Can you request a c-section?

I am just wondering because I hear horror stories of what happens to your "Area" after you give birth (sneeze and pee, lack of tightness....etc).

I hear that more and more women are scheduling c-sections. Do doctors allow this just due to preference?

Re: Can you request a c-section?

some do. My body was made for giving birth naturally, God willing, my baby will be on board with this sentiment as well...stretched "who ha" and all!

Message edited 6/15/2008 10:34:20 AM.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

I can't believe that a doctor would just schedule a c-section due to purely cosmetic reasons. A c-section is MAJOR surgery- one that will leave you with a scar.

I had some of the *complications* you mentioned such as incontinence (which, by the way it usually a side effect of pregnancy- the muscles are weakened from the weight of the uterus). My DH says it feels exactly the way it did before- so no loosening.

I have to be honest- what you described are hardly "horror stories". They are all easily remedied and usually fix themselves with time.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

I do not think mnay doctors will do a c-section for cosmetic reasons, at least I hope not

Re: Can you request a c-section?

some doctors do but if you do just because you want to and dont have a medical reason for it then your insurance may not cover it.. Thats why when you have a scheduled one the hospital will even ask you during your admission paper work whats the reason and if it is due to medical reasons.I guess so they know who to bill..

Re: Can you request a c-section?

Posted by MrsFlatbread

some do. My body was made for giving birth naturally, God willing, my baby will be on board with this sentiment as well...stretched "who ha" and all!

Re: Can you request a c-section?

You can actually be tighter afterward if the doc gives you and extra stitch.

I think the risks of a c-section may be something to think about as well.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

I asked my doctor if i could schedule a c-section and she refused. When I was induced and after 20 hours of labor begging for one they still refused. She said it is a worse recovery than a vaginal birth. I actually wound up having one anyway because DD was too big.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

If you are Britney Spears

This is not a flame, but if you don't want the after effects of having a baby on your "area", then maybe you shouldn't be having one.

In addition, a c-section is MAJOR surgery and the recovery can be worse, it isn't a walk in the park.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

Most of my friends have had C-sections and recovered right away. One of my friends even had cosmetic surgery to cover the scar. That said though, I am going to do whatever is medically necessary for me. If vaginal birth is appropriate, then so be it. If the baby is breech or just not coming on it's own (reasons my friends had c-sections) then I will have a c-section.

I've spoken to more and more women as of late who said vaginal birth really is NOT that bad. My co-worker said that some women make it sound like a porno video coupled with threats of dying in the delivery room, but she had the opposite experience.......just felt like period cramps.

I was in the waiting room at the doctor's office the other day when they got a phone call from a woman who had had a c-section 2 days before begging for pain killers. Not sure if I want to go through that........

I also know women who are a lot more "delicate" and/or "high maintenance" than I am who did it naturally and they are still here, so it really cannot be all that bad........

Re: Can you request a c-section?

seriously, IMO, I can't imagine REQUESTING major abdominal surgery instead of vaginal birth.....

vag births DO mess you up down there... hernias, stretching... you may even need to get a episiotomy to avoid tearing... but that's minor when compared to slicing open your abdominal muscles, your peritoneum, and your uterus...

there are sooo many possible complications w/ cessarian... infections, GI tract shutting down for several days, possible bleeding... not to mention it sets you up for a lifetime of repeat cessarians, becuase not everyone is a candidate for VBAC...... and it will be a much slower recovery tham a vag birth, so it is even harder to take care of and lift the baby....

while the procedure has vastly improved over the years, IMO, it really should still be reserved for moms who NEED it... breach babies, prior cessarians, other complications....

Re: Can you request a c-section?

i really hope they wouldn't. and i hope insurance would refuse to pay it.

i think it is quite selfish (IMHO) for a woman to schedule a c-section because they are worried about themselves. IMHO, it's about the safety and health of the baby FIRST, me second.

there are women who medically need c-sections and to take up surgery rooms due to preference and comfort is disturbing. that is also not what a hospital is for.

a c-section is major abdominal surgery. the recovery is much longer and much worse.

my baby's needs come first--if i need a c-section to deliver him healthy, so be it. i will deal with it.

but i'm hoping my body will do what it's designed for, and i am willing to take any complications that may come my way as long as he is HEALTHY and SAFE.

flame away if you wish for me calling it selfish, but i call things the way i see them. if i cared that much about keeping my body "tight" i would never have gotten pregnant in the first place.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

My doc told us that if we wanted to schedule one, we could. The choice is ours. There is no rationale of cosmetic reasons for us to have one nor would we request one for cosmetic reasons. We have our own set of pros and cons as to why we MAY choose to go one way or another and we have not yet decided. Its nobody's business and nobody should judge anyone's choices.

I will say this though. I have already had major abdominal surgery and honestly, my recovery from hammertoe surgery was MUCH more difficult.

Message edited 6/15/2008 1:51:24 PM.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

I would want to request a c-section because I"m scared of the labor process and pushing. I will not ask though because I need to let things happen naturally. I would feel really horrible if something went wrong w/ the c section I elected to have. Most people say everything goes back to normal down there as far as tightness goes, That's is really the least of my concerns though!

Re: Can you request a c-section?

Some doctors do.. i requested mine due to my heart condition and was glad I did Recovery is not pain free though, and is definitely challenging, so keep that in mind too!

Message edited 6/15/2008 1:54:18 PM.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

I've always thought I could never go through a vaginal deliver mainly because, like you, I was concerned about what will happen down there.

And also 'cus I'm such a big chicken when it comes to pain...

That changed after watching a c-section being performed on DVD! It is a major surgery and like any major surgery there's a possibility of complications and a longer recovery time than a vaginal delivery.

With that said, it's really up to you what you prefer but please get more informed about what's involved in a c-section and don't be surprised if the doctor doesn't allow it.

Good luck!

Re: Can you request a c-section?

After my C-section, my husband said that he does not know why anyone would want to be awake for such a procedure. It's not as easy as it seems. I should explain, though, that our first joyful moments with the baby were not in the room where I delivered. The baby was taken to the NICU right away.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

I was told by someone that it is a law now that they have to give you the option no matter what. Not sure I believe that though.

A lot of Dr.'s are allowing their patient's to make the decision which I think is wrong. Sorry.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

I can't believe that this is even a discussion. It's awful.

I am 5 weeks post partum from having my second c-section and I am sitting here in pain. I am not high maintance and I rarely took pain meds outside of the hospital but I am in pain from mopping the floor and cleaning out a cabinet.

My first child was a breech position.

I was not a candidate for a VBAC.

My first recovery was not too bad. Why because I could rest when my infant rested.

My second c-section was incredibly painful from the moment I was put on the table. It was so painful at one point that they actually put me out. My pain in recovery continued and here we are 5 weeks later and I am still in pain. Constant pain no, but pain.

It was awful not being able to pick up my daughter for awhile, it was awful having to be careful how I held her. It was awful period. I am happy that my son is here but the pain I endure this time around has made me 99.9% certain that there will be no more kids in our future.

I cannot believe that any reputable doctor would ever schedule an elective c-section on a woman that has never had one before.

And to think that some women are willing to open up their stomach, have their organs removed, have their uterus cut open and open themselves up to all over those risks, just so their sexual pleasure is not disturbed is SICK.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

Re: Can you request a c-section?

Some doctors will let you request them, but your insurance company will likely not pay for a strictly elective c-section -- it costs them alot more $$.

Doctors get around this all the time by making up reasons, but, frankly, that's committing insurance fraud, and I would be suspect of any doctor who would do something so unethical.

Yes, my vaginal area was a little sore for a week or so after my son's birth, but everything was back to normal within weeks. Don't worry, your body was designed to deliver a baby out of your vagina, not out of a slit through your abdomen -- you'll be fine!

Re: Can you request a c-section?

Posted by MrsFlatbread

some do. My body was made for giving birth naturally, God willing, my baby will be on board with this sentiment as well...stretched "who ha" and all!

Re: Can you request a c-section?

Re: Can you request a c-section?

after watching friends have painful recoveries from c-sections, i can't imagine why on earth anyone would elect a c-section other than for a medical reason (which of course many women legitimately need to do). JMO, but taking care of a newborn is hard enough without dealing with recovery from major surgery.

Re: Can you request a c-section?

wow

lots of good info here ladies...i never heard any of this before, but this was the first time i ever spoke about it. YUCK!