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

Original poster

Elective C-Section for 1st Pregnancy

56 replies

mila1988 · 03/07/2019 15:55

Hiya,

I wanted to see whether there are any ladies who opted to have a c-section for their first pregnancies? How was your experience? was it difficult convincing the midwives/doctors?

I've seen many women going for an elective c-section for 2nd pregnancies but haven't heard experiences from women who are having their 1st via elective c-section!

Please share your experiences!

Thanks :)

OP posts:
Mummylanie3 · 03/07/2019 17:30

I think there has to be a medical reason to have one for your first you can't just choose to have one unless you pay but if you end up having one for your first then your next pregnancy you have the choice I'm currently pregnant with my forth and had a emergency c section for my first but chose vbac for the rest but while expecting my first I was never asked if I wanted normal or a c section it was always took that I would have a normal delivery

mummymathsteacher · 03/07/2019 17:33

My first was an elective section. He was breech and they thought he was going to be 12lb+

I wasn't really given a lot of choice, so I just went along with it. I found the most frustrating thing is how little midwives/antenatal classes actually speak about sections. Plus everyone assumes you had the easy option

louise5754 · 03/07/2019 17:43

Have you spoken to your midwife? Unless there are issues with you or the baby you won't be able to choose to have one.

mynameiscalypso · 03/07/2019 17:45

I'm due in 6 weeks with DC1, having an elective section for a variety of reasons. You don't need to have a medical reason although you might need to jump through some hoops. I'm mainly having mine for MH reasons but a lot of it is really that I want the (relative) certainty of a c section vs the risks of a vaginal birth. I've had no problems; under the NICE guidelines you should get one if you want one although how easy/hard you're made to fight for it depends on your Trust.

coffeeforone · 03/07/2019 17:56

In theory it shouldn't be too difficult to get them to agree. But they will be used to these conversations and will want to discourage sections if they don't believe it is medically safer. I think if you face resistance are you under a a big enough ask to see a different consultant and explain your reasons again.

Skiaddicted · 03/07/2019 17:57

Depends where in the country you are, i got one as a maternal choice easily

TrixieFranklin · 03/07/2019 17:58

Why do you want one?

WantLifeToBeBetter · 03/07/2019 18:18

According to NICE guidelines it should be maternal choice. Might be an idea to look up the guidelines and bring them along to your appointment.

codenameduchess · 03/07/2019 18:32

It will depend on your trust, many will encourage you towards a vaginal birth if no medical reason for a c-section. Take some time to look at why you want it, is it worth the risk and potentially cost if you have to pay for it?

Personally, I would rather have a vaginal birth. I found the actual birth and recovery relatively straight forward and was up and about as normal pretty quickly compared to others I know who have taken weeks to recover from a CS.

ReganSomerset · 03/07/2019 18:38

Point to consider is that going through the birth canal coats the baby in bacteria which kickstarts its immune system and reduces the risk of allergy. You are able to choose to have a section but do your research first.

Eaudear · 03/07/2019 18:40

According to the NICE guidelines, you can have one if you want, even without any medical issues.

I know someone who did. She is very forthright and pretty stubborn in her opinions, but just said there was no way she was going through labour etc. She went to every single appointment armed with the guidelines and basically said to everyone 'I know you will try to persuade me not to, but don't bother, I know I am entitled to one and I'm having one'. She said it was about half and half HCPs being supportive/trying to talk her out of it.

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 03/07/2019 19:18

Mine was initially elective and I had it approved on the basis that my MiL had experienced several still births which made me anxious and at least 4 friends lost babies in labour or had brain damaged babies due to use of forceps., my anxiety was high, hospital 40 mins away and DH couldn't drive at that time!

NHS left it till the last minute to approve and I had to see 2 male psychologists - never thought they would sign it off but after an hour of bearing my soul and having a good cry they approved it on the basis I was clearly a control freak - it was the best hour of therapy I've ever had 🤣

In the end I didn't need it as DC was breach and stayed that way so ended up being for medical reasons 🤣

itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted · 03/07/2019 19:19

I have to say looking back now if DC hadn't been breach I wouldn't have elected for a c section

My c section caused internal scarring/adhesions which when we started ttc again resulted in a near fatal ectopic as the scar tissue blocked my tube. We re now having to do ivf

Contraceptionismyfriend · 03/07/2019 19:32

A midwife or Dr will explain the benefits of a natural delivery and the risks of a Csec. They may try to sway you. But ultimately it is solely the patients choice.

Dmt80 · 03/07/2019 19:33

I had an elcs for my first. I did my research on statistics of 3rd/4th degree tears and inductions leading to emcs at the hospital I was giving birth at therefore my consultant was happy to offer me one as I also was aware or the risks. I obviously had anxiety over giving birth which may have helped my case.
It might be something you could look into yourself, the reports are easily accessible via google. It does seem to vary greatly depending what NHS Trust you are in. I don't regret my choice at all. I'm pregnant again and choosing to have another elcs.

Original poster
mila1988 · 04/07/2019 10:50

I have anxiety over giving birth and a history of depression/anxiety and i just dont want to spend the entire pregnancy worrying about what can go wrong during labour.

I know the risks with both options and I have read on the NHS website that I can request for one which I did. I have been booked to discuss the risks and options with a consultant. I'm just worried they won't take me seriously and force me to have a natural birth.

OP posts:
ReganSomerset · 04/07/2019 14:25

I think most people are anxious about giving birth tbh- I will be if I go through it again and I've already done it once! If you're a worrier, there'll be plenty in pregnancy, birth and afterwards to worry about anyway, even if you do have a c section. Giving birth is a natural process that people have successfully done unaided when comatose- your body does it for you. No, it doesn't work out well for everyone but neither do c sections.

That said, ultimately it's up to you and no one can deny you the option, so don't fret on that account.

QuilliamCakespeare · 04/07/2019 14:29

Why don't you look into hypnobirthing? I did it and a few people on my course were terrified about giving birth at the start but by the end were feeling calm and confident. The actual process of labour is quite intense but also powerful. There are also other benefits such as a flora and fauna baby picks up travelling through the birth canal.

Given the choice I'd much rather go through labour again than have to recover from major abdominal surgery.

coffeeforone · 04/07/2019 14:32

I know someone who did. She is very forthright and pretty stubborn in her opinions, but just said there was no way she was going through labour etc. She went to every single appointment armed with the guidelines and basically said to everyone 'I know you will try to persuade me not to, but don't bother, I know I am entitled to one and I'm having one'. She said it was about half and half HCPs being supportive/trying to talk her out of it.

I think this is the way to do it OP. Say you don't want to discuss it and you've already decided. Mentioning anxiety and worry about labour i think they are likely to be slightly dismissive of your reason (like they might just think 'everyone feels like this, get over it...')

mynameiscalypso · 04/07/2019 14:40

I would just stick to your guns; I made the point that I was concerned about the impact of a traumatic birth on my mental health and ability to bond with a baby. Existing MH problems put you at a higher risk of PND anyway and I feel like a vaginal birth would potentially increase that risk further. That was accepted as a valid reason. Plus I basically just said that I understood the risks of a c section and that I wasn't having a vaginal birth. End of. I can be quite stroppy though (although I didn't need to be at all, not one person tried to talk me out of it).

BarleyG · 04/07/2019 16:59

To play devil’s advocate... I had the easiest, most straightforward unmedicated birth with my daughter. I still suffered horrifically with PND and didn’t begin to bond until she was 14 months old. If I’d had major abdominal surgery and endured 6 weeks of pain and incapacity, not being able to drive anywhere or even walk far, stuck in the house isolated... I dread to think how desperately unwell I would have become. I am praying for another vaginal birth with this one!

NEtoN10 · 04/07/2019 17:10

Must depend where you are as I elected for one first pregnancy. Baby was very very big, I had such severe pelvic pain I couldnt walk, I couldn't be in any position that would be active. They wanted to induce me for baby size and I just felt so hopeless in my body that I felt it would be traumatic. I asked if a section was possible instead and they said yes. I have no regrets. Recovery was far easier than my sister and a friend who both had vbacs - I won't go into details but they had a tough time.

You do have to be firm but show you understand the risks.

I feel it was the right decision for me at the time.

Sunshinegirl82 · 04/07/2019 17:10

I had and emcs with DS1 and an elective with DS2. I recovered from both more quickly than friends who had complicated vaginal births.

For many people a straightforward vaginal birth would be first choice but that can never be guaranteed.

My sections were straightforward and I was driving after 3 weeks (I could have managed at 2 weeks pp but DH was off so he was chauffeur!)

Obviously there are people who will have different experiences and had complications etc, that's the difficulty with birth, there are no guarantees whatever option you choose.

Good luck with your choice OP, I hope the drs are receptive and you don't have to push too hard. In my experience just continually saying "I understand the risks but this is my choice" quite often gets you there eventually.

Kanga83 · 04/07/2019 17:20

I wanted one, I begged for one, I was not allowed one. I was however for my second based on the bad experience of my first labour and ecs. I don't know where you are based but I am Kent and they were having non of it.

FlowerTink · 04/07/2019 17:35

I had one for my first but it was approved for medical reasons and I had to meet with the consultant, discuss my existing condition and put my case across. Very straightforward though :)