Elective c-sections.

Janepig

So what we glean from this thread is that some women recover quickly and (fairly) painlessly from a c-section, for others it takes longer (and I know afew who've enjoyed being able to swing it for even longer so that their family can wait on them hand, foot and finger ). One of my friends had a section on Thursday and was driving (with the blessing of her insurers) by the following Monday.

It also tells us that some have delivered normally with little pain or after effects, some have been in agony and have been left traumatised.

No two birth stories are ever the same, and whilst it's nice to see both sides, it's up to the OP to weigh up the pros and cons and decide what's best for her.

Fwiw, I've had two sections, both emergency, albeit not dire ones. DD was born at 11.35pm, DS at 12.25am, and I was up and in the shower by about 9.30am. With DD I was slightly hampered as the surgeon cut a blood vessel (1 in 4 chance apparently) and I had a drain inserted into the wound and had to carry around a little handbag of blood for about a day. Ignorance was bliss and until a midwife came to take the tube out I had no idea of just how much was inside!!!

But I recovered much as I did with DS - in fact by teatime on the day I'd delivered him I was up and down off the bed and doing pretty much everything for myself, to the astonishment of some of my visitors. In fact, such was the lack of midwives that if I hadn't been able to fend for myself then DS wouldn't have had a bath (I had to wheel the trolley and bath equipment down the ward for myself) or clean bedding when he soiled the incubator bedding because he was in the nip (I ended up finding out where the clean bedding cupboard was for myself). Oh and I found out where the milk and bottles and teats were kept and helped myself too. DS would have starved otherwise!!

Jx

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

bobajob_1966 wrote: »

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.

If she's mentally ill, that is somewhat different to saying it's not nice having a dirty baby and an episiotomy. She's not saying she has a mental illness though and she hasn't been diagnosed with one.


I forgot to mention that the epidural for the section wore off as she was halfway out of me. I thought that might be a bit too scary for someone who is bothered about a third degree tear. So, if you want it to be absolutely accurate, my elective caesarian section was completed to the tune of me screaming, the registrar shouting, the anaesthetist shouting, the midwives going '!!!!! !!!!! !!!!!' and the paediatrician yelling 'Get that baby out NOW'.

That baby is now 19 in a month. And I still get pain around the scar. Which was widened by someone grabbing DD's legs and tugging her out.



Then, on top of that, everyone thinks that you've had it easy and don't need any help, because it's not as if you've bothered to give birth?

Easy, painfree option, my ********

*max*

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

that is somewhat different to saying it's not nice having a dirty baby and an episiotomy. She's not saying she has a mental illness though and she hasn't been diagnosed with one.

I think you mistook the part about the "bloodied baby" in the first post for the OP wanting to have a "clean" baby at birth, for some reason. I really don't think that's what she was getting at!
Saying "it's not nice to have a dirty baby and an episiotomy" is wildly downplaying the feelings the OP has been conveying here (basically, terror and panic), and it is not what she meant.

Also, having been left traumatised, physically hurt, and terrified of a repeat experience when there is a potential alternative is not the same as having a "mental illness". I'm reading your posts as being a little patronising towards the OP. I apologise if I'm misreading you though.

moomoomama27

I had a c- section with my third baby, it was an emergency situation, as he was distressed and very big (10lbs). I had 2 natural births before hand, 1 a very traumatic instrumental births, with 52 stiches down below, massive blood loss, followed by a blood transfusion! Let me tell you I would opt for that over the c-section any day!

It does infuriate me when people holler for a c section, thinking it's the easier option. It's not in many cases, it MAJOR SURGERY, there are more risks for baby (and Mum), it can take 6 weeks to heal (if you're lucky), although it's not rare for complications, such as infections, scar reopening (as in my case).

It took 6 months for me to heal properly from the c section, and for all intents and purposes it was a straight forward one. It was by far more painful. Took 3 days before I could even stand, and 2 weeks before I could lay down without support from a ton of pillows and cushions.

I really, really would look into a c section, talk to your consultant and think long and hard before you think it's going to be less traumatic!

barbiedoll

I'v seen two women in the last month who were forced to have an instrumental vaginal birth and both of them have suffered a great deal of mental and physical trauma because of it. So if OP wants a section this time around, I don't see why she shouldn't have one.

OP, when you see your midwife, tell her (don't ask!) that you need to see the consultant. When you do see him/her, tell them that you are having nightmares, panic attacks etc etc and that you cannot face the thought of giving birth vaginally again. Tell them that you considered a termination when you found out that you were pregnant again because of the trauma of your previous births. Cry if you can, have a tantrum if you think it will help and lay it on really thick. It's the only way that you will get anyone to listen to you. If all of this fails, write to the chief of midwifery at your hospital, (name should be on the website) and make a noise.

No-one is going to tell you that recovering from a section is easy but then again, it is major surgery. However, if you have had bowel, bladder and perineal problems after your previous deliveries, like the women that I have seen, I daresay it's a price that you're willing to pay. And I completely understand why.

One word of advice......after the birth, make sure that you get painkillers from the hospital pharmacy before you go home. I saw a woman today who was discharged two days after a section. She was given no pain relief (midwives told her..."Oh you won't need them, you're young, you'll be fine" :mad:) and when the effects of the epidural wore off, she was in agony. You should be given something stronger than paracetamol, if not, ask why!

Good luck, I hope you get the delivery you want this time around!

osian

For what it's worth, I had an elective c-section and had no problems with it whatsoever. Of course everyone is different though.

Try and google the NICE guidelines for c-sections (it was a large-ish (100 odd pages) pdf document when I looked at it last), this should detail your rights for maternal request and all the risk factors of both types of birth. Read it thoroughly. Make an appointment with your consultant and write a letter with a formal request with your reasons outlined. Make sure you indicate that you are fully aware of and accept the risks.

Good luck.

bestpud

Lots of 'competition' on this thread!

OP - make an appointment with your consultant and tell him/her exactly how you feel. If you think you may struggle to talk about it, then take someone with you, or write it down first.

Nobody has the right to tell you you are overreacting as every birth is different and your feelings matter.

FWIW, I've had 3 c-sections - one emergency and two elective.

First time I thought I was going to die (literally)! I had a GA for that one and it was very traumatic - I had severe post-natal depression and I still struggle to talk about it now.

I was awake for the second but the epidural didn't work, so the operation itself was awful. I was in a lot of pain for several days after too and, again, I struggled with the aftermath.

For number 3, I was terrified I would feel the operation again, so I spoke to the anaesthetist about it and he was great. I had a panic attack on the table but was otherwise fine and I could have kissed him when I realised I couldn't feel anything!

I was up and about within 24 hours with my third and did all her care myself for the two days I was in hospital. I can honestly say it was a breeze.

The post-op pain relief is much better now - it changed a lot in the nine years between my second and third, but I also believe your state of mind will have a huge impact on your recovery, whichever way you give birth.

It's vitally important you feel able to discuss your concerns and make the best choice for you.

I feel saddened how many are dismissing the very real trauma that can follow any difficult birth.

moomoomama27

bestpud wrote: »

Lots of 'competition' on this thread!

As in??

I feel saddened how many are dismissing the very real trauma that can follow any difficult birth.

I don't see anyone really dismissing the fact that natural instrumental delivery is traumatising. BUT it's only in the OP's best interest and to present factual information given she has no personal experience of c-section.

C sections can be just as traumatising as an instrumental birth.

clairec79

They may not agree to an elective section, they don't have to. (it can't be compared to a homebirth in that you deciding you are staying home is you declining their services, so they have no power, for a section you can't do that without them so they do have the upper hand)

However you don't have to agree to an instrumental delivery either and can tell them that you will not consent to forceps/instruments (I don't know if you'd be ok with a ventouse) so you will either end up with a spontaneous birth (I would say normally that is the most likely outcome, but you having 3 forceps in a row is very unusual so never say never) or an emergency section

bestpud

moomoomama27 wrote: »

As in??



I don't see anyone really dismissing the fact that natural instrumental delivery is traumatising. BUT it's only in the OP's best interest and to present factual information given she has no personal experience of c-section.

C sections can be just as traumatising as an instrumental birth.

As in who had the easiest, or most difficult c-section.

I think some have dismissed her experience tbh and gone on to say how awful a c-section is dah de dah.

All births have the potential to be traumatic (did you read my experience?), which is why I believe it's so important for the OP to be able to discuss her previous experience and make the right choice for her.

Most of this thread is personal experience and does not count as factual evidence, with the best will in the world!