My 2 children are planned c section. If I could do vaginal birth, I would want to elect to. My first pregancy ended with trying for vaginal birth because I was fully dilated already and in almost ZERO pain without any drugs. The on call obgyn ( never met before) insisted me to try vaginal birth even though I told her that I wanted my planned c section. A few hours after, on call obgyn did emergency c section on me and finally understood why my obgyn ordered me planned c section. I had no problem of pushing baby, but baby was so stressful whenever I pushed( my pelvic bone was too small, that’s why my obgyn ordered me elective c section). My friends never believed my story that I was in almost zero pain when I was fully dilated and vaginal birth pushing ( even though fail).

Recovery for both c section is okay, no side effect with epidural. I needed painkiller for 1 week for 1st child, and 2.5 weeks for 2nd child. Once in a while, my c section is itchy. And, my c section scar is not that pretty.

I had an emergency c-section with my first. I did an elective c-section...chickening out on a VBAC about 3 weeks out. It was a piece of cake. This was almost 4 years ago and the doctor put in a pain pump so I didn't have to take heavy painkillers. I was discharged after 48 hours, and baked my oldest's birthday cake the day after I came home. In the end I'm glad I had both births from the same hole, so to speak. No long term side effects but I've always worked out a lot and have done a lot of core work for 15+ years for a bad back so not sure how much that has impacted that.

I had a vaginal birth with my first, and will NEVER do it again. If I get pregnant I will plan a c-section the earliest date allowed, will grit my teeth, and take ALL THE DRUGS.

I was in HORRIFIC pain after my vaginal birth - for 5 MONTHS. I had sub-standard midwifery care, and will never ever do it again. No way. My current ob/gyn office is supportive of a planned c/s, and has excellent post-partum care - none of that "see you in 6 weeks" BS, they do a 1week appt, 2 week appt, 6week AND 8 week appt to screen for PPD, check healing, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Do doctors actually do this? I’m amazed anyone would want a highly invasive abdominal surgery with no medical necessity. It must be a nightmare to code this for insurance too.

Yes. My doctor is pretty anti elective surgery, but she’s said that the industry has come to blame Obs for everything that goes wrong with babies so they sue. She said that in 20 years almost everyone doctor will only be doing c sections.

I had an unplanned c-section (I know you are asking about elective) and then a VBAC. Both were "great" experiences, so I wouldn't be afraid of a c-section again. But I do want to say, I do have lasting abdominal and pelvic floor damage from my scar (which I would've had even if it were elective). My c-section was 4 years ago and I just recently started seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist. She told me about scar massage and I realized how non-functioning my lower abs were, partly as a result of how "tight" my scar is. This has caused a lot of physical imbalances for me, including contributing to pelvic floor issues. So, make no mistake, it is major abdominal surgery, and just like any surgery, it has lasting impacts.

Anonymous wrote:I think the most important question is how many children you want. If you’re one and done, there are indeed several reasons you might want to choose a c-section (as a good many OB-GYNs actually choose for themselves when they’re pregnant). You’ll be less likely to suffer incontinence and various kinds of prolapse both in the postpartum period as well as later in your old age; you will not be subject to the risks of tears etc.

You presumably know the risks of a section since they’re far better publicized, so I won’t discuss any of them here save the potential problems down the line if you get multiple c-sections. If you want more than one or two kids, an elective C is a bad idea. The scar itself raises your chances for placenta accreta (and the even worse form, placenta percreta) in future pregnancies, with all the bad news that potentially follows from there. And with each new c-section, your uterus becomes increasingly prone to rupture in labor.

So: go for it unless you want multiple kids.

I think this is sage advice. 1-2 children via c-section I think is reasonable. 3+ children is risky and more complicated. If your mother had difficult vaginal deliveries, I think it is fair to assume your chances of having difficulty are slightly higher. Also, how much help will be available to you after delivery? Navigating stairs, lifting, driving, will be a challenge or contraindicated for days/weeks post-surgery. This is even more important to consider when having baby #2 since there will also be another child to care that is mobile after your delivery.

Anonymous wrote:I am asking in this forum because I am curious about the long-term experience post elective, planned-in-advance sections. I've heard multiple bad stories of vaginal births that left mothers with issues to deal with for years to come but I am curious if someone picked the alternative and now is suffering because of it. Not asking about unwanted, emergency c-sections; those are often messy.

Remember that there is a difference between an unplanned c-section and an emergency c-section. I had the former and it was fine- I was in labor but the baby's heart rate couldn't withstand the contractions so I had a c-section. I had about two hours to prepare but was barely in labor so didn't have the experience that I think you are trying to avoid of being in a long labor and then still having to have a c-section. That being said my recovery from my c-section was certainly longer and more drawn out than my recovery from my VBAC a few years later. It was just harder moving around, had to be on painkillers, etc. One benefit of the c-section over the vaginal is that I didn't take painkillers for the vaginal recovery but there is still pain- not as bad as the c-section but certainly seemed worse because I wasn't on drugs if that makes sense.

An emergency c-section is when they knock you out right away because you or the baby in in grave danger unless the baby gets out NOW. I think those can be more traumatic to recover from because you can't see the baby right away and might be more out of it longer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Elective c is safer for mom and baby. Many ob gyn s chose it for themselves in usa.

After treating enough prolapse cases it becomes attractive.

I have had 4 vaginal births but I labor quickly

WRONG!

I personally know two OBs who chose this for themselves. When I asked my male OB about it, he told his wife had planned C-sections.

I had two planned C’s and would do it again in a heartbeat. I had easy recoveries and didn’t end up with a third degree tear and lifetime issues as a result, like my best friend did.

Anonymous wrote:There’s no guaranteed easy way out, no short cuts. It’s no picnic but it’s fine, and most women have no complications. Your dread and anxiety are based on slim minorities you happen to be close to instead of the vast majority of no complications deliveries. C-sec is statistically more risky, but that said the risks are still low overall. The drive to the hospital is riskier. Maybe see a therapist about your anxiety.

Most c sections are high risk. Compare low risk c sec to low risk vaginal and c section is safer.

Hence why doctors choose it for themselves.

There’s no guaranteed easy way out, no short cuts. It’s no picnic but it’s fine, and most women have no complications. Your dread and anxiety are based on slim minorities you happen to be close to instead of the vast majority of no complications deliveries. C-sec is statistically more risky, but that said the risks are still low overall. The drive to the hospital is riskier. Maybe see a therapist about your anxiety.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do doctors actually do this? I’m amazed anyone would want a highly invasive abdominal surgery with no medical necessity. It must be a nightmare to code this for insurance too.

Only in the US.

100% not true. There are countries where this is the default for anyone who can afford it. You must only be comparing us to Europe.

I'm in Canada and many people I know do this, and 'free'. Some of the doctors aged 60+ say no due to risks and things like wanting to keep their section rate low. But most people I know who wanted this had zero problem getting it. Your reason can be pretty insignificant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do doctors actually do this? I’m amazed anyone would want a highly invasive abdominal surgery with no medical necessity. It must be a nightmare to code this for insurance too.

Only in the US.

100% not true. There are countries where this is the default for anyone who can afford it. You must only be comparing us to Europe.

OP, I had a c-section at my request in 2013. No medical reason but a deep fear of labor and birth.

Everything went well and I have no regrets. I am not suffering any long term effects. But, I am truly unsure whether I'd do it again. I had a lot of bladder and rectal issues just from the pregnancy, so on one hand c-section wasn't protective as I'd hoped ... but on the other hand maybe it would be worse if I had labored. Baby was born with the cord wrapped 3x around her neck, which can be fine in a vaginal birth or not fine, we'll never know. I was one and done from the start but have reconsidered a few times and "having" to do a repeat section is a factor in my decision not to have another (no vbac for me).

All to say, it went fine but I truly don't know whether it was the best choice.

Anonymous wrote:Elective c is safer for mom and baby. Many ob gyn s chose it for themselves in usa.

After treating enough prolapse cases it becomes attractive.

I have had 4 vaginal births but I labor quickly

WRONG!

Vaginal birth isn’t always all it’s cracked up to be. I had an unmedicated vaginal birth with a third degree tear and prolapse issues 2.5 years later. Maybe this isn’t the normal? But it is totally possible.