Elective Caesars

[Frangimimi]

Hi, I feel like im stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment, with trying to decide on a vbac or elective caesar.
Can anyone who has chosen an elective caesar, please, give me reasons why they chose to go this way.
Im sick of being juddged by people, who think its a copout to have a caesar by choice:hair:

DH 35
Me 33
DD 9
DS 6
An angel 14 weeks
Due with another miracle 18th Oct 07

[Jender]

I had an emergency c-section for my bub - and will have a c-section again. For me (and I know others feel differently) the important thing is a healthy bub. And she's breastfeeds (she is nearly 9 months), sleeps through the night (did fron 10 weeks - in her own cot in her own room) and is a very happy bub.

I don't attach my bonding to my birth experience. Motherhood is a life-long journey, birth is merely a day (or two!). I think we women can get unbelievebly caught up in not just what we "should" and "shouldn't" do but we "should" and "shouldn't" feel. Your feelings are your own and is an election c-section feels right to you then go right ahead. :thumbsup:

[Frangimimi]

Thank you so much for expressing that about motherhood being for life and not just those moments at birth, I thought I was the only one who felt that way.
Its a hard decision to make when faced with it, but my first concern is my baby, not about how its done.:hugs:

[kita]

I will be going into hospital tomorrow night and on friday morning i will meet my lil boy by ceaser, i couldnt care how he gets here, i am going to meet him and his health is all that matters to me.

[kristyNluke]

can i just ask why you would choose to have a caesarean i dont want to judge im just interested to no why you would choose it.

[kita]

I chose mine as this baby will be about 10pounds and all the women in my family had suffered traumatic births due to us as babies being 10pounds aswell, my mum is still paying for the damage i caused 18 years later. I wasnt enjoying my pregnancy thinking there was going to be complications or that id regret my baby if he caused damage and having a c/s put my mind at ease and had me looking foward to the birth.

[Frangimimi]

im thinking about a caesar, as im afraid of my scar rupturing during labour, and even though those chances are supposedly small, if it does happen, the baby can die, and that is not worth risking.
Also like kita my son was 9 pound and he was caesar and the dr said at the time, omg she wouldnt have been able to have him naturally, so size is also an issue for me.
Good luck kita, hope all goes well for you:yelclap: :hugs:

[Ali Jayne]

I totally agree Frangimimi :smiliedance:

I thought I was alone in this feeling but obviously I have been in the wrong section of bubhub...

I haven't totally ruled out a vbac but pretty much sure I will elect a c-sec.
All these people keep telling me how vbac is safer etc but honestly, if you compare the outcome of an elective ceasar to a ruptured scar (no matter how small the risk, it still happens) the ceasar is better.

No one has been able to answer my question on what the success rate is for a vbac after a failure to progress labour.

I watched a doc this morning on vbac and this was based in an all natural birthing centre and even the midwife (who is fantastic) said you have to look at each candidate and assess what the chances are for a successfull vbac.
The most successfull being women who had a breach baby or posterior baby, premature labour etc.
But again nothing mentioned about failure to progress. It took me over 24hrs to get to 4cm and so far all the women in my family have been exactly the same so I feel that with the odds against me I want a ceasar.
Nothing more exhausting than trying and labouring for hours and hours then to have ceasar on top. I couldnt even remember which of my twins they put in my arms afterwards.
Some women go on about how awfull it is to be washed by a nurse or to not be able to get out of bed for 24hrs. Pleeaaassseee! apart from the fact some natural births leave you worse off than that, I had no problems. I was up and showering that evening, the ceasar was at 12.55 that afternoon. I was out in 4 days and DP stopping me from doing house work. The actual ceasar was great.
I bonded with both my twins and successfully breastfed too.
I have many friends that have had both natural and c-sec and I am not exaggerating when I say they all prefer teh ceasar.
Maybe we just have very good surgeons here who do a great job. The only pain relief I needed was panadol!!

Either way, NO ONE can tell you the safest option for you. How do they know your body and your feelings. I think going into any birthing option petrafied is worse than making sure you choose the option that you feel the most at ease with.
Write down how you feel when you think about a natural birth with pros and cons then do the same with a ceasar. See how differently they make you feel.
In my case if I need an emergency c-sec if something goes wrong with a vbac, there is a chance I may need to be taken to a hospital 40min away with a distressed baby in the tums. I feel I would be too stressed at the thought of this to be successfull in natural labour.

Sorry :ecomcity:
Hope you didnt get too bored!!

You will choose what is right for you in the end and trust yourself, dont let people push you either way :thumbsup:

[bekkyboo]

I was booked in but went into spontanous labour.

My OB told me the ball was in my court. I have a heart condition that at the time i was told would make labouring dangerous - but not un doable. So with that information - we booked in for a c-section for the most favourable outcome...

[Frangimimi]

you guys are great,so positive, the more i hear from you the more confident i feel about making a decision.
Did you also know that if things go wrong in a vbac and you go for an emergency c-sec that you can also have a hystorectomy depending on what went wrong, even that scares me, not that im planning on more kids at this stage but i dont want that taken away from me either.
I have to be honest one of the things that worry me, is that i dont trust, the hospital, and drs here. I have had 2 births, miscarried, and have been treated like **** in all of them.
I have also been with my bestie and sister in their labours and watched from the other side how they were treated. It was horrible, and i wonder, do i put my babys life and mine in their hands, what if something goes wrong in a vbac and no one notices???
They walk out on you here and leave you for up to an hour before they check on you, i dont know if thats normal or not, but hello?? anything can happen?!!:no:
Keep the posts coming please you all are a great help, its good to vent your feelings and have people who understand:hugs:

[spiraldancer]

:wave: hi i totally agree with you guys so much pressure is put on women to go natural but the reality is birth is risky go with your own instinct don't buy into the middie v ob political debate its you and your life goodluck:wizard:

[jaxcoop]

hi i had a traumatic vb so when i was pregnant with my 2nd i decided to have an elective c/s. I don't regret it in anyway. I have a close bond with my baby jsut the same as my 1st. There's no difference at all.

If i was to do it again i would choose c/s for sure. No doubt at all. I wouldn't risk it. Im lucky i haven't been judged to badly only by a few older ladies.

I don't think it matters how your baby comes into the world as long as your baby is healthy and that your healthy to love and look after it.

It sounds silly but sometimes i rub my scar and it reminds me of the special entrance he made into this world. And feel very blessed that i am here to share it with him.

Do whats right for you. Good luck!

[Frangimimi]

thanks for you kind words jaxcoop. In the end the decision will be made on howi feel it will be the safest for myself and baby:thumbsup:

[filmgirlgail]

Hi there

With DD I had an "elective" c-section as I had placenta previa which completely blocked the birth canal. I was happy to have it as it was that or nothing and 30 years ago, they wouldn't have known until it was too late and one or both of us could have died. So I was very happy to have a c-section and was happy with it all round.

With the second pregnancy I looked at VBAC and c-section and in the end there were 3 main reasons for me choosing an elective c-section

1- very scared of ripping myself open
2- with a VBAC you're more likely to be strapped to a monitor full-time so can't move around, have showers, etc which I felt I would need to do
3 - I realised that I didn't feel that I HAD to give birth naturally IYKWIM. As long as both of us were happy and healthy I was happy to have a c-section.

Hope this helps

[Frangimimi]

Hi filmgirlgail, its great to hear your story. You put into words alot of what ive been thinking.
I also had placenta previa so i had a caesar for that too.
you helped a heap.:hugs:

[filmgirlgail]

Glad to hear it. Were you admitted early too? I was admitted at 33+3 with a bleed and stayed in until 38 weeks when DD was born and then the 5 days after cos of c-sectino.

[Frangimimi]

:wave: i was booked in at 38 weeks, lucky for me i didnt have a bleed until then so i was safe enough to last.
Then i was stuck there for a full week, it was horrible, i missed my dd so much, and i know i will miss my children so much when its time for this one to be born.:crying:
You have any regrets about deciding on a c-sec?Did the Dr willingly give you the second one or did you have to fight for it??

[filmgirlgail]

Hi

Well I was lucky I didn't have the PP again as I would have missed DD so much. I didn't have to fight at all. My OBGYN is very nice and said it was up to me and gave me the risks involved with both. He favoured the c-section but left the choice up to me.

[Rachael]

With DS I was induced and was in labour for ages without dilating at all.

My Ob and midwives talked to me about choices and we chose the c-section, it was classed as a semi elective lol.

I was very happy with everything, had a definate bond with my little boy straight away and could breastfeed straight away too.
DS was born at 4.26pm and I was up and showering the following morning and wobbling round later that day.

Also when the Og and Peadiatrician saw bub and measured weighed etc they said he literally would not have fit out of me and I would have ended up having a full on emergency c-section. 3.6kgs and head circumference of 39cm.
I am quite small and hubby is large so daresay next bub will be big too.

We are currently thinking about a second child and I have seen my Ob about it all as I do occasionally get a few niggly pains on my scar area but he said that is completely normal for about a year after.

Got a ultrasound and in one section the scar is slightly thinner and therefore I could really only have another c-section as the risk of the scar rupturing would be too great.

Would have chosen to have a elective for the next regardless though.

[Frangimimi]

:wave: did you go to a private hosp filmgirlgail??
I dont have pp with this preg(thank god).
I was reading your story Rachael about the size of your bub , my DS that was caesar delivered was 3.9kg, and thats quite large as my DD was only 6 pound, it makes me wonder what chance i have of having another large baby and being able to have it naturally, i would be horrified if i laboured for hours only to be taken in for emergency caesar cause bub was stuck:thumbsdown: My DS was born 6 years ago now, and i still have pain across my scar(not alot but somedays i feel a sting or something) I never really thought about it being a prob so never looked into it, i thought thats what happens, now you make me wonder??:confused:

[Rachael]

was reading your story Rachael about the size of your bub , my DS that was caesar delivered was 3.9kg, and thats quite large as my DD was only 6 pound, it makes me wonder what chance i have of having another large baby and being able to have it naturally, i would be horrified if i laboured for hours only to be taken in for emergency caesar cause bub was stuck:thumbsdown: My DS was born 6 years ago now, and i still have pain across my scar(not alot but somedays i feel a sting or something) I never really thought about it being a prob so never looked into it, i thought thats what happens, now you make me wonder??:confused:

I kept going to my GP about the pain and got sick of her not taking it seriously lol so went to the Ob and he gave me a ultrasound then and there and all the scar is good except one part which is a bit thin and that is mainly where it has a niggly pain too.

You should go have it checked, internal ultrasound..yuck but worth it to have peace of mind.

[Frangimimi]

thanks heaps for that insight Rachael, i have my next antenatal visit on the 2nd Aug so i will ask about that(knowing the spazs here though, it will be of no major concern lol).:hugs:

[filmgirlgail]

Hi

With DD we were in the UK and I was in an NHS hospital but I have nothing but praise for thw whole time I was there. After a week I was in a room to myself as they knew I'd be there for at least 5 weeks and all the other ladies had high BPs which I didn't have so they all had to stay on a ward for higher observation.

Over here I was at the Wesley in Brisbane which is a private and they were really good. Alex had to go in the nursery for the first 5 days though as he was 37 weeks at birth and had fluid on his lungs. They were all good too.

[Rachael]

thanks heaps for that insight Rachael, i have my next antenatal visit on the 2nd Aug so i will ask about that(knowing the spazs here though, it will be of no major concern lol).:hugs:

Goodluck :)

Is there a different place you can go to?

[Frangimimi]

No different place to go here, even private patients go to the same place(they just get in quicker). I love living in the country but they really lack the facilities of the cities:thumbsdown: .
Maybe i should consider moving for the next one lol, although hubby would kill me if i sprung another bub on him:laughing: .

[DJWebb]

I think the way you choose to have your baby is your decision...it is your body and noone should be judged for that. I have had 3 natural vaginal births and a c-section. My c-sec was elective..there was no medical reason for me to have it...I just wanted it! It was quick, painless I didnt like the epi..I felt hot and anxious and the shaking afterwards was awful!! But i didnt get sick, I had no bruising, and I healed very quick. I do remember the first time i got up and felt like I couldnt breathe and like I was going to pass out. I didnt like not being able to do things for 6 weeks and having to take pain killers for a whole week! I have decided to have a vbac this time...a friend of mine had her scar open up a couple weeks after her c-sec and I saw it...soooo gross! she could lift her stomach apart and you could see flesh :barf:There are sooo many risks with c-sections and repeat c-sections! blood loss, and needing a hysterectomy is much higher in c-secs!!! But like I said a personal choice noone should be judged for!!! Just make an informed decision:)

[Frangimimi]

Does anyone else find this decision as hard to make as i do??
I get all positive from what you guys write about good vbacs, and think yep, i can do this, then a while later i think but what about this and this...ooohh i dont know if its suitable to my situation, then i think... oh stop being negative...blah blah:ecomcity:
OMG talk about going mental:hair: Lol..

[summerlump]

While my caesarean experience wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I want to have a VBAC for no.2...not that it's something I'm thinking too much about while I'm still healing from the caesarean.
The reason I want to try a VBAC (if I can)is because I've found it frustrating not being able to do that much 4 weeks after the birth. The birth part is easy with a caesarean...it's the recovery that is frustrating. I'd like to do more with my baby, but have to really take it easy because I'm still healing. Also I dislike relying on people so much.
So 4 weeks on I'm still ginger.

[mumof2gals]

I was in labour with my daughter for 3 days over the Easter long weekend she just didnt want to come out. I was slow to dilate and my waters did not break naturally. After 2 days of slow progress and unsupportive midwives I begged them to give me a c section as i could not take the pain any longer and they refused saying to me that there were more options they wanted to try to make the prosess faster. I was given an epidural and still the process did not change. The next day they finally granted me a c section after I tried pushing for over an hour with no results. My daughter was born bruised and battered but healthy. That was 2 years ago, and I am 20 weeks preg with my second. For me having another c section is something that I strongly want to have, as I dont want to put my baby, or my body thru what i went thru to have my first baby. Alot of ppl have said that I am taking the easy rd and being a chicken about not even attempting to have a natural birth. But at the end of the day you need to do what you think is best not only for your baby but for your body.

[Angel333]

My first child I had by Elective c section 3 years on I'm pregnant agagin and I am planning on having another elective c section.

I had such a wonderful birth with no problems throughout and after and I look forward to having another.

I have no desire to have a natural birth the thought of it Just scares the **** out of me.I know what I'm in for and I look forward to giving birth next year.

4and1ontheway - I experience the shaking afterwards as well.My whole body was shaking I admit I didn't like that.

[Frangimimi]

:wave: Hi ,i really value all your opinions and stories, thank you for your honesty. Sometimes i know in my heart that i have made a decision but i dont know if i want to shout it out yet. It can be so hard when you are judged by people, a c-sect is not an easy choice to make, and even though it seems easy at the time, there is so much healing after and pain, that it more than makes up for not having a vaginal birth. Who cares what mothers choose anyway, isnt it about the safety of our babies and our bodies to make these choices? I have never judged a mothers choice to how she wants to labour as long as she is happy.:yelclap: :hugs:

[zenifa]

I had an elective c/s with my DD (nearly 2 years ago) and in 2 mths today I will be having my 2nd elective c/s.

I was advised by my orthopaedic surgeon and my OB to have an c/s due to a long standing hip problem, which meant that if I had a vag birth, I had a very high risk of dislocating my hip, requiring major reconstructive surgery and risking at least 12 weeks off my feet (yes bed bound, not a good scenario with a newborn baby!!), so I opted for the c/s and the 6 week of recovery.

I had private health, and had a very positive c/s experience. My recovery was also very good and I've had no problems since.
Although this time, I am concerned as to how I will cope with a toddler and a newborn, whilst still recovering from a c/s and DH will only be home to help for the first 3 weeks. I am feeling +ve about having the c/s, as for me I'm not that concerned about not having a vag birth, all I want is a healthy baby, regardless of the entrance........hey the sun roof is fine with me :laughing:

For those considering a c/s I would recommend you read Michele Hamer's book 'Delivery by Appointment', its about caesarean births and gives lots of good info on VBAC, as well as c/s, including how to have more input in your c/s birth. When I read it, it reinforced all of my views on wanting immediate skin to skin contact following the birth, delaying cutting the cord, no separation from bubs whilst I'm in recovery etc. There have been other threads on c/s birth plans so I won't get into too much in this post.

Good luck, decisions about your baby's birth are important, but also remember that not everyone gets to choose, so one should always be prepared for that, especially if you chose a VBAC, you may still end up with a c/s.

[Frangimimi]

well,, i had my clinic appointment today, and things didnt go as great as i hoped they would, i did my glucose test last week and the results came back to say as i was aneamic, so now i have some iron tablets to take and my blood sugar levels have just gone over and they want me to have the 3hr test, which im not looking forward to. Has anyone out there experienced gestational diabetes(yes im looking into the future, i just want to be prepared).
So anyway, i told dr i have been thinking about an elective c-sect as i not confident about a vbac, and he didnt seem fussed either way, said it was my choice, and he would talk more about it at my next app.(in a fortnight), cause he wanted the next test results as well.
I was feeling positive about today and making a decision to go ahead with a c-sect and then when i got other results, it really threw me, and i turned into an emotional wreck again...aaahhhhh:gloomy:

[bianca012]

for me the choice to have a caesaerian was easy. just the thought of giving birth scared me to death, and i knew that mentally i would not be able to handle it. i went to a public hospital and the midwives were trying to talk me out of it so i made all my appointments with the obstetricians who understood all my concerns and gave me all the pros and cons of natural birth vs caesaerian. my c section went fantastic, i had a spinal and i loved everymintue. it was the best day of my life. my baby was perfect, no problems at all. I was so happy with my experience, i was relaxed and did not feel any pain at all. the recovery took me 3 weeks although i could still pick up my baby and do things. my friends who have had natural births have taken longer to heal and some are booking in for reconstructive surgery. My obstetrician told me that a 3rd of his work was repair work after women had natural births, but apparantely this is an unspoken thing. In saying all this there is still a big risk with caesaerians and you need to do your research before you consider it. It is major surgery and the same amount of things can go wrong as with a natural birth. I guess its how strongly you feel about it. And last but not least, don't listen to anyone who wants to criticise you for not delivering naturally. You carried a baby for 9 months the same as they have and you will raise a child for the rest of your life just like they will. We are all equal, and if people out there want to judge then thats there problem. Im sure they will also be judged on something they do in their life, so you are not alone.

[Frangimimi]

Good for you bianca, thats grreat you had such a positive experience with your c-sect, I hope mine will be the same:thumbsup: .

[filmgirlgail]

Hi

Glad to hear you've made your decision and I agree with what Bianca says too. As long as you have made YOUR decision, whatever you choose will work for you.

Good luck with your next appt.

[Stretchmark Diva]

I had GD with my last pregnancy - managed to keep it controlled with a low GI diet and exercise, under the supervision of an endochrinologist. I've also had 4 fantastic caesars. :D Best of luck.

[Niksmum26]

I had a c/s june 07 as my ds was in breech position- i was booked in at 38 weeks..... I had the shakes really bad when i was getting prepared for the spinal block, and i was taken back into my room (i felt as though i was really cold).... ds was born health at 2.93kg and 47cm. When i was in recovery and the spinal started to wear off on one tiny section of my stomach PAIN!! i was dreading the pain when the rest of the spinal would wear off!! Being wheeled to my room from recovery- (in the bed) every bump and turn i was in PAIN! especially when they moved me from one bed to the other. the next morning when the cathetar (sp?) was removed and the drip and i was asked to get off the bed and go to the chair next to me OMG!!! It wasn't until day 5 or 6 that i started to move around with more ease then the other days-!! When i got home and layed in my bed and tried to move position i felt as though one of the layers under my scar had tore open - i was in agony crying...... it took me a good 2 weeks till i felt that i could walk around normally and feel comfortable- did anyone else have this sort of recovery???

When i think back on my c/s all i can think of is PAIN!! and i am petrified of a repeat c/s which to be honest is what i will probably go for in the end. (i will be ttc at the end of the year)....
I am not concerned abt having a vbirth and the whole bonding thing- i bonded just fine with my ds and like every1 else on this thread i don't believe that the only way to bond with your baby is to have a vbirth..... my son was born healthy and that is all that mattered to me.

The only reason i would want to try or think abt a vbac is that i want to be able to look after newborn and my ds and be hands on and not restricted with recovering like i did last time.

However the thought of rupturing even though the % is low- if it were to happen and something were to happen to the baby i would never forgive myself.

Sorry abt the massive ramble :ecomcity: but i have just been thinking alot abt it.

Also can i please ask- on my left hand side of my scar it is always swollen but no pain? (best way to explain it) does anyone else have this??? or is it just because this is the side that i always hold my son???

[kita]

Also can i please ask- on my left hand side of my scar it is always swollen but no pain? (best way to explain it) does anyone else have this??? or is it just because this is the side that i always hold my son???

i would go to the doctors to get that checked out, i had my c/s 13 days ago and im fine, can move easily as if id never had a c/s and my scar is fine, being swollen doesnt sound good.

[Shana]

NIksmum26 - I'm really sorry your experience was so painful! Can I ask what post operative pain relief you were given? My understanding is that you should avoid letting the pain relief wear off and keep it topped up for a good few days (with oral pain relief).
And if yours wasn't working, could you have complained to your Doc and got something stronger?

[Niksmum26]

i was taking oxytocin (i have no idea if that is what it was called) and voltaren and the nurses stayed on top of it....
do you think that i should have been walking around more? as i had that many visitors for my whole stay i don't think i was moving around as much as i should have been? i remember for one nurse when i asked for my pain relief told me that she will go get it for me but i also needed to go and walk around a bit....
how much walking did everyone else do???

[Rachael]

I tried to walk around as much as possible.

Makes the healing quicker.

[Frangimimi]

I do remember the pain, but as i had general anesthetic not an epi i didnt feel the epi wearing off. I didnt know at the time i was allergic to the pain relief they gave me when i woke up but i got sick till they stopped it, so this time thye know and i hope it wont be as bad waking up. My pain lasted for a couple days severly, but i kept moving about and eventually it got easier before i left hospital.
I dont remember anything about a lump developing i would be looking into it too, in case of an infection.good luck.
Stretchmark diva, can you tell me, did you have to have a caesar due to GD(i havent got the results of my test yet but just thinking about it)??:wave:

[Stretchmark Diva]

Sorry for the delay Frang, I didn't notice I had a question here :wave:

No, I didn't have the caesar because of GD - as I'd managed it well and the baby was fairly average in size ( 8 pound 1) I probably would have been able to push him out. I'd had 3 previous caesars, so I didn't want to take any risks, so that's the reason. :)

Good luck!

[wild at heart]

I belive its much better to have a calm and happy birth (whichever way you give birth), rather than a traumatic expernce for you and bub.

I always said I would never have a caesar and I told my obstetrician that was the only thing I didn't want.. but after the birth.. which was very traumatic on me and baby (both during and after).. have to say I would def consider it next time...

[Bronwyn]

Hi Everyone
Its fantastic to see such positive stories about c/s. I too was looked at strangely by ppl when I told them I had elected a c/s but I admit I'm a chicken and was scared of v/b. I was also too scared to have an epidural so I asked for a general which my ob was happy to do.
In the end I would have needed a c/s due to pre eclampsia and kidneys failing and a huge (4.2kg) breech bub and they just needed to get her out instantly, go the phone call at 9am to be at hospital by 11am to get prepared for theatre...precious little (well not so little) girl born at 5.28pm prefectly healthy and with a relaxed and happy mummy (once I got back from recovery).
So to all the ppl that think we are strange electing to have a c/s worry about your own childbirth and leave us to get thru our pregnancy without stress.

[kita]

So to all the ppl that think we are strange electing to have a c/s worry about your own childbirth and leave us to get thru our pregnancy without stress.

here here! ive been givin a lot of cr@p at times about purely electing a c/s, but im happy about every bit of it.

[spiraldancer]

:babydust2: hi its funny i've been ttc and researching birth and to be honest after all the stories it appears to me that very few vaginal births are straight forward and at least half the women end up being torn so a c/s is looking good:wizard:

[sirhokko]

:babydust2: hi its funny i've been ttc and researching birth and to be honest after all the stories it appears to me that very few vaginal births are straight forward and at least half the women end up being torn so a c/s is looking good:wizard:
I'm interested in where you have been researching birth. There is not one single study or trial out there that say's that c/s is safer than a normal birth. There is a shed load of stuff about the dangers complications and long term affects however. I can point you in the right direction if you'd like.

[becca74]

:babydust2: hi its funny i've been ttc and researching birth and to be honest after all the stories it appears to me that very few vaginal births are straight forward and at least half the women end up being torn so a c/s is looking good:wizard:

Could you link me to those research studies. I have researched extensively and have never found any that support your comment....

I'm genuinely curious :detective:

Will I find them in PubMed or one of the other obstetric journals?

If you could post links I would be very appreciative, and I am sure the other women here would be too. Ta muchly!

[Cheeky Little Monkey]

Could you link me to those research studies. I have researched extensively and have never found any that support your comment....

I'm genuinely curious :detective:

Will I find them in PubMed or one of the other obstetric journals?

If you could post links I would be very appreciative, and I am sure the other women here would be too. Ta muchly!

I don't think Spiraldancer is necessarily talking about studies but maybe rather talking about womans stories of their birthing experience? Correct me if I am wrong.

Spiraldancer - you will hear/read lots of horror stories about both C-Sections and Vaginal Births, so do try to take it in your stride and remember that we all tend to remember the 'horror' stories rather than the positive ones and everyones birthing experience is an individual matter. I am in no way anti c-section, I have had both a c-section and a vaginal birth.

[canberramomma]

Both of my first births were emergency c/s and I found the recovery time ridiculously long. My subsequent birth was an elective c/s and I was back to doing 'normal' things in a few weeks.

I was also in a much better frame of mind. Which, I believe, aids so much in a persons recovery.

Based on this experience, I would definitely have another elective c/s.

Others might feel differently. As with most parenting decisions, I guess it's a very individual thing.

[Alekay]

I had 2 elective ceasers and wouldnt change a thing the first was in public hospital and got a fair bit of hassling and lectures even after the ceaser. The 2nd was in a private and that was great, had no problems was in less pain this time compared to last time. Looking back i wouldnt change a thing and if we have another one :fingerscrossed: (if i am allowed) i would definatley have a ceaser.

I think we should all be able to make a choice that is right for ourseleves :thumbsup:

[DjF]

Ive never thought a lot about caesars or read much before now - 2 weeks ago i had an emergency c sect due to complications (after 26 hours of hell pain labour).

I know quite a few of the girls that were in my 'due in' thread had emergency c sects also whilst in hospital there were many as well. I also know of several girls who this month have had emergency c sects too. Surely this amount is unusual? And i have after the fact also found out that a first labour if complications arise is not supposed to go past 12 - 14 hours. I wish i knew why i was made to go through 26 hours, with a temperature over 40, was pressured into having my waters broken, had my labour augmented - which led to more excruciating pain, an epi that after 3 top ups never worked - when i should have gone for a c sect sooner? That c sect was the best thing i ever had the whole time - apart from a baby! I was up the next day - yes i was deeply embarassed to not be able to do some things for myself but that period didnt last long.

I do know - if we ever decide to have a 2nd child - i will be finding out if i can have another c sect - as i already know in my head i never will be able to have a v birth. And im not just telling myself i cant - i felt half way through she was never going to come out. Both physically myself, and at over 9 pounds - she was a decent size! I also have DF to consider - he was traumatised at seeing and experiencing the pain i went through as well - and was there for all of it.

If you elect to have a c sect again in a public hospital - do you have to pay? Not that i want to sound cheap - we dont have private health and dont know at this point if we ever will. I do understand the midwives will probably try to convince me not to have one - but if they could experience even a small portion of what i went through - they wouldnt bat an eyelid at my decision, im sure.

[luckymama]

Hey D, from what i have heard, most hospitals will force you to have a c/s if you have already had one. People have to fight more for a VBAC. I have resigned myself to that fact already, if we do have another. I know i cannot go through labour again either, especially not an induction. Sadly i have to admit that labour was torture for me. The midwife did say its more intense once you have been induced, esp since i had all interventions, gel, AROM and max doses of the drip (3 i think it was).
Am terrified of doing all that again.
I did recover well from the c/s though. I went home from hospital the same day, and was out of bed a few hours after the operation. I never wanted any of that, but do feel like it was a positive experience in the end.
BTW you wouldnt have to pay at all in a public hospital. I dont think you are going to have any trouble asking for a c/s for the next baby.

[allie1]

hi frangimimi,
i had a ceaser with my 1st as she was breech and the 2nd time they asked me if i wanted another ceaser or to try to give birth naturaly. originally i chose the vbac option but then due to family issues i chose the ceaserean so i could make sure i had a babysitter for eldest.
anyway i went into labour the day before i was due to have my ceaserean and a huge amount of gunge and slime ect came out of me (excuse details but this is going somewhere) but i was too scared to tell the midwives i was in labour as i was afraid they would make me push it out (when it came to the crunch i was complete wuss) anyway next day when i went to have my ceaser wasnt feeling to great i have to say and the surgeon said to me its a good job that i was booked in for a ceaser as my uterus had ruptured and if i had laboured any further then it would of been really dangerous...guess all that slime had something to do with it.
my midwife also told me the chances of that happening were very slim as i had been complaining to her that it felt like my scar was ripping open from the inside for quite alot of my pregnancy..but it shut her up when it did happen lol.
anyway cos of that i had to have my last baby delivered 2 weeks early to make sure i didnt labour again, so there was another ceaser and will be having another ceaser with bub im pregnant with now xx