c-section by request

hi all

dos anyone know if it is pssoible to elect to have a c section for non-medical reasons and of there is a doctor in wa who will be willing to support this?

I can't help you with the WA question - but certainly if you go private, you may request to have a c-section for no medical cause. I elected to have a c-section with DS, and my sister has had 4 sections now - all elective - no medical cause.

good luck!

my sister has had 2 elective c/sections.. no reason what so ever for them. But im in VIC.

Is there any reason in particular that you want an elective c section?

its not as easy as people make out it is you know and yes before you say anything I am talking from experience...4 c/s down my belt plus a tubual reversal

Hi Nevsta- this would definitely be possible in the private system, but as Maz said, its not as easy as some people make it sound. Have you had a c/section before?
If not I would seriously question your reasons for wanting to go down this path. It is major surgery with recovery time much longer than that of a natural birth.
A c-section also increases the risks to you and baby in subsequent pregnancies (from uterine scarring). If it is your last baby and you've had a c-section before, then I can understand your interest, but otherwise you may want to seriously consider the lasting benefits to having a natural birth. Simple things that people don't think of- like the release of happy hormones that are triggered by a vaginal delivery. I don't want to scare you- but make sure you do your research on this one.
Even if you do opt for elective ceasarean, it is a much safer option to allow the labour to start spontaneously (ie- let the baby decide when he/she wants to come out), rather than being artificially induced early by a drip. This causes the contractions to come on stronger and faster than they naturally would and can cause the baby to become distressed- signalled by their heart rate going up. Spontaneous labour ending in c-section is much safer than induced labour ending in c-section. Only the baby knows the true due date- at the end of the day.

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

I haven't got an answer to your question but maybe talk to your GP about this and if they are understanding enough they would more than likely be able to point you in the right direction of an OB that is willing to support you in this.

Just do all the researching you can and GL with what ever your decision might be.

Hi Jellybean,
Thanks for your reply, im thinking of c-section as it seems a way I can be more incontrol and know what is going to happen, I will look into it further as I havent done much research as yet. I have friends who have had problems with their pelvic floor muscles etc after a VBirth though.

Nevsta, please hang around in here and read up - there is stacks of information here and on the main site.

There are many many ways to 'control' your labour and that's through knowledge. As much as it is affecting you that your friends have some issues now, remember there are millions of women that DON'T have pelvic floor problems delivering vaginally...like moi!
I gave birth to all my bubs upright, one in the water - they were a range of sizes and I didn't even tear once. Even just positioning yourself in labour can make a WORLD of difference.

Ask as many questions as you like, and check out the relevant threads - its amazing what you can learn in here!

A lot of the p/f issues can happen anyway regardless of how you give brith, there is a lot of pressure on it just being pregnant. my cousins has had 3 c/s (all of her births) and hers was in bad shape after the first.

you've come to a great place to help you get the knowlege you need before making such a decision.

Please read as much as possible & ask as many questions as you like.... no matter how silly you may think they sound, just having the knowlege is empowering as it is.

I have had 2 Vag births & had doctors trying to push me into a c/section with my last baby. I'm so happy I chose Vag as I was up walking around/holding my son as soon as it was over which was important to me. (among other things associated with Vag delivery). I have never had pelvic floor issues either.

Just weigh up the pros & cons for each & I'm sure a doctor can help with whatever decision you make :) You wont be judged here on belly belly no matter which way you decide to go!

Good luck

Great post jellybean. Some really good advice in here. I agree, inform yourself darl... I've had 3 babies (7, 8, 9 pounds) and I don't have any pelivc floor issues. The risk with surgery really is statistically higher for both mum and bubs. Goodluck Nevsta, you've come to a great place (bellybelly) to find some great unbiased advice.

Go and have fun in here nevsta......you'll be surprised what treasures of info you'll find, and the chickies who give it are even better :)

As for the pelvic floor issues...as I said Ive had 4 c/s and my PF isnt what it use to be as I carried very low with 3 of my 4 pgs and the pressure...**** it did my head in.

Please dont go on what your friends have said or have done...you are your own person...do the reasearch...find your feet to what feels comfortable and take control of your birth.

Other down effect of elective c/s...horrible scar and i now have an 'apron' of skin that hands, lop sidedly may I add, over my woo hoo section. Not a very attractive look.

Id have given anything to have had a baby vaginally if Id had the choice. As scarey as childbirth seems....having someone cut you open and take your baby out of your tummy scares me even more.

Most of all....dont be a stranger...we're here to hear you and help you

Hi Nevsta, I had my first child in April and had a vaginal birth, but when i was first preggers i really didnt want to, to start off with i was wanting a CS all the way as i had some issues "down there" in the past and was scared that i would get half way through and not be able to do it. After speaking with my dr and midwife they said i should be right, so i started doing some research and the best thing i found that broke the 2 down in to simple easy to understand language was the DVD Being Dad. it was great and made me see the pros and cons of both, although some scenes were a little graphic!
Good luck which ever way you go and remember it's your birth your body so you are always in control. Take care and enjoy your pregnancy

Thanks everyone. I will definately have a look at all the info here and that DVD sounds good.
best wishes to all xx

Just wanted to add there's an excellent book called "Delivery by Appointment" which talks about the pros and cons of CS, worth a read while you are making up your mind.

Nevsta, hello and welcome to BB. I agree with all the previous posters. Read up on all the pros and cons of c/s and vag birth before you make up your mind. You might be surprised what you find out.
Yes, you do have a higher risk of damaging your pelvic floor muscles during a vag birth. But there are many ways to manage and reduce that risk. I have no issues with my P/F muscles and I gave birth completely au natural.
With a c/s you are facing other risks which range from relatively minor, like mor pain and longer recovery to infections and then more serious ones like permanent damage to the uterus which can lead to an inability to have another pregnancy. To put it really blunt, the maternal death rate is also higher during an elective c/s as compared to a vag birth. Now, I don't want to scare you, but these are things a lot of people are completely unaware of.

One book I found invaluable was "gentle birth, gentle mothering" by Sarah J Buckley. She talks at length about the hormonal upheaval during pregnancy and birth. Very interesting, although she is definitely encouraging a natural birth over a c/s. She does give a lot of detail about the different interventions and how each affects what goes on in your and your baby's bodies.

Ultimately this is your decision and you will find info and support here no matter which path you decide to choose. It is great that you have come here to get information so your choice will be an informed one.

By the way, regarding the control. If you want you can read my birth story here. The link is in my signature. I felt as in control as you can possibly be. Much more so than if doctors had been the ones controlling the situation. I birthed on my terms and I wouldn't change it. But that is my personal opinion somebody else might have felt differently in my shoes.

All the best with whatever you decide. And don't worry what other people will say. No matter what you choose, people will have an opinion and tell you that you're doing it all wrong. This is to prepare you for parenting as again, every man and his dog will be a parenting expert and giving you advice ;-)
I hope you'll have a healthy pregnancy and a very healthy baby!
Saša

Please don't just go for a C/s because of the control of the situation and the damage that can be done during VB. I had an elective C/S for DD1 for the same reasons. The recovery was horrible and painfull but now, 3 years later, I still have no feeling over the bottom half of my abdomen. They cut the nerves when they do the C/s and alot of woman lose feeling there. I also have the pocket of skin that hangs over my scar and can't get rid of it through any diet or exercise. I struggled to BF because it was difficult getting up and down out of bed and my baby was very demanding. I felt like I didn't bond with her in the beginning and feel very guilty about leaving her. As soon as she was out of me they took her away and I only got to hold her about 5 hours later after recovery. I would have done anything to be able to hold her from the start. I couldn't get up for the first day so she slept by the midwives - again I feel like I abandoned her. She was really groggy from the anaesthetic too. Please read the post and replies on C Section horror stories and think again about the "convenience" of a C/S.