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

Original poster

Emergency v Elective C Section

16 replies

Findmea · 20/05/2019 12:35

I have a 5 yr old DD who was delivered by emergency C Section due to her being in the wrong position in birthing canal and therefore literally not able to get out despite being 10cm & pushing.

I am currently 33 wks with 2nd child and been advised by midwife that as the baby is currently breech another C Section is looking likely (even though baby has 7 weeks to move Confused)

Looking for experiences of emergency v elective c section stories as my recovery from my c section wasn't good - anemia probably being the main cause of my misery!

Starting to think I should maybe consider being booked in for an elective to perhaps prevent the inevitable (emergency c section)??

Sorry - long post Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Findmea · 20/05/2019 12:36

Sorry should also add - Consultant said at my appointment at 20 weeks that I could try for vaginal birth but now midwifes are contradicting this due to baby's position.

OP posts:
ChristinaMarlowe · 20/05/2019 12:40

No experience of an emergency CS but had an elective (unfortunately with a GA due to a previous spinal injury) and it was as simple and pleasant as these things can be. Totally stress free in that there was no anxiety or confusion involved. DD 2 is due in a few weeks and am having another pre-planned elective rather than wait for the inevitable emergency CS at an unplanned time. Fingers crossed it will go just as smoothly. Highly recommend if you are advised to have a CA either way as I am.

ChristinaMarlowe · 20/05/2019 12:42

Sorry should have added that a majority of emergency CS end up being with a GA if they are very rushed where as if you have an elective you can opt for the spinal anaesthetic and then be awake and present for babies arrival - wish I could be as it's very strange being basically absent at the birth!

Teddybear45 · 20/05/2019 12:44

Planned c-sections have far, far better outcomes. That’s why in the performance ratings for labour wards unplanned c-sections will count against a hospital.

If you have complications or a high BMI make sure you meet a consultant beforehand to discuss preventative treatment.

crystalcoast · 20/05/2019 12:52

I've had both.

I would say recovery was quicker after the elective (1st baby was emergency) but still took things very easy as much as I could. I was in hospital about 4 days I think with elective.

I stayed in the house for a good few weeks and wasn't driving for a while. I did feel better though than with the emergency. Also, less stressful at the time of course.

The rapidity with which DC2 appeared though took me a while to get my head round as I was unconscious when DC1 was born.

Is all a few years ago now though.

TheGruffalosLoveChild · 20/05/2019 13:47

I have had both and they were totally different experiences. Recovery from the elective was still pretty tough and I certainly wasn’t one of those women driving to the shops a few days later...but I didn’t feel anywhere near as “ill” for the weeks after (probably from there being much less bruising and blood loss) and the surgery itself was a lot less traumatic and dramatic!

elliejjtiny · 20/05/2019 13:52

I found recovery and stress was about the same with my elective and emergency.

Original poster
Findmea · 20/05/2019 13:58

Thanks all! Still weighing up the options and hopefully my final appointment with consultant with make my mind up! Smile

OP posts:
Rosebell100 · 20/05/2019 14:03

I have been researching this as considering going elective than end up in an emergency. Outcomes and complication rates are much better with elective. Once you are trying to deliver your belly is much softer and this can make csections harder. Plus elective, there is no pain, you know the date, you'll be calm and prepared. I've heard mixed things about recovery so infering there is prob little difference that side of things.

Original poster
Findmea · 20/05/2019 14:39

Rose Yep that's exactly my thoughts - go for elective over ending up in an emergency again after a full blown labour its just the recovery that's scaring me - maybe being more prepared this time and knowing how it will be will help also!

OP posts:
Darkstar4855 · 20/05/2019 15:34

...a majority of emergency CS end up being with a GA...

I worked in obstetrics for three years and I can tell you this is not true. The majority of emergency C sections are done under spinal anaesthesia. General anaesthetic is risky in pregnancy and only used as a last resort for some extremely urgent (category one) sections when there’s not enough time to put a spinal in.

Almost all category two and three and a lot of category one sections are done under spinal.

OP it would be good to research the risks of VBAC as well as the recovery times for CS before making a decision. If the baby stays breech thrn elective CS is definitely the safest option.

ChristinaMarlowe · 20/05/2019 22:18

@Darkstar4855 I'm sure you know more than me, I'm just going on what I've been told in hospitals and on my own experience with having the GA. I'm happy to be corrected, thank you.

ChristinaMarlowe · 20/05/2019 22:22

Also to be fair I did say 'end up... If they are very rushed', don't think I put it very well though!

Ragwort · 20/05/2019 22:23

I did have an emergency CS with a GA as there was no time to do anything else, I was very fortunate though, made a great recovery quickly with no problems (just would have preferred the elective CS that I asked for in the first place Hmm , would have doubtless saved the NHS a lot of money as well).

Fatted · 20/05/2019 22:28

I had an emergency CS with my first and elective with my second. The elective was much, much better!

I won't scare you with too much info, other than my son was in extreme distress and it was all very rushed down to get him out. I too found recovery very hard after my first. I wasn't expecting it at all. I've never had any kind of surgery at all, never been to hospital before. So I had no idea how to rest, recover etc. I was also very anemic.

What helped with my second was having an appointment with the vbac midwife. She went over what happened with my eldest and we discussed the chances of it happening again. I was advised against another induction (induction drip was the cause of my son's distress) so had the option of going naturally or booking an elective. Has a consult or midwife explained to you how likely it would be for the same thing to happen again?

As it turns out, I had other complications (hight blood pressure) so had youngest a week earlier than planned, by elective section. It was much easier than my first. I was more prepared for what would happen when I had him and afterwards.

Afterwards, I made sure I rested lots, took my pain relief regularly and took my iron tablets regularly. I booked eldest in with the childminder for the first month and had DH home with me for the first month too. So I made sure I got lots of rest. It took me about 3 months to feel better after my first c-section and a few weeks to feel better after my second.

Oct18mummy · 20/05/2019 22:31

I had planned cesearean due to breech also. Was so relaxed everyone chatting and laughing in the theatre, I asked for the whole procedure to be walked through as it was happening which they were happy to do. Was almost a surreal experience one minute you are pregnant the next baby handed to you and all so relaxed!

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