactly the same - I'm pg with my first. I spoke to the midwife at my booking in appointment (actually sobbed uncontrollably) and she was lovely and referred me to the 'birth talk' midwife at my hospital... I had an appointment to discuss the risks associated with elcs and had plenty of time to ask questions and talk about my fears. Am now feeling much more relaxed and intending to give birth rather than elcs but can change my mind up to 36 weeks and can go back and speak to the midwife any time. Please check to see if there is something similar in your area - it really made a difference to me and might help you too. Good luck with everything x

I think everyone is scared when it comes to giving birth for the first time. As suggested above, talking to your midwife is the first thing to do. But also maybe watching some birth videos (NOT one born every minute where they're all screaming etc, but calm videos) and reading some blogs such as Birth Without Fear. Part of the anxiety is the unknown, so making it more normal can help on that front.

A CS comes with its own risks and anxieties - it's not the easy way out. Having watched friends and family recovering from them, my birth looked like a dream. Obviously that's not the case for everyone, but I think sometimes CS are advertised as the magic solution when that simply isn't the case.

Talk to your midwife. Look at Birth Without Fear. Get some birth counselling. Get a hypnobirthing CD / sessions. And then consider your options.

It will all be okay.

Yes you can, it is absolutely your choice how you have your baby.

I had a labour with DS who was born by C-section (eclampsia)

The second time around I had a planned C-section and it was a lovely experience.

I was home after 2 nights and walking baby over the park the day after that. I was able to lift baby and deal with my 4 year old at the time, and I healed quickly. My children were 9lb and 8lb 2oz, so not exactly light either!
I also fully breastfed both for 6 months and mixed fed until 10 months.

I have a friend who had a natural birth last week, she had many stitches and is still in too much pain to do anything.

Healing no matter through labour or c-section is different for everyone. Everyone has different risks and that should always be discussed fully with a consultant who can best advise you.

I am not in the business of scaring people with C-section horrors as myself having had 2 I know they can be absolutely fine.

I am having another c-section in July.

Get all of the facts first, make an informed decision. Knowledge is power.

I wanted a CS from day one. Luckily it turned out I was having twins so the fight for an elcs was rather easier. But it WAS still a fight!

It was a great experience. I wouldn't change it. Pain was we managed. I was driving and having sex again I a fortnight!

Do your research. Understand the risks. Make your own mind up. Then stick to it.

I hope you get the birth experience that you wish for

if you're in the early stages of pregnancy I would wait and see how you feel further down the line.

I had always been terrified of labour ( I've had recurring nightmares since I was 16) and wanted an elcs but today is my due date and I'm planning for a pretty natural birth (Although I'm not ruling anything out) my feelings definitely changed the further into my pregnancy and the more I discussed it. I think if you want to overcome your fear I would recommend reading positive birth stories, hypno-birthing cds and joining an antenatal class (it was oddly reassuring to know people were just as scared as I was) . If that doesn't work talk to your midwife and don't let yourself be pressured into anything you don't feel comfortable with, also don't listen to the people who make you feel bad about your choice once you've made your decision. Hope your pregnancy goes well!

Thing is until you try you dont know. Some people seem to have very easy labour that is short and manage a home birth or on gas and air.
Difficult labour seems to run in my family.
Dm had
Dsis naturally - breech
Me - op so my head was in the more difficult position.

I had dd Op
Dsis had dd1 by cS she was breech
Dd2 elcs due to first birth.

If it was that bad people wouldnt have more than 1.

There is always pethidine and epidural.

Maybe fewer people would be scared if they could get the pain relief when they choose rather than an arbitrary 4cm.

I think if you go overdue (common with first pg) you can quickly be given the epidural as the process can be more intense.