Elective Caesarean for Anxiety

[PurpleRain92]

Hiya all, hope you are all doing well
I am looking for some advice really, preferably from someone who suffers with anxiety and has had both a caesarean and a natural birth (ha I know that seems very specific but hopefully you will understand why). Otherwise, advice from anyone would be extremely helpful as I am so stuck as to what to do!
I'll give you a bit of background information. I have a three year old daughter whose pregnancy was difficult. In the end, after several hospitalisations, I was induced at 38 weeks due to pre-eclampsia and had a very difficult labour. I laboured for 42 hours, she was back- to- back and because of this, I failed to progress quickly. Her heartbeat kept dropping and when it come to push her out, I had 20 minutes to get her out before they were going to take me for a c- section. When I did get her out, I tore badly and it took a while to get her breathing as the cord was wrapped around her neck twice and she came out blue.
Fast forward six months and I began to suffer from bad anxiety. As to now, I am still unsure as to how it came about but I have an underlying thought it maybe due to the difficulty of her labour and pregnancy as my anxiety is related a lot to my health.
I was put on anti- anxiety and anti- depressants afterwards. I also have suffered a miscarriage at 12 weeks in January which has only increased my anxiety.
Now to present day, I was referred to a consultant due to the pre-eclampsia and anxiety (I am currently 23 weeks pregnant) and was discussing my anxiety about labour and the fear of not being in control. It's not so much the pain that worries me, it's the fear of something going wrong. He offered me a elective c-section and at the time I declined. But lately I have been wondering if this may be the best option for me to choose.
I am terrified of labour and losing control of myself and having a massive meltdown/ panic attack, as well as something going wrong. Obviously there are risks to weigh up with having a c- section and so I am looking for advice as to what route would be the less erm anxious situation for me to be in. I hope I have made sense in this post ha I am just so confused at the moment! Thank you all

 

[LoraLoo]

I'm sorry you had such a tough birth with your daughter. I've not had a section myself- but I've had 6 full term births (1 neonatal death)and 2 losses at 15 and 18 weeks. I suffer a lot of anxiety especially in pregnancy and even though I've had fairly easy births I panic something will go wrong.

My first labour was nothing compared to yours but it was very very long and painful- my others were absolutely great and I felt really in control and empowered. All births are different.

To me it sounds as though you would like a vaginal birth but fear is stopping you. Have you considered writing a birth plan? That way you can convey exactly what you do or don't want. May help you feel a bit more in control of the situation. Also maybe worth discussing with hospital what pain relief is available.

I think it's great your consultant has understood your concerns and given you the option of a section. Our feelings are quite often dismissed so it's good that you have been listened to.

 

[PurpleRain92]

I'm sorry you had such a tough birth with your daughter. I've not had a section myself- but I've had 6 full term births (1 neonatal death)and 2 losses at 15 and 18 weeks. I suffer a lot of anxiety especially in pregnancy and even though I've had fairly easy births I panic something will go wrong.

My first labour was nothing compared to yours but it was very very long and painful- my others were absolutely great and I felt really in control and empowered. All births are different.

To me it sounds as though you would like a vaginal birth but fear is stopping you. Have you considered writing a birth plan? That way you can convey exactly what you do or don't want. May help you feel a bit more in control of the situation. Also maybe worth discussing with hospital what pain relief is available.

I think it's great your consultant has understood your concerns and given you the option of a section. Our feelings are quite often dismissed so it's good that you have been listened to.

Oh I am so sorry to hear of your losses Lora. Losing mine was painful, I couldn't imagine how much heartache you have been through
I am glad to hear that your following births was a lot easier; I think I forget sometimes that just because my first was hard, it doesn't necessarily mean my following births will be too. But the anxiety is very much alive lol.
Yeah I will get the chance to write the birth plan further into the pregnancy. I sort of have an idea of what I want, no pethidine as this made me feel like I couldn't control my own thoughts, gas and air and an epidural as I had to have one last time to keep my blood pressure low due to the pre- eclampsia. I know my blood pressure will be through the roof either through anxiety ha or god forbid pre- eclampsia again.
I think I'm scared of having a panic attack and passing out or not being able to progress properly due to my body being in such an anxious state. You are completely right in that I would prefer a vaginal birth, the thought of a c- section scares me. But I'm trying to get my head around which would allow me to feel more in control if you understand what I mean, not that you are really in control at all ha.
To be honest, I feel lucky that the consultant listened to my worries as I was scared he would dismiss them as "normal" labour worries that everyone has.

 

[iiTTCii]

I had DD 2 years ago. I was induced at 37 weeks and it was an horrendous labour, I lost a lot of blood, failed forceps delivery and a 3rd degree tear. I had to be taken for surgery after she was born and put under a general to be repaired. I honestly thought I was going to die.
Since then, I always had in my head that I would want a c section if I was to have another as I couldn't go through labour again. Since having my daughter, I've suffered with health anxiety and have had a few panic attacks. I was absolutely fine pre daughter.
In this pregnancy, I requested a c section from early on and the consultant agreed. Fast forward however many months and I'm 36 weeks pregnant and my little boy is breech so I'm booked in for a c section at 39 weeks. Now I've been told that he's breech and will have to be a c section anyway, I would really like a VBAC and I'm dreading a c section. I actually think the thought of a c section is now a lot scarier and a lot more risky than a VBAC. I'm hoping he turns head down before my section so I can give it a go.

 

[Nerdy]

I have anxiety and I had a c-section almost two years ago and will be having another one with this baby. I DID freak out a bit right before surgery, but the team was GREAT and able to calm me down and make me laugh before hubby was allowed in. Practice meditation techniques and know that it'll be over SUPER quick and you'll have your beautiful baby safely in your arms

 

[sunshine2014]

I"m so sorry for your experience, but I can offer advice on the anxiety/panic attack element. This is my first pregnancy, and I have booked an elective c section for that very reason. I do not want to go through labour and experience a panic attack, and have everything be out of my control, only to end up needing an emergency c section if something goes wrong. I discussed this with my Dr., and we booked a c section. I feel that any way I can minimize the risk of a panic attack (i.e. knowing exactly when and how the day will go,...within reason), will help me. I also have medical anxiety in general, so the thought of a natural birth makes me very, very anxious. I think you need to do what you feel works best for you, and makes you comfortable. The fact that your Dr. offered an elective c section is great, a lot of Dr's won't.

Feel free to message me if you want to talk more about this.

 

[sethsmummy]

hey hun i fall under your categories.

ds1 was a traumatic birth.. a long induction of almost 27 hours, i got to a ten but he wouldnt descend properly, failed epi meant i had severe cramps down each leg during each contraction, far too many internals, too many cathaters placed and removed to make me pee, clip put on babies head that couldnt pick him up properly. Was taken to theatre and gave a spinal which worked but stopped all contractions. For some reason they went ahead even though meds to restart it failes and tried vontouse which failed and then did forecep delivery (i was pulled from the top of the bed to half way down the bed) and ds1 was born and ran out the room to the paeds ( i saw a foot). i was then stitched up (wrongly may i add, i had to have some skin removed a few years later) and taken to a ward while baby was in scbu. a lot of bad treatment after that and not seeing baby till the next day (i had to hunt for him), and then further horrendous treatment after discharge from the childrens ward. It took me 3 and a half years to stop having pains from it all and i talked to my consultant about it from word go (first at 16 weeks at first appointment) and i was granted. I was terrified of having another traumatic delivery or having another child damaged (ds1's head was cut open by the foreceps and his head was a mess from the whole thing. he has autism and other learning problems which could be partially caused by his birth (the learnng problems not the autism)). I had my planned section with ds2 and it was amazing, i couldnt have asked for better to be honest. I was in control the whole time and had my baby with me straight away

ds3 i had a plan of a booked section but if i went early i would try vbac. He decided to come at 36 weeks but my labour stopped after my waters went so ended in a section. Im glad it did as he needed nicu care and i would have had to have high level emcs instead of low as his oxygen was low when born so would have gone into distress if id laboured longer.

xxx

 

[bitethebullet]

I'm perhaps not the best person to answer but I would have thought an elective section would be a good option for someone with anxiety. I've just had one having had an unplanned one for breech baby. I felt like I had a lot of control of my situation as I could plan things for my daughter for the day of the section and I basically knew when I would be holding my baby. I also felt like it took away the responsibility from me for delivering our baby safely which made me feel more calm. If you fully understand what will happen during the procedure I think it can be a very calm experience. Personally, I healed very well from both my sections and managed fine with help for only the first couple of weeks after.