Opting for a C-Section

[xxsteffyxx]

Hi everyone,

I'll keep this short, my first pregnancy went fine. Carried to full term with no problems minus going 2 weeks overdue. It happens! I was induced on day 12 of being overdue.

After 72 hours of labour, 2 hours of pushing with no progression I was taken into theatre with the intentions of using forceps. After being in theatre for 20-30 minutes I soon realised that I was having a C-section. It all went well and Harvey was taken out of my tummy at 5.28am.

What seemed like hours passed and I heard nothing from Harvey, before I knew it 10 doctors came running in and all I could hear was 'flat baby!'. Little did I know that this meant that Harvey was not breathing. It was horrible. It seemed like hours and hours but they managed to resuscitate him and rushed him straight to neonatal.

He pulled through (as you can see) and he is a happy healthy 2 year old. But the experience was horrific!

I am now pregnant with baby number two. First baby with my new partner (previous partner didn't stick around!) And I have already told him I want an elective C-section, although he is apprehensive about it because we both know this will be our last so he wont be able to experience labour, he is not really sure what the best options are.

So, how do elective sections work? Do I have to say that I want one immediately when I book in at 8 weeks or is it later on?

Thanks In Advance xxx

 

[the why bird]

My midwife asked at the 8 weeks whether I had given it any thought, but here you get a hospital appointment at around 28 weeks to discuss it with a consultant, so there's no rush to make up your mind right away.

I got the impression that unless you have complications which strongly suggest one method is safest, your views will be very much taken into account and you should get to opt for the section if that's still what you want.

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I think you have an appointment later on than that so you have more time to decide.

It's up to you though, not your partner. He has no idea how you felt and what you went through and it's you who's going to have to go through it again! Definitely make the decision for yourself and don't make a choice you're not comfortable with because it's what your partner wants. X

 

[sethsmummy]

It really depends on your hospital and consultant hun.

I asked about it at my booking in appointment and was told id have to talk to a constultant so i was booked in to see him for my 16 week appointment. We discussed it briefly and was told wed talk about it properly when i was further on. Well we eventually had that talk at 24 weeks and i had to list my reasons for wanting an elective.. he said straight away that i could and wed book it at my next consultant appointment. When i saw him at 28 weeks i had to say again my reasons and then they booked it that day for me. You are not guarunteed a section in some instance Although because you have already had one you should be given the automatic choice right from the start hun

 

[ArcaneSpark]

Hi,

I had a traumatic 1st birth so at my booking in appt I mentioned I wanted a CS, then at the 12w scan I had a consultant appt where we talked about pros and cons. Then 34w had another consultant appt to see if I still wanted on and we booked a date. I got the feeling that if I changed my mind I could cancel but better to have a slot booked! X