Non medical Elective C Section

[Nyrad]

Hi All,

I just wanted to hear from ladies who opted for the above and how and why they made the decision, and whether it was positive or negative experience.

Thanks

[Ellie]

Just popping in to tag this thread as I'll be really interested to hear people's responses too

[**Helen**]

I cant speak from experience, but someone I know is so scared about the pain of birth that she is looking into perhaps having a c/s. She is that petrified that emotionally it is looking like the pregnancy would be a more positive experience for her if she has a c/s. I know that majority of people dont agree with this and there are numerous reasons why it is safer to have a vaginal birth etc. But she is seriously thinking about not having children (even though she really wants them) as her emotions about giving birth are so huge. I dont know what kind of decision she will make, but I do know that for some people it's not about being too posh to push. I think we as women judge too much and while I would not reccomend an elective c/s without medical reason, I dont think it is my right to judge a woman for doing so.

I hope that some people with actual experience can come forward and let you know their feelings.

[thepixie]

A friend of mine took 7 years to conceive, and had gone through so much stress with trying, ivf, believing she was infertile, and worrying about miscarriage that the stress of labour was something she just didn't want to think about. She seemed to be very happy with her C-section and it made her pregnancy less stressful for her. She went on to have twins (naturally conceived), also by C-section, but went into labour initially so at least she got to feel what it was like - and I think she was pretty happy not to go through it!
Not for everyone, and not for me, but for some people I think they feel safer with CS.

[~mamaspice~]

My elective CS was for medical reasons (and I didn't like it) but a friend of mine had an elective CS with no medical reason. She is early 40's and it took her a few years to conceive through IVF. She wasn't opposed when her OB suggested a caesarean and to my knoweledge she has no regrets. Everyone is different though. You have to make the right choice for you.

[Arimeh]

My DS was delivered by c-section - with no medical reason. From things that I had been told - I didn't believe I could have a child naturally.

I didn't regret it, nor feel the desire to have a vaginal birth until he was 4 months old.

Recovery was ok - i healed well - although was perhaps more painful than needed to be because I was told the wrong information about pain relief.

[Nyrad]

Well u may have guessed the reason i asked is it is my dilemma. I can relate to your friends who did ivf as this is the way we conceived after almost 3 years of trying and several early miscarriages.

When i fell with this one i had had enough of the strain of ivf and resolved that it would be the last try. And funny how things work out, it was a big surprise. I still get worried something might happen but i try to be positive. The main reason that i am considering an e c/s is that the women in my family have all had traumatic vaginal births with 3 of those babies almost not making it. Luckily for emergency c/s they were ok. This scares the cr@p outta me!

Im not thinking of it to avoid pain of labour as it is a natural thing. I guess im worried that what if they dont do the emerg c/s fast enough if you do run into probs.

Maybe i should ask how common it is for siblings or related women to have similar birth experiences. A friend of mine is the one who got me thinking saying that i should be considering that family ties could determine my experience.

Thanks for your responses.

[Ellie]

Nyrad
I'm so glad I read your post. We have had a similar journey. After 10 years and losing 6 babies I couldn't face anymore IVF/ICSI...so I gave up...finally accepted it wasn't to be...packed up and moved to the country...and then 6 months later we fell pregnant naturally. It has been a wonderful surprise but I have been struggling with anxiety and worry. I too am considering an elective C/S purely based on my current anxiety issues...I am more scared of labour and me having a panic attack and harming our baby. My Ob and GP have both been so supportive and not asking me to make any decisions right now but have both assured me that if that's the way we decide to go they understand. Just having the option has been a huge weight off my shoulders. I never thought I'd actually write this all down through fear of people judging me but our journey has been tough...and seeing Dh's face as they had him say goodbye to me as they rushed me off to surgery with a ruptured ectopic .. litres of blood already in my tummy ...was the scariest experience of my life...I don't think he or I can cope with something like that again. Thanks for listening

[Nyrad]

Congrats on your pregnancy Ellie, nice to hear from someone who i can relate to. I think experiencing the trials of the ivf process can make us more anxious about everything and more worriesome. Thankfully i have not had to deal with an ectopic though, you are a strong lady!

I would like the same as you, an obstetrician who will be open to my choice should i decide to go that way. Its good that you have the support of your gp and obstetrician. Hopefully mine will be the same when i see them in a few weeks time.

[sushee]

I too am a long term IVFer. I took 4 years and 8 cycles to fall pregnant. And I actually feel the reverse - I'm scared of having a c/s.

I had the advantage though of having birthed 3 kids previously vaginally, albeit over a decade previously. So I guess I knew my body could do it. But I agree that after many years of IVF, it seems natural to leave your birth in your Drs' hands too, just to be on the safe side.

I just don't think it's necessarily 'the safe side' though - the statistics don't support that view. Statistically, women and their babies are safer at birth, and in the days after birth, with a vaginal delivery. I have to admit to being very anxious too, which is why I was desperate to have a VB.

I don't mean to discourage you from a c/s if that's what you want, it's your choice and I respect that. It's just we've become so attuned to not trusting our bodies through it failing us with conceiving, that we feel that we don't have it in us to safely deliver our babies either. But it's not necessarily true.

However, if you decide on a c/s because it makes you more confident about your birth, though, then I wish you well.

[Nr3 on the way]

Hi my first pregnancy was c-section due to pre- eclampsia and other problems but i loved the fact that it was calm - not a emergency c-section (was scheduled for a date).

My second child i was given the option of VBAC but i declined and opted for C-section purely because i knew what the experience would be like and also that i knew my baby would be safe. I don't see the point of being in labor for many hours and then having to be rushed into theater for a C-section or trying to pull a baby out with forceps and vacuum delivery. I am in a family with a high amount of family members having had C-sections and mostly it was pelvic related problems.

It should be every mom's choice what will work for them - in the one hand if i could have had normal birth the first time i would have opted for it but i'm glad things turned out to be fine and i really enjoyed my c-section experience. I know recovery is a bit longer but by day 2/3 i'm normally up and on the go - nothing a few pain tablets can't cure.

Wish all you ladies the best and go with what you feel is the best option for you and baby.