I am desperate for advice regarding requesting a C Section.

[RTR]

(This is a long message, please read to the end because I would really appreciate informed advice)

Hi ladies, just a little bit anxious posting in here. I really don't want to cause any argument or tiffs and certainly doing wish to attract nasty comments.

I know Elective C-Sections are a hugely taboo subject, but I am looking into my options regarding requesting one.

My son is 20 months old and was born vaginally, but I do have a few reasons why I want a section this time around and I've been looking into them over the past few days.


1. With my son, he was induced at 40+11, born at 40+13. At the time, I was put on the monitor at 10pm Friday night and over the space of the next 2 days, spent around three hours off it. The monitor wasn't working and my son's heart rate wasn't reacting the same to every contraction so I was forced to labour on my back even at times being forced to stay still during a contraction. My midwife didn't even want me to move onto my side but let me once they clipped the little monitor to his scalp. He was born with my laying on my back and I suffered 2/3rd degree tearing because of that =[ 32 hours!!

2. I'm suffer anaemia regularly... My Hb levels after labour where 8.1 because I lost so much blood, and I couldn't breastfeed because I wasn't producing milk. I then suffered with anemia for around 3 months and have been borderline anemic ever since. In fact my Midwife was shocked to see my Hb levels were 12 at my booking appointment because 12 is high for me!
I also threw up large amounts of fresh blood during labour and there was no reason given as to why.
When it started, it started at night and the light in my cubicle was broken so when the nurse came to check on me she blamed the bloody vomit on "coke or something I drank the day before!" Considering I wasn't keeping water down I didn't even have coke on the ward!

3. To top of the anemia issue, I'm on clexane injections throughout this pregnancy and for 6 weeks PP. I am terrified that if I go into spontaneous labour whilst injecting clexane I am at a higher risk of haemorrhaging.
I'm high risk of DVT through maternal line pregnancies only and the fact my BMI is 30, not because I've had a clot before. Bad enough as it is but I'm friggin' needle phobic so knowing that these injections could possibly result in such a bad ending after supposedly being the reason we're alive terrifies me even more.

4. I suffered PND and PTSD due to my labour last time. I desperately wanted a water birth with my son but obviously, wasn't even allowed to sit on a birthing ball ='[ I was only allowed Gas and Air because the labour ward was too busy for the anaesthetist to be available for an epidural and I'm allergic to Cyclizine so they couldn't give me pethidine without waiting for the consultant to approve and prescribe a second, alternative anti sickness med to go with it.
I did have a fantastic Health Visitor at the time but it still took a while to admit to having PND.

5. I had my 20 week scan on Friday and that is what has kicked off my terror.
I also have a Low Lying Anterior Placenta. The sonographer was lovely and didn't seem concerned because Anterior placenta's are likely to stretch up and out of the way as the baby grows but when I got home and looked into it I read it's a huge causing factor of posterior babies, meaning they're born back to back.
The sheer thought of that, the idea that on a normal delivery it took me a total of 32 hours to deliver my son I just CAN NOT stand the idea of a back to back baby.
I'm getting to a point now where I'm dreading even being pregnant. I haven't slept the past few nights just because I'm so frightened of what might happen and when I do think about it I end up in floods of tears.

Obviously, I'm aware that C-Sections are huge operations and have long recovery periods but I had such awful tearing last time that it took me months to recover from it, the father of my children wasn't around when my son was born so I was a single parent too, desperately trying to breastfeed and get my self recovered at the same time as recovering from the tearing... It was a long process.

My Mum has had massive stomach operations before and I've had to help her recover so I think I'm well prepared.

I know I'll have to go through counselling for this but I just need your opinions about it. Do you think I've got good enough reason to even ask? If not I'm not going to put myself through the extra stress ='[ but I can feel my BP going up just writing here.

 

[Ckelly79]

Hi I would ask to speak to a consultant and explain all this. You have every right to state your case. I'm sure they will listen, are you UK?

 

[RTR]

Yep, in the UK.

 

[Lil_Pixie]

Tbh I'm not sure. I think if you feel that strongly you absolutely should state your case but I don't know that all those things would be deciding factors iykwim?

Re your HB levels after my section mine were 6.9, although no one knows why that is, I just wanted I make you aware a section wouldn't necessarily help that. Although I had no trouble bfing at all so even if your levels were low again there's no reason to think you won't be able to bf

I'm sure though that PND/PTSD would be taken into consideration.

My sister had a difficult birth and she says shed never even consider no2 unless she knew she could have a section. I'm sure lots of women feel that way if they've had a bad birth. And in all honesty although my recover was much much longer (with things like getting up off the ground without help and the backache when bending to bath and dress my baby etc) my recovery was definitely less painful than my sisters, by a real long way.

Gl Hun, I hope your mw/drs support you through this and help you make the right desicion xx

 

[winegums]

Tbh I'm not sure. I think if you feel that strongly you absolutely should state your case but I don't know that all those things would be deciding factors iykwim?

Re your HB levels after my section mine were 6.9, although no one knows why that is, I just wanted I make you aware a section wouldn't necessarily help that. Although I had no trouble bfing at all so even if your levels were low again there's no reason to think you won't be able to bf

I'm sure though that PND/PTSD would be taken into consideration.

I agree with the above regarding anaemia. Generally more blood is lost in sections than in vaginal births and there is more chance of iron deficiency anaemia afterwards. Hb of 12 in pregnancy is actually really high average is usually about 10.

As for PND it is more likely to develop after a section v.s. a vaginal birth - however PTSD can be roughly the same, it's more likely when things don't go to plan i.e. something goes wrong in labour or during a section.

Nevertheless any woman can now request a section on the NHS - you need to be seen by a consultant and a perinatal mental health specialist who will assess you. The PMNS will inform the consult or document in your notes whether a section would be better for you or not due to stress, anxiety, fear etc and then your consultant should discuss it with you and make a clinical birth plan - whether that is a section or not.

More women are now being allowed sections due to previous traumatic births so you definitely have a chance, but the last say will be down to your consultant. I believe if you go private you will have a choice regardless.

 

[RTR]

Thank you ladies, what you are saying are the things I really need to hear.

I don't want to ask for one because I don't think I can go through the stress of it if there isn't a chance, I'd rather spend the time concentrating on getting myself out of this fear phase.

I was okay until Friday, but I was looking up the anterior thingy and it mentioned the risks of back to back labour.

My recovery was long and painful after that labour. Because I never had a chance to rest, I spent ages on medications to make me feel better, as well as two bouts of antibiotics.

I think this time around, I'll have support from my partner, so I'll only really have to concentrate on getting better from labour - whether that is a section or a vaginal - and feeding my baby. This time around I'm looking into BFing more and more, I was told it is anemia that stopped me last time because when my milk came in I'd been on iron tablets and my levels were around 10 constantly. By that time it was too late for my son to start =[
I was told that Hb levels are around 11/12 to 18.

 

[winegums]

I was told that Hb levels are around 11/12 to 18.

For a healthy adult (non-pregnant) woman they should be between 11-16 (lower = anaemia, higher= haemochromatosis which is just as, if not more so, dangerous). In healthy pregnant women normal range drops to around 10.5-15.

At my hospital iron tablets are offered if iron is below 10 in pregnancy, if between 10-10.5 dietary advice is given and they are rechecked later.

 

[RTR]

For a healthy adult (non-pregnant) woman they should be between 11-16 (lower = anaemia, higher= haemochromatosis which is just as, if not more so, dangerous). In healthy pregnant women normal range drops to around 10.5-15.

At my hospital iron tablets are offered if iron is below 10 in pregnancy, if between 10-10.5 dietary advice is given and they are rechecked later.

=] Thank you.

 

[winegums]

Your welcome, good luck with your appointment x

 

[iwantabub]

hey hun...


im having an elcs...

i genetically have a fused pelvis and there is a 90% chance i cant give birth naturally and will end up having a emcs so i went elcs to lower the risk...

tbh emergency c sections are one thing but in Australia elcs or sceduled cs are not a long recovery period at all... my friend had a emcs 3 weeks ago and got cleared to drive yesterday and that was an emergency cs....

my doc told me the cut for an elcs is 10-12cm and if everythign went well id be up within hours ... yes in pain.. but up and about and other than not lifting anything heavier than the baby for a while said there wasnt much else negative to say (other than the risks ascosiated with any surgical procedure)...

my friend had 2 traumatic births with major tears and long recovery,,, she opted for an elcs with her third and was the best experience of her life... said it was heaven compared to having a 2 day labour and tearing etc....

she was totally sure with her 4th that she had another elcs....

yes there are risks and without reason .. no... they shouldnt be offerd... but if you want to go that way then its your choice.. dont be guilted into having another horrible expericnce...

also just to note... i have cared for my mother who has had major abdo surgery (hystorectomy and also bowel removal another time) and trust me ... i saw my friend 2 days after her elcs and she was NOTHING like my mum... totally opposite ...
yes its major abdo surgery but theres a bid difference between a section and other major abdo surgeries...

goodluck

 

[RebeccaG]

I had anterior placentas with both of mine and neither were back to back. There are things you can do to prevent back to back. All fours encourages baby in to correct position also birthing balls are good.
I think though you have good reasons to have a section but I do know its down to the consultant...
I had a vaginal birth with my son and a section with my daughter. The section I was in a lot of pain for the first few days but then ok and driving about, lifting my toddler etc etc. the recovery with my son was much longer. X

 

[hulagirl]

Hi

I can't comment on giving birth vaginaly as I couldn't with my son, so had emcs (very long winded story)
ut I am requesting an elcs this time. The vbac midwife didn't like it but I have yet to see a consultant.
With my emcs I was up within 6 hrs, had a shower within 18hrs, hoovering at 3 days and driving at 3 eeeks, with doctors say so.
This was all with very low iron (5) and an internal infection.
I do know you really have to push for a section, so if this s the route you choose be prepared for lots of explaining and sticking to your guns.

Good luck. X

 

[RTR]

Thank you all ladies, advice really helps me. At the moment it feels like I'm the only one with the problem so if it's just me worrying over nothing then I need to know.
Searching on Google doesn't give all the answers.

Update, JSYK...
Spoke to my Midwife on the phone this afternoon and she's helped put my mind at rest already. She is the same midwife I had as aftercare for Tylar, was the midwife who prescribed my antibiotics twice for the stitches and also the one I cried too because I couldn't BF lol so she knows my experience a little bit (Even though it was two years ago)

She did say I'd have to speak to my consultant about it but I don't want to formally ask for one yet, I just want to speak to her about my options and if I'm suffering with Antenatal Depression so she is going to ring me back with an appointment during the week.


Your advice here has been so important and I thank you all for not judging me. As it stands I'm still only a mother of one, I'm no expert by any means and very misinformed when it comes to pregnancy complications. Just thank you =']

 

[RTR]

Update, got an appointment with the midwife on Monday which I'm really grateful for! I'm not going to request a section until I've been through all of my options and until I'm fully informed of everything =]x

 

[winegums]

Update, got an appointment with the midwife on Monday which I'm really grateful for! I'm not going to request a section until I've been through all of my options and until I'm fully informed of everything =]x

Good luck! xx

 

[julesjules100]

Hi there

I have an elective C section scheduled (although going privately) as I had an abscess between the muscles of my sphincter a few years back and had all kinds of surgery back there that left me with short term rectal incontinence, which was deeply disturbing. I have a lot of sympathy with your 2-3rd degree tears. I am opting for the C section as I just don't want to risk causing any more damage back that way if I did have significant tearing.

While I'm going privately in London, I've been spending a lot of time with my parents in Lancs and have a private consultant who said he would cover me up here IF I went into early labour but would only see me through the NHS hospital that he heads. He said that they wouldn't let me labour naturally if I was adamant that I wanted a C section.

Long story short, if you are that worried and decide you do indeed want one to avoid tearing then I would speak to your consultant. I think it's a perfectly valid reason for wanting one and doubt they would refuse if you insisted x

 

[RTR]

Hi there

I have an elective C section scheduled (although going privately) as I had an abscess between the muscles of my sphincter a few years back and had all kinds of surgery back there that left me with short term rectal incontinence, which was deeply disturbing. I have a lot of sympathy with your 2-3rd degree tears. I am opting for the C section as I just don't want to risk causing any more damage back that way if I did have significant tearing.

While I'm going privately in London, I've been spending a lot of time with my parents in Lancs and have a private consultant who said he would cover me up here IF I went into early labour but would only see me through the NHS hospital that he heads. He said that they wouldn't let me labour naturally if I was adamant that I wanted a C section.

Long story short, if you are that worried and decide you do indeed want one to avoid tearing then I would speak to your consultant. I think it's a perfectly valid reason for wanting one and doubt they would refuse if you insisted x

Ouch hun that sounds awful! Thankfully you are getting what you want.

I spoke to her on the phone on Monday and just burst into tears, because she sounded so supportive towards me and was willing to fit me into her regular appointments I was quite shocked; I really expected it to be more difficult in speaking to her about it but it wasn't.

I just have to try and keep my head straight because I don't want her to say a section would be good on my emotional levels, I want a good reason. If she doesn't think it is good enough then I wont because I know I can't let emotion get the better of me, if you know what I mean?

I've just been non-stop thinking about it since Friday, nothing is escaping me at the moment. I remember the little details of my last labour that time made me forget and it's terrifying me much more. For example, I was made to labour alone because there wasn't enough staff on the Ward, I wasn't allowed to go home and be with my family during that time. Some poor woman who was going into premature labour in the bed next to me was rubbing my back through the night... I was accused of throwing up "Coca cola" when it was actually old blood which then gradually became fresh red blood as I threw up more. I wasn't allowed to move around at all because the ward lights were off and I was sharing a room with 3 other women (two in prem labours one in for another reason).

I must have been that irritating person that kept them awake at night...

It's really winding me up more and more and part of me is hoping for the date to be set, counting down to that day... Knowing there isn't a 2 week wait like there was with my son because he was overdue... No sweeps and certainly no induction... No pain, no pushing...

Just thinking about it now keeps me calm and I believe it's the only way I'm going to cope. Like I said before, part of me now is beginning to regret becoming pregnant and this baby was very much wanted and planned and hoped for... Feel awful for saying it but it's true ='[

Sorry about the essay haha

 

[Feline]

Hi there

I have an elective C section scheduled (although going privately) as I had an abscess between the muscles of my sphincter a few years back and had all kinds of surgery back there that left me with short term rectal incontinence, which was deeply disturbing. I have a lot of sympathy with your 2-3rd degree tears. I am opting for the C section as I just don't want to risk causing any more damage back that way if I did have significant tearing.

While I'm going privately in London, I've been spending a lot of time with my parents in Lancs and have a private consultant who said he would cover me up here IF I went into early labour but would only see me through the NHS hospital that he heads. He said that they wouldn't let me labour naturally if I was adamant that I wanted a C section.

Long story short, if you are that worried and decide you do indeed want one to avoid tearing then I would speak to your consultant. I think it's a perfectly valid reason for wanting one and doubt they would refuse if you insisted x

Ouch hun that sounds awful! Thankfully you are getting what you want.

I spoke to her on the phone on Monday and just burst into tears, because she sounded so supportive towards me and was willing to fit me into her regular appointments I was quite shocked; I really expected it to be more difficult in speaking to her about it but it wasn't.

I just have to try and keep my head straight because I don't want her to say a section would be good on my emotional levels, I want a good reason. If she doesn't think it is good enough then I wont because I know I can't let emotion get the better of me, if you know what I mean?

I've just been non-stop thinking about it since Friday, nothing is escaping me at the moment. I remember the little details of my last labour that time made me forget and it's terrifying me much more. For example, I was made to labour alone because there wasn't enough staff on the Ward, I wasn't allowed to go home and be with my family during that time. Some poor woman who was going into premature labour in the bed next to me was rubbing my back through the night... I was accused of throwing up "Coca cola" when it was actually old blood which then gradually became fresh red blood as I threw up more. I wasn't allowed to move around at all because the ward lights were off and I was sharing a room with 3 other women (two in prem labours one in for another reason).

I must have been that irritating person that kept them awake at night...

It's really winding me up more and more and part of me is hoping for the date to be set, counting down to that day... Knowing there isn't a 2 week wait like there was with my son because he was overdue... No sweeps and certainly no induction... No pain, no pushing...

Just thinking about it now keeps me calm and I believe it's the only way I'm going to cope. Like I said before, part of me now is beginning to regret becoming pregnant and this baby was very much wanted and planned and hoped for... Feel awful for saying it but it's true ='[

Sorry about the essay haha

Hi RTR - I had a maternal request c-section in January this year on the NHS. It was all pretty straightforward getting it and the c-cection itself was a wonderful experience. PM me if you want any info.

xx

 

[RTR]

Hi RTR - I had a maternal request c-section in January this year on the NHS. It was all pretty straightforward getting it and the c-cection itself was a wonderful experience. PM me if you want any info.

xx

Hi Feline

Thank you and I will when I have some more questions. xx

I spoke to my Midwife and she was brilliant with me. She has referred me back to the labour ward where I had my son so I can speak to the manager there and talk through my last labour and why it was the way it was.

She explained quite a few things to me about labour and why I was pushing for so long, First time mums are allowed to push for up to two hours before assistance and I had my son on the 2 hour point.
At least this time if I have a natural labour I know they wont allow me to go so long pushing and also because with my sons labour, even though I was induced, I then laboured very naturally so I should have been allowed to move around, this is why I'm going to speak to the labour ward managers because there must be a reason why I had to stay still.


So just waiting on speaking to the labour ward manager and then hopefully I can go forward and discuss it more with my Consultant.

=] xx