A Positive Elective Caesarean Story
Here's Emma, mum to 3 with her positive caesarean story...
Our third baby boy was born by elective cesarean section in September 2021.
My previous two deliveries had not been what you would call straight forward. Rafe was overdue and when my waters broke there was meconium. A long labor followed and I suffered a postpartum hemorrhage resulting in a blood transfusion. Hugo was overdue too and born back to back after a failed induction.
After both births I went away without really thinking what had happened, I had healthy babies and I was physically fine but never really considered the effect both these experiences had had on me.
Fast forward 3 1/2 years and we were happily pregnant with baby 3. At 16 weeks I had my first in person midwife appointment. At that stage I hadn't really given any consideration to what had happened with my previous deliveries until we started talking. Suddenly overcome with emotion I found myself in floods of tears not wanting to go through again what had happened previously.
The midwife suggested it might be a good idea to speak with a consultant Obstetrician to discuss my options. In the meantime, having talked it through with my husband, I had decided I wanted an elective c section.
This wasn't because I was afraid of labour, more that I was scared of going overdue again and not having a huge amount of control over the options and not wanting to be forced into being induced again. The consultant and I talked through options. I felt listened to, and she took onboard all my concerns. We agreed to speak again closer to my due date to agree on a plan. She reminded me that a c section was major surgery but that if that's what I wanted she would be happy to sign it off. This felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
We spoke in late July and by that stage I was still happy in my decision to go for an elective c section if labour did not start naturally. We agreed a date but also booked in a sweep at 39 weeks and 40 weeks in the hope that labor may start naturally. At 39 weeks the baby was still transverse and the midwives were worried that if I went into spontaneous labour we could have issues. I walked and walked and bounced on the ball in the hope that the head would engage. I even hosted a 40th birthday party for my husband at 3 days overdue! I think baby and my body knew that I wanted the elective c section.
Early on September 10th, we said goodbye to my parents who had flown over from Ireland to look after the older boys and drove the 15 minutes to Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. It was a very surreal journey knowing that in a few short hours our baby boy would be here. We were admitted to the delivery suite and met with the midwife and anesthesiologist. The obstetrician came round for a final chat and the next thing we knew we were walking to the theatre. The staff were fantastic, they sat me down, everybody introduced themselves (10 people in total) and before I knew it the epidural was being given.
They started the c section at 0917 and Theo was born at 0940.
He went straight to the pediatrician as he was a bit slow to cry but a few minutes later was on my chest.
We spent an hour in recovery and were on the postnatal ward by 1130. Post natal care wasn't great, but I've yet to meet a new mum who says it's great anywhere 🤷🏼♀️. I recovered very quickly, was discharged the next day and out doing the school run ( albeit very slowly ) 6 days later ( the boys were very keen to show off baby Theo). I kept on pain relief for about 10 days and aside from one issue with the scar not healing as quickly as the midwife's wanted I have had no further complications.
I felt listened to by all the midwives and the consultant who I was under and the birth of Theo has allowed me to process any negative memories associated with Hugo and Rafe’s deliveries. Whenever I drive past the hospital all I feel is happy emotions 😊 and I can't believe I'm so lucky to be the mum of three gorgeous boys.
