Ive just found out im expection my 3rd but with 2 long previous labours ( 60hrs and 63hrs) my partner and I agreed if we had another I'd go elective c-section after our last son was born with infection and not breathing in NICU for 5 days. However, now its down to the crunch im scared! Personal experiences and advise please!

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Andrea xx

ive had two elcs, jacks was planned, but only over night so still felt a huge shock (6 failed inductions)
Lolas was planned from 12weeks!

Jacks was a bit scary because it was all new and i was quite young too, worst but for me was the cannula in the back of my hand, both times, the epidural just made one side go cold, weird not painful. Jack was born early by section after they suspected IUGR so he was in NICU for a while with breathing difficulties, low blood sugar, grunting, and some other bits. He was back home a week after he was born though, I walked a bit funny for about 24hrs then i was a bit slow, the odd twinge but no agonising pain! The day after he came home i was out showing him off in tesco hehe.

Lolas was so planned, i requested it due to a close age gap and they knew my body wouldnt react to induction, going od was a bit risky so they were happy to follow my wishes. i was completely relaxed, and it was a really lovely experience, wed had time to choose the theatre music, andrew got to cut her cord and i got her placed straight on me naked like you would with a regular birth, I then got to cuddle her while stitched up, then two lovely men help you sit up and surround you with pillows, Then we went back to CDS the midwife gave us some time alone then came back with drinks and biscuits and did lolas checks, Lola breastfed immediately for 20mins she had NO problems just a small bruise on her face where she got stuck. My recovery was much much quicker, the first time i stood up i felt a bit weak but thats from being in bed so long and being tired, but i didnt have to walk with a stoop at all, i spoke to my midwife before and had opted for a 2nd scar, it was much better position and caused me no discomfort at all, i just had to be carefull when i coughed, as everyone does!
Both experiences were good ones, jack was poorly that was the only negative but that was because he was a prem csection. Id be happy to have another ELCS should we have anymore in the future!
(plus its really handy for childcare knowing when your going in )

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Like Lau,I've had 2 aswell,1 planned 1 emergency. Had to have them would never have chosen,purely because of recovery. I think I recovered quickly,but it's a pain having pain on top of looking after a new baby. The upside for you is,you know the exact date,so arranging childcare is easier!
A planned section is so calm compared to emergency,quite relaxed. Good luck with whatever you decide x x

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i had no pain, none at all after lola, bit uncomfy when epidural was wearing off but that was it, didnt even hurt when i had my drain removed, maybe i should worry!

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I had 1 forceps,4 normal,then 1 ventouse.Number 7 was an emergency section,as I wasn't dilated,baby was wedged in,he was going nowhere.At that point I didn't care what they did,I've had enough babies to know this wasn't right,I wanted him out quick.The section was a relief cos baby had to come out somehow.I've a vague memory of signing forms,I'd have signed anything at that point.I didn't have time to be scared.
Recovery time was longer.I'm used to giving birth and feeding baby,you 're up having a shower,dressed and on the ward caring for your own baby.I hated not being able to sit up,let alone care for myself or pick up baby.The pain wasn't an issue,ask for pain relief you get it.The first 24 hours was the worst,but they have you up and in the shower the next day,and encourage you to walk about.I was home two days after Merlin was born.
If you have small children at home you need to bear in mind you won't be able to do lifting,which was a problem for me cos I had two others under 2 1/2.Also can you manage without driving for 6 weeks.I hated that bit too.You're not an invalid,you just have to take things easy,a section's major surgery.
I don't know how much choice you get in these things.Probably differs in different areas and with different doctors.
Is there any way you can say in your birth plan that if the labour goes beyond so long and is progressing as slowly as the last two you get a section.There's a chance that although you've had two very long labours,the third might not be

First have you mentioned this to your obstetrician? After two normal births I doubt they would agree to a section because your baby had an infection.

I'm assuming the infection was most likely either GBS or chorioamnitis - both of which are more likely if your waters were broken for over 24 hours. If you've had one baby with GBS you will be treated as if you have GBS again and be on antibiotics throughout labour to reduce the risk of it happening again.

An elective section doesn't guarantee that your baby won't need extra help with breathing or won't have an infection - the first time I had to do full blown CPR on a baby was an elective section.

The majority of sections go well, but so do the majority of normal births, however the risks of complications are higher with a caeserean, I admit I'm probably a little paranoid at present because the last planned section I looked after ended up in intensive care, the risks are higher following a section than a normal birth and you do need to weigh up the risks and need to discuss it with your midwife and obstetrician.

Hi just wondering if you have made up your mind yet?

Ive had 2 c/sections 1st was emergancy & second 1 i chose 2 have. Now i'm preg with my 3rd im going to have another the only thing im scared off is having the drip to be put 2 sleep lol which is nothing really.

They ent that bad really my 1st was worse tho as i had got a womb infection after but my second wasn't half as bad, i was up and doing things with in about 5 days with hardly any pain.

If your labours are that long i would go 4 one. x

How's the pregnancy going, hun? Have you had a chance to discuss this with your midwife or obstetrician yet?

I had an elective C-section a couple of years ago and everything went really smoothly. It was good knowing exactly when the delivery was going to happen, they used a spinal block (epidural) so I was awake throughout, I had very little pain afterwards and was up and about within a few days, although I did try to have my baby handed to me for the first few weeks as a precaution (except when in hospital where they left me alone and took so long to arrive when buzzed that I usually ended up picking him up myself!). My hospital doesn't do them before 38 weeks because of the risk of breathing difficulties and the possible need to go into a incubator and my boy was absolutely fine and in my arms within minutes.

I can't really compare this with natural births because my only experiences have been bad, with my first ending in a stillbirth and terrible scarring that still causes me pain several years on, unlike my C-section scar.