Elective c section for a prolapse?

[alyce38x]

Hello,

I have a vaginal prolapse. It is causing me lots of pain and I'm really starting to get worried. I'm 37 weeks but want to ask for an elective c section as I am really worried it's going to get much worse after childbirth.

Does anyone know if this is something they could offer a c section for? I'm getting mixed reviews from my midwives about labour. Some saying will be fine some saying it could make it worse.

Thanks

You can get a c section by 'maternal request' without any strong reason at all, just simply a choice. And I would say you have good reason so definitely push for a discussion ASAP to get the ball rolling and if you're sure then just be very confident and clear in your decision. A consultant can personally decline to do it but they must refer you on to someone else to discuss it with instead until you find someone. Good luck!

You have a right to a maternal request c-section if you want one. You don't need to have "a good enough" reason. Don't let the midwives bully you into picking a vaginal birth if the risks are unacceptable to you.

Just quote the NICE guidelines to them and insist of they try to talk you out.

Don't go solely by what midwives say. They are usually biased in favour of "natural". So do your own research and look at actual statistics on birth injuries for vaginal birth and risk of prolapse.

Hi OP, I did exactly what you're thinking of - my prolapse was a birth injury from DS1 so when pregnant with DS2 I said I didn't want to risk it worsening and delivered him by elective c-section.

I think you need to get yourself moved from midwife-led care to obstetrician-led. Once I'd got on to that list I had a phone call with the consultant to discuss and then was booked in for the surgery.

There was some push-back from midwives and during the phone consult, lots of "pregnancy can worsen it anyway, your body is designed to safely birth your child" type stuff but I just kept calm and smiled nicely and said "if it happens anyway at least I'll know I did everything I could to minimise the risk". In the end the NICE guidelines say that every mother has the right to choose the birth she wants, so if you are firm they have no right to refuse you.

Incidentally mine did get worse for a few months post-delivery - those relaxin hormones are no joke! But DS2 is nearly 2 now and the prolapse is definitely no worse than pre-pregnancy and improving when I'm religious with the kegels :)

Best of luck to you x

@myleah @LaLuz7 @WoolyMammoth55 thanks ladies. I spoke to consultant earlier who said he doesn't think it's bad enough for a c section and apparently they are extremely hard to get in my area at the moment unless an emergency. I just don't know how I'm feeling at the moment. He's also measuring 2 weeks ahead so that worries me too. I don't know who else I can even discuss it with if a consultant is telling me that

@WoolyMammoth55 are you glad you went through with the elective section now? It's horrible isn't it I hate the feeling of it. Just really don't know where to go from here

I'm in the same boat, I literally don't know which route to take. 36 weeks and prolapse from birth 1.

@Coconutcream123 have you discussed it with them yet?

There’s not much I haven’t experienced when it comes to childbirth and related things. Personally , I’d say insist on the c section and push for the prolapse repair too.c section recovery is a bit rough pain wise but there’s a certain appeal to not having your undercarrriage obliterated and risking lifelong continence issues or pain. Life’s too short to suffer. I had an ablation to solve periods from hell and the nhs waitlist was years so I went private and put it on a credit plan never looked back. Once baby’s here safely you can get yourself back to how you were aswell. Get it booked . Good luck .

They often say that to put you off . They can’t actually refuse though. Insist . Tell them the trauma of the last birth and the anxiety about it is making you ill and you can’t sleep . That’s how I secured mine . I didn’t even have damage or a dramatic delivery really , I just knew my son was big ( nearly twice his sisters size) and I didn’t want to push him out so I stuck to my guns . Took about 3 goes to get it booked .

@aalyce38x at 24 weeks I met a consultant who examined me, said it wasn't that bad (stage 1, cant imagine how bad the other stages are) and said I'd have a successful vaginal birth. She did not listen to me at all and didn't help I couldn't really understand her.
Anyway, I went away thinking ok I will have vaginal based on that one consultant, but I have a midwife appointment today and I'm going to ask to be referred to a different consultant.
You need to get booked for a consultant ASAP though (you sound like me it's such a hard decision to make). I'm terrified of lasting incontinence, I'm also suffering with really bad pelvic girdle pain, last time it was about 8 months for both issues to subside but never fully recovered.

I got my prolapse from DS2 vaginal delivery, I was only 23 and at 25 had bladder wall repair. I’m 32 now and 37 weeks pregnant, I’ve not seen the same consultant but my first one said as I’d had bladder repair surgery I’d have to have a C-section got my head around that and then next consultant at 28 weeks was quite dismissive like I’d chosen the C-section as an easy option, told her I was told it was my only way and stuck to the fact I was told by first consultant that vaginal delivery will make my prolapse worse she put a provisional date for my section in place reluctantly and said if I go in to spontaneous labour and was 5cm or more would have to have vaginal. Seen another consultant yesterday who was lovely I told him all of the above and he said he agreed with consultant number 1 that it will make it worse and he also signed off for me to be sterilised (consultant two said I was too young) at the same time. I’m petrified of having a C-section but in the long run I think I’ll be so grateful that I haven’t damaged myself for life. You need to deliver your baby in the most sensible and safe way for you, baby being healthy is most important but so is your health! Push for what you want, don’t later regret not standing firm

I’m also in the same boat. I saw a private physio who did confirm that most of the damage would sadly probably be caused by the pregnancy but she seemed confident we could sort it out once baby here. She also said to bear in mind that a CS is cutting through the abdominal muscle/core which also effects the pelvic floor so can also make things worse.

You can elect for a CS though for any reason you want, but from my research it won’t necessarily make any difference

@Whoneedsleep such a tricky choice, I saw a sports therapist for a while and he also said c section could weaken muscles, also make back pain worse. I don't think I was designed for childbirth 🤣

@Coconutcream123 me neither! I honestly feel like after this pregnancy my whole insides will have fallen out but the consultant/midwife seems to think all will be fine and it will be no worse than it is now😬

If you want a c section for whatever reason do not accept no for an answer - ask to speak to a different consultant/ consultant or senior midwife. Nice guidelines on this are clear. You should not be fobbed off with 'they are extremely hard to get in this area'

@Whoneedsleep 🤣 this is exactly how I feel, i feel bad saying im glad im not alone. They've also told me it's unlikely to be worse, but I don't know if I trust them. I guess its Russian roulette really in terms of knowing what option is best. Maybe we can have new vaginas afterwards but as PP said it would probably be a few years wait.
@OP, I did ask today for another referral and they're putting it through, it should be next week. They have said the decision would need to be made quickly as will be 37 weeks, and they would likely do it at 39. I hope it all goes OK for you x

Hi OP, yes I've got no regrets about the section. I did a hypno birth for c-section recording beforehand (this one! www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/shop/Prepare-for-a-Caesarean-1.html) and felt very calm and empowered.

It was very calm in the theatre and the team were very good and he was out very quickly and they put him straight on me for skin to skin - I asked for the maximum time before they cut the cord and removed the placenta. I don't remember that "closing" bit at all as was just loving my cute newborn who'd appeared from nowhere!

He was a super chill baby and the night on the labour ward wasn't bad - I was keen to get home (middle of Covid) so had them help me get out of bed before midnight and then they could say "mum mobilising well" in my notes :)

I got home at 2pm the next day and rested a lot, letting the wound heal. Had support from DH for the first few days, but healed well and felt confident in my recovery.

There's not going to be a 3rd DC but if there were I'd do it again, no question. And at the end of the day if I do end up needing surgery for the prolapse repair (which I hope to avoid by strengthening my PF) then at least I know I did everything I could to protect my body from more injury.

Best of luck x

@TiredMomma90 hello! I prolapsed after the birth of my first child and the urogyn said it’s safe to have prolapses repaired and have more children, as long as it’s by C-section. He was really confident about this, however many have said just the weight of pregnancy can cause you to reprolapse. Has your repair held up ok? Thank you

@Rainbow2116 Hi, I’m almost 5 months post section and confirm my repair is still ok. I honestly do believe if I’d of had a vaginal delivery I would have made things worse. When heavily pregnant I was worried as I could feel the bulge and I had an issue with leaking but after delivery that has all disappeared.

@TiredMomma90 Thanks so much for replying and congratulations! I find it astounding anyone would even be bullied into a vaginal birth after repairs - or even after prolapse to be honest! My urogyn said I actually wouldn’t be able to do it again vaginally and he would put this in writing - fine with me as I would never go through the trauma of another vaginal birth again. Who did your repairs?

Just to update this. I’ve just had my third vaginal birth and it’s no worse than after my first, so in my experience 2 subsequent births made no difference at all to the problem.

I hope everyone suffering gets the birth they want!

@Whoneedsleep i’m so glad to hear that :) who did your repair surgery? how long was it before you could lift your child after the surgery? My son is 3 in January. How many weeks were you when you had the c-section? Sorry for all the questions; I’m just so anxious as I have surgery booked for October.