C-section?

I know this is a sensitive topic, but I was wondering if anyone has had or is planning on an elective c-section?

I have horrific anxiety and when I'm anxious my bp shoots through the roof- hypertensive crisis high. I know myself and if/when something goes wrong during labor (and by wrong I don't mean catastrophically wrong, but I will be so high strung in the moment that the littlest thing will cause me to freak out) my bp will skyrocket and I'll end up with an emergency c anyway. I think for me, the benefits may outweigh the risks and a controlled environment is the best option.

If you have done this or know someone who has, do you mind sharing how the experience was? How did your OB feel about it, was it scheduled before your due date?

I KNOW it is major surgery, that they remove your innards and put them back in, that the recovery sucks. Please don't judge- I'm just trying to get honest opinions.

Re: C-section?

I had an elective one five weeks ago.. And a tubal done... Recovery was rough for two weeks but way better then I expected... I had an induction with my first and honestly labor just wasn't for me I loathed the process and it was by all accounts an easy one... 8 hours and done no tearing....
I too have a major fear of unknown and anxiety my first would have given me a csection but it wouldn't have been able to have it the day of induction I'd have to wait two days longer and didn't want to wait any longer (I was overdue )....

It's definitely a personal choice and everyone and their (and my) mom tried to talk me out of it... But it's honestly best decision I could have made .. I even left hospital a day earlier bc I was good to go...

Any questions feel free to fm me

Good luck!

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Talk to your OB, you don't want to be so stressed while pregnant! I chose to have c section and think everyone should choose what they want.

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If you want to deliver that way and your doctor allows it, then who is anyone to judge?

For me, I've had three c-sections. First one wasn't planned, last two were...not by choice. I just want you to know that although I am not an "anxious" person, I had panic attacks with each one of them (less each time, I will say). Surgery was terrifying for me. Just some food for thought. Good luck with your decision.

C-section?

No judgment. With my first, I had a horrible pregnancy. Things weren't good which made my already sky high anxiety even worse. I needed an end date to know this was it. I spoke with a friend who is in the field and then doctor. She asked that I think about it, did, and still wanted it the c section. Turned out that I got very sick (not baby related ) 13 days before the date and needed one done anyway and also another surgery at same time.
Recovery was easy as I did research and basically lucked out. I'm having my second c section on December 7th and am prepared.

C-section?

I had a c-section with my first not by choice but because they thought she was going to be huge. This baby is also going to be big and the gave me the choice of a v-bac or a repeat C. I went with the C at 39 weeks. I have so many horror stories of tearing and babies getting stuck etc...I am good with my C-section. I know what to expect and my recovery the first time around was not horrible. Difficult at times because I overdid it but not horribly painful or anything.

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Having had both a c-section (planned b/c DS was breech but I went into labor, so it wound up being an "emergency"-c) and a VBAC, I'll tell you that the VBAC was actually way less stressful. Less people in the room, there's a tv in the room, labor suite vs an OR, etc.

In both scenarios, though, all I was really focused on was holding my little baby at the end of it.

I'd have an honest talk with you OB about both possibilities and your anxiety worries. You may be surprised and how un-anxious you are in the moment. At the end of your pregnancy, many times you're just ready to get that baby out, no matter how it comes out!

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Posted by Eireann

If you want to deliver that way and your doctor allows it, then who is anyone to judge?

For me, I've had three c-sections. First one wasn't planned, last two were...not by choice. I just want you to know that although I am not an "anxious" person, I had panic attacks with each one of them (less each time, I will say). Surgery was terrifying for me. Just some food for thought. Good luck with your decision.

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Do whatever you feel you will be comfortable with. I know for me I went through a painful labor both times the same way- water broke and I had to be induced and experienced very painful contractions. I was begging for the epi both times. I was able to give birth vaginally the first time but the second time I ended up with a C after going through another painful labor because I just wasn't progressing (turns out baby was stuck around cord)... We are pretty much done having kids, but if we were to have another I would go straight to a C. The recovery afterward was painful when I first got home but I was OK about a week later.

C-section?

I've been through both labor and a C-Section (not elective but as a result of a failed induction - not considered an emergency). My labors, both inductions, were also very long - 1st was 65 hours and 2nd was almost 80 hours before having the CS. The labors were by far less stressful and clinical than the C Section. Granted I had about 5 hours notice that I was going to have a c section but it was pretty traumatizing from the time they told me I had to have it, during (I could feel my body fill up with air as they were closing me up and I kept passing in and out from the pain), and until about a week after my recovery. It was very cold and very painful both physically and emotionally. Much different than my first.

Not only that, but with the first, they put DD right on me as soon as she was born so I got to hold her immediately and then right after they cleaned her up and weighed her. It was amazing. With the CS, they couldn't do that since I had a sheet literally up to my face. I had to watch from a distance. I didn't get to hold her until about 1-2 hours after she was born and even then I was in so much pain, I couldn't really hold her well or for very long for the first couple of days.

My entire 1st pregnancy I was terrified and anxious about labor. I don't take pain or doctors very well. I often joked (half seriously) that they should bring ether back lol. My 2nd pregnancy, I was terrified and anxious that I would end up with another super long induction/labor and it ended up being even worse. I only wish I could have had an experience like the first one. We knew we were done once we found out I was pregnant again but after having the CS, there is no way in hell that I would ever go through that again.

It is a very personal decision. You have to do with what you feel comfortable with.

ETA: I just wanted to add that I have hypertension, which is one of the reasons for my inductions. The epidural stabilized my bp and if it does go up, they will likely check it a few times and give you magnesium to lower it before doing an emergency c - at least that was in my experience.

Message edited 10/28/2015 1:38:43 PM.

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C-section?

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences! I am going to discuss with my OB next week.

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Posted by J9-13

Posted by Eireann

If you want to deliver that way and your doctor allows it, then who is anyone to judge?

For me, I've had three c-sections. First one wasn't planned, last two were...not by choice. I just want you to know that although I am not an "anxious" person, I had panic attacks with each one of them (less each time, I will say). Surgery was terrifying for me. Just some food for thought. Good luck with your decision.

I was always an anxious person and I had to have a scheduled c section with my twins back in May. Once my OB told me I had to have a section, I felt relieved. The thought of being prepared before delivering put my mind at ease.
Well...that went out the window as I walked into the OR. There were at least 15-20 ppl (which I understand why with twins) and everyone was talking and acting as if they were at happy hour and it FREAKED me out! My Doctor was talking to the nurses about her recent vacation and about a reality TV show and in my head I was screaming!

It was A LOT to take in and this is for someone that just had mild anxiety. Not panic attacks or anything severe. I would even say I was just more of an extreme worry wart. Worried about everything. I was terrified of surgery and even more so having a spinal.
Obviously only you know what's best for you but I'm not sure a section will be less stressful. Just something to think about.

C-section?

I had an elective c section after failing to progress after 24 hours of.induction. II would've much preferred to deliver vaginally, I thought the CS and OR experience was kind of nerving. I actually was given twilight sedation as well because I was so uneasy..and I'm not a nervous person..I was so out of it I feel like I didn't get a good post birth experience. I'd personally, wait and see what your labor is like. I could go smoothly. I think the CS is way scarier...Either way there is no wrong choice.

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Message edited 11/4/2015 9:55:49 AM.

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i recently had an emergency c. i never would have thought i would want one or ever opt for one.. but for my next i think i want to opt for one scheduled early.

just based on the scenario of my delivery. so to each his own!

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Spoke with my OB, she didn't say no but didn't outright say yes either. Her concern was that I might have a tough time because I'm very small. I laughed at her and said I wasn't asking because I'm small, I'm asking because I'm nuts! She is sending me for a growth scan in a few weeks. As far as the anxiety, she seemed to have more faith in me than she probably should, but did say we would definitely revisit as it gets closer.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and being supportive and non-judgey You girls are awesome!