Maternal request for C section

[OrganicAlchemy]

Hi all,

I am a first time mum and I wish to request a C section. I realise this is not a decision everyone agrees with and thats okay but I really feel that it the best decision for me - sorry if this post offends anyone

I am looking to compile a list of reasons or 'justifications' so that I am prepared to answer when the midwife/others ask me why, I am expecting push back to be honest. I would like to be able to eloquently list my reasons and perhaps include statistics that would help support my request.

I thought maybe someone has done the same and might be able to share what info they gave to their midwife or the sources they used?

My main reasons are general aversion to vaginal birth, it has always terrified me and almost 'repulses' me which is illogical I realise but it has troubled me from a young age. I also have had people around me with numerous issues with injuries sustained in birth that either causes lifelong issues or were disregarded for treatment as they are considered a 'normal' part of birth.

Many of these people had a planned section afterwards and highly recommend it to try and hopefully avoid the birth injuries (I realise this is not guaranteed and sections have their own risks)

Thank you for any contributions :D

@truthhurts23 interesting you never asked my qualifications before making that comment.

Share the medical journal backed evidence of your claims that CS significantly increase risk of autism. You read just as "credible" as Andrew Wakefield.

I appreciate you must have been shocked/upset by your daughter's diagnosis but that is no reason to spread misinformation .

I appreciate you must have been shocked/upset by your daughter's diagnosis but that is no reason to spread misinformation .
I'm not spreading misinformation, you can look at the research yourself.
I was told about the link by the doctor that diagnosed my dd, and he had over 30 years experience in his field, I didnt bring up the c section to him, he asked me if I had one and told me it was a risk factor

I dont know why you keep bringing up Wakefield when it has nothing to do with this topic , theres lots of research and data that support what Im saying.

Her body, her choice. 👍 My first birth ended with needing ventouse and shoulder dystocia occurring. Also needed an episiotomy. I wish I had a c section with my first like I had with my second. Let's not judge women for deciding what they think is best.

Isn't autism usually inherited and passed down through families?

Yes. There is no proven link between vaginal/check birth and autism. It's purse scaremongering.

@truthhurts23 from my reading there is no medal journal peer reviewed studies that prove this link. Hence my calling your comment misinformation.

If you have such evidence please share .
In the absence of that please recognise that a single dr opinion isn't fact (hence why peer review and research/analysis of a wide group under clinical setting are key) , keep your comments to yourself and stop scaremongering .

OP is wanting to make the best decision possible for her and her baby.

Cesarean delivery was linked to an increased likelihood of ASD (crude OR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.40-4.33). The association remained statistically significant, even after adjusting the potential confounding factors (reported previously in the scientific literature) in the first model (adjusted OR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.57-5.35). The association persisted after further adjustment of the maternal factors during pregnancy in the second

Various theories have been proposed to explain the relationship between delivery by cesarean section and ASD, and include oxytocin dysregulation, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and neurotoxicity due to general anesthesia administered during cesarean section.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8015537/#:~:text=Cesarean%20delivery%20was%20linked%20to,CI%3A%201.57%2D5.35).

there’s lots of studies that say the same thing so it’s not spreading misinformation

I was actually told by two different doctors about the link of c section and autism
The first one was a specialist and has diagnosed many children with autism over 30 years and a significant amount of them gave birth by c section, so he has recognised a pattern from experience
it doesn’t meant that c section causes autism in every child, but it could increase the risk depending on other factors

we don’t actually understand autism that well or know exactly what causes it so it seems strange to disregard new information because you think it’s “scaremongering”, better to be open minded

There are a lot of studies linking autism with different factors but not much is actually clear cut.

Studies do seem to show a clear genetic link though. But of course other factors might come in to play.

I’m really fascinated by the studies with Vitamin D, including where pregnant women have taken a high dose throughout their pregnancy which seemed to show really promising results. Sadly they’ve never expanded on that in the years since and there’s always lots of controversy whenever anybody tries to study or identify root causes.

Is the supposed link between C-section and autism different when comparing planned and emergency procedures?

Links do not necessarily equal cause.

For example, women of advanced maternal age are more likely to have a C-section. Youngest and oldest mothers are also more likely to have premature babies. Premature babies are more likely to be born by C-section. And so the round robin continues.

You can see it in cerebral palsy - much more likely if birth weight is low and if baby is premature (and of course early babies are smaller). Also more common in multiple births (where babies are smaller and often born earlier!).

If autism is linked to one factor it is defacto linked to several, doesn't mean they're all causative. If autism is familial, women with autism often present very differently to men. It may be that autistic women are more likely to choose an elective c-section because they are more likely to fear vaginal delivery. Therefore those babies would be born by C-section but actually its the family link that's causative not the delivery method.

Sometimes C-section is the best way to get baby out with mum and baby healthy - that health may be mental or physical, or both. No one should feel ashamed or pressure as to how they choose to give birth.