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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

ELCS - why wouldn’t you?

221 replies

apples83 · 01/03/2020 06:41

I’m due to give birth to my first child this summer and am feeling nervous about labour. I’m concerned about the pain, the tearing, that it’ll permanently wreck my body, that sex will never be the same again due to stretching down there.

I’m therefore wondering whether to go for an ELCS to avoid all this. Several friends have done just that and all have had very easy, positive experiences and been back in their feet in no time. An ELCS is surely safer for the baby too as they’re whipped straight out, rather than having to go through hours of labour during which time they could potentially become distressed if there’s complications.

My question is - if you can have an ELCS then why on earth wouldn’t you?

OP posts:
Original poster
apples83 · 01/03/2020 07:14

What other health implications though haven’t been linked, asthma?

I have two family members with asthma and both were natural births.

OP posts:
OccasionalNachos · 01/03/2020 07:15

everyone I know who’s had an ELCS has found it really straightforward and easy and seem to have had no trouble breastfeeding, picking up their baby or leaving the house soon afterwards. Unless they’re not giving me the full picture?

A friend of mine who is a GP had a CS three months ago. We were chatting about her recovery and she noted that any other surgery of the same magnitude would require complete rest and recovery for several weeks afterwards. Women feed & care for their babies because they have to, and in a lot of cases it will impede their recovery. Ideally you’d have a team of maternity care assistants and midwives at your beck and call for at least a month afterwards.

LadyContrary · 01/03/2020 07:17

I’m all for women having the choice. However, CS is a surgery and I personally would want to avoid recovering from a surgery when caring for a newborn.
There’s not an easy answer though, OP. I had a very quick and easy labour (all done in 6 hours) but I needed a lot of stitches and ended up with an infection a week after. Fever, pain, antibiotics, the works. However, symptoms were gone in 3-4 days and I was fine. My DS had two ELCSs and the healing took much longer than 3-4 days. That’s all not representative though, purely anecdotal. I would definitely speak to your midwife for more information and research based evidence. All the best for you OP, whatever you decide Flowers

WoofAndWhiskers · 01/03/2020 07:17

It's (hopefully) your choice. Why would any of us want to change your opinion? Do you want someone to change your opinion? I'm a little concerned you will talk yourself into a corner then find they won't give you a c section anyway that's all.

Original poster
apples83 · 01/03/2020 07:18

The pain is bad for a good week, you don't get decent painkillers once out of hospital. You can't laugh as you can split your stitches open, you can't lift anything, drive, walking is tough at first, you can't wear anything near your scar for ages as it hurts. DH has to help me with my first shower as I could barely walk. My stomach is ruined, I sadly didn't get a neat scar after first one so may be different.

That does sound hard to deal with.

OP posts:
bingbangbing · 01/03/2020 07:18

Everyone has different experiences but my emergency section was a doddle. I was wondering what all the fuss was about!

TheGirlWithAPrince · 01/03/2020 07:19

Have had 2 vaginal births... Didn't tear with either, sex feels the exact same.. According to my husband as well which surprised us a lot, and he says my vagina doesn't really look different... Maybe abit of a different shape but not at all different.

I would prefer a vaginal birth to a Cs any day.
Also it didn't hurt because I had diarmorphine so didn't feel anything

ivykaty44 · 01/03/2020 07:20

I have two family members with asthma and both were natural births.

That’s ok then your anecdotal evidence must out weight scientific research on allergies

Original poster
apples83 · 01/03/2020 07:20

Why would any of us want to change your opinion? Do you want someone to change your opinion?

I started the thread because I want to hear of other people’s experiences and thoughts so I can make a more informed choice. I don’t see anything wrong with that?

OP posts:
EmotionalEllie · 01/03/2020 07:21

OP I would say that giving birth is not easy however you do it. There is no right answer for which is "better". It is obvious that you are more comfortable with an ELCS so I think you should just go with that.

Bluebell9 · 01/03/2020 07:22

I gave birth in October. I was induced and had a vaginal delivery, my worst fear was having a CS.

Labour was 5 hours from the first pains to DD being born, it was painful but the drugs are great. People love to tell birth horror stories but if it were that bad, no one would have more than 1! I even said to DP in the delivery room after DD was born that it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
Several of my friend from my Aquanatal group who had babies the same time ended up with CS, it meant they couldn't drive for up to 6 weeks, they struggled picking baby up and a couple ended up getting infections. They all said the pain they were in for the first few days was awful. The ones of us that had vaginal births had minimal after pain and recovered really quickly.
I wouldn't go into it thinking a CS is the easy option.

Scubalubs87 · 01/03/2020 07:23

I’m not opposed to a CS if medically necessary. And, I’m certainly not in favour of a vaginal birth at all costs. In a situation, where there’s a choice between assisted delivery and a CS I would without doubt choose the CS. However, my first delivery was a very straight forward vaginal delivery and was fine. Actually, I look back on it very fondly. I don’t think I’ve ever felt happier than I did sat in a the birthing pool holding and meeting my newborn. I was terrified of tearing and ended up with a 2nd degree one but again it was fine and healed far more quickly than a CS scar would have. I was obviously shattered through lack of sleep but I was able to be up and about and go for short walks very quickly.

SilveryMountainStream · 01/03/2020 07:23

It's not so high as 50% babies born csection , 50% vaginally - had a quick google and seems to be 1 in 4 births are csection.

this is an interesting study and worth a read. I would strongly suggest doing your research, and by that I mean NHS and scientific/peer reviewed studies as well as anecdotal info on forums, which obviously can be valuable info too. Have a serious talk with your midwife too as she will know your medical history etc and will be able to advise based on your individual situation.

One thing it's worth bearing in mind though, is that there's more and more studies coming out showing how little we actually know about the importance of the process of a vaginal birth and the lifelong health implications on the child it can have (microbiome, gut health)

Ultimately it's your decision and you have to do what you feel is best for your baby and for you. It's important to arm yourself, so to speak, with as much information as possible you are able to make a fully informed choice.

For what it's worth, I have had two vaginal births, no tears and recovery was speedy, especially after the second, so I cannot offer personal anecdote on a csection. I have had no continence issues and sex is every bit as good as before.

I wish you a straightforward pregnancy and an easy birth, whatever you decide.

Original poster
apples83 · 01/03/2020 07:24

That’s ok then your anecdotal evidence must out weight scientific research on allergies

From the NHS website: ‘Babies delivered by caesarean section at higher risk of asthma and allergies’, the Mail Online reports. This rather bold claim is based on a tiny, genetic study. A link between caesareans and asthma or allergy cannot be proven from the research this story appears to be based on.

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/caesarean-birth-link-to-asthma-lacks-proof/

OP posts:
hopefulhalf · 01/03/2020 07:25

No OP there are (at least) 4 different types of birth in descending order of difficultly:

  1. Natural birth without complications (40%)
  2. Planned c- section (20%)
  3. Complicated vaginal birth (what you are worried about- forceps, vontous etc) (20%)
  4. Emergency c- section (20%)

The problem is if you go for 1 you could end of with 3 or 4 or if you are really unlucky 3 followed by 4. Of course 3 and 4 both themselves both represent a range from low forceps lift out to very traumatic births.
My birth plan (1st time) was to give 1 a go but with a relatively low threshold for switching to 4 hopefully without wrecking my pelvic floor. Of course the advantage of 1first time is your chances of achieving it again are much higher (80-90%).

hopefulhalf · 01/03/2020 07:27

Yes but higher for 1st timers.

Original poster
apples83 · 01/03/2020 07:28

Thanks @Scubalubs87 and @SilveryMountainStream. If I could be guaranteed a straightforward natural birth then I’d go for it like a shot, but obviously that’s not possible. It does sound like there are a fair few benefits to natural birth that I hadn’t considered, so starting this thread has already been useful.

OP posts:
Iggly · 01/03/2020 07:28

Being pregnant has a massive impact on your pelvic floor so don’t be fooled if you have a CS!

Iggly · 01/03/2020 07:30

I would do some research into the best ways to make a natural birth as straight forward as possible.

I hated being in a well lit room for example and found Labour much easier to deal with when I was walking around, when I was upright as opposed to being on my back (awful when having contractions), when the lights were kept dim.

Original poster
apples83 · 01/03/2020 07:30

Being pregnant has a massive impact on your pelvic floor so don’t be fooled if you have a CS!

I’ve been neglecting my pelvic floor exercises too...

OP posts:
Techway · 01/03/2020 07:31

You can have effective pain relief for a natural birth.

Villanelle92 · 01/03/2020 07:31

I had an EMCS and it’s not the walk in the park people seem to have portrayed to you.

The recovery is long and slow, there’s a lot you will need help with for weeks after it, even just caring for your baby. It was 6 weeks before I could sit up out of bed without it taking 10 minutes and a load of pain.

It’s frustrating that c section is sometimes described as the ‘easy option’. It’s major surgery, I don’t understand how people would pick it over vaginal birth if there is no medical need for it.

And talking about permanently wrecking your body, I think pregnancy on the whole does the most damage but a c section surely will ‘wreck’ your body more than a standard vaginal birth would.

Due to health reasons I now would have to have ELCS if I had any more children, I am gutted and it’s put me off thinking of having any more.

hopefulhalf · 01/03/2020 07:31

Sorry overall c-section rate is 20- 30% but higher for first timers as many, women have uncomplicated subsequent vaginal births, which brings the overall section rate down.

AluminumMonster · 01/03/2020 07:33

If you do your research and decide you want an ELCS I think you have to argue your case with the consultant/hospital to agree. It's not as easy as asking for an ELCS for your first. I don't believe they can decline but you need to find someone to agree to it.

Personally, my first was an EMCS and second ELCS. The elective was by far a better experience physically and mentally.