What are my rights to a maternal request cesarean?

Question

I became pregnant, unplanned & 1st time, & want a planned cesarean, due to my history of pain. If it were not due to this, I would give birth naturally. My past experiences though, have physically & psychologically affected me in an adverse way. I understand the risks of major surgery & do not wish to have it. However, when weighing the options of either, I'd rather recover from an abdominal scar than an episiotomy or tear, etc. I feel that I have the right to decide how to deliver since it is my body & my child & I am fully aware of the risks. When I first discussed my wishes with my doctor, he stated that it was my body. (I first mentioned it when I was 4 months pregnant so in the case that he was not agreeable, I could find another MD.) Now, I am 8 months along & he is saying that he will have to wait & see. This absolutely crushed me. Let it be known I am not trying to be selfish. I have had an uncomplicated pregnancy. I do not want to suffer as I have in the past again

Answer 1

well let me tell you natural birth is MUCh less painless than a c-section. Where women get off thinking a c-section is pain free is BEYOND me. Sure natural birth can be painful- but it lasts such a short time- however with a c-section it lasts for a long time. You are having major surgery- and then you are trying to take care of a newborn. You won't be able to lift anything heavier than your baby for at least 2 weeks- you won't be able to cook to clean to do anything... you will have a huge incision across your abdomen- you will have extreme pain from the incision and bruising of your abdomen.. all your muscles get cut- it will hurt to cough- it will hurt to have a bowel movement- it will hurt to get into bed.. it will hurt to get out of bed FOR WEEKS afterwards.
With my first daughter i had an epidural and it never hurt- boy was i lucky. This time around i needed a c-section- and had an epi- but it didnt work and it hurt like hell when they put it in... but it never made me numb. So hours later i'm in the operating room and the OB is stabbing my stomach with a sharp needle or something and I'm saying "i can feel it- i still have to breath through my contractions etc etc" and she didnt believe me.. so i had to lay there and convince her i really could feel the pain and that it wasnt just pressure- so then because the epi never worked i had to have a spinal... do you know what a spinal is? just like an epi- only lower in your spine and it makes you numb from the neck down and extremely sick- have you ever been numb from the neck down and been throwing up uncontrollably? want to talk about 'bad times' i thought i was going to choke on my own vomit and die right there. I would take a natural birth anyday over a c-section. It's been over 2 weeks since I had it and I can just now go up stairs. I still have extremely horrible pains in my back from where i had the epi and the spinal.. my incison isnt healed and i still have to be very careful what i do so i dont tear it open-- and my abdomen is Extrememly bruised- both outside and inside-- it's extremely painful-

and not to mention there are so many reasons why c-sections are bad and much more of a risk for moms- but let alone for babies- Why risk it?

Answer 2

It depends where you live I think, but you could always ask for a second opinion. I don't think it the UK you can have a Caesarean Section unless it is medically necessary.

Previous posts are right, you know. Whichever way you choose there is pain ahead, but you'll get through it. I had a natural birth at home with no pain medication and I got up ten minutes later and used my own bathroom to clean up.

If your history is due to something someone else has done to you in the past, this can be overcome too, I've done it. You just need a sympathetic midwife and to try and avoid as much intervention as you can. You'll find once you're in labour not much matter, but I respect your decision either way.

I wish you luck. And congratulations on your pregnancy. Don't forget you'll soon have a beautiful baby and how he/she came into this world will soon cease to matter, although I still hope you have the birth experience you want.

Answer 3

You are setting yourself for more pain with a c-section than if you go natural. I have had both. Believe me, healing from a tear or episiotomy is nothing compared to healing from a c-section. after I had my daughter vaginally within the hour I was walking around, when I had to have a c-section with my son, it was 2 days before I could walk. Then even with the pain medicine, I had to hold onto a rail or wall to go more than a few feet at a time. It was also hell holding my son and trying to nurse him. 5 years later, my scar still hurts when it is touched on the left side because the nerves didn't heal right. If you are trying to avoid pain, DON'T have a c- section. I had an epidural with my daughter, I felt nothing from the waist down. I was pretty pain free. I felt the pressure of the contractions, but no pain.

Compare it this way. Your stomach is your center of gravity, when they cut through those muscles it takes a while for them to heal, not to mention the 5 inch incision, compared to a tear that may be a few cm to an inch long (or may not happen at all). Which one do you think is going to heal faster? It's a little uncomfortable after a viginal birth, but it's not excruciating pain my any means.

Answer 4

You may not want to hear this, however:
I had a natural birth and my co-worker had a cesarean. She cussed and cursed at me for months after delivery about the pain (had to hold a pillow to her stomach for over a week "for comfort" and man was she uncomfortable); as I was, literally, up and running in a couple of days. We were both Marines and worked out together to get back into shape and it was horribly difficult for her, particularly when it came to crunches.
When I went into labour- me being one that avoids pain at all costs - I asked for a block, received one, and had no pain what-so-ever during labour&delivery. There was some irritation after delivery, however that dissipated quickly into minor irritation to nothing within a few days.
This aside, it is your choice to seek another doctor, however I think you are going to have issues finding one that will agree to do the surgery. It is risky and I believe most doctors will refuse to take the risk of something happening to you or the child during the surgery (and leaving themselves open for some SERIOUS litigation) particularly if it wasn't medically required for the safety of mother/child.
I hope this doesn't upset you further, I just wanted to give you my experiance with this. Best of luck to you and the upcoming arrival of your child.

Answer 5

Ok, I too had this major problem with possible pain. My sister scared me on my first pregnancy.

I kept saying oh c section they put you to sleep- then I found out they didn't.

I ended up having a panic attack when my water broke. My doctor could not get me to calm down or stop screaming. So they gave me a shot of demoral to help me calm down.

Well I am light weight and fell asleep. They gave me my epidural while I was asleep, I slept through everything. They even gave me medication to reverse the demoral and make contractions BAD but I still slept through it. It was very easy. They ended up using the forceps and pulling my child out.

The episotomy was not as bad as I thought either. I never had stitches in my life and thought I would die if I had them. But it was not painful afterwards in that area.

My sister just had a c section and she said it was intimidating in the or and they did not knock her out because of increased risk.

Now I live in a new state and due any day and scared because my doctor now said no demoral even if I spaz out. I know how you feel but they told me today they wanted to avoid a c section at all costs.

Answer 6

Most if not all hospitals do not allow c-section by choice due to the fact that there can be more complications. You may want to hunt around to see if you can find a Dr that will do it. As a vaginal delivery is less recovery time...but if I read your question you hae given birth before and had a c-section?? Or had a really bad time with a vaginal delivery? Contractions are good for the baby as well...You may want to get yourself a second opinion.

Answer 7

C-sections can be dangerous and the healing time for them is longer than a vaginal delivery.
I have never heard of someone getting a c-section because they wanted one. From what I understand it falls under the medically necessary category and you can't just decide you want one.
You are going to have pain either way you go whether it be before, during or after the birth. There is no way out of it.

Answer 8

Not really sure what to tell you, but keep in mind, some insurance plans won't cover an c-section deemed unnecessary by the doctor.

Answer 9

I'm pretty sure a doctor can refuse if you do not need a c-section. I recommend talking to your doctor again and if necessary, finding a new doctor that will help you with your request.

Answer 10

cesarean pain level alot higher than natural birth.