Been given the option of a c section

[choicebetween]

Spoke to my consultant earlier, they've asked if I'd like a c section or a natural birth again. Last natural birth was 8 years ago, it was fine no complications but I've been left with a mild prolapse of my bladder.
This time round I've got gestational diabetes, a baby measuring 4.5lbs at 31 weeks and a blood clotting disorder. I inject blood thinners daily for this.

The consultant has said due to the clotting disorder i'm within my rights to have a c section and to think about it for a couple of weeks. I'm thinking of going for the section, reasons are I'm worried about my bladder falling out !! And I also have group b strep and I'm terrified of going into labour naturally and not getting the antibiotics in time, also I might not be able to have an epidural due to timing of the blood thinners.

Any experience ?

No experience of those complications at all but I did have a lovely elective section and I would recommend it to anyone based on my experience! So calm, so controlled, the baby was out so quickly and even the recovery wasn’t as big a deal as I’d heard lots of people make it.

@Goodnewsday thank you for your reply ! See everything I've read on here people always say the same as you! How long would my ou say it took to recover ? Could you sit up etc at first or did you need alot of help?

@choicebetween had him at 2pm, was still numb til 10ish maybe that night then was helped to stand up and walk to the chair which I’d heard some people say was painful or they bled loads when they stood up but for me it was completely fine, I just went extremely slow and used the bed controls to push my top half up. That’s the bit that hurts when you get home, not even ‘hurts’ as such but it is literally the sensation of stitches holding your lower abdomen together so you can’t do a sit up in your own bed to get up. By 2 weeks I could sit up quite easily again but up til maybe day 5 there was a lot of rolling about and asking my partner to help push me up. No actual pain as such though because I took all the painkillers they prescribed. Walking was completely fine but I was obviously aware that if I overdid it I might pull something inside so I didn’t go a walk with the pram until day 7 I think and just went short distances and walked slowly for the first month or so. We’re planning to try again soon and I would 100% have another section without even blinking. I was so nervous last time but literally the cannula in your hand is the only ‘painful’ part, the rest you just have to lie back then take it easy when recovering. People do have it better or worse but I think emergencies tend to have a much slower recovery as they’ve obviously prodded and pulled at you a fair bit more 🙈

I second goodnewsday! My experience of a semi-elective c-section was fine. I say semi because although it was planned in advance, i started getting contractions the day before and ended up having the section a few hours early so technically it counted as an emergency. Still, relatively calm experience . I was able to sit up in the first day. The pain was manageable with just paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Worst thing about it was an idiot midwife moved my catheter and i eneded up in a LOT of pain. They wouldn't believe me when i told them so my bladder nearly exploded! As soon as they pulled it out i went to the loo and peed at least 1 litre!

I would say go for it, much less risky in my view

go for it. much quicker recovery for me from elective CS than forceps deliveries. was home the next day, off painkillers within a couple of days. could have driven at one week, think I actually did at 10 days.

My elective section was good too. Entirely agree with PP that it was so calm and controlled in comparison. (First birth was vaginal with some complications). Of course no birth comes without some risks but for me the section was much more simple on all levels, including recovery. I had mine during 2020 lockdown and had no visitors in hospital - midwives were attentive and helpful as needed, but you are able to sit up propped up on some pillows pretty much immediately. You can't reach into the cot for baby yourself but they passed him to me and then I just held him or had him in my bf pillow which was comfortable. Midwives have you up on your feet within 12 hours of surgery - my son was born at 10am and I was standing up by 10pm. Yes you're stiff and wobbly but keep taking the pain relief at the correct intervals and you should be fine. Good luck if you go for it!

That's one thing I'm worried about is any birth complications. My last natural birth was 8 years ago but this pregnancy has been very tough with the diabetes, reduced movements etc and obviously worried if the growth scans are correct then baby is a whopper and I'm worried she will get stuck, I'm only tiny myself. I've got a huge bump as it is.

The consultant said I can opt for a c section if I prefer. They would rather me have a vaginal birth but ultimately it's my choice. I'm just unsure what I would say are my reasons for the c section? I know that sounds daft aswell but the main thing is worrying about birth complications and worrying about my bladder getting worse.

Oh also. What are options of pain relief for after if you plan to breastfeed ? I'm guessing bog standard Paracetamol ? I've been reading on old threads women are given morphine but I'm guessing they didn't bf

I had a c section due to my baby being breech, it was such a lovely experience that I’ve opted for a c section this time. You shouldn’t need a reason if that’s what you want

With regards to pain relief, the hospital will go through all that with you. I can’t quite remember but I’m sure it was just paracetamol and ibuprofen

Oh thank you. So this time you just requested it and they were like yeah that's fine ?
Even though I've been told I can have one I've got it into my head when I actually say I like to opt for it they might be well why? What're your reasons ? And I'll be like erm I don't want my bladder falling out 😆

Haha well that sounds like a good enough reason to me 😂 yep, that’s what happened. I said to my midwife ‘well that was easy!’

Same as @Goodnewsday - I’m 8 weeks post C-Section and almost good as new. Scar has healed well, I’m back driving, walking, no pain now. My C-Section was elective and it was calm, quick and easy. Even the spinal was fine and that’s what I was dreading the most!

I had an elective section as baby was breech and it kept getting moved so I had 3 days of fasting before actually having the surgery and a lot of stress about when it would actually happen. The spinal hurt. I was sick during the operation a couple of times.

I was struggling an awful lot after the section and alone due to covid. It was a Saturday so there were barely any staff in so I had very little help and painkillers were often late.

I was only told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen afterwards but requested something else as I was struggling with the pain a lot.

It took me around 2 and a half months to feel in any way recovered and I really struggled a lot during that time even with a supportive husband.

Not saying any of this to scare you but just to highlight that c-sections are often painted as the easy option and women are told they will be bouncing about in no time. For me that was absolutely not the case.

I also find that people always say emergency c sections are the only ones where people struggle. Well mine was elective and I certainly did struggle. Don’t get me wrong she was absolutely worth it and I would do it again if I had another breech baby but it is absolutely not an easy option.

Giving birth is hard however you do it and everyone is different in how they handle the situation and recovery time.

Best of luck to you and congratulations.

I had 2 emergency sections and I say section every time.. no worries about trauma and chaos of birth.

Last ELCS I had was due to placenta previa. Up and walking down to SCBU 4 hours later, drove myself home after 3 days (insurance said 'when you feel ready') and no painkillers after 2 weeks. It was an excellent experience. I know I'm lucky, but it can happen.

You say the consultant said you have the right to a C section due to your clotting condition. I would like to point out that all pregnant women have the right to elect for a section.

I had an ELCS first time round and was offered lots of pain relief options including oramorph which I needed and took - and I ebf my son without any issues (until he was 2.5y old). The hospital will be able to advise but breastfeeding didn't stop me being offered/taking stronger pain relief when I needed it.

Liquid morphine is actually the gold standard for breast feeding mums pain relief.

Reason being it’s extremely quick acting (5 mins or so) and metabolises out of your system very quickly - the bulk within a matter of hours.

Because it’s so fast acting you don’t need to stay topped up like you do with paracetamol and ibruprofen. This way you can have it as needed so actually end up having less meds floating around IYSWIM, and can also time it to after a feed.

You don’t even need to time to after a feed as it’s has extremely low transfer to milk. Less so than paracetamol and ibu.

It’s also great as it’s bloody amazing!

And as an added plus it boosts prolactin and you will have milk for England. Can present its own issues with oversupply but at least your not worrying about your milk and a starving babe.

My advice - enjoy that morphine lol. Bloody loved it! I remember floating round the shower feeling all wooooo warm 😂

Good news about the morphine, I was worrying I'd just be in agony because I'm hoping to bf.

I think I am going to go for it, another issue is I've had pretty bad anxiety this pregnancy to the point I've had to go onto sertraline, I keep getting intrusive thoughts and am worried about birth complications etc ! So I think knowing what's going to happen will help me in a way.

@DangerouslyBored I didn't realise! This is all new to me, I just repeated what the consultant told me. I've read before about women having to fight for a c section, is it not like that anymore ?

I had my LO in Feb this year. First baby and classed as an..ahem..geriatric mother.
I have medication controlled hypertension (had it since my late twenties) so I was told from the off I would have a c section.
Pregnancy went really well (apart from the worst heartburn ever) so at 34 weeks my consultant said I could have a natural birth.
I decided to go for it but then caught Covid at 37 weeks, which sent my BP up so they booked me in for a c section once I was past the isolation and I had her at 38 weeks exactly.
The c section went really well (much quicker than I thought) and the hospital team were amazing. I had her at 9.37am and was up and about walking at teatime, in my lovely stockings :) I enjoyed the morphine very much btw
Once I was home I couldn't do much other than nurse, change and care for my bubba. My husband and mum were amazing so you definitely need very supportive helper/s after it.

After a week I was going for short walks
After 2 weeks slightly longer walks and preparing dinner
After 3 weeks light housework and walks pushing the pram
After 4 weeks doing washing, hoovering and extending walks
After 5 weeks I drove a couple of short distances
After 6 weeks driving and pretty much everything else, including sex :)

Top tip is to keep your cut clean and dry (I used a muslin cloth in the first few weeks when I had a belly pouch) and don't stretch at all for the first few weeks. Also ask for dissolvable stitches if possible, my friend had staples and she took longer to heal than me.
I had really good postnatal care, midwives were amazing.
Good luck :)