Fears of Childbirth

[trying4ababy]

My husband and i have decided the time is right to have a baby. My only worry with the whole experience is the birth. I have had many problems from being a you girl with my muscles in my vagina. My left hand side isn't strong enough to keep even water in!! I am worried that if i have a vaginal birth this problem will increase even more and i certainly don't want that as i am only 23!! I wondered if i am well within my rights to elect myself for a c-section because of my previous probelms. Does anyone out there have any information for have had similar experiences?

As far as I know you can have an elective c-section for any reason you like. Perhaps you could ask your doc to refer you to the physio at the hospital about the pelvic floor problems - you can have a good chat with her before deciding how you want to proceed.

don't know if you can requiest one or not but I do know that my neighbour has had a similar problem and has just had her second child naturally - she is a similar age to you. She did have a few problems but they have given her special physio aids to improve her muscle tone and she is a lot better now. Good lick conceiving - you will be fine ( I know its easy to say but you will be, honest)

don't know if you can requiest one or not but I do know that my neighbour has had a similar problem and has just had her second child naturally - she is a similar age to you. She did have a few problems but they have given her special physio aids to improve her muscle tone and she is a lot better now. Good lick conceiving - you will be fine ( I know its easy to say but you will be, honest)

Thank you for your rapid responces to my message. The information given is greatly appreciated. I had a series of physio for about 18 months when i was 17 and this helped me greatly but it got to a point were my muscles just weren't getting any stronger. The Physio stopped and ever since i have just been trying to do my pelvic floor excerises on a regular basis. I am better now than i have ever been but that still isn't great. I am frightened by having a viginal birth it will take me right back to square one again. My friends tell me to go speak to my doctor now before i concieve with the worries i am having, but to honest i don't find them very simpathetic with my problems. I don't want them to try changing my mind which i am sure they will end up doing.

Do you mean changing your mind re. a section? I think as long as you are sure, then it will be fine. Loads of people have elective c-sections, you have every right to ask for one. It might be worth seeing a Physio though - things might have changed since you went, and there might be different exercises and advice that would help. I'm sure that no one would criticise your choice of having an elective for the reasons you have given.

I think you can self-refer to the physios at the hospital, so if you are not sure about talking to your doctor, why not book an appt with a physio instead? They are likely to know more about the issues anyway.

I walked past a pelvic-floor exercise class at the hospital recently in the physio dept and there must have been 150 people in there - it's very common!

Yes i meant changing my mind regarding a c section. My surgery seem to be very quick to dismiss your problems. I was in there at the beginning of January because i was having probelms with my periods and they put it down to and ear infection. What? Didn't even know i had an ear infection let along it effecting my periods!! Thank you again for your advice this is really useful for me. My auntie has a friend who is a physio at my local NHS hospital so it maybe worth trying to see her.

?!??!! Your doc sounds CRAP! I hope you find a more supportive ear from your physio. Also, remember if you get pregnant you will have a midwife or two, and they might be more sympathetic. Good luck! xx

Tell me about it, problem is whenever you ring up to make an appointment 9 times out of 10 you can never see the same doctor as before. Its a nightmare, it used to be a really good practice until they changed there regulations. You have to get passed the receptionists first, they are just as bad. They wont make you an appointment if they don't think it is important enough!!! What a cheek!!! Thanks for your help, will let you know of any developments.

there was a paper in the BMJ this week, reporting that pelvic floor exercises did not improve post-partum urinary incontinence. Given that 30% of women are incontinent following childbirth, and that you already have pelvic floor problems, this may be something you want to dicuss with your consultant.

trying4ababy - hope the trying goes well, and that you get the advice and support you need.

One thing though - I had always understoof that preganacy itself puts considerable wear and tear on the pelvic floor, and that although common sense would seem to suggest a CS in your case, a CS does not magically wave away pelvic floor complications.

Talk it through with your consultant now - before pregnancy is established. I'm sure all will be well - you can't be the only one!

My friend has congenital hip problems and after much deliberation they let her have an elective c section.