Elective C section- did you ever regret your choice

[Leaf87]

Hi all,
Just exploring my options, due to give birth later this summer and thinking about options. My question is did anyone every regret having an elective c section and not trying naturally?
I appreciate that a text book natural birth is easier to recover from and has lots of positives. What concerns me is that the majority of women do not experience this. This means induction and assisted births. A tough assisted birth can lead to long term complications and a long recovery.
C section is major surgery and should not be viewed lightly however to me the risk of an elective c section are very well managed vs risk and reactive nature of induction and assistance and possible emergency C
I haven't made any decisions just yet but interested to hear peoples views.
Thanks

sarah13xx

The first injection was fine just a little sharp. The second (big one) was worse just so much pressure I thought I couldn't take anymore at one point. Thankfully I had the midwives holding me whilst I was leaning forward or I think I'd of fell off the table!
Bloody canulas kept falling out or getting caught on something. In the end my hand was bandaged to keep it in place which worked!

You'll be fine though honestly, as soon as I heard my baby I knew it was worth it ❤️

I loved my C section... Calm, quick and happy.
I was discharged 24 hours after the birth, was walking around fairly easily on day 3 and back able to attempt a few short runs by week 8

My recovery was far quicker and easier than the women in my NCT who had tears, and of the 8 of us, no one had a birth that didn't involve either a c section or forceps. Mine was the only elective though

[quote TheBestPlansAlwaysFail]@tiredmama2020 From the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists:
"In the UK, approximately 1 in 8 women have an assisted vaginal birth and this is more likely (1 in 3) for women having their first baby. "

www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/assisted-vaginal-birth-ventouse-or-forceps/[/quote]
@TheBestPlansAlwaysFail Thanks for the link 😊 I genuinely had no idea it was that much higher in FTM. Of the 18 FTMs I know from over the last few years there was 1 ventous, 2 forceps, 2 planned Cs for medical reasons and 1 emergency C! The rest were all straight forward vaginal births (mix of spontaneous and induction!). We must just have been a lucky bunch!

I always knew from childhood there was no way I would ever want a natural labour. I was so happy with my ELCSs twenty years ago, it was absolutely the right decision for me. They were wonderful experiences and were the best days of my life without a doubt. No problems at all, one night in hospital, driving again very quickly, mobile, pretty much pain free the worst part was having a canula in my hand I remember. I have none of the pelvic floor incontinence issues so many people I know seem to have after natural deliveries. And no overhang (see photo). It was honestly a breeze and my babies grew in to huge, sporty, happy, healthy young adults. I really wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone.

A big part of it depends on age/age at first birth and local regulations. e.g. in an emergency, compared to the UK, most countries in mainland Europe lean more towards am EMCS than an instrumental delivery so you will see higher EMCS rates but lower instrumental delivery rates.

This gives a good overview: www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/scientific-impact-papers/sip_34.pdf

Statistically, women in their 20s (or teens) are much more likely to have an uncomplicated vaginal birth that is free of intervention. For example, even women in their early 30s need/receive oxytocin augmentation more frequently than women in their 20s and the risk of requiring even relatively minor interventions like this increases with age. If most of the women you know are fairly young, that might be why you don't know many who had an instrumental delivery :)

For women over 35, a ELCS can be safer, see for example:
bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-016-1028-3

Quote from the Abstract:
"However, comparing outcomes after elective cesarean section and planned vaginal delivery, only moderate blood loss (higher in elective cesarean section), neonatal transfer to NICU and neonatal infections (both higher in planned vaginal delivery) differed significantly."

Anyway, I am only on Mumsnet because I asked a practical question about ELCSs, so no practical experience from me yet.

@50but17inside aww you sound exactly like me but I’m just about to have my first one. If they weren’t an option I just wouldn’t of had children. Haven’t told many people that we know it’s a c-section so people are still wishing me luck for labour etc but I just can’t face telling them for them to try and hit me with their stories of how I should give birth vaginally 🙄 I told one person at my work and she went into a big speech about it and said I’d be disappointed and all this. Eh I made up my mind about 10 years ago, I will just be glad to get the baby out and both of us be okay! Can’t be bothered having that conversation again so it’s easier just to tell them after. My placenta was low for a while (and would have needed a section) but has now moved slightly at the end but I think I’m just going to say ‘aw loads of reasons’ or say it was because of the placenta if anyone asks after he’s born x

@TheBestPlansAlwaysFail

A big part of it depends on age/age at first birth and local regulations. e.g. in an emergency, compared to the UK, most countries in mainland Europe lean more towards am EMCS than an instrumental delivery so you will see higher EMCS rates but lower instrumental delivery rates.

This gives a good overview: www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/scientific-impact-papers/sip_34.pdf

Statistically, women in their 20s (or teens) are much more likely to have an uncomplicated vaginal birth that is free of intervention. For example, even women in their early 30s need/receive oxytocin augmentation more frequently than women in their 20s and the risk of requiring even relatively minor interventions like this increases with age. If most of the women you know are fairly young, that might be why you don't know many who had an instrumental delivery :)

For women over 35, a ELCS can be safer, see for example:
bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-016-1028-3

Quote from the Abstract:
"However, comparing outcomes after elective cesarean section and planned vaginal delivery, only moderate blood loss (higher in elective cesarean section), neonatal transfer to NICU and neonatal infections (both higher in planned vaginal delivery) differed significantly."

Anyway, I am only on Mumsnet because I asked a practical question about ELCSs, so no practical experience from me yet.

@TheBestPlansAlwaysFail Really interesting info, thanks 😊 The group I mentioned are all 25-33 so most just fall into that first category and may be the reason for less interventions then 😊 Personally I had my first DC at 30 - induced, large baby and very straight forward delivery although it was a relatively long labour. No interventions needed.

@bubblebath62636 thanks.. I think I’m prepared for the first one as just a normal injection but it’s the second one I’m worrying about 🙈 because it’s in such a sensitive place it seems people have such a wide range of experiences of it. Some people don’t feel it and don’t even know it’s done whereas, like you, others say there was a lot of pressure or it even felt like an electric shock. Just going to countdown in my head or something while it’s happening. These things are always worse in the build up. By the time I’m sitting on that bed I’m going to have no choice in the matter and don’t want to work myself up to the point im shaking 🙈 As soon as they’re done I think it will hit me that I get to meet my baby really soon. Will just be glad when they’re over 😂

This is a very personal choice op.
My first was a sort of elective cs. I had severe pre eclampsia and baby was breach. I could have tried to have baby turned and been induced but time was of the essence and doctor was concerned about how long induction might take.
I had my second naturally. I couldn't shake the feeling I'd missed out on something. Ultimately was a ventouse delivery and some deep tearing so recovery was probably on a par.
On balance, I'm glad I went naturally for number 2. It was weirdly important to me... but I'm a bit weird on guilt levels, i actually feel guilty for needed ventouse and not being able to push him out ....
ultimately, whichever way you go won't define you as a mum. Do whatever is going to be better for your mental and physical health.
And all the best! X

Thanks for all the information ladies such a useful thread!! I really appreciate everyone's insights!

I think this shows to me how much people's perspectives vary. I'm considering a maternal request caesarean myself and the thought of being induced is one thing I'd like to avoid. And then you said you needed three pessaries! I can't even use a tampon so I think I'd struggle with that. And being in labour without my other half - also something I'd really worry about. But I'm glad you are happy with your birth - just goes to show every woman is different eh