Elective c section thoughts

[CMRC17]

Hi

I’m currently 36 weeks and booked in a consultant appointment to discuss an elective c section. I wonder if anyone has experiences of going for an elective section despite being low risk. I am 28 and baby is healthy, in the correct position and I’ve got no medical reasons to have a section.

But I feel more at ease from the idea of a planned section that a natural birth (particularly a natural birth leading to an emergency section). My mum had a section with me and had a good experience, plus I’ve already had a very complex surgery for my back years ago, so the idea of it being a surgery isn’t off putting to me. When I imagine birth, for some reason I imagine a c section as the most straightforward and smooth - I have anxiety when thinking about a vaginal birth.

the only thing putting me off doing an elective is the idea that I could have a straightforward natural birth - I just don’t like the unpredictability of not knowing how long labour will be / how difficult it will be / if I will need intervention.

wondered if anyone has been in the same boat and has experience choosing a c section despite being low risk. Thanks!

I've only had sections due to high risk but don't think I would change my mind if offered a VB. It was definitely peace of mind but my second came early so she was abit of hassle, waking up to waters going, when expecting a CS, was a surprise.

My only negatives were the scarring- it has made me a little self conscious and no matter how much exercise I do, it's never flat... friends have said the same. Also no driving for 6 weeks and slower healing then VB. Also I wasn't allowed to get out of bed til the next morning, so couldn't do much for my baby.

Not trying to put you off as I would do it all again but you should consider everything.

There are many safe painkillers for Bf. Like dihydrocodeine. I was bf too :) It’s pretty shocking that’s all they offered you and I hope they aren’t still doing that and you just had a bad staff member that day. It’s not your fault. Poor mums.

I liked my elective c section and my vagina and bottom are still intact with no incontinence which was my big fear! I liked the certainty of knowing when baby would come especially as I had no partner

Ps if you want a lot of kids it's best avoided

@fashionqueen0123 I think it’s pretty standard from what I’ve read but who knows.

Recovery was easier from the VBAC and I’d had an episiotomy but it healed quick.
With the cs I had painful sex for about a year so didn’t do it much. And I was doubly incontinent for a while after and wasn’t with the VBAC so that was a great relief.

I don't have any advice as such but just wanted to say I'm in a similar situation, I know several people that have given birth vaginally recently and either had to have Emcs or have had some complications. My SIL had an ELCS for medical reasons and has nothing but positive feedback so it's difficult. However I'm going ahead with being induced next week and hoping that I'm one of the positive stories. Midwives and consultant have said if I want a c section at any time that's up to me but they have been very reassuring and although I know people that have had complications they had nothing but glowing reports for the care that was received by the midwives and doctors. It is difficult because if I knew I was going to have a difficult labour ending in c section anyway what's the point but if you never try you never know I guess..there are lots and lots of positive vaginal birth stories out there it's just we tend to hear more about the scary ones I think.

I was left infertile after my c section - extreme case I know but the risks on the form are real

Chat to your midwife ASAP as you’ll need a consultant referral and elective lists will be filling up quickly. They can’t say no, but they could say we don’t have an elective slot free until you are 40+ weeks so the risk of going into labour earlier is higher the later the section is scheduled.

I requested one because I was anxious about a vaginal birth (particularly a third or fourth degree tear and impact on my pelvic floor). I had surgery a few years ago and some studies suggest I would be at greater risk of tearing because of that. I saw a consultant at 16 weeks and he didn’t comment either way on the risks from previous surgery and I am still low risk. But he happily booked me in for an ELCS at 39+1 there and then so I think he did it on my anxiety more then anything! No push back at all from my my midwife or the consultant. I’m going back at 36 weeks to sign the paperwork and I assume go through the surgery risks as we didn’t cover those when I first saw the consultant.

I had same birthing anxiety. I was relieved I had to have a planned section with my first as I had an issue.

Second time around I had the green light for a VBAC and in spite of my anxiety I wanted to avoid surgery again.

It was nowhere near as bad as I had feared
! I'd do a VB again in a heartbeat and was very empowering.

I've had both, the sections were brilliant ... BUT there's a much greater chance of placenta previa/acreta in subsequent pregnancies due to the scar tissue. Also your previous spinal surgeries might mean you'll need a GA rather than a spinal block so won't be able to see/hold your baby immediately.

It’s been great reading everyone’s opinions, thanks everyone for taking the time to comment. Feedback does look pretty mixed which I guess doesn’t help much ahah but I guess it just tells me that everyone is different and I should go with what’s best for me!
what im planning to do is go ahead with a date for an elective c section, if the baby then decides he wants to come early then I will play it by ear and see how it goes…
i do have my consultant appointment on Friday though so I’ll see if they say anything to put me off that idea! I’ve got a bunch of questions to ask so hopefully they don’t mind that .

To add yes I have seen an anaesthetist and she confirmed I’d be ok with an epidural rather than needing to go under general anaesthetic , which is a positive I think!

I was planning VB all along, until a friends VB absolutely freaked me out when I was 35 weeks, as she had an absolutely horrific time. I had an elective CS at 39 weeks & wow. I would recommend it to anybody. Well, i suppose recommend is the wrong way to put it, but hopefully you know what I mean. It was literally like checking into a hotel. So calm, relaxed, we knew exactly what was going to happen. I’m pregnant again & will be doing the same

Recovery was mildly painful (i have a very low pain threshold). But i was out having dinner & going on walks with my husband & newborn 3 days after. My friend however was still recovering. Her recovery was a whole lot worse than mine

Of course everybodies experiences are different

The best advice I was given by my consultant was to book a date in for the csection, then on the day if you truly didnt want to go through with it, you don’t have to!

I had an ELCS. I was 40 and it was at 39 weeks. Could breastfeed fine. No “shelf” (but so did my recovery exercises so that could be why). And also, it’s a myth about waiting 6 weeks to drive. You can drive as soon as you feel able and feel comfortable stopping in an emergency.

My advice is, rest as much as possible for the first 48 hours afterwards, then things seem to just get better fairly quickly.

Good luck OP ☺️

what a range of responses - just goes to show you really can’t predict these things. My VB was empowering though I struggled with pelvic floor issues for about a year after and I don’t think I’ll ever feel the same down there again! I want a CS next time.