did you admit to choosing caesarian?

[ziggy29]

HI all.

Up until yesterday my OB said i needed to have a casear for medical reasons. But now i can have either vag or caesar.

This is my first child.

I am 95% sure I will have an electic caesar. My reasons are - i have long standing pelvic/back instability/weakness which has caused me long term pain which would affect my ability to have an active birth;
- i want to keep the integrity of my pelvic floor. I have worked in women's health and understand the long term effects (ie as you get older) on the pelvic floor.

My main question is this - those who decided to have a caesar for individual reasons - did you tell people that or did you just make up a medical excuse just to get people off your back?? I am not looking foward to the potential flack i will get on bubhub, from the midwives and the community generally BUT i have always stood up for what i believe in as well.

[MrsMiggins]

I did actually have a medical reason for mine, but I have friends who've chosen to have a c/s for non-medical reasons & some have been completely open about it from the start, and some have stated medical reasons, and then confided in me somewhat guiltily later that they did it for themselves.

I know a lot of people do make up a medical reason to tell people so that they can cover up the fact that they chose an elective c/s, but I think that is a shame.

Honestly I think we as mums & mums-to-be cop flack over so many things from so many different people, that it's not worth worrying about what other's think. Whatever anyone does, they're going to end up copping it somewhere! :rolleyes:

I think you should feel comfortable stating that you have decided a c/s is what you want. I think if you know what's best for you & bub - forget about what everyone else thinks.

Bubhub is (and should always be) a place of support, regardless of whether you choose to birth vaginally or surgically, breastfeed or bottlefeed, use cloth or disposable nappies etc. etc. etc.......

So long as you are happy with your decision, go for it I say! :D

[becca74]

Firstly, go with your instincts. by the sounds of your back/pelvis problems, your instincts may well be putting you on the right track, as you may have genuine issues that your instincts are warning you about.

I have a friend who broke her leg 2 weeks before her edd, and the thought of going into labour being unable to remain active totally put her off....to her it just spelt guaranteed torture, and I dont blame her, and she chose a c/sec.

In regards to pelvic floor integrity, this is reliant mainly upon remaining active during birth and not being coached to push (your vagina is built for this job, so when it is not meddled with by careproviders, it stays intact). My Vag is in perfect working order and the only time i suffered a bit of incontinence was after my 2nd c/sec....go figure :rolleyes: . You can also read this story about this poor woman who ended up getting a hysterectomy after an elective, and her vagina is ruined forever....so much for the theory that a elective c/sec is guaranteed to protect your vagina: http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=49971

There are no guarantees....just getting pregnant in the first place puts you in a place of risk.

You have to make your decision as a result with being honest with yourself, and listening to your heart.....and I cant see how anyone can judge you for that! Youre just a mummy who wants to do her best for her bubs.

Good luck with your decision, and if c/sec is the way you wanna go, I would suggest checking out www.birthrites.org, and scroll down to their 'planning a positive c/sec' link, so you can plan the most beautiful and sacred birth possible for your precious little bubba.

[shed]

I don't know what you have heard about pelvic floors but I had my first baby at 37 years old, naturally, with a dislocated pelvis and my pelvic floor is exactly the same as it was before.

Just do your exercises at the traffic lights.

My pelvis and back are in better shape than they were before I got pregnant - true story! I have no idea why, its very strange, but its awesome.

If you want a c-section then you should have one, there is no reason to worry about what people say, its completely your choice, but make sure you are fully aware of what you are deciding and not doing it out of misguided fear of weeing when you sneeze afterwards because that aint necessarily so!

[ziggy29]

I thank you for your comments and and definately going to make a decision with my eyes wide open to all the advantages and disadvantages of both options.

Just to clarify a little...
I understand that many women have positive outcomes with their pelvic floor muscles following vaginal birth and that caesar does not guaranttee me a good outcome. But i am not guiding my judegements simply on some misguided fear.
My judgement is based on the medical research i have undertaken and my experience working in maternity and gyanelogical wards. Much of the pelvic floor and back injuries that I see do not present until years later (my mother is quite disabled with a back problem that i believe was contributed to by her weak pelvic floor. Maybe she never did her exercises - she cant remember).

Anyone else out there brave enough to admit to the general public that they had a caesar beacuse they choose to??

[becca74]

there is a thread 'to those who chose electives' or something along those lines, in this section...it is overflowing with women proud to have elected c/secs.....

[natasha]

I had an elective c section just coz i wanted one. Becca is right, there are loads of women who admit they have, its in my thread , about 2 down from this one.:thumbsup:

[Stretchmark Diva]

I freely admit I chose caesar - I found if I was upfront about it, people with an opinion didn't feel they had to try to change my mind. I usually laugh and say "I'm waaaay too posh to push!" They don't know what to say to that! LOL :D

[theycallmemum]

Yes I admit it! I've had two following a traumatic disasterous vaginal delivery.

[BlessedWithBlue]

Mine was an emergency c/section and i had a VBAC with ds2. But this time i am debating on which way i want to go in regards to the birth of my twins.
I am very much leaning towards the elective C/section in all honesty and i will certainly tell people that ask as i feel it's my decision how i give birth and i shouldn't be ashamed of not having the birth that everyone else thinks i should have.
I have experienced both and personally i didn't have such a good experience with my VBAC and do prefer not to do it again. I will very likely go ahead and have the elective c/section.
ITA with MrsHiggins, it's a shame that mums feel they have to cover it up and can't just come and and say without copping any harsh critiscism.

To each their own and it is your birth so at the end of the day you make decision that is best for you and you bub:thumbsup:

[becstar]

I told most people that I was having an elective (my OB advised it). There were a few people who I knew would be judgemental so I didn't tell them! I just let them wait and they found out after the event.......not that I really care what they thought.....you have your reasons and you stick to them!

Bec

[lillypilly]

I can understand your concerns with the pelvic instability. I had it with my second and now third pregnancies. It can be so debilitating and frustrating!
I had a vaginal birth for 1st and 2nd and plan a cs for 3rd in a weeks time. 2nd DD tore the ligaments in the sp and I had problems for months afterwards, and my physio has warned me that I risk further or permanent damage with another vb, so i'm choosing a cs.
You are right that you can't really have an active birth with pelvic instability, as it's just too painful to move about.
When i get the heebejeebies about having the cs, I just remember the moment I felt my sp tearing and my resolve strengthens :)
I would really like to be able to walk again after this one!!

[reAllytee]

Ummm gosh im going to get shot down for this but im giving you my experience.
My first born was a disasterous vaginal delivery that has left me with mega amounts of scarring & damage. While this is fairly rare it does happen so to be aware is the major thing. I mean last thing i thought about was having a prolapse at my age !
If i had gone with my instincts about Boof's birth i wouldve pushed for the Ob's to have a closer look & possibly order a c/s but i was scared either way. Plus i also had everyone telling me i was being silly & i would be fine.
Well i wasnt.

My mum has had a prolapse in her later years after having 3 vaginal births & my aunty has had one also needing repair a second time & also a bowel prolapse, she has had 5 vaginal births.
Now this may be a genetic thing i dunno but again it does happen.

I dont really care how anyone births their babies :o What i just want is for every woman to be empowered enough to make a choice thats right for her. One that she knows by instinct that is right.

Good luck :hugs:

[melfunction]

I am 95% sure I will have an electic caesar. My reasons are - i have long standing pelvic/back instability/weakness which has caused me long term pain which would affect my ability to have an active birth


I was told the complete opposite to you, regarding my back injury.

My ob, chiro and physio all decided against me ever having a csect unless mine or my baby's life were in danger.
In their opinion, my back would get much worse much quicker due to a csect having to cut through my stabilising stomach muscles and since they would most likely never be the same afterwards, it means I would be at risk of a more severe injury.
They were concerned if I was in labour for hours on end, but since he flew out after 2 hours, I have had no problems with my back since.
Will have to wait and see what happens this time.