Requesting a cesarean instead of induction

RubySewSew

I understand that induction is often used to bring on vaginal birth after caesarean but the evidence is quite clear that it shouldn't be. I also, personally, have grave concerns about the evidence supporting the use of induction for post dates babies or the use of induction at all. Michel Odent, a great obstetrician, turned midwife, takes the view that either mother and baby are well and should be allowed to labour and birth spontaneously or they are unwell and an induction would increase their risks hence caesarean should be the preferred option. He argues that this would actually decrease the caesarean birth rate.

What I hoped to emphasis in my comments is that this is your choice Gwen. Your health care professionals can make recommendations and refer you to policy but ultimately it has to be your decision. I suspect that you have had a negative experience of induction previously and that is why caesarean seems like a preferable option which is perfectly understandable. Please allow me to make myself clear to you and to anyone else - it is not my job or anyone else's to pass judgement on your choices. I think it is sad that hundreds of women are given poor care every day because of a lack of understanding around how to keep birth normal and of evidence based practice. A birth culture that promotes normal birth provides the best outcomes for all mothers and all babies whilst providing the best care for poorly mums and infants and truly supporting informed decision making. We could be so powerful if we all stood up for this!

Gwen if you want to PM me about what has gone before, what is concerning you and what you actually want I may be able to direct you to some more relevant resources. That said, I think talking it over with somebody is your best option - a supervisor of midwives, an NCT teacher or somebody from one of the other organisations I have already mentioned. Please give the supervisor of midwives a go - they are there to promote normality and safety, promote women centred care and informed decision making and to advocate for you. Call your labour ward and ask to speak to the supervisor on call. Good luck!!!

plumpmouse

I haven't been induced at all so can't comment on that.

My first son was born using forceps in theatre, I had a horrid recovery and even now 7 years on have problems from it. They made a mistake when doing my episiotomy. I have little memory of the birth/following few days.

I had my 2nd baby 6 weeks ago by elective c-section and it was for me fantastic. I had her at 13.58 on Monday and was home just after lunch on the weds. I was up at 9pm on the Monday night briefly and was walking properly first thing Tuesday. The first day was very painful but since then I have found the recovery very easy. I was sterilised at the same time and was told that this would lengthen my recovery and cause more pain. With regards to driving I felt fit to drive at 3 weeks but my GP made me wait till 4 weeks.

6 weeks after my op I can hardly tell I have had it. A c-section can be a relaxed and nice experience.

I would speak to a consultant and explain everything.


I would also recommend getting a debrief on what happened during your last labour. I found this helped me.

Good luck whatever you decide

LittleTinker

The thought I had when I woke up from my C-section was "I would not wish this pain on my worst enemy". It was absolutely horendous and I would never have wanted another one. I would rather have gone through childbirth again even though my births were all difficult.

To be cut open.......its a major operation, through all those layers of skin and muscle.......to then be sewn back up again and to then try and heal whilst taking care of a baby is awful, tiring, draining, less satisfying....the intense pain lasts 2 weeks.....numb pain for a couple of months and it takes just over a year for all feeling to return. You feel much more 'normal' with a proper birth.

Also, if you have a surgeon who is not so clever with his scalple, youd have a scar in the wrong place for life. I was very lucky. Mine is literally 3inches long and sits exactly on the top line of my public hair.

General aneathetics take it out of you in different ways and your partner cannot be present or, if you opt for a spinal block where your partner can be with you, it carries its own risks, especially one of paralysis......not worth the risk for child birth in my opinion...it doesnt seem a good idea to have a needle stuck into the spine when it is not medically necessary.

One last point.......after pains get worse with each baby you have. Seriously, after pains with a C-section were a nightmare!

tiamai_d

Actually I had bad after pains with number 2 (bent double in SCBU unable to move) and none with number 3 except 1 the day after when I thought it would be a good idea to have some raspberry leaf tea. That was breasfeeding as well.

Spinal has upset my back. I get days when it is so stiff and sore. Doesnt last longer than the day luckily but I cant say it's not there.

An elective is very different from an emergecy C section I can't even equate the two to each other.

( I sound so anti-C section, I'm not really (since having the elective) I am just trying to tell you straight how I have found it, if it is the correct choice for you the good points will outweigh the bad points and thats all there is too it. )

CallaLily

peachyprice wrote: »

An emergency section yes, but elective section can be a very positive experience.

Sorry but I disagree with you there. I've had 4 sections 3 were elective and none were what I would describe as a positive experience, not being able to look after my baby when they cried, needing help to walk to the toilet and generally struggling to do simple things like sitting up in bed.
With my last he was 6 weeks early and I was stuck in bed on the ward upstairs unable to go and see him for a full day due to having a section and being stuck in bed, only had a photo of him maybe that's just the hospital I was in but as I said not a positive experience for me personally.

gorgeous_gwen

Ruby, I have PM'ed you.

osian

With regard to length of stay in hospital: I was in for 3 nights, it would have been 2 but I had a slight problem unrelated to the c-section. My sister and two close friends have all recently had elective c-sections and they all stayed in for 2 nights. Think 48 hours seems to be the norm in our local area.

With regard to recovery, the next morning after the section I wanted to get up but had to wait for my catheter etc to be removed. As soon as they were, I could walk to the bathroom - it was sore but I wasn't bent over double with pain or anything. Feels a bit like you have done a thousand sit-ups and been in a boxing match and you have to be very careful and walk slowly. The next day it got a lot easier. My sister recently had a similar sort of recovery, but on her first son she felt a lot more sore (but he was a very big baby and they had problems getting him out as he was breech and a bit stuck).

Still have numbness around the scar and don't think it will go away, but to me that's a small price to pay for the safe delivery of my daughter.

kre776

I had an emergency c section last year (classed as emergency because of prem baby but planned that morning so it wasnt a surprise) and the operation itself was a fantastic experience, which took me off guard as I expected the worst. The anaesthetist was fantastic and made the whole thing feel less emergency more special event. I had no pain in the few days afterwards but that may have been because I had a smidge too much pain relief (I was out of it the day after the section!)

However, I found the recovery hard going. As a very independent person I found it incredibly frustrating not being able to do what I considered simple things like washing, nipping to the loo, getting out of bed, without a major effort. I was kept in for a week and we didn't bring our baby home for a month but I can't imagine how difficult it would be taking care of a newborn and toddler a few days after. However that's only my experience and with the right support you should be fine, just make sure you take the help you're offered (the things my poor husband did for me after my section don't bear thinking about!)

At the end of the day everyone is different and deals differently with whatever route they take. Wishing you all the very best.

Bunny

I have a 4 week old daughter born via emergency c section, under a general anaesthetic and I lost 2L of blood. She was stuck at 10lbs 7ozs, failed ventouse and failed forceps. I went into hospital in labour on the Monday, had the op Early Tuesday Morning and went home Thursday Afternoon.
I would like to go places with her and visit people, I can't drive for another 2 weeks, can't take the bus etc as I'm not allowed to lift her pram, she is the heaviest thing I am allowed to lift for 6 weeks. I have to rely on my husband and my parents and yes they are very good, but it's not the same as just being able to nip in your car.
Unbelievably it's also annoying not being able to hoover, you know when you see that bit on the carpet you want rid of.
This past week, I can feel my muscle ache so I know I'm still healing on the inside although it appears to have healed on the outside. I've also been on 2 weeks of antibiotics die to an infection.

How old are your other children, do they still want picking up, because you won't be allowed to do so for at least 6 weeks.
My Daughter is my first child, so can't compare the two types of delivery properly but normal delivery recovery times are usually a lot shorter, I know what I would try for next time if it was possible.
As has been said, every birth is different, I hope you get what you want either way and it turns out to be a better experience for you.

tiamai_d

You can drive earlier than 6 weeks if a Doctor says you are fit, just check with your insurance comany first, some do insist on the 6 week period. Mine said that whenever I was able to do an emergecy stop without pain (or fear of pain) and could turn round in my seat to reverse I was fit. For me that was 2 weeks though probably I could have managed after just 1. However, with DS2 I wasn't driving and doubt I could have for atleast 6 weeks.