Why Choose Caesarean For Your First Baby?

[ballerini]

I am new to pregnancy and wondered for what the reasons would someone choose to have their first child by Caesarean section?
My friend mentioned it is more risky than a vaginal birth but I thought it was less risky because the cord would be less likely to get wrapped around the neck and it won't get stuck and stressed.

Many reasons: tokophobia (fear of childbirth), due to physical issues mum has ie bad back, because the alternative is induction which has a 30+% chance of emergency section

Any kind of major surgery is risky, and a C-Section is major abdominal surgery. It runs all sorts of risks of complications, including accidental cuts to other organs internally, potential for cutting the baby accidentally with the scalpel etc. It is also a 6 week recovery time for your stomach muscles and skin to knit again after the surgery and so it restricts your movement and ability to do things like driving.

It's not the easy choice for childbirth. Some people must have C-Sections for medical reasons, other's choose them for their own reasons (possibly including the phobia of childbirth) Both natural childbirth and c-sections have their pro's and con's.

I'd want a section as I'd be scared of damage to my nether regions.

You should definitely talk to your midwife and maybe see if she can recommend a couple of books about the pros and cons of different options.

I wouldn't as I'm frightened to death of being cut open. Your vajayjay soon goes back to normal x

Could be anything, ask her! Fear of labour, not being familiar with C-section "apron belly" (though I hear that doesn't happen to everyone), lack of self-confidence - rather leave things in the hands of the surgeon, being able to plan the date (eg if your dh is being deployed overseas or a close relative is terminally ill)...

I'd rather risk doing it au natural than have major surgery. The recovery time is a lot faster and believe me, c-section scars are worse than a few rips to your nether regions and take a lot longer to heal.

I did

Felt the most natural choice for me. Lovely birth, good recovery, invisible scar.

To clarify my friend isn't having a c-section she just mentioned it was risky.
She also said they move your organs around which sounds horrendous! Does anyone know if that's true as it didn't look like they moved organs on what little they show on One Born Every Minute, but I've seen the way they rip you and that looks most unpleasant!

Choose?

Surely this is a full surgical procedure that would only occur upon medical advice. As in...the mother or baby being at risk if a normal vaginal birth were to proceed.

I realise they were emergency c-sections and the is a difference btw! ^^

I have had two c-sections, the first emergency and the second elective, both were gentle beautiful experiences with no problems. I count myself lucky not to have had to go through difficult vaginal births. I would choose a c-section over a vaginal delivery every time because of my positive experiences and because the risks to mother and baby appear to be lower.

You can choose a Caesarean according to this bbc article:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15840743

I do t know why anyone would choose but I’m sure there are many possible reasons. As for the difference between them, I’ve had a natural birth and a c section. If I had to have a c section tomorrow I’d not worry, it was honestly fine and the recovery wasn’t too bad. I’d been told it was ‘washing up in your tummy’ but I honestly didn’t feel anything of the sort.

Of course everyone’s experience is different but for me it wasn’t bad at all.

@onedayiwillmissthis Of course you can choose to have a C-section. It's called an elective c-section.

OP it's not that simple...you'd only be allowed an optional section if you felt unable psychologically to give birth vaginally (and you'd need to prove that) or you paid to have a c-section privately (apparently around £12 000). But there has to be a medical reason.

Basically also they cost a lot more to do than a vaginal birth (just look at the amount of staff needed per c-section compared to each vaginal birth) and the risks far outweigh the plusses unless there is a clear reason for doing them, so for the NHS it's a no brainer. Which is why they are only done when they have to be.

Actually you can request a section without any medical reason at all. Some NHS areas will grant them easily, some won't but it is your right to request a different consultant if one refuses you.

After 27 hours of labour I still wasn't fully dilated and was in terrible pain, baby was huge and in an awkward position, so I was given a section for the safety of both of us. The medical reasons were to avoid risk of severe tearing, shoulder dystocia or oxygen deprivation. My recovery was uncomplicated and I ended up better off than my friend who gave birth naturally but had a 4th degree tear resulting in incontinence and surgery to repair. Many people choose a caesarean to avoid the sort of damage my friend had.

I chose a section because :

-phobia of childbirth

• I'm rubbish with pain, and didn't think I could handle the pain of labour
• I'd rather have a scarred bikini line than a ripped vulva
• the predictability of a section
• virtually pain free childbirth

-I liked the idea of meeting my baby when pain free and not exhausted -no potential for ripping or an episiotomy without pain relief. All incisions would be under spinal. -is easier to take it easy and for people to look after you when the wound is on your tummy, than explaining that your vulva is held together with string.

I'd take section over natural birth any day.

DC1 was an EMCS after a failed induction. DC2 was an ELCS. If I could go back knowing what I do now about the risks of VB, DC1 would've been an ELCS too.

Some reasons include:
• 90% of vaginal deliveries result in tearing or cuts. The severity ranges from very mild to a lifetime of incontinence
• 40% of women who have a VB will go on to develop some degree of incontinence within the next 20 years, compared with 29% of women who have CSs
• Stillbirth rate is 0.2 with VB, but half that at 0.1 with a CS
• If you're 38 years old your risk of anal tearing with VB is 18%

You get the gist.

Yes, women are supposed to have a choice in delivery method according to NICE guidelines. The sad reality is that once you're pregnant your care becomes hugely paternalistic and you aren't trusted to make the decision for yourself. There is a cost push behind this but also a very strong lobby and culture around VB being the holy grail (especially if you can do it without pain relief).

In 2015 the RCOG decided that women should be given the risks for VB in the same manner they are given the risks for CS. This is yet to happen.

My point isn't that CS is better, it is that women should be allowed to choose for themselves which delivery method they want once in possession of the facts about each.

I had a section because DS was breech

I was all prepared and excited about having a hypnobirth for DC1, but with failed induction I ended up having a csection (technically classed as an emergency, but actually really lovely calm op).

For DC2, I’m having ELCS, because I was really happy with the first csec experience and healed quickly with no ongoing issues (I’ve got too many friends, who’ve had text book vaginal deliveries and still suffer from multiple follow on issues).