Advice

My friend asked for a c section. I have had c section and vaginal delivery and both experiences were fine so I wouldn’t know which to choose if I were to have another-which I’m not!!!! X

Yes you can request one, they can’t refuse you

@Gem thank you! I feel like I such a difficult decision but I do feel deep down that because jt is my first baby I should try a vaginal delivery but I’m just so nervous lol!

Honestly I totally get that. I think that there are benefits and drawbacks to both and it’s totally normal to be nervous. Just think 10000 of women give birth everyday - you can defs do it!!

I had a natural birth and I was just very thankful to recover fast in comparison to a c section, nothing against c sections if anything i have so much respect for mums who go through a c section! I was very lucky though i had a quick labour and i had 1 stitch due to a tear on my labia. I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks and started pelvic floors there. Started eating dates at week 34 because it was something I was told would help soften the cervix. I’m a very active person & we had a lot of sex during my pregnancy & i love a curry so im unsure if that’s why i got so lucky 🤣

Nerves are normal. Look for some positive birth stories on YouTube or hypnobirthing to help for techniques to help with nerves.

I just had a baby this week, and whilst c section wasn't an option I considered and wanted to go totally naturally, I ended up getting an epidural roughly 12 hours into labour and before the delivery started. I went through with the initial stages with just tens machine, but couldn't cope with the pain of the latest stages. I'm very happy I did experience both sides. Epidural helped me to restart before the delivery. The recovery is going very well for me and I'm able to care for my baby full time without much problems

Literally I'm in the same boat. I honestly don't know what to do! My first pregnancy and pain threshold is awful 👀 I'm thinking natural is worse during but c section is worse after? I dunno 😩😩 x

You can just ask if you’d prefer one, that’s what i did! I had a great experience but knew that recovering from an assisted vaginal birth would be worse for me so I chose a section instead.

You can have one, it’s your maternal choice under NHS NICE guidelines and they legally can’t refuse you. If they don’t have the resources they must refer you to somewhere that does. I’ve had two, asked and was granted without any issues xx

@Skye yeah I'm thinking of the pros and cons to each. I wouldn't want to go through labour and then need a section anyway that would really upset me lol how long did it take you to recover x

@Georgina that was part of my reasoning as well! I’m super short and slim and I know everyone says your body won’t grow a baby you can’t birth but I know mine did 😂 my recovery was lovely tbh! First couple days are rough but you stay on top of your pain killers and get up for a short time every now and again, by the second week you’re up and about and on the road to recovery ahah xx

@Sarah what was your recovery like?

You can try and do whatever you like there's no wrong way to have your baby, just don't get too set on a specific plan because things can change. However I will say a planned c-section is a much nicer experience than an emergency one if labour doesn't go to plan. Especially if you have any risk factors or are just truly terrified of a vaginal birth there is nothing wrong with wanting a planned c-section and that's the route I'll be taking if I get pregnant again. On the flip side my friend is a mum of 3 9lb at birth boys and had brilliant vaginal births at our local birth centre each time xx

Everyone is different but with both it was easy. I’ve had worse period pain. I was up walking and showering that night, feeding and carrying baby. Walking up and down the ward to the coffee room the next day. I was in Costco day 5 and out shopping as normal, just walking slowly. Bleed for 2 weeks and that was it, drugs are great but make sure you take senna to help stop the meds giving you constipation. I got back into running at 8 weeks and have been babywearing since day 9 when I took my toddler to the park. My wound healed in no time and is super neat and low. Minimal internal scar tissue and no issue with second pregnancy.

@Skye yeahhh I'm the same my bump is very big already though lol and still a while to go 😂 I just can't see me being able to do it. Especially if I can't have epidural! I like the idea of having a planned date too so you can prepare otherwise you just don't know when it's going to happen lol recovery doesn't sound too bad I just dunno 😩 xx

A c section wasn’t something I foresaw happening at all while I was pregnant. My waters went spontaneously and I coped with labouring for 72 hours with just paracetamol and gas and air absolutely fine. I just wasn’t dilating quick enough while the risk of infection was getting higher. There was something about having a c section out of my control that made me feel like my birth was stripped away from me. I struggled more mentally about it than I did physically - healing wise, the first 2 weeks was the worse and within no time you’re back up and doing what you would. I think the best advice if you’re unsure would be to research as much as you can with both and be content with whatever route it takes. Unless you’re sure you want a section xx

@Georgina I know exactly what you mean! As soon as id made the decision and told my midwife I felt so much better haha. Especially cos I knew I’d get a set date etc. I know my body and it would’ve gone wrong I just had a gut feeling 😂 that way I didn’t have the stress of ‘omg what if I tear, what if it’s really bad, what if I don’t make it to hospital’ it was so much more controlled haha xx

@Skye yeah this is my thought process 😂😂😂 I'm just scared for the after part and not being able to drive for a long time. But as you say I have the same gut feeling that id end up having a section anyway 😩 either way I'm scared lol x

@Georgina haha yeah I swear I just knew! I mean I guess I’ll never actually know but I swear I would’ve had an assisted birth or an emergency section 😂 I drove at 3 weeks, only little trips to Tesco but you can check your insurance and you may be fine to drive by then too! If not going for little short walks with baba was nice anyway 🥰 xx

I requested one and there was nothing said otherwise - I was given a date at 26 weeks and it’s still the same date now (no push backs or changes). It’s the best decision for me and I’m a FTM too 😁

@Skye yeah that's true not many places I'll be going to at the beginning anyway. I think Ill tell them on my next midwife appointment that's when she said she will speak to me about my birthing plan hoping it's not too late x

@Bonnie when did you first tell them you wanted a c section?

@Georgina oh you’ve got plenty of time! I told them officially at 36 weeks haha had my section at 39 weeks! Best of luck with everything whichever way you choose ❤️ xx

@Georgina at my second midwife appointment she noted it down and I saw a consultant at 26 weeks where, to my surprise, she just booked me In there and then xx