Natasha - you got me thinking (elective c-sec)

[IheartOman]

After your thread about woman having elective c-sections I was just wondering if those woman who did choose to have one could tell me why?
What were your reasons behind opting for one?

Keen to know, thanks in advance for everyone's input :)

[IheartOman]

Anyone? :)

[LittleBoysRock]

I had a VB but I am considering an elective C-section for my next birth as I had lots of complications when I gave birth to DS.

I will be watching this thread. :)

[IheartOman]

:) I see there is a few people looking but no-one responding :(

[suemp]

i had an elective after my first was an emergency. i read thru the pros and cons for both vbac and elec/c and i felt more comfortable going the c/section route as having a healthy baby was more important for me than going el natural (please dont knock me im just giving my experiences)
my first was born with problems not due to delivery but just a freak of nature and there was nothing going to stand in the way of me having a healthy baby this time . my uncle is retarded due to a vb (haemoraging while in the b/canal he obtained lack of oxygen) and my best mates brother is a single father to a teen girl with cerebal palsy due to a vb where her twin sister died. so with all this in my mind i chose elective ;)

[Briannabear]

I chose for a planned c/s (at the last minute - like the night before they did it!) with my second baby.
My first baby was born via emergency c/s after a long traumatic labour.

The 1st c/s was awful with a terrible recovery, so I planned all through my 2nd pregnancy for a VBAC, but my body wasnt co-operating. I had a few false labours and my cervix was very unfavourable. (so they couldnt induce me or break my waters to get things moving).

In the end it just got too much and I had the c/s. Turned out to be the best decision because my OB said that I wouldnt have been able to birth him naturally anyway. (his head size in comparison to my pelvis).

This c/s couldnt have been any more different from my first one. It was a happy calm exciting and special experience! The wound took a lot longer to heal though.

[Faeml]

I think you'll find that many women who have choosen to have non-emergency caesarians are reluctant to talk about their reasons as they are normally intensely personal - and they have probably already been questioned, judged, belittled, criticized or worse and are just tired of defending themselves and explaining.

[IheartOman]

I think you'll find that many women who have choosen to have non-emergency caesarians are reluctant to talk about their reasons as they are normally intensely personal - and they have probably already been questioned, judged, belittled, criticized or worse and are just tired of defending themselves and explaining.

Ah ok, thanks for the tip :)

[tickle]

Which is part of the reason why we have this section Wendy. Many people have already posted about their experiences in other threads, maybe do a quick search back through this section.;)

[Faeml]

Oh I know :) I'm one of them. I was just trying to answer Shanilee's question of why there were not many responses so far.

Though, in IMO, even in a place as welcoming and supportive of bubhub, many women still feel that they have to justify they birthing and parenting choices.

[IheartOman]

That's no good :( I will not be offended knowing this now! I was wondering why people weren't writing! :)

[Faeml]

To clarify what I mean... I think people are pretty open about "physically medically" needed c-sections - placenta previa etc - but ones that a chosen for emotional/mental health/psychological reasons are another kettle of fish.

But like the mod said a few posts back, there are many wonderful, positive c-section stories in that part of the forum.

[RTCsMum]

Hi, I had an emer cs with my DD#1 under general, missed the whole thing, and ended up in ICU for a number of hours. I didnt see her for the first 5 hours of her life and missed that opportunity. For dd#2 I had a choice of VBAC or Elective cs. She never engaged so made the decision for and elective cs as did not want to be induced. I also wanted more contol of the situation and to be "there" for the whole thing. I had a wonderful cs with laughter, tears and wonderful people in the room welcoming my dd#2. I recovered easily and was up and about and home within 4 days. As other ladies have said the key is all about getting up and moving asap. We are due to have our third child in March and I have had no hesitation in booking in our third cs. For me the control and organisation of a cs suits me to a tee while the not knowing aspect of a VB scares the pants off me.

As Faeml said alot of women dont like to say why they have chosen a cs as it is looked upon as the easy way out and that we have not in some ways fullfiled our job as a women. For my part one day and one decision in my life does not define who I am and does not make me more or less of a women. I admire any woman who brings a child into this world and I have never wondered how they did it, vb, cs through their nose who cares !! The hard bit is raising them not having them !

This is just my opinion and is far from a judgement on any others choices.

[benji's_mum]

I think you'll find that many women who have choosen to have non-emergency caesarians are reluctant to talk about their reasons as they are normally intensely personal - and they have probably already been questioned, judged, belittled, criticized or worse and are just tired of defending themselves and explaining.

I had a non emergency c-section. I was terrified of giving birth as both my sisters had complications during their deliveries and ended up having emergency c-sections. I remember telling a few girlfriends that I was considering asking my doctor for one and was criticised for it :shame: . I let other peoples opinions sway me and attempted to have a vaginal birth. After an induction due to gestational diabetes. I had only dilated 4 cms after 12hrs. I was in excruciating pain and my baby's heart rate was decreasing so the choice was made by my DH and I to request a c-section. The c-section went smoothly, we were calm and both DH and I felt part of the delivery. I'm offended by the whole "to posh to push" tag. I don't feel that its fair. Im a great mum and that should be all that matters :)

[harvey123]

i really had my heart set on a vaginal birth but it just never turned out that way. I had a c/s with our dd and technically it was "elective". But when people ask I say it was unplanned. People tend to be very judgemental about c/s and you almost feel ashamed about it. I was 41wks pregnant when I started bleeding and went into the hospital, we were hooked up to the fetal monitor and after 4 hrs they said she was in fetal distress and I was 1cm dilated and my cervix was unfavourable but if I wanted I could try to be induced or have a c/s. Needless to say I chose to have a c/s section as I was pertified at getting so far and something going wrong. It turned out her unbilical cord was between her head and my pelvis so I would have never gone into labour and there I would have ended up with an emerg. c/s if I was induced. So I get a bit annoyed with people judging you for having an elective c/s, I had a choice either a healthy baby girl or a potential brain damaged or stillborn bub, it wasn't that hard a decision to make. It's funny how the whole time your pregnant you focus on the birth and everyone talks so much about it, what about all the other hard stuff like sleep depirvation and those first few weeks of breastfeeding. I don't know anyone who has for no good reason had a c/s, I'm not sure there are that many out there.

[zenifa]

I had an elective c/s for my daughter's birth. I had a medical reason for needing one, but also it was my preferred method of birthing. My elective c/s was a wonderful and positive experience. I have just had my 2nd pregnancy confirmed and this baby will also definitely be an elective c/s.

[sarahs]

I had an emergency c-section with my first son. The second was an elective c-section.

My ob-gyn was willing to support VBAC but explained that there was a 1 in 200 chance that the scar might rupture and that if it did there was a good chance that the baby would die (or that I would) and that a baby had recently died in a Brissy hospital. He explained that a 0.5% chance wasn't really huge and the decision was entirely mine. I'd had an early miscarriage between my 2 boys and I decided that giving birth vaginally wasn't that important to me, that having a healthy baby was. Also I got to book the same anaethetist I'd had with my first delivery (she was fabulous!) and that appealed to me.

Finally, given the similarities between my pregnancies - neither of the boys ever engaged - I think I would have ended up with another emergency c-section. My first went 2 weeks over due, I was induced, was fully dilated and he still didn't engage (or for that matter dropped)- I was given the choice of forceps or caesarean and I'm terrified of having an episiotemy (strange I know but it freaked me out) - so I said caesar and then said I'm being silly I'll trust your judgement and my dr said given my reaction he'd recommend the caesar - which turned out the right thing for me as the dr said the forceps would have never worked as he wasn't anywhere near the birth canal when they cut me open!

So all in all I am happy with my choice of having an elective c-section 2nd time around.