C section in uk

Yes you can have an elective c section. I felt the same as you and told my midwife at my first appointment. All they want to make sure is that you’re aware of all risks for both type of delivery so that you make an informed decision.

Depends how far along you are. You could definitely raise it with your midwife but I think it’s normally discussed later in pregnancy

@Kelly were you offered and had a c section in the end? X

I told my midwife at my 8 week booking appointment and had it booked by 20 weeks. Tell them as soon as you can

I’m double thinking a vaginal birth too. Everyone’s telling me to do it naturally but I’m terrified x

@Scarlett I’m currently 17 w 3 d. I’ve been asked briefly about birth plan and at the time when I was asked I was thinking about it but hadn’t mentioned x

@Charlotte I really cannot bring myself to do it. I know our bodies are made for it but I just have so much anxiety!! X

@N 💞 okay thank you very much! I’ll contact as soon as I can. Did you get to pick the date for it or was it their EDD? X

I might bring it up to my husband. I have a hypertension issue so my midwife has told me even if I want to try naturally I might have so many pain meds that I won’t remember it even happening and might still have to have a C-section . I just want the safest option and i think if I have a C-section it’ll take away the anxiety of having to have one eventually anyway x

An elective with no medical reason is usually booked during the 39th week, originally they gave me the date of 39+2 (a Thursday) but then they phoned to say they couldn’t do that day and I could choose between Tuesday or Wednesday so I chose Tuesday which was 39 exactly

Ladies, just please consider/research the aftercare with a c-section. You can’t move for a day or two after, getting up and down is painful… even laying down is uncomfortable. You won’t be able to walk far or drive for 6 weeks. I ended up with an infection after 6 weeks and I’m in so much pain that I struggle to hold my baby at times. I also have endo which makes the wound even more painful. It’s majorly surgery and the decision to have one shouldn’t be taken lightly. X

@Kellie yea I have been thinking about it for a couple months. My anxiety is the main fear as my mum had huge babies that had a lot of complications and this baby is already huge at 17 weeks. I hope your infection clears up soon and you are resting well x

@Kellie this is not always the case, please don’t say ‘you *cant* move’ like it’s a blanket statement for EVERYONE. I appreciate it may have been your experience, but that’s exactly it, YOUR experience. I was up and walking within 6 hours, home within 24 and food shopping and cooking a roast dinner on day 3. Had no issues laying down.

@N 💞 thank you for sharing your experience it really helps! I know for sure I will be getting one, just need to go through process of getting it sorted now. I’m so glad you had such a positive experience!! Xx

I had an elective, it’s brilliant that they even offer this to us now in the UK. I absolutely did the right thing for me, yes it hurts and takes MUCH longer to recover but 2 years on my body is fine and I wouldn’t even know i’d had a c section bar the scar. It is classed as a big operation technically as they cut through 7 layers of your body! You will have to inject yourself in your thigh or tummy for up to 10 days after with an anti clotting syringe that’s one thing I didn’t know until after I had the section but I don’t have a needle phobia so it was fine. I would 100% do it again if I got pregnant a second time around. It was the most relaxing experience for an anxious soul like myself and I was well looked after throughout. The care they gave me was person centred and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Things can go very wrong with childbirth either way and I was close to needing a blood transfusion myself but I still would do it again.

@N 💞 🙄 I was simply sharing mine and others experiences. You’re right, not everyone had it like me. Hence my comment on doing the research beforehand. Good on you for doing the food shop & cooking a roast though 24 hours afterwards 👍🏼

Sorry I seem to type long comments haha so ask your midwife and they’ll give you a form to fill in with your preferences and take it from there :)

I think if it’s for safely reasons then absolutely as you don’t want an emergency one. I would just looking into aftercare and ensure you have all the support afterwards as it might not be a plain sailing recovery.

@Cara when did you mention to midwife and begin the process of an elective c section? I’m 17 weeks now and don’t have appointment until 18th but that’s only for a scan and I don’t have a designated midwife xx

Yes I did, but no real conversations about it until nearer the end of my pregnancy. I think I was about 35 weeks when I had an appointment with the consultant to sign it off and then c section was booked for 39 weeks.

https://birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/right-to-a-c-section/#do

I said straight away I wanted an elective C-section at my booking appointment. I had a Birth Choices appointment at 22 weeks as they have to make sure they talk through the risks to you first so you’re fully informed. Then chatted about it with my consultant again at 26 weeks. My next appointment is 32 weeks and I’m getting my date then. I have no real medical need for one but my last birth was traumatic and I simply refuse to do that again.

I was about 20 weeks I think for midwife to join me, at the scan just mention and ask them about it, they should guide you well. I think areas must be different because plan was made by 25 weeks and I knew what music I wanted on my iPad, what essential oils to smell when I felt anxious, what style of section cut I wanted, I even asked for a video of her being born when there and they did it and took photos (for my own brain to get to grips with birthing a baby afterwards!) It was a mini spa break but with a very different ending that’s not so relaxing afterwards but the bundle of fun is worth it hehehe xx

@Kellie some people definitely can move straight away. You can walk and drive before 6 weeks if you are able to. Everyone’s recovery is different.

I’m having my second baby in December by section. Loved my birth experience, zero trauma, super happy time, no issues afterwards and healed faster than my sister did with her vaginal birth. Never doubted myself when I opted for a second, I have zero fear or anxiety about birth now xxx

I did. I cannot bare the thought of doing it the natural way. The pain and not knowing when it's going to happen gives me bad anxiety. More straightforward with a sections everything is planned. I've had two cesareans now with no regrets.

Do vaginal birth: get the elle tens machine for removing back pain and also ask for gas and air as soon as you feel the pain in the vagina begin. You will literally be pain free until baby is born. All you need to do is push. The elle tens machine is expensive but worth the money when it completely removes the pain from the back! C-section will take a lot for recovery after birth. They’re cutting layers to get to the baby. That’s why it is only used in emergency situations.

@Sadia Mine wasn’t an emergency ? Lots of my friends had a section too. Recovery also went so well. I think there’s not enough positive c section birth stories out there so I’ll always promote mine. It was just incredible.

@Sadia it’s not just used in emergencies though? If you know in your mind how you would feel before.during and after and that you can enjoy your birth experience whichever way then how lucky are we that they do this in the UK for us to choose how we give birth. Very fortunate! I’m pleased that I chose and birthed her through a planned c section and pleased for you that you chose vaginal, they can both be very special experiences x

@Sadia sorry but your entire comment is absolute rubbish. A tens machine doesn’t ‘take away the pain’ and neither does gas and air. C sections are not only used in emergency situations either. This lady wasn’t asking whether to go for vaginal or c section, she’s already stated she’s going to request a c section and was asking for advice on how to go about it, you clearly have no idea and have no advice for her so your comment is completely irrelevant… 🙄

@Sadia mine wasn’t emergency and my recovery was not long or complicated. I was walking around Costco 2 days after my discharge and had no mobility issues. Please avoid spreading misinformation about Caesarians, the same as I wouldn’t talk nonsense about vaginal births. Leave it to those who have experienced them please.

@Sadia I did not ask about vaginal births on this post. I have made my decision to have a c section, I was simply asking for peoples experiences having a c section and their process for how to about it