Elective c-sections.

moomoomama27

peachyprice wrote: »

Although the majority of people are giving their experience of the physcial effect of a section dismissing OP's psychological fear of giving birth.

That's true, but with the physical trauma can home psycholoical trauma. The OP could well find a c section as traumatic as a natural delivery.

IMO there is no easy option to having a baby!

I was terrified when I was pg with my 2nd baby, I had a terrible time, suffered terribly after with flashback, and low periods. I wanted a c section, or so I thought. I didn;t want to face what I went through again, and thankfully down to a wonderful midwife and caring consultant I was encouraged to try for a natural delivery, with the promise that should things go down the same route they would honor my wish for a c section, when I went into labour, 3 hours later, I had a baby, no pain relief no intervening! I'm so glad I went down that route, although it made me cocky when I had my third baby, which turned out more traumatic than the first! What I'm getting at is, each birth is different!

Ravenlady_2

Thanks for the replies, been a tad busy today so will try and answer as many questions in one go.

Janepig

moomoomama27 wrote: »

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.

In fairness, none of us had personal experience of c-sections before we had one (or more than one!). The OP's done the right thing in trying to find out about it. Some of the posts are bordering on the judgemental - I'm sure the OP is well aware that a section is no walk in the park, but in her position I'm sure I'd be asking for one in the strongest terms!

MERFE wrote: »

Hi can I ask? Did it hurt to have you drain out? I had one with DD and was in agony when 2 midwives had to pull it out, I still get pain where it was. I've had a drain out recently from somewhere else and am wondering if they didnt let the suction out the first time because this time they came and turned the vaccum off 30 mins before they took it out and it didnt hurt at all - I barely felt it.

There was a reason I said "ignorance is bliss", I really was clueless as to what on earth it was really. It was twinging a bit when I moved about, but I honestly thought it was some kind of needle, and only started to smell a rat when a nursing sister came to take it out and she was really nervous and apologetic before she started. Anyway, she pulled, and some tubing came out, and some more tubing, and more tubing again, I'm sure there was enough tubing to circle the hospital! She did keep asking if I wanted her to stop for me to have a breather but as I didn't realise how much there was I just told her to keep going.

I don't remember it being agonising, but when I had DS I remember begging the surgeon to be careful (she was the one that told me it was a 1 in 4 chance of cutting a blood vessel) and bless her as soon as I was stitched up she stuck her head around the "curtain" and told me that I was okay. She'd just cut the side of DS's head instead (he still has the scar). Good job he wasn't face up like DD or she'd have cut his eye.

Jx

Ravenlady_2

Dontknowanymore wrote: »

SO you know there is a strong possibility that intruments might have to be used to assist delivery, why don't you mentally prepare yourself for that rather than electing for major abdominal surgery?

I have had 2 EMERGENCY sections, it is horrible after, you can barely move, not allowed to leave hospital for a certain amount of time etc etc. I think maybe speaking to someone about the other births and coming to terms with them would be more beneficial than having a section.

Also surely before you fell pregnant this time you didn't know that you would be allowed a section, what are you going to do if they do in the end say no? not give birth?
Sorry I know that sounds a bit sarcastic but you need to be realistic here, instead of clinging on to the hope you will have a section, focus on preparing yourself for a birth where they have to use forceps and the like then anything less is a bonus.

Its really hard to mentally prepare yourself for a forcep birth, especially as each birth has been more horrendous than the previous. I just cant be optimistic about it.

Ravenlady_2

euronorris wrote: »

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

Forgive me if i seem a tad blunt but I would rather put up with a week of discomfort when moving around than not being able to sit down for a month.

moomoomama27

Ravenlady wrote: »

Forgive me if i seem a tad blunt but I would rather put up with a week of discomfort when moving around than not being able to sit down for a month.

A week of discomfort if you're lucky! I was in pain, and on strong meds for 4 weeks after my section. It took me 14 days to heal enough for relative comfort from a vaginal instrumental birth, after 52 stitches ouch! So it's not always the case that a c section recovery will be less painful!

I think people are just wanting to share with you that both methods of birthing can be terrible, painful, traumatising etc, just as they can go smoothly.

Janepig

I think that what hasn't been touched upon perhaps is the fact that both emergency sections (even non GA ones) and ventouse/forceps deliveries, by their very nature are unpredictable and often traumatic. An elective section, all things being equal**, means you know when you're going in to hospital and it's generally a much more "pleasant" experience, not going into the will she/won't she heal comfortably afterwards and the obvious nerves you feel going in for what is quite a serious procedure.

I would have thought that given the OP's previous traumatic deliveries, going for a planned section would seem somewhat sensible.

Jx

** I was booked in for an elective - DS had other plans and decided to arrive 5 weeks early, so an emergency was once again called for. But it all ended up okay, just not quite as calm as I'd envisaged.

Ravenlady_2

As for the 'bloody baby' comment, forceps coupled with a deep tear and episiotomy (had both) produced lots of blood, i lost 600ml last time which doesnt sound a lot but it looked like a bloodbath on the floor and poor baby had to come out through a waterfall of blood, he was literally thrown on my belly, red from head to toe and just white eyes! Freaked me out no end.

Im not scared of labouring at all, I can do that with just G&A and find that very easy but its the horrific end to the births that I am keen to avoid.

The 2nd time I was told to try for a natural, I did and it didnt work.

The third time I was told to try again, so I did and it failed again.

From the planned section births I have seen they all seem very clam and happy events. Having a rushed instrumental birth is rarely shown on TV, especially when the pain relief has not had time to take effect ( the case of the last birth)

I do become a hypocrite in saying that I want a Home water birth but i feel being in a hospital and strapped to a monitor constantly contributed to the awkward positioning of baby and the need for instruments.

inkie

Elective LSCS are only done for clinical reasons. Previous instrumental delivery per se is not a reason for an elective LSCS.

I would be very surprised indeed of you could get a consultant to agree to performing one for non-clincal reasons. Have an epidural in as soon as you ar ein established labour and then this can be topped up if the instruments are needed. I had quite a traumatic birth with my 1st (forceps and episiotomy which extended), which I managed without and epidural. Yes, it was uncomfortable for a while afterwards - my stitches got infected etc.... however, there was no way I would have considered asking for LSCS second time around. Why? As there was no clinical indication either from the previous birth, or from the present pregnancy. The second time I had a few whiffs of entonnox and a normal delivery. I cannot see why you would want to breech your uterus, and subject yourself to unecessary major abdominal surgery - it's different if there are clinical indications in the mother or fetus to warrant a LSCS.

peachyprice

inkie wrote: »

Elective LSCS are only done for clinical reasons. Previous instrumental delivery per se is not a reason for an elective LSCS.

Sorry, that is so not true. The emotional wellbeing of the mother can very much be a deciding factor.

inkie wrote: »

had quite a traumatic birth with my 1st (forceps and episiotomy which extended), which I managed without and epidural. Yes, it was uncomfortable for a while afterwards - my stitches got infected etc.... however, there was no way I would have considered asking for LSCS second time around. Why? As there was no clinical indication either from the previous birth, or from the present pregnancy. The second time I had a few whiffs of entonnox and a normal delivery. I cannot see why you would want to breech your uterus, and subject yourself to unecessary major abdominal surgery - it's different if there are clinical indications in the mother or fetus to warrant a LSCS.

Well done to you, round of applause, not everyone wants to do that.