Elective Cesarean

[carron81]

Hi

Just wondering how many AB'ers have asked for an elective cesarean and how they went about it?

I'm due my second soon. We have a hospital here that is fine for a straight forward birth but they don't do epidurals/sections unless its and emergency and with my first i got an epidural and was about to get a cesarean when, after several attempts they got the baby out and it was a bad birth

After having meetings with the delivery team we requested to go to the mainland hospital which is 400 miles away. We were about to book flights and accommodation and go for a normal birth but it got confusing as we'd have to take my 15 month old and things were just not going to work with travel, babysiting etc

I told the midwife and she said that they would've sent me to the mainland hospital anyway as they discussed my delivery more after we'd had meetings. I think my midwife didn't mention this as we were planning to go away anyway. its only now come to light now i'd said it just wasn't going to be possible.

After speaking to my midwife today she's spoke with the hospital and they'd said they didn't even need to get my notes out as they remember the birth well and i now have to go to the mainland. Which I'm glad

I now have a babysitter so i can leave my daughter at home but after all our discussions about her birth and realising, even more, how lucky we are that she's here, i'd like a cesarean and want to know how to discuss this with my MW

[k8bailey]

Just tell her how you feel! I had a similar experience to yours if I remember correctly - when the MW came to do her postnatal check up, she discussed future pregnancies with me, and I said that I didn't feel I would ever be able to go through that again, she said if I got pregnant again (and I am!) that I would be able to request a C-section and because of all the probs I'd had last time, they'd have to take it seriously.

They're there to help you. Good luck - hope all goes according to plan this time!

[redcrx]

amazing isnt it that women go through awful births and yet still go on to have more children :)
as K8 says, you really just need to sit down and ask. Wether they agree is going to be mainly down to the reasons behind the previous bad experience.
Just because one baby is stubborn coming into the world doesnt always mean tht every birth after that will be traumatic.
I can see why you are wanting to go for a fixed date too having a little one and such a long journey ahead of you.
good luck

[annie0000]

I had a difficult firts birth that ended in a Section, with my 2nd, the same set of circumstance that led to the first section were in place - very large baby lying back to back. This was further complicated by the fact that there are only 13 months between my boys so we had concerns about the scar holding.. Even so, the consultant was of the mind that we set an elective for my due date, but if I went into labour before it, the baby was likely to be smaller so maybe we would give labour a go. My midwife then fiddled my dates so that she booked me in a wekk and a bit early for the section so that there was less chance I would go into labour. When I had the section, the consultant said that it was just as well we ad done it cos the scar would never have held up to labour.

You just need to make sure that your midwife knows your wihes and supports you as the consultant may not - they are thinking about their budgets etc rather than your circumstances.

Good Luck with it - hope all goes well.

[aggiela]

I had a bad birth with my first as I was in a midwife led unit and when things went wrong I was ambulanced 40 miles totally dialated and pushing all the way and my daughter suffered a stroke as a result of the birth but, really we are lucky she is still here. When I fell pregnant with my son my first thought was cesarean but my best friend tried to talk me out of it she said "have your labour in a hospital where all the equipent necessary is and IF need be then you'll be okay". I was bloody mined and had my little boy by cesarean, whos lung collapsed after birth as he "wasn't rung out in the birth canal" I was made to feel like a lazy cow who endangered her child because I was "too posh to push" which was never the case I was just trying to spare him my daughters experience. I think my friend was right, be in the hospital with the best facilities, try it the natural way but, if it goes wrong you have all the help near by. Don't try to cheat nature.

GL Hun.

[Picky]

Hi Carron

I can see the advantages you must see with having a section, however my personal experience is that I would always want to have a 'natural' birth. I had a tricky birth with baby Picky 1, vontuse delivery and he was a big boy at 9lb 1oz. Baby Picky 2 ended up being an emergency c section, he was back to back and a hefty 10lb 11oz! I found the whole experience extremely debilitating afterwards, especially with having another little one. It doesn't help that I had horrible infections and constant pain for weeks.
I think you should probably just be honest and come directly out with it to your midwife. I hope I haven't worried you, just wanted to throw into the discussion the other side of c sections - it's a major op and an entire person is coming out of your tummy!!
Good luck
Px

[Velvetee]

Hi Carron,

As many will know, I had my son 7 months ago by emergency C-Section, he weighed 10Lbs 5 ozs and although I didn't want to have a C-Section, I'm thankful they gave me one.

My recovery was quick, I was up an about 5 hours after having my baby, didn't experience much pain and my lady bits are still intact. I would definitley opt for an elective Caesarian if I ever have another baby.

If you feel strongly about a C-section you should discuss it, although I think most Midwives would prefer their ladies to give birth naturally, as there are still many risks associated with C-Sections. I would say as you had a difficult birth the first time round, there are good reasons for you to consider a C-section this time.

[Picky]

Sorry to jump into your post Carron, but hi Velvetee! How's the little man? Glad to see you back! Haven't had much chance to get on since baby Picky 2...my goodness it's been hard work! Px

[carron81]

Velvetee. Thats great news about your recovery and I thought my little one was a big baby but a 10 pounder.... ouch. Thank goodness you had a section

Its good to hear about your speedy recovery. That is one of my main reasons for a section is because of the recovery time from having a ventous and forceps delivery. It took 8 months and I'm still having bother with my scar and everything. The thought of having another naturally is worrying me how i'd be after if i'm still in pain from my 1st.

My midwife has wrote away to the hospital I'll be having my next baby in and I also popped into the hospital where I had my 1st today to get a 2nd opinion. I was looking for one of the staff that was called into theatre with me but she wasn't working today so she's going to call me back.

She did say after the birth my next would be a cesarean and was the one that didn't need to get my notes out when my midwife called the hospital as she could remember the birth well

[carron81]

Hi

Got my 2nd opinion and i'm glad as she has told me that a section would be best for many reasons and also what happened with my first birth is the original tear they made extended to bigger than normal and thats why i've been in so much pain and if i have a normal birth the same will probably happen and my recovery would just be as bad.

For some reason I never got told this after the birth or when I went to meet with the hospital and doctor that delivered my daughter a few months ago when arranging this birth

So i'm delighted this midwife has just been straight to the point and said how bad a delivery it was an a section is definately what she would reccommend. So i don't feel like i'm wasting my midwifes time having her writting letters requesting it now

[k8bailey]

Glad you managed to get it sorted Carron. How far along are you?

[carron81]

hey

i'm 36 weeks to go. not long now. fairly feeling tired