Elective c-sections.

Kandboys

Dontknowanymore wrote: »

KandBoys, you have already had a section though, which I think would of made it a bit easier to opt for an elective.

Oh yes I agree. I just wanted to give the OP my situation and my NHS Trust's policy to show that you can't just stamp your feet and demand one. There has to be a medical reason iygwim? I've proven that I cannot give birth naturally to large babies so that is why I am currently arguing with my consultant lol!

peachyprice

Yes, I did.

Like you, no way, no how was I going to give birth naturally due to a very traumatic first labour with my twins. I explained to my consultant my fears, he was very understanding and agreed straight away.

For me it was the only way I would feel in control and the only guarantee that it wouldn't all go horribly wrong again.

DD was delivered at 38 weeks, blissful.

I'm in London BTW.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

If it's not medically needed - and unfortunately, you feeling a forceps delivery isn't nice and wanting a nice little sleep on a scheduled date, waking up to have a clean, neatly swaddled face in a blanket that everyone else has seen before you isn't a medical reason - then you could always pay for private medical care.


I've had an elective section (elective on medical grounds, not convenience) and a forceps delivery.


If you think it's traumatic having a forceps delivery and a few stitches from an episiotomy, which heal in a couple of weeks and have no effect whatsoever on the baby's and siblings' care, I think you might have a shock if you have an infection in a section scar from being stuck in a grubby hospital for days, can't cough, sneeze or breathe without feeling like your insides are going to all drop out, see the scar start to open up and bleed profusely, have trouble breastfeeding, can't safely drive for 6 weeks (like with hysterectomies) spend years afterwards with pain from adhesions and then have to deal with the worry that the scar might tear in any subsequent pregnancies.


Not to mention the actual risks to the baby from the procedure itself.


The only thing I can imagine you doing that would increase the risk of a section is getting an epidural at the first twinge. Then refusing to move, laying flat on your back at all times, not eating for the week before so that you are too exhausted to function and screaming and screaming and screaming and screaming.

Then they might do a section so you stop scaring everyone else.


Although telling them that you want a home birth if it's so very safe for you to give birth vaginally and the only way you will attend hospital is if you have a prebooked section might have the effect of persuading them to find previous obstetric issues that would justify a surgical delivery. Or requesting a sterilisation at the same time.

euronorris

Ravenlady wrote: »

It would be better because I can prepare for it.

You can mentally prepare yourself for an instrumental birth also (as others have said).

I know whats coming and its not a shock to the system like pushing along quite happily then within 5 mins you've been assaulted by some forceps, cut from foof to a-hole and having a bloodied baby dumped on your belly. With no time for the pain relief to take hold.

Have you had a c-section before? If not, then how will you know what's coming? And how would knowing about that be any different to knowing about an instrumental birth?

I'm getting the impression that you have a c-section marked as easier in your head. From what I understand though, whilst it is 'easier' during the event, it is much, much harder afterwards and very, very painful for weeks afterwards. It's not this easy option that the media likes to portray.

I think it would be a good idea to speak to your consultant about all options available to you, including how to deal with an instrumental better if you have to. After all, even if you do get an elective c-section booked, baby may arrive earlier than expected and there might not be time to get your prepped for a c-section.

Best of luck though. xx

broke101_2

I had a C-section for my first and I am really suprised that so many have said how painful it is. I was up and about the following day, no issues in picking up my baby, breastfeeding or doing anything. Mine was not an emergency and so I was awake under a spinal tap. Not sure if that makes a difference. 3 years later and the really small scar is barely there. I had no infections and the dressing was changed frequently. A few of my friends have also had C-sections and have not had any problems getting up and about and looking after their older children. Just thought you should hear an honest positive experience :-)

emsywoo123

euronorris wrote: »

. From what I understand though, whilst it is 'easier' during the event,

Wasn't for me with my first section-my anaesthetic failed :eek: :eek:

Just like to lob that one out there to any pregnant ladies :rotfl: :rotfl:

bobajob_1966

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

If it's not medically needed - and unfortunately, you feeling a forceps delivery isn't nice and wanting a nice little sleep on a scheduled date, waking up to have a clean, neatly swaddled face in a blanket that everyone else has seen before you isn't a medical reason

You could not be more wrong - if the OP has been traumatised to the extent that she claims, this would be a mental health issue and so a valid medical reason for a C section.

OP, if you are feeling this bad you can request a referral to the AN Mental Health Team. They will have lots of experience in this area.

I don't know what is the right thing for you to do, but I think you need to talk things through with someone with specialist knowledge, both in terms of the birthing process and the trauma you have been through.

*Ro*

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Wasn't for me with my first section-my anaesthetic failed :eek: :eek:

Just like to lob that one out there to any pregnant ladies :rotfl: :rotfl:

... am currently pregnant so 'la la la la' (I did not hear that!)
My ex-boss also had that happen to her too. God what do women have to put up with eh? :eek: I wish someone would just bop me on the head when the time comes and then I wake up baby here and all contented...

Nicki

I had an elective c section for my third child after a very difficult ventouse delivery for my second. I can completely understand where you are coming from!

My experience possibly isn't as relevant to you, as I had all 3 of my children privately with consultant led care. So I was picking up the bill not the NHS. However, during my third pregnancy I became more and more agitated about the idea of having to give birth vaginally, to the extent that I began to suffer panic attacks in my second trimester and was in tears during most of my ante natal appointments. I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist as suffering from PTSD from my ventouse delivery, and when you read around the subject of difficult deliveries, this is not uncommon.

My elective c section was absolutely fine, and much better for me and the baby than my instrumental delivery. With my second child I haemorredged badly after the birth, developed an infection and was in hospital for 10 days before being discharged and under the community midwife for the full 28 days after the birth. I then went on to develop post partum psychosis and depression, and was signed off work for over a year, and spent about 6 months of that time in and out of hospital. With my third child I was out of hospital after 3 days and back to my nomal life almost immediately. The only thing I couldnt do was drive for a few weeks but I was able to do the school run on foot for my other children the week after the birth. This was my second c section, so my stomach muscles were probably as challenged as they were likely to get. After 3 days I only needed paracetemol occasionally, and in fact I had far less pain than after the instrumental delivery and was able to walk far more easily. I also didnt have any continence issues unlike after the second delivery.

So in my experience, neither of my c sections have been painful for weeks after the event, the recovery time has been quicker than after the instrumental delivery and the psychological cost far less.

I wonder whether those who are advising that a c section will be harder to recover from have had either a difficult instrumental delivery, or an elective c section, which is much easier to recover from than an emergency c section because you do not have any labour beforehand to stress your body.

As for what happens if baby comes early, this happened to a friend of mine who was booked for an NHS elective c section after a previous emergency c section. She phoned the labour ward at midnight explaining her waters had just broken but her section wasnt booked for a few days, and was told to come straight in and baby was born by section at 2 in the morning. They have teams to do sections 24 hours a day!

Good luck whatever you decide.

idea

Interesting, just to throw another opinion into the mix. I had an emergency c section after four days in labour and the nhs nearly killing me.....I cannot understand the people that are saying that it is terrible to recover from. I left hospital the day after my dd was born and was driving within three weeks. I am not sure where the six week thing comes from, my insurance company said they were fine as long as my HV said I was ok.

If I was to ever have another child again, I would demand an elective section (or go private should i win the lottery). I just could not go through being treated worse than an animal by the nhs for the time before the birth.