Reasons for elective C-section

[PipsBaby]

I am currently 34 weeks and just had a birth choices appointment last week to help me try to decide if I'd like a C-section or not.

I'm still very much on the fence, although deep down I am probably leaning more towards yes I do want one. I have a few reasons, anxiety being one, various health issues being another. But ultimately I just want to make an informed choice for myself.

Would anyone who has previously had a C-section (elective), want to share why they choose to have one? What helped make their mind up? And are they still happy with their choice?

The main thing that stood out to me at the appointment, was a risk to future pregnancies. This is my first baby so I'm not sure if I should be more worried about this, if I do decide to go for it. I am a bit scared of regretting my choice, which is silly I know as I need to just be happy and content with whatever I decide to do.

I don't actually know anyone who has had a C-section, otherwise I'd ask friends. But would really appreciate peoples thoughts/experiences (good or bad).

This has been so amazing reading all your replies, has honestly been so helpful.

Thank you all for being so honest, I really appreciate it!

It was really beginning to get to me that no one I knew had had one, and yet were still making comments as though it would be the wrong choice, which I know deep down is ridiculous as they have nothing to base that on.

I've got a bit of time to make my decision, but honestly this has helped me so much.

I had an induction with DS that turned into a disaster. We both nearly died, thankfully didn't but it was just horrendous.

8 years later - it took me that long to contemplate another labour - and I point blank refused induction. I quite simply made it clear that if I didn't go into labour by 5 days post due date, then I wanted a c-section.

Lovely Spanish male consultant was very obliging after a very quick scan and horrified look at my notes.

I got an examination on the day of my elective c-section, I'd agreed that they could break my waters at 7am and wait until 11am before my slot just to see - but alas, I hadn't dilated at all.

Wheeled to theatre at 11am. Baby born brilliantly a wee while later, was back on the ward delighted a few hours later.

So, so positive.

Also - I was able to breastfeed both my babies for 18 months. They say some babies can be harder to feed after a c-section but just make sure you get plenty of skin to skin ASAP.

I had an ELCS 6 months ago due to tokophobia (fear of childbirth). I was still scared going in - but it was incredible, the team were lovely, it was calm and joyful, I felt in control and like I knew what was happening/when it would happen at all times which was vital for me and my recovery was straightforward. I was only taking paracetamol on day 3. Recovery from my recent lymph node clearance has been far, far worse. I can’t have more children now but if I could, I’d have a CS again in a heartbeat.

I had two ELCS - there’s 18 months between my two kids. I found them both really easy, pleasant experiences (the second time the anaesthetic took a little longer to wear off and the nurse was panicking so that freaked me out a little but the anaesthesiologist came out and told her everything was fine - and it was, it was just one of those things).

The recovery was also really straightforward for both. I wasn’t really sore after day 3 and I could go for 30 minute walks pushing a buggy at 2.5 weeks. The second recovery was slightly easier than the first. My scar has completely healed now, it disappeared when my DC was about 18 months old.

Lurking as planning on TTC next year and have been reading up on all things to do with ELCS

I have read the guidance that states you can request them, but (fingers crossed - obviously don’t know if we’ll fall quickly or need help) things will be straight forward given my BMI and relatively young age. No identifiable risk factors in advance. Does anyone know if hospitals put up a resistance on the whole, for low-risk women?

I have read all the statistics and long, traumatic labours have happened to every female on my mother’s side of the family, including my DM herself. ELCS although not the easy option at all in terms of recovery seems like much more predictable and known territory than having to be induced and it likely then resulting in an emergency section anyway or leaving with any long lasting trauma.

My main worry would be the impact this could have on subsequent pregnancies if we wanted more than one child.

I’m not in a position to be planning just trying to arm myself with knowledge. I wish they taught women more about this.

I agree easy vaginal birth is the easiest recovery but you don't get to choose whether it's easy and CS is preferable to hard vaginal birth.

I had emcs then vbac, much preferred the vbac. It hurt but I felt empowered and fine once baby was out. CS I felt run over by a truck.

@happyfeet5 first one elc or multiple does not mean repeat sections. Vbacs are usually safer than repeat sections.
I had emc and then went for a vbac but ended in another emc next time I will try vbac again I would never opt for a section it's no walk in the park.

@happyfeet5 to add were any of those relatives induced ? There is a lot more knowledge these days join vbac uk Fb group there is some powerful information on there about facts and advocating for yourself

Because I know people traumatised births they had and already have cptsd. First few days of recovery were brutal, the first time I stood up to walk was excruciating, but I was up and about quickly, by 2 weeks still a bit sore but fine to function. on the whole it was a positive experience for me. I did take a cocktail of wound recovery vitamins and supplements (I checked some studies on-line, so don’t know if that made a difference). The first few days are the worst, but by day 2 I was doing short walks for about 15 minutes a few times a day (it was hard but I think it helped). I would say given the type of surgery it was my recovery was good.

I would find a compression band for your belly, that helped me feel a bit more confident about moving around.

Hi op I'm 36 wks and have chosen an elected section. Main reasons behind it were concerns about baby's size from gestational diabetes (they're currently measuring on track), being denied the birth plan I had originally wanted (due to insulin use), feeling worried about getting into certain positions due to bad pgp, didn't want to be induced which I was told would be the case and likelihood of intervention as a result, and I have always felt very anxious about the idea of labour and delivery anyways. I've done all the hypnobirthing, did lots of reading up and watched lots of positive birth videos etc to try and familiarise myself as best as I could which did help but the idea of going through labour still made me feel very anxious and panicked. I feel a lot more relaxed now knowing I've a section planned and can prepare myself for that. If I go myself before then, then I'll just have to take it as it comes but it made me feel calmer. Just trust your gut. For me it boiled down to regrets: I felt that if I didn't advocate for a section for myself then I'd regret it if things went wrong, whereas if I had a section and it went wrong then at least I made the decision I felt was right for me at the time with the info I had available. You just need to work out what your version of that is and listen to your gut instinct.

@happyfeet5 my experience is that it depends on the individual woman and who the healthcare provider is. For example we were told by one consultant that water birth was absolutely off the table because I was high risk would need induced and likely need intervention so they wanted continous monitoring and easy access to me if they needed it. When I went back and asked about a section with a different consultant she was surprised because she didn't feel I was that high risk but I'd made up my mind by then and didn't want to take a chance on it. So don't go expecting consistent advice lol. Hospitals are under pressure to promote vaginal births in comparison to sections as in our area 35% of all births were sections (unsure what percentage of that was emcs/elcs) so they will push the birth preferences team and hypnobirthing. These are really useful and worth linking in with regardless. I was also told that you can have as many sections as you want because they can't tell you not to get pregnant, but they advise waiting at least a full year between birth and ttc a second to make sure the wound is healed and strong for carrying another baby to term. Obviously there can be complications that might affect this but that's not exclusive to a section.

"I don't think I would regret it, but it was a comment from someone that stuck in my head (always the way) about how I'd end up wishing I had of experienced a "proper labour", which I don't believe but can't help but let it niggle away at the back of my head when trying to make up my mind."

I think this is a valid concern that lots of women have and sometimes people say stupid things like "proper labour" as if a section is an easy alternative when it's major surgery and a potentially harder recovery. However for me the important thing was the impact on my own mental health. It was more important to me that I'm in the best position to parent the way I want to than how baby actually arrives into the world. And traumatic birth experiences do make it more likely that women will experience poor maternal mental health/pnd etc the two are quite closely linked. So don't let anyone get in your head like that. Some people are just really funny about stuff- could be that they're very protective/defensive about the birth choices they made and they can be a bit heavy handed with their wording on topics like labour and breastfeeding as a result. That's their issue and not yours to take on though you just do what's right for you.

I think this is a valid concern that lots of women have and sometimes people say stupid things like "proper labour" as if a section is an easy alternative when it's major surgery and a potentially harder recovery.

Yes, it's not a great choice of words but isn't usually meant in an offensive way. I suppose it also depends how immune you feel to criticism, implied or inadvertent.

I admit that my two planned c sections were pretty easy and nothing like some of the horrific experiences my friends and family have had with VBs. So I don't mind if they want to call that proper labour as they have my sympathies for going through that.

Then again, I'm not an earth mother type, so maybe I'd have felt differently if the birth was really important to how I defined myself.

You might find this old thread quite enlightening about the risks involved in vaginal childbirth that tend to be overlooked and minimised:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/guest_posts/4302468-Guest-post-Women-are-expected-to-go-home-with-life-changing-injuries-after-giving-birth-and-just-get-on-with-it

I had two emergency sections, both of which I bounced back physically from. Dc2 was born on Thursday, by Saturday lunch time I was sat in a cafe eating a toastie. Obviously I'm probably an outlier in that it just never hurt and I didn't take painkillers beyond theatre but revovery absolutely isn't guaranteed to be hard.

Dh's family all have massive heads at birth. Both his sisters tore badly and needed surgery afterwards as did his mother. I have moments of regret that dc1 got stuck at full dilation but dc2's delivery was amazing and my body is fine. The only sign is a thin white line that you have to be actively looking for.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils see, this is a much more positive experience than most you read about! More stories like yours should be shared so women can make a well informed choice.

I thought the recovery was pretty easy too. I had my second on the Friday and was back home by Saturday lunchtime (even going privately where they seem to encourage you to linger).

I recall being a bit bent over when I walked at first, but driving by 2 weeks (with GP sign off) and felt back to normal pretty quickly.

There was a question about the 'overhang' earlier. You can see where I had the sections (although they removed the first scar during the second one). There's a small and slightly raised area above my scar, perhaps a few mm 'out' but honestly you wouldn't notice it unless you went looking for it. It isn't visible in a bikini or anything like that.

Have had two, wouldn't recommend if you want to have more than 1 or 2 children. I also would have q liked a third but couldn't risk it again. First was fine: second ended up with a massive haemorrhage and almost had a hysterectomy. Was worried about bleeding out on the operating table if I had a third. The fact that I was conscious (and ignored as if merely a set of organs) as medics panicked around me was highly unpleasant.

I asked about the ‘overhang’ so thanks for answering! I’m following this thread with interest. It’s early days but the idea of being awake and feeling the surgeon tug at my insides freaks me out a bit.

I have had 2 vaginal births (uncomplicated) and am currently recovering from my first section.

My first vaginal birth left me in quite a lot of pain "down there" for a few weeks. 8lb 10 baby coming out of my not very large self. And I only had 2 stitches.

Second baby 8lb 7, no stitches, took a paracetamol and cracked on - easy.

Third baby section because of transverse lie at 40 weeks and 1 day so I was given the option of a calm section in 2 hours from when they did the scan to check position or hoping she turned but understanding if I went into labour before she did then it would be an emergency section so I opted for the calm option (am in Spain so things work differently).

Although I don't regret my decision at all as the section was calm and safe the recovery is a lot harder than my second birth although just different to my first. At 2 weeks post partum I thought I was doing great and overdid it 2 days ago resulting in bleeding starting again and a bit of a scare (all well)but at the end of the day it is surgery and no picnic.

I think there is no way of predicting as you might have an easy vaginal birth and that's the easiest for sure but you don't know until you are in it. With a planner section you know. But you are signing up for a much harder recovery than an easy vaginal birth, albeit a much easier recovery than a complicated vaginal birth.

I'd say a planned section is middle ground. Not the best and not the worst.

Sorry if that's a bit vague!

I was offered a 39w induction or c-section.

I’d had six rounds of IVF and two laparoscopies to get pregnant. Giving birth vaginally was the least important aspect of our pregnancy experience so I wasn’t (and am still not) bothered by not getting the chance to do so.

Also getting on a bit age-wise and read the RCOG stats for likelihood for intervention after induction. Basically you’ve got a 1 in 3 chance of an unassisted vaginal birth as a first time mother having induction.

My baby also had a huge head (congenital) and a large abdomen after a late pregnancy gestational diabetes and I read further about risks of both - large head being of more concern than large abdomen.

Finally I had confidence that a c-section could only be undertaken with sufficient staff in the theatre. Maternity wards are horribly understaffed.

I recovered pretty easily - it was sore but not horrendous - and my 4 month tummy looks nearly as flat as pre pregnancy. I haven’t got a shelf. Baby came out screaming with a 9/10 APGAR score.

@hopsalong Really sorry to hear you had such an horrific experience. How scary for you. Hope you've been able to recover well.

We aren't 100% sure how many we would/could have. At least 2, but I wouldn't rule out a 3rd depending on circumstances at the time. But I imagine that would be after a lengthy discussion re: risk with my doctors.

Re the overhang. I only have a slight one and it doesn't really happen unless I'm bloated or I've gained weight.

Thank you, @PipsBaby. I'm basically fine now. I think I was very unlucky the second time. The consultant who was about to do my c-section was called away to an emergency, and it fell to a junior doctor who seemed to be doing it for the first time. I lost a litre of blood within a few seconds of the first incision. The first section was more complicated in terms of the baby's position and the fact that I had been in the early stages of labour for a while, but with an excellent surgeon was a much better experience. I have had some problems with abdominal adhesions after the second, which might have happened anyway, but I do regret not having a more experienced surgeon operating. If I had been slightly older, had high blood pressure, GD etc I would probably have edged into a higher risk category and got someone better. (There were two other elective c-sections on the list, both for twins, and they got the most senior person.)

If it is feasible (wasn't really for me, and is very expensive) I would consider paying privately for the very last bit to secure an experienced surgeon (and get a better after-care experience than on the ward).

No one else that I know who had an elective c-section had nearly as many problems as I did, btw. It also turned out after the birth that I had an undiagnosed clotting disorder which should probably have been taken into account.

Good luck, whatever you choose!