Hey All,
So I have 4 daughters and I’m currently 38 weeks pregnant with my first son 5th pregnancy not planned but we are all happy.
My first 3 daughters were all born naturally at 39, 37 and 40 weeks and myself and the babies didn’t have any complications. My fourth daughter was early at 35 weeks by emergency c section.
I have never been a fan of natural delivery not everyone will understand that but it’s not for me even though I’ve done it 3 times.
when I had the emergency c section although the risks were there and I was so so scared and recovering was a b**ch, comparing both experiences I felt like I was a lot more in favour mentally with a c section.
Even after I just felt like I was still me.
During this pregnancy from the start I’ve always said to my partner, family and midwives that I want an elective c section no doubts about that want however as I suffer with health anxiety badly the thought of it has always been nerve racking. With my emergency one I didn’t have a choice to say no I was rushed in and I had to go through it but being given a choice im petrified of making the wrong decision physically. The Midwife’s at my hub have said from
the start that we have a choice now however as I am under the care of consultants with my pregnancies every time I’ve mentioned it they have tried to sway me towards naturally giving birth.
This morning was my final appointment with the consultants about my choices which I had over the phone and I thought I would get answers that I needed to help me decide however I felt left worse, more anxious and confused with the reasoning.
I have Sjögren’s, Hashimotos, lowish platelets, under active thyroid (treated) and now I’m low in b12 which im now taking injections for.
None of these conditions have been brought up as a reason to not push for the c section.
The only reason that’s been mentioned for not going for the c section is my high BMI and that I’ve had 3 successful natural deliveries. Every time I tried to ask what the reasons for trying to get my focus off c section was the fact I’ve had these successful births but I’ve also had a c section which went well and I recovered without complications and my baby was healthy.
The end of the conversation said that if I choose to have the c section I’m going against medical advice but I was trying to work out if that advice was the fact I’ve had the natural births or is it because as an individual there are risks to me seperate than the general risks we as women all face equally.
I understand that it is a major sx and if he had said look I think you should have natural because you pose risks in addition to the guideline risk then I would be going against his medical advice on my own person health and circumstances but if I’m going against medical advice based on the fact that because I’ve had 3 normal births and have been fine it’s probably better to just have another but I pose no more risks than any other having a c section then surely that’s not enough doom there to choose not to have a section!?
I’ve waffled on but I got off the phone feeling really scared, tearful and angry.
ive phoned back afterwards and I’ve been discharged so I can’t speak to anyone to ask again. They have referred me for the c section but now I don’t even know what I’ve based my decision on.. I don’t feel I’ve had a proper answer in order for me to make the right decision.
I have to now speak to a midwife about everything and be referred again if need be but I only have just over 10 days left.
i suppose what I’ve come on here for is to ask for others experiences. I want a c section but why have I been made to feel like I’m going to my death bed.
I feel so scared like somethings going to go wrong now. I’ve seen so many women have positive experiences. Why haven’t the consultants supported me if my risks are not any higher than others .