Elected C-section? TMI perhaps!

[Ar1el]

Has anyone chosen to have a c-section after ******l births? I ask bc I am 11 weeks pregnant and I have 2 other children that were delivered ******ly. I did not know that u could opt to have a c-section if u wanted it. I am thinking about it bc my husband works an hour from our house, I had to be cut with each pregnancy with the 2nd one being more. With my second child I went into labor at 11pm and thank goodness my DH best friend was right down the street at the time and was able to come over and stay while my 1st slept. He is no longer that close. The rest of the family is out of state or over an hour away. Any thoughts? TIA

 

[soonerfan2008]

As a VBAC mom (which I fought hard to get!), I would never, ever, ever opt for an elective c section. The risk to mom is much higher than a ******l birth, and the baby is much more likely to have breathing problems at birth.

The recovery is also much more difficult, and I can't imagine doing it with 2 other kids unless I was forced to. I would do a LOT of research if you really think that is what you want, but keep in mind that NO ONE recommends a totally elective c section, even if they will do it. Plus, your insurance may not cover it.

I had a c section (totally unnecessary) with my first, and I wish I'd been more educated so I could have said, "No way!." With my second, I had a totally drug-free labor and delivery. Even with a 3rd degree tear, I'd take the natural delivery 100 times over.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just remember when making your decision that even though you pick a date, doesn't mean you won't go into labor earlier. Also, having little ones at home already, you heal quicker with a normal birth vs. a C-section. I would have a plan available and a good friend (hopefully couple) who can be available. One can watch the little ones and one can take you to the hospital until your husband can meet you there. Put a few dollars a way each week and get them a great gift card for a nice restaurant for helping you. Good luck on your choice.

 

[Ar1el]

Thanks for the reply. I really do not know what I want. I guess I am nervous about going into labor in the middle of the night and not knowing what to do with my other 2 or while my DH is at work.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I ended up with an emergency c-section after 10 hours of pitocin-induced labor. I would like to try a ******l birth if I ever have another child, but if given the choice between induced labor and an elective c-section, I'll take the c-section. Mainly because I am at greater risk of uterine rupture since I've had a c-section before.

There are many moms that choose an elective c-section, and many doctors that perform them without objections, but elective c-sections are generally not best for the baby or the mom. Statistics show that babies born from c-sections have greater breathing difficulties. I was told it was because the process of going through the birth canal forces fluid from the lungs. Also, a c-section is a major surgery that carries with it many risks for the mom. Infection, longer recovery times, chance of the incision reopening and bleeding, etc.

I would talk with your doctor about the decision. IMHO, the risks outweigh the benefits, but that's something you need to decide for yourself.

 

[writerriann]

I had a C-section with DS4. Although I've not experienced things the "regular" way, my experiences were apparently much worse than some of my girlfriends who let nature preside.

With the c-section, I was sick and vomiting for at least the next 48 hours. Most of my family held my son before me which really hurt and upset me too even though there was no way I could hold him at the time. He had breathing problems upon delivery and nearly went to the NICU. Once we got home, moving around and holding him was pretty difficult for at least 2 weeks. It took a full 8 weeks before I could go back to work and even think about moving normally. Girlfriends of mine, even those with some serious splitting, were fine much quicker and had much less pain overall.

Although they are becoming more routine, you shouldn't forget that C-sections are major abdominal surgery. You are split open, and honey, that hurts

I had severe eclampsia and little choice in the matter. It was an issue of mine and my baby's lives. However, I would be leery of any doctor who let someone schedule a c-section when it was not medically indicated.

I think a C-section sounds better on paper, especially if you've had a bad experience. "I'll just have surgery and keep all my womanly bits intact and sound." But it sucks. A lot. I may or may not have another child, but I would do whatever I could to try and avoid a second surgery.

 

[mjkacmom]

I had 3 regulation births before my c/s with my twins (induced with pitocin), and I would do over the 31 hours of labor I had with #3 than have another c/s. The recovery was MUCH harder, and you end up with a c/s pooch - yuck.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

My DS8 was born via emergency c-section (he was 10 weeks early) . During the surgery I kept losing blood (I ended up having blood transfusions), and my recovery was AWFUL! I had a fever and a post op infection that kept me in the hospital for 2 weeks!! My son was (obviously) in the NICU so I didn't have to care for a baby, but if I had a child at home I would've been screwed! It was horrible to walk and I was so sore for weeks.

My DD5 was a scheduled c-section (due to scarring and trauma from DS's birth) - and it went perfect. I was out of the hospital before 48 hours and they sent a nurse from the hospital to come check on me at home. I was out walking around 5 days after I had her and running errands and feeling great.

I've experienced both types of recoveries and you never know what will happen. I would not choose to have a c-section if I had the choice.

 

[ancestry]

As a mother of four children I would never ever ever opt to have an elective c-section. It isn't a good choice for the mother or the baby unless it is medically necessary. In my experience (the last child was an emergency c-section) the recovery from a c-section is miserable compared to a v-birth.

 

[writerriann]

The recovery was MUCH harder, and you end up with a c/s pooch - yuck.

OMG! I totally forgot about the pooch. I would do anything to avoid the pooch. That thing's there for life

 

[bumbershoot]

Has anyone chosen to have a c-section after ******l births? I ask bc I am 11 weeks pregnant and I have 2 other children that were delivered ******ly. I did not know that u could opt to have a c-section if u wanted it. I am thinking about it bc my husband works an hour from our house, I had to be cut with each pregnancy with the 2nd one being more. With my second child I went into labor at 11pm and thank goodness my DH best friend was right down the street at the time and was able to come over and stay while my 1st slept. He is no longer that close. The rest of the family is out of state or over an hour away. Any thoughts? TIA

Major abdominal surgery on the day you meet your baby.

Not being able to pick up anything over the size of your new baby for weeks.

Not being able to drive.

Higher possibility of death. Leaving hubby, baby, and other children without you.

Higher probability of a baby born earlier than it wanted to be, meaning it wasn't ready, meaning that the baby is EARLY and can have problems it wouldn't have had otherwise.

Being part of the absolutely horrific epidemic of all of this nonsense. WHO estimates that truly needed surgeries for this (they have to come up with a proper name for this, like how tonsillectomy accurately describes what is going on, instead of a cutesy name based on the myth that Julius Caesar arrived by this method...unlikely as death generally resulted for the mother, but she remained living after) are in the 5% range. In the US it's up to about 30% now, I believe. Not truly needed, but chosen, or having providers governed by their malpractice insurance agreements or just fear (and I don't like scared people dealing with me). That's way more than needed.

Being someone who was absolutely hoodwinked by "care providers" and bullied into such a surgery, I know first hand that you don't want to choose this. There was absolutely NO good reason for them to bully me into it. They just wanted to go on vacation...I called them on that while they were bullying me, they said "no, I'll be here tomorrow, I'm not going on vacation"....and then, next day, GONE. "Oh yeah, Doctor went on his Memorial Day vacation!" If I'd been in Oregon instead of Washington, no one would have considered my labor to be a problem (different laws governing things, different malpractice insurance companies tying providers' hands). If I'd fired people I would have been fine. But they got me. It was the most horrific thing I've ever experienced.

Sure, some women do just fine. Others don't. You don't know which one you will be until it's too late.

I have a friend who WANTED one. This is what she planned. She was excited (for surgery?). And she had a ROTTEN recovery. She admitted to us all that she never expected it to be that bad, that hard, that awful. I don't know what she will do if she has a second baby. And this is something she planned on her whole life (it's how she and her brother arrived, and her mom said it was fine).

Leave the surgeries to that 5% who NEED it. You know you can do it the normal way, the biological way...go with that.

 

[Ar1el]

Thanks for all the replies. My previous 2 pregnancies were not to bad. My 1st I was induced. It was a long labor but I felt great after. My second came out of no where since I was not dialated at all in the morning. I went into labor 11pm and he was out by 6:20 am. I was able to go home the next day by 3pm. Perhaps I will just let nature take its course.

 

[surfergirl602]

Of all the different docs I've had and states I've delivered in, not one place has ever approved of or allowed it. I'm very surprised that places do!

 

[KELLY]

OMG! I totally forgot about the pooch. I would do anything to avoid the pooch. That thing's there for life

That is funny I have had 2 c-sections and don't have a pooch. To the op I have had 2 and both of mine were scheduled and the recovery time was easy for me. I was out shopping within 2 days. I was released from the hospital within 30 hours both times.

Mine were elected because of a blood disorder I have. Discussing the options with the docter we though the c-section would be best.

I"m not saying the c-section is easy but my recovery time was short. The dr's also think I have a high pain tolerence not sure on that one.

 

[fakereadhed]

Not judging you, but will judge your doc. Shocked and horrified and think that's malpractice. Different if you'd had previous sections- but unless there is a medical need it's just plain wrong for a doc to offer that! Run!!!

 

[sweetsusannah]

I had a c-section due to a very large baby that wouldn't drop and a previous pelvis injury that my doctor felt would hinder natural childbirth. My doc has been practicing for 15 years and said she rarely encouraged them but with me she was 90% sure we'd end up in a emergency C because we were going to have to enduce labor and the baby was so high in my abdomen. Therefor I elected to have the C-section.

It went really well for me actually. Recovery was with out a doubt longer than if I have a natural birth but I was walking around in 24 hours. No terrible pain or bad recovery stories.

The one thing that it true for most women though is that blasted c-section pooch. I hate it hate it hate it. Working really hard at the gym to tighten those muscles back up but I tell you what if I had known about it before I would have tried natural birth to avoid it.

I say don't do it unless it is medically nessasary but if you need one don't fear it.

 

[MaleficentandGoons]

You can't elect for a C section and I wouldn't trust a doctor who would let you. C sections are serious abdominal surgery. With two other kids the down time might be more of a pain than anything else not to mention the risk of infection.
Plan ahead for a sitter as much as possible. Don't worry about who is going to take care of your children so much. Grandparents will step up to the plate i'm sure.

 

[shoney]

After 2 days of labor I had to have a c-section with my first son. I thought it was easy and recovered quickly. We actually went on vacation for 2 nights when he was 11 days old.

I was afraid of v-birth, so I opted for a scheduled c with my second son. This was almost 9 years ago and I really didn't know the risks and my female doctor who had children both ways also said "go for the c". Well, he was born with fluid in his lungs and one collapsed. He was in NICU for a week. They thought he would be there longer...but he was a tough cookie. I also recovered very quickly again.

He suffers from asthma. I wish I would have at least tried v-birth. Because of what happened with my first, chances were I was going to have a c anyway. I try not to blame myself, but the thought is always in the back of my mind.

 

[turkeymama]

Wow, talk about scaring someone. Some of these stories about awful c-sections would scare the bejeezus out of me if I hadn't already had 2 successful c-sections. Was the recovery time longer? Of course. Did I have uneventful deliveries? Not necessarily. I came close to needing a transfusion with the second one, but that would have been much worse if I had delivered him naturally (incidentally, my mother had the same problem, delivered naturally, and she almost died). I'm convinced the c-section allowed for better preparation. My nephew was delivered via c-section, but had breathing problems because he was also one month premature.

OP, I wouldn't choose one if there wasn't a medical reason, or unless you lived far away from the nearest medical facility and had a history of rapid deliveries. My one big gripe about the c-section was the no lifting or driving for so long afterwards. I hated depending on others to do stuff for me, especially after the second one. Oh, and the pooch? I didn't get that until I gained 20 pounds over the last two years (in other words, if I would get off my tush and lose some weight, I'd look fine.)

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

I had an elective C-section with my DD9. I had broken my pelvis in car accident couple of years previously. Never went into labour, which I was glad about, but the recovery is longer.


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