Missing out by not trying for a natural birth?

[Sw1234]

I've booked a planned c section for my second pregnancy. My first was a general anaesthetic c section delivery, so I was asleep and when I first held my baby was really not aware what was going on. Husband wasn't there at birth but met baby before me. This was all due to baby being bradycardic during labour.This is going to be my last pregnancy so I'm desperate to be awake for the birth and see baby when they're born but I'm worried I'm going to regret not trying for a natural birth. When I think logically I know it's the right decision as I'm very anxious we'll have the same issues again but when I'm thinking about perfect births it would be trying naturally.

Did any of you regret/pleased with your decision when going down the planned c section route?

Sorry for the long post!

[McQueeny]

I went for a planned c section and was really pleased with it I did feel a bit like I ‘cheated’ by not going through labour, but I (and of course you too) went through enough trauma with fertility treatment, I felt like it was ok 😅 it was such a good experience, relaxed and controlled, hubby was right there and I got to hold baby while they were still stitching me up. We went home the next day. As it turned out we were also very lucky, as baby had the chord around his neck! So we would have ended up with a section anyway….

For this pregnancy I’m only 11 weeks so don’t know yet what I’ll do, but to be honest if they offered a planned section again I think I’ll go for it ☺️

[Sw1234 in reply to McQueeny]

Thank you so much. It's brilliant to hear you're experience of a planned section. I've heard recovery is easier for a planned too

[McQueeny in reply to Sw1234]

yes I’ve heard the same, as it’s all more relaxed and slower, and also the body isn’t battered by the labour…. My recovery was great - the first week was naturally a bit harder, but I never needed painkillers stronger than paracetamol / ibuprofen - and within 2-3 weeks I felt really good with only the occasional twinge

[Weareback2]

I can only talk from my experience, i had a planned section with my first due to placenta previa. When i first found out i was pregnant again (FET) i asked for a section....tirns out i have placenta previa again so choice is taken away anyway. However my planned srction was great. No issues and recovered well which is why i asked for it again. I personally didn't feel like i missed out, and out of my friends who had natural deliveries, some had a really bad experience of tearing/ needing alot of repair work and opting for a section next time. Obv not ever case but with a planned section alot more controlled and it is still birth just not the traditional way. Hope you get the birth you want what ever that maybe!

[Albs171]

I had a planned c section mainly from anxiety over birth - but the hospital were amazing and made it so special.

It’s still so remarkable and to me it felt amazing and had all the ‘moments’ you’d expect!!!

Good luck xx

[Sunflower35]

I had a planned c-section as I was too anxious anything would go wrong, considering how long it took us to get there. Baby had been breech from week 29 anyway all the way till birth so it would have likely been an emergency C-section too… I’m glad I got to make that decision from the start as it made me feel at ease.

I had a very positive and relaxed experience and loved being able to focus on seeing the baby. Recovery wasn’t too bad, but I felt the nurses in the ward were very unsupportive and didn’t manage my pain levels well despite me asking for help in various ways. I did leave the following day despite being in a lot of pain as I didn’t want to spend any more time not being supported. So just make sure you get pain medication as soon as you start experiencing pain if you go down that route. Post-care was fine at home, just being careful of how you get up and move around and not lifting heavy things, etc. I also took it very easy as I was told to ensure the best healing possible. It took me a good 4 weeks to feel comfortable/no twinges but I healed very well.

[Sw1234 in reply to Sunflower35]

Thank you. I'm pleased your recovery was okay and will definitely make sure I'm asking for pain relief. I'll have a 17 month old this time who will need picking up so will have to be careful how to do that whilst recovering

[LuxFleur]

Please don't worry about this xo

[MrsOrangejuice]

I had a planned section for various reasons and it was absolutely fine. My consultant said I could try naturally but he was pretty certain I'd end up as an emergency section and his view was that most the worst/most dangerous option so best to plan it. They confirmed after it would have been a section as baby was very big and engaged so much that she was stuck and had to be removed with forceps anyway. Having said that I could have just opted for a section because I wanted one and it bugs me we feel we have to justify it (like I just did!) Really to me it doesn't matter if you and the baby are healthy. I found the whole thing super calm (despite what was going on without me knowing), recovery was so much easier than I thought and I held my baby as soon as she was out (although confess I handed her right back when they offered me a cup of tea!) If you had general anaesthetic last time can you ask if you could just have an epidural with a section this time so you can be awake? That may make all the difference for you x