Can I choose a c-section BEFORE ttc??

[tinkerbelle93]

Hi ladies, pleaseee no judgment!

Me and my husband want to start ttc#2 soon but I'm so affected by my birth experience that the whole thing is just too terrifying for me to consider. It's annoying because we want another baby so much and everything else is perfect right now to start trying.

I didn't have a c-section last time (emergency forceps delivery in theatre) but I'm quite set, after reading the risks and the cons and speaking to other mums about their experiences and doing research, that I would really like the option of an ELCS for next time. I'm not 100% whether I would choose it in the end but I want to start TTC knowing I will have all the options open, otherwise I just know I will be too scared to even think about us having another child.

Is it possible to speak to a consultant before ttc? I'm in the UK btw. xx

 

[Eternal]

It really depends on the area and how sympathetic your doctor is. You may have to fight but I think most ladies with labour fears do get electives if they need it, especially after traumatic previous births. So although I'm unsure you can speak to someone before pregnancy I am sure someone will allow you to deliver is way.

On the flip side, you have already had a baby which apparently makes the next one much easier. So if you did change your mind there is that. I can comment, my first was natural and my señor was breach twins so I had a section.

This time, if bean sticks, I'm not sure what I'll do.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

Thank-you, if I could be guaranteed a straight-forward lovely natural birth then I would go for it, I'm just terrified of the risk. My 1st birth caused so many issues like PND, OCD and a therapist diagnosed PTSD from the birth. I had to have counselling, CBT therapy and anti-depressants. It made motherhood very hard and I don't want to risk having to go through that with 2 children, as well as the anxiety I would suffer whilst pregnant and not knowing whether I would be allowed an ELCS or not.. that's why I don't want to risk getting pregnant first!

My DH says we should just make a drs appointment with our GP and ask but I'm a bit scared what they'll think/say :/ xx

 

[baileybubs]

With everything that you have been through since and how it's affected motherhood for you I think if you have a sympathetic doctor I mirror what Eternal has said, I think after one traumatic birth you can request ELCS but may have to fight for it. At the end of the day if you get pregnant and are so scared of the birth that it's causing you stress then that can't be good for the baby or conducive to a calm natural delivery.

I hope it eases your worry with ttc. We are ttc number 2 soon as well but I am hopefully going for vbac but will refuse induction, like you I had a traumatic birth but was because I was rapidly induced, baby's heartrate plummeted they couldn't use forceps because she had her brow facing the wrong why (reason she was stuck!) and so that's why mine ended in emcs! The cnsection I found to be fine it was everything before that was horrible lol!

 

[Eternal]

Anxiety is a medical Reason for section and with a PTSD diagnosis the fight wouldn't be too difficult! GP won't be much help, unless he will refer you to consultant.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

Anxiety is a medical Reason for section and with a PTSD diagnosis the fight wouldn't be too difficult! GP won't be much help, unless he will refer you to consultant.

Thanks everyone! I think the only way to speak to the consultant would be via the GP though?? xx

 

[Eternal]

Possibly, can't hurt to try I suppose, they can point you in the right direction otherwise.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

Yes that's what I'm hoping... is it possible to directly contact a consultant?? xx

 

[Eternal]

Yes that's what I'm hoping... is it possible to directly contact a consultant?? xx

Privately maybe, did you have one last time? If you did contact the secretary and say that you want to discuss your previous labour and discuss options for the future.

 

[Eternal]

If you had one last time, I doubt you would need to pay if you said that, because it's a ku care you have received and how they will do better for you next time.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

We're NHS, I saw a consultant during my pregnancy a couple of times due to reduced growth scans but honestly can't remember them! I know that hospitals do reflections sessions on births so maybe that would be a good point to start with? Either way maybe it will just be worth seeing what direction my GP points us in? Thanks for all your answers! xx

 

[cupcake]

not weighing any judgement on an elective section but no one says it will be a walk in the park, some people find it very hard to heal, there is risk of infection, and some people dont have the best experience with the anesthesia, in short there can be trauma from a c section too, I had a really hard first birth vacuum , pushed for hours, very painful, 24 induction but my second birth was nothing to compare, I think you should really try and speak with someone if you are so traumatized. Best of luck x

 

[Eternal]

We're NHS, I saw a consultant during my pregnancy a couple of times due to reduced growth scans but honestly can't remember them! I know that hospitals do reflections sessions on births so maybe that would be a good point to start with? Either way maybe it will just be worth seeing what direction my GP points us in? Thanks for all your answers! xx

Yes, make appointment with GP and see what they say.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

We're NHS, I saw a consultant during my pregnancy a couple of times due to reduced growth scans but honestly can't remember them! I know that hospitals do reflections sessions on births so maybe that would be a good point to start with? Either way maybe it will just be worth seeing what direction my GP points us in? Thanks for all your answers! xx

Yes, make appointment with GP and see what they say.

Okay thank-you for the help! xx

 

[tinkerbelle93]

not weighing any judgement on an elective section but no one says it will be a walk in the park, some people find it very hard to heal, there is risk of infection, and some people dont have the best experience with the anesthesia, in short there can be trauma from a c section too, I had a really hard first birth vacuum , pushed for hours, very painful, 24 induction but my second birth was nothing to compare, I think you should really try and speak with someone if you are so traumatized. Best of luck x

I know a section is major surgery and extremely painful recovery but I just want all the options open if I'm going to TTC again. I've researched the risks and benefits of an ELCS, spoken to people I know about their experiences and thought really deeply about my own experience and all the different scenarios and outcomes that could happen next time. I'm still not 100% but I have had therapy, counselling and medication relating to my birth experience and I'm still petrified of labour and not knowing what would happen, I narrowly avoided an EMCS with my boy which seem to be considered far more traumatic than planned ones. Feel in a really tough place to be honest! That's great you had a good second birth experience though if I could be guaranteed I would go for it but it's just not knowing for certain. xx

 

[kirski]

I just wanted to say that I've have 2 babies both with shoulder dystoica. Me and dh wanted another but I was way to scared to have another vaginal birth so I went to my gp who wrote to the consultant at my local hospital who agreed to an elective section. So here i am 18 weeks pregnant, I've already seen the consultant and just have to make my mind up by 36 weeks weither induction at 38 weeks or a section. Now I have the dilemma of what to do x

 

[ArcaneSpark]

Hello,

I have just had an ELCS due to a 3rd degree tear last time. I expected them to try and dissuade me but that didn't happen at all.

Overall the birth experience was so positive for us this time!

Good Luck!

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I just wanted to say that I've have 2 babies both with shoulder dystoica. Me and dh wanted another but I was way to scared to have another vaginal birth so I went to my gp who wrote to the consultant at my local hospital who agreed to an elective section. So here i am 18 weeks pregnant, I've already seen the consultant and just have to make my mind up by 36 weeks weither induction at 38 weeks or a section. Now I have the dilemma of what to do x

Ah awesome, did you go to the GP before ttc or when pregnant? what did you say to them? Did you have to meet with the consultant or was it just agreed from the letter? sorry for the questions! I want to make the appointment soon but I feel awkward about going! But that is exactly why I want to go, so I can have the choice between the 2 options xx

 

[tinkerbelle93]

Hello,

I have just had an ELCS due to a 3rd degree tear last time. I expected them to try and dissuade me but that didn't happen at all.

Overall the birth experience was so positive for us this time!

Good Luck!

That's great you had a positive experience this time were you automatically offered the section or did you request it?? I know that with previous 3rd degree tears you're sometimes offered one regardless but I only had an episitomy xx

 

[kirski]

I just wanted to say that I've have 2 babies both with shoulder dystoica. Me and dh wanted another but I was way to scared to have another vaginal birth so I went to my gp who wrote to the consultant at my local hospital who agreed to an elective section. So here i am 18 weeks pregnant, I've already seen the consultant and just have to make my mind up by 36 weeks weither induction at 38 weeks or a section. Now I have the dilemma of what to do x

Ah awesome, did you go to the GP before ttc or when pregnant? what did you say to them? Did you have to meet with the consultant or was it just agreed from the letter? sorry for the questions! I want to make the appointment soon but I feel awkward about going! But that is exactly why I want to go, so I can have the choice between the 2 options xx

It's was agreed by letter about a month after I went to the gp, we were tcc at the time. When I was 12 weeks I saw the consultant because of the previous shoulder dystocia and they were just advising me not to give birth at home. So I said I have already looked into my options and showed her the letter and she said oh well we won't refuse you and booked me in at 36 weeks to discuss what's going to happen. I have no idea what to do as both my babies have got stuck they've said it would be a tight squeeze. They said about induction but there is no evidence that this would stop the shoulder dystocia. I'm thinking if this baby was a little bigger like my second then it could be a scary situation x