I've requested an elective c section

[CathyandHeathcliff]

Due to my overwhelming anxiety of giving birth and having implements inserted into me.

I have a long history of anxiety and depression and the midwife just wrote it on my birth notes and said it should be fine, but she'll check with the consultant...I thought I'd have a fight on my hands!

It's my first pregnancy and I made it clear to her I've done all my research and she seemed satisfied with that.

Thanks for the reply @SiolGhoraidh :)

The consultant has referred my DD to safeguarding & the anaesthetist due to her issues with needles & being touched, so I am hoping that we can try something before baby is due to arrive. I will speak to the MW about it too, next week.

I hope they understand and you manage to get the c section but there are other procedures that can be used rather than foreceps.....ventouse which I had with my baby as I didn’t want foreceps either

My elective c-section (after 2 emergency ones) was certainly not lovely or calm. I was very nervous because I knew what was coming.

It’s a bit like getting a tooth out, but they’re yanking a full sized baby out instead. I could feel them rummaging about inside me and tugging. There’s also smells and sounds which are offputting. I wasn’t allowed to keep my knickers and as my gown yanked up to my chest so everyone in the theatre (at least half a dozen, more for the first birth as DC was premature) could see me in all my glory, legs splayed because they were numb and I couldn’t keep them closed. Getting the catheter in/out wasn’t much fun, nor was getting pain killers pushed up my bum. All this with a large audience. In recovery, they lifted up my gown, and opened up my legs to check my vaginal bleeding was normal (I assumed there wouldn’t be any!).

I don’t want to cause you unnecessary worry, but if you want an elective section you should go in knowing fully what will/might happen.

I had an ELCS with my last baby and will again this time round.

May I just add, they DO use instruments with a csection. Including vaginal, such as the catheter. I felt my being inserted after I had my spinal put in, and I felt it being removed the following day once everything has worn off.

Just something to factor in if instruments are one of your biggest fears leaning you towards a csection... x

I don’t recognise some of these csection experiences based on the two I’ve had. I was nervous waiting around - but that’s normal I’m sure! Once the spinal was in I didn’t feel anything. They rummaged about but it was behind a curtain, out of sight out of mind for me. No pain until anaesthetic wore off which was ages and then managed with painkillers. The first poo and first laugh needed to be done very carefully! For me the sense of control was important, I could’ve had an easy peasy (relatively speaking) birth or it could have been horrendous. The planned c section has fewer variables. Neither consultant particularly bothered once they knew it was what I was definite about - if they think you might want persuading they try harder imo.

@FranticallyPeaceful

Do you know what annoys me about the NHS is that they pick and choose what 'unnecessary' procedures they want to fund. Over the last few years I have had an upper and lower endoscopy and had all of my wisdom teeth removed (in a oner). All of these procedures are uncomfortable but not remotely painful (ok the teeth hurt afterwards) and all are much much lower risk than childbirth. Yet in EACH CASE, I was offered full sedation which if I took it up would have used up a hospital bed and additional nursing support for at least half a day,

Sedation may not be as pricy or straight forward as a c section, but the point is at NO POINT did anyone try to guilt trip me in to turning it down because it was 'unnecessary'. It was respected that it was up to me to decide whether it was necessary or not. As it happens I did not take this option but tat does not make it my right to decide whether it is necessary or unnecessary for someone else. Their body. Their choice.

It is easy to bash women and use maternal 'guilt' to discourage ladies from C Sections and epidurals to save money. That is why they do it. If men had kids there would be no problem getting whatever intervention you want. I absolute terms a natural birth with no complications may deliver the best outcome for mother and baby. However, this cannot be if the mother is being coerced into it against her will.

So get off your high horse and have some respect for other people. If we all cared so much about the NHS we wouldn't have kids at all. Save the cost.