Thread: Too posh to push

So today the new guidelines regarding elective c sections came out, meaning that more women could choose to have one over a natural birth even if there were not any medical grounds.

It will cost the NHS a fortune that they don't have to pander to the whim of someone who has decided they don't want to go natural. Where is the money going to come from? The skint government? Or a different sector of the NHS which also doesn't have the money to spare? I think if we're going to allow people to start having unnecessary surgery at public expense we might as well start handing out botox and lipo as well.

I read this, this morning too. As someone who was told they may have to have one last week (I don't thank heavens) I was utterly devastated.
It is MAJOR surgery, and not something to be taken lightly. Labour is called LABOUR for a reason. It's bloody hard work, but should be undertaken if at all possible because it is the most natural thing in the world.
C Sections should be there of course if complications arise or there are health risks for Mom and baby, after all that is what medical intervention is there for, to prolong human life.

It should not be used because a mother wants to remain 'intact' downstairs, or because she can't face the gruelling process of childbirth.

When did we as humans become so inherently lazy that we can't even stand to perform the most basic of human functions?

What next? Elective colostomy bags that negate the need to shit for ourselves?

This makes me so mad - I've had 2 sections and have been told that I must have a 3rd and people always presume that I have asked for the ops and can't be bothered to go through labour. Why the hell anybody would want a section if they don't have to have one, I don't know.

The media do my nut - making out like it's as easy as having a filling. Certain celebrities haven't helped the cause. It's bloody awful. It's a major operation and it takes ages to recover. Sections and spinal blocks have side effects that the media forget about too. I didn't hold DD until she was 3 hours old as they cocked up my spinal block in the rush to get me to theatre so it went above my arms I haven't had feeling in one side of my stomach for almost 9 years and my stomach itself looks like it's been under attack from a machete.

In all the photos from after when I have had DD and DS, I look spaced out, zombie-fied and white as a sheet. I get really jealous when I see photos of friends sitting up in bed, merrily feeding baby and being comfortable at home within 24 hours of giving birth. I'm absolutely dreading having another one and if I hadn't been given false hope that I'd be able to give natural a go I'm not sure we would have agreed to have a 3rd baby.

As you said S_T, this is going to cost the NHS a fortune. The same silly little girls who smoke during pregnancy "cos it makes the baby smaller and it doesn't hurt as much" will jump on this opportunity.

I've had two as well S_P. I will also admit that my second WAS elective. The 1st was an emergency and I have to say without being dramatic scared the shit out of me and damn near traumatised me. I went right through the labour process up to pushing then was rushed to theatre. I went right through pregnancy number two with every intention of having a VBAC. After what can only be described s horrendous treatment in the maternity ward (the same one that looks sooo fabulous on One Born Every Minute) having to change my midwife because she couldn't even remember my name or when my appointments were I started to panic a bit.

As time progress my anxiety levels fgot higher and higher to the point I cracked and cried at my consultant that I couldn't do it and they approved a c section for me. As it turned out littlest tree was born with meconium in his waters, had to be prised out with forceps because he was wedged so tightly and had the cord wrapped around his neck tightly twice. The surgical staff fully expected him to come out blue but he clearly sold his soul to the devil on conception and was absolutely fine. It was confirmed to me aftereward though that if he had been born naturally it would have been a very different story. My midwives words were 'oooh it doesn't bear thinking about does it?' So maybe the anxiety levels were my body's way of telling me something, who knows.

Despite opting for the c section i would have killed to feel able to give birth naturally. With my 1st I was so out of it for the 4 days I was in hospital he didn't spend a single night with me and i had to buzz a nurse to get him out of his crib if i wanted to hold him. I got the biggest bout of the baby blues. Second time round was better but still while a friend who had her baby the week before had been tucked up in bed less than 24 hours after giving birth I was still hooked up to a cathater, high on a cocktail of drugs and it hurt to lift my son out of his cot and into my arms. Oh and thats before we even get started on the getting up and going for a walk and (sorry tmi) that first number two!!!! Why anyone would choose to put themselves through that without good reason I will never know.

I can't understand why anyone would opt to have surgery they don't NEED.

I know of one famous person (My friend is good friends with her Mum) who opted for a C-Section (privately obviously) so they could 'tidy her up' and get rid of any extra loose skin at the same time as they stitched her up and then made loads of money telling people how she got rid of her baby belly while promoting a certain diet. Its things like this that make some people make the decision to interfere with what nature intended when it comes to child birth.

There are Mums out there who would have given anything for a natural birth and not had to face the trauma's they did etc, and I can totally understand why some people would opt for one, but the reasoning behind some decisions is ridiculous.

S_T - technically, my 2nd was elective as DS was breech and they couldn't turn him without risking my scar from the 1st one rupturing. Technically this one will also be elective as well as I could go AMA and refuse but since I've been told I am risking both my life and the baby's life by not having a section, that would be a bit daft.

I think there should be different classes of elective - 'elective under protest' or 'elective cos I have to' would be good ones

It's weird how things work out, isn't it? It does seem like your body was telling you something with the anxiety x

I think we're getting mixed up with the word 'elective' here.

To choose a C-section because of complications, and to ensure the safest delivery of a baby, is unquestionably acceptable by any persons standards, or should be at least. Like I said previously, medical advancements are there to prolong human life. It would be barbaric to assume that everybody should give birth naturally if there is any risk at all to the mother and, or baby.

However, elective caesarian for cosmetic reasons, time constraints, or general can't be arsed to go through labour, is morally wrong, and should neither be encouraged or funded by the NHS.

That's why I think that there should be different classes of elective. At the moment women such as S_T and myself are lumped in with the celebrity who wanted the tummy tuck at the same time and the ones who will inevitably choose a section on the NHS as it's 'easier'.

I had to explain to the consultant the other week what had happened with DS as all it said on my notes is 'elective'.

That's why it should be 'consultant advised elective', or simply 'I'm a lazy bitch elective'

I think the only thing more terrifying than going through labour, would be going through a C section that I don't need. I'm all for C sections if they're needed, but to choose one seems crazy. I'm not a medic so why should I be making surgical decisions like that? When I have kids I'll be putting the decision in my doctors hands and hopefully they won't suggest a section unnecessarily either.

is it wrong that when I say this I thought "Really Posh people don't have their own children, they adopt them from other countries" it should read, "too middle class to push"

Yes I know thats a bit meow but oh well.

I havnt got children and don't want any in the near future, but I have thought about this subject alot. I agree so much with the point of why have surgery if you don't need it. I think I would defiantly go for the natural option, iv heard some awful stories about c sections, longer to recover ect, and If it's not nessacary why have one. I have a slight feeling that the statistics for c sections will go through the roof because it's now an option basically. I think it is so wrong, it should be a last resort. young girls and teenagers hate the fact of it when they have kids, maybe a condom would have be easier ?

From reading the coverage it doesn't look like it'll be a simple case of asking for a section and getting one with no questions being asked or options discussed. Apparently something like 6 - 10% of women are estimated to have a phobia of childbirth. I just have a phobia of hearing about other people's birth experiences *shudders*.

As an aside I'm genuinely bemused by how interested a lot of women seem to be in how other women give birth. Personally I have no more interest in how someone else gives birth than in what cereal they have for breakfast. I could do with a tummy tuck though.

I just want the little blighter out and if it means pushing then ill push.

As for knowing other peoples stories, I find it more concerning when randomers ask you 'How long', 'Breast feeding?', 'Girl or boy'.

Piss off and leave me alone, Im having an awful pregnancy and you dont need to know any of it.

However, IVV is talking some sense that I am in agreement with.

Crap contribution to this thread for which I wont apologise for.

Fizzy I had SHITE pregnancies with all 3 of mine...but by God I had easy deliveries!!! All is not lost....I sneezed and fired my lot across the room! Think midwife with baseball catchers mitt!

Yep I'm another, 3 fecking awful pregnancies but piss easy deliveries, I didn't even break a sweat.

Lizzy Drips you'll pop soon and then the real fun begins xxxx

You two have snatches like wizards sleeves. Thats why

Hardly surprising after 9lb 12 of porky child shot out of it with his hands on his head

I had four c-sections, first was emergency due to being a undiagnosed breech (sure I have posted about that before), my other three were also breech and with other complications and I had elective c-sections. Youngest is 10 and my body has still not recovered, my scar is vile and it "smiles".

Why people request c sections is beyond me, recovery was agony and slow.

TLC x

I've had 2, both emergencies i begged them to let me carry on with my first but because she went breech they wouldn't let me and the second i had choice my body just decide to take it out of my hands.

I don't think for one second people should be able to request it, its a major operation. I haven't to say though i would never choose to have my kids in this country the care i received in germany was amazing. I've heard so many horror stories about the NHS.