Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Would a C section be better for me ?

16 replies

Marley11 · 14/12/2018 06:35

Sorry if this thread has been done so many times before ....... But I am 35 weeks pregnant ( first child ) and all is well pregnancy wise . But I am seeking some mum advise.

I suffer with anxiety and have suffered PTSD in the past after a trauma which took me a year to recover ...... and I guess I am really worried that if I have a traumatic birth or anything goes wrong, I will suffer again ?!

So the question is would I be better asking for an elective C section ?

I am unsure if this is coming from a ‘ normal ‘ place of fear that most women get 4 weeks before labour.

Or if I am just thinking of ways to ensure I’m looking after my mental health .

What would your advise be ?

Thank you xx

OP posts:

Bitchfromhell · 14/12/2018 06:43

Only you can decide that along with your hcp's. I think that assuming that an elcs is less traumatic might be wishful thinking though, remember it is major abdominal surgery.

I can recommend the positive birth company digital pack. It will teach you techniques that will help to keep you calm and positive whichever you decide. Good luck.

Surfskatefamily · 14/12/2018 06:53

I suffer with generalised anxiety which was through the roof during pregnancy. I was so anxious about birth.
I had a less than ideal birth, but during the labour i handled it like a boss!! Did end up in csection at the end but im glad i experienced labour.
Something just happens when you are in it, adrenalin takes over. I made sure to give birth in my local hospital which helped ease my anxiety abit as i knew that if any help was needed it was immediatly available.
It is totally totally up to you. I would suggest you have a discussion with a consultant if you want all the risks weighing up.
I want more babies and its not wise to have lots after a csection due to increased risks. The recovery was hard, you cant get up easily and its very painful. You have to inject yourself with blood thinners. I got a flippin infection at 6weeks pp which set me right back. Its not to be taken lightly.

witchy89 · 15/12/2018 22:43

Have you ready any books on natural birth or done any research? I guarantee if you read up about HOW your body prepares to birth a baby and all the amazing ways your body is perfectly designed to give birth you will feel less anxious. A cs is major surgery, and the recovery can be long. When you give birth naturally your body releases all sorts of amazing hormones which can help you feel less anxious. I highly recommend the Positive Birth Book, it's an easy read and so informative. Have you discussed your worries with the midwife?

Thetigerwhocameto · 16/12/2018 02:23

As someone who had a c section (admittedly to a preemie, who was distressed), lost a lot of blood, had to have a transfusion and had a baby in NICU I would suggest a csection may not be the way to avoid ptsd. It’s been a long slog properly recovering (not aided by the want to be in the NICU with DD)

Jummynbean · 16/12/2018 04:52

@marley11 I have had the same thoughts too, however I am driven only by the fear of the damage done to my body during birth. I only intended of having 1and the idea of a c section makes me feel it will be less traumatic long term. Part of me knows it's a bit mad but that's just how I feel! Need to have a chat with my mw and mums that's have done both I think. X

Original poster

Marley11 · 18/12/2018 16:55

Hi
Thanks ladies for all your replies .... I think yor right , the recovery and major surgery wouldn’t necessarily mean it’s easier . I just thought it would be less likely to cause any trauma that a long birth could ..... And I guess that’s anxiety worrying before it’s even happened .
Thanks for advise
I am reading a hypnobirthing book every night now in hope it calms me down x

OP posts:

comradelouise · 18/12/2018 21:58

I had to have a planned c section due to complications, but I wanted one anyway - the idea of natural birth has always made me feel very scared.

I found the c section experience relieved my feelings of stress. I did take a few days to recover but not as much as I've heard other women end up taking. My baby was also in NICU for 3 weeks, but that gave my body time to recover.

This is also a bit trivial but I also enjoyed being able to take in a playlist of soothing songs to listen to while it was happening!

Jummynbean · 18/12/2018 22:27

comradelouise do you think the planned c section had any affect on the bond between you and your baby? Was he in the room at all?

Jummynbean · 18/12/2018 22:28

Sorry I also meant to add the the bond between baby and father too x

HJWT · 18/12/2018 22:31

@Marley11 I suffer with anxiety, I had a VERY traumatic birth and afterwards but the second they put that baby in my arms everything just melted away and none of it mattered! Now TTC #2 so didn't leave anything horrible behind, if your happy to have it, (I did not as I was to scared) ask for an epidural early on and then your in control x good luck

Thissameearth · 18/12/2018 22:51

I had planned c section by choice. It was faultless: low key, controlled, relaxed. And beautiful in its own way. Recovered well (up and about same day, first breastfeed in recovery room, no bonding issues (for me or my husband, who was very supportive of my choice for ELCS and said he would choose same option if he had been me). Part of me wonders what labour would have been like - and personally, in an ideal world I’d have opted for a very short manageable labour with no complications drugs or injuries but obviously that’s not an option and you need to see what happens. So I consider myself very lucky to have had the degree of certainty I had and ultimately a positive experience with healthy baby and no injuries or trauma from my birth. It doesn’t plague my thoughts but I sometimes feel like not having been in labour means I have missed some sort of secret aspect of womenhood (but this pales into comparison with the obsessive thoughts re baby suffering harm - or worse - in labour that plagued me in pregnancy). Best of luck OP

Original poster

Marley11 · 19/12/2018 09:17

Thanks

Yeah I suppose it’s that for me to , to be in control and not have the unexpected happen that I then can’t recover from mentally.

Was this why you had a c section .

I am 36 weeks today so to be honest I think I have left this decision a little to late for them to allow me to have an elective c now anyway - did you choose yours very early on x

OP posts:

Thissameearth · 19/12/2018 09:38

mine was about control yes but as I say about alleviating obsessive thoughts re baby’s safety (pregnancy after MC). Antenatal MH issue, resolved shortly after birth.

I arranged mine before 32 weeks but I’m not sure how quickly they can do so.

Thissameearth · 19/12/2018 09:41

There are pros and cons to both and I would not say it would be better for you as everyone is different. Talking things over with consultant was helpful for me. It’s a very difficult decision to make esp with MH clouding everything.

Mrstobe90 · 19/12/2018 10:17

Hi,
I was terrified of giving birth and had therapy to help me deal with the anxiety.
In the end, I chose hypnobirthing and it was incredible. I had a really calm birth and felt in control the entire time! Read up on it and see if it's for you xx

comradelouise · 19/12/2018 10:21

@Jummynbean - father was in the room throughout, and no, I don't think the c section affected either of us bonding. The 3 week stay in NICU did to some extent - it's hard to bond through a little greenhouse, but we've made up for that since :)

OP - I think it's still worth mentioning if that's what you want. Even though I was planned c section from 28 weeks, I actually technically had an emergency c section. At the hospital they had one emergency c section team and 1 elective, so because another elective showed up at the same time, they had to move one of us!

So it will just be down to availability, and with a few weeks to go, it seems possible an appointment will be available to you. Good luck, whatever you decide!

Flip