Elective C section help please !

[princess26489]

Hey ladies just looking for a bit of advice here on elective sections. I've recently been given an appointment from my midwife to see a consultant regarding a section as i feel i'm really not mentally stable enough to cope with a vaginal delivery.
I had a medical termination when i was quite young at 18 weeks which meant having to go through a minute version of labour which has since deeply effected me emotionally ever since as I do regret the whole situation. Because of this i have been having a worrying amount of anxiousness and even panic attacks when thinking let alone discussing giving birth.
I have been given an appointment to see a consultant regarding a c section but i'm really scared i'm going to be told to get a grip of my self and deal with it as i have no medical reason for a section?Any advice?

 

[Theza]

Hi

I'm also considering a C-section for not strictly necessary medical reasons - I have fibromyalgia so I am very concerned about the pain of labour/delivery plus it causes panic attacks and I'm not sure if I'll cope with the stress and unpredictability of a normal labour.

My consultant and midwife are both doing their best to dissuade me, can't work out if that's because it really is a silly idea or because the hospital policy is to try to avoid elective c-sections. But I've been told that in the UK pregnant ladies have the right to opt for a c-section and the hospital has to comply with that.

The NHS website says:
"If you ask for a caesarean when there aren't medical reasons, your doctor or midwife should explain the overall risks and benefits of caesarean section compared with vaginal birth. You should also be able to talk to other members of your healthcare team, such as the obstetrician, to make sure you have accurate information.
If you ask for a caesarean section because you are anxious about giving birth, your midwife or doctor should offer you the chance to discuss your anxiety with a healthcare professional who can offer support during your pregnancy and labour. If, after discussion and support, you still feel that you do not want a vaginal birth, you should be offered a caesarean section."
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/caesarean-section.aspx#close

So if it is what you want then your consultant should support you! Good luck

 

[Kellbell520]

I live in the US and after tring to get induced and failing I told my doctor that I wasn't leaving the hospital without my baby so I got a c section. There is no hurt in at least trying to having a natural birth but I didn't have that anxiety so I don't really know how you feel. Good luck to you! A c section really isn't that bad, the worst part was when I got shingles a couple weeks after the surgery, they said it was from the stress of the surgery

 

[Shezza84uk]

Hi Hun,

I had my DD vaginally after that experience ive requested a c section from my booking in appointment. I saw the consultant's registrar who tried to say no but then my consultant asked to see me again the following week and said she will not force me to do something I didn't want to do however still offered counselling.

They will ask you to see the maternal well being team and I would say don't decline it because every time you see them they document how you are feeling, when I have my appointments I just repeat what I said before and told them I will not be changing my mind neither will I be stressed about it as my anxiety is bad enough.

I am sure you will be fine just go through the steps required xx

 

[tu123]

After my 3d degree tear i wanted a c section this time round after having incontinence problems, awful year long recovery, etc, etc. My last hospital said the "could sort me out surgically" after i had done having babies


We have moved and this hospital have been amazing!!!!!!!

What the consultant did do is sent me to see a Midwife specialist who discusses VBAC and C Sections. I had an hr long chat with her. It has to be done this way so they can formalise your decision to have a C Section and ensure your decision is "informed". She also discussed many other options that could be made available to me like, my own MW for the last few weeks of pregnancy and then for labour, two midwives during my delivery, booking a c section but still having the option to go vaginally if i felt i could at the time, etc, etc.

There are many avenues you can go down.

She told me that due to the new NICE guidelines NO hospital can deny you a C Section, but they do try to give women who have emotional issues surrounding the birth other options.

I would push for what you want hun but try to discuss what else might be available to you

 

[1Timer29]

Hey, I took want an elective c-section. I have anxiety and cramps when I watch a video about birth. When my chihuahua gave birth I was such a wreck, she labored until I fell asleep before giving birth. I think I was making her anxious!
Anyhoo, I have been having anxiety attacks because of stress and a complicated pregnancy and now the thought of labor starts another attack! My doc said she would do it if I really want but she advises against it because the recovery is longer. How bad was the incision pain after? Anyone care to share?

 

[Arisa]

hey hun well I had an EMCS but it was meant to be elective due to mental health issues but then I developed severe pre-eclampsia and have to have an early birth but due to what happened with your termination I would say that counts as PTSD you are suffering from and you should be entitled to an elective section especially under the new NHS rule system

oh and to 1Timer29 the pain is really not that and especially if you do not labour first, the only thing that hurts is the spinal going in or the epidural but once that kicks in you are fine and its like being at the dentist as you feel tugging and pulling but no pain and the next 24 hours you should be on strong pain relief like oxycontin or morphine then on to paracetamol and codeine and I still take them but my scar is not noticable its just a bit itchy and pink but once you have the first shower and walk around and that is over you start to recover real quick, I was different as I had SPD so my back spasms on and off and I need physio but you should be fine

 

[Liesje]

Don't let them pressure you into the type of birth they would like you to have. Most women are fine doing either c-section or natural but you can always find a horror story to either one. Don't focus on the "risks", because everything has risks. Do what you feel most comfortable with. These doctors and midwives will be in and out of your life from one day to the next but the decision could impact your life forever so don't decide on anything just to please your medical practitioners.