Interesting C-section fact from my OB today ...

So I went in for my final - thank goodness- OB appointment this morning. The routine at my OB's office is that a RN or NP does an ultrasound for growth, placenta check, etc., then my dr. comes in to follow up. This morning the RN commented that since both babies are now vertex, that I would be all ready to go for a vaginal birth - I told her no, no, no, no, no, that c-sections are just dandy for me, that I loved my first two and that I have no interest in pushing babies out. I realize that I have a funny take on things - and I am more than happy for everyone to deliver as they choose - but I did lots of research before my first elective section and have never regretted it. Anyway, I made some comment during that exchange that I run a lot (when I'm not 38 weeks pregnant with twins) and that I liked my pelvic floor the way it was - that I'd rather not tee-tee on myself during a race or anything.

This is the interesting part - my OB piped up and said that he's seen a recent survey of female OB's showing that 70% of them chose elective c-sections for their own births - not because of scheduling or fear of pain (he cited those two reasons specifically), but the number one reason was to preserve their pelvic floor.

Now I didn't ask him where that survey was published, but I thought it might be worth passing along here. I know there are many of you on the boards who really want a vaginal birth - and I hope that you get what you have your heart set on, I am so happy that I have been allowed to have the birth experience I wanted - but the pelvic floor issue may be a positive you can focus on if you do end up with a c-section. I am a big believer in looking for the positive when things don't go your way ...

 

Your preferred birth method is just as valid as anyone else's. There's nothing strange about the way you want to deliver your babies, and for the record, I am also a fan of the c section and would probably have also chosen elective even if mine wasn't medically necessary.

Good for you that you're getting the birth YOU want as well, Mama.

 

Wow, that is interesting.

I'm glad you are getting to deliver the way you want to.

 

I am a physician and several of my MD friends (not necessarily OB) have chosen elective csections. My twins were both head down but I chose a csection because baby A was SGA. I did quite a bit of research and decided to have a csection for decreased stress on the babies (i would have needed an induction-b/c baby a had slowed growth- which can be more stressful than natural labor). I delivered last wed and we are all home from the hospital doing well.fter reading some of the birth stories from last week i was VERY glad i scheduled a csection. i was a bit sore but healing very well. i'm able to care for both babies just fine.

 

That makes me glad that I requested a c-section early on. Instead of waiting and seeing if one or both turned vertex.

 

I too want a c-section. I am really scared of having to do a difficult vaginal with A and then c-section for B. The recovery from that--especially if I receive severe tears--would be awful and make it difficult to care for the babies. Plus, vaginal birth carries a small--but real--risk of death or serious injury to B, even if a last-minute c-section is initiated.

And I'm not a doctor, but a lawyer.

 

I am not so much into the elective c-section thing. For some reason people make it sound like it's safest. Anyway, I thought this was an interesting read on the subject, quite a recent study. http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice-clinical-research/pregnancy-and-childbirth-the-effects-on-pelvic-floor-muscles/1999381.article. I had all 3 vaginal, my first 9lbs+ with 4th degree tearing and my twins (15 1/2lbs combined) with 3rd degree tearing and I have had no issues with my pelvic floor ever since.

Honestly, I never really thought about it until after delivering ... one of those things they don't really tell you, right?!

 

I've been wondering what i'm going to do. I always thought that i would try to have a vaginal birth, but lately I am concerned that something can happen to baby B, and that scares me. In a way, I'm hoping the decision is not up to me - and that one of the babies is breech.

When i click the link - i'm prompted to enter a username and password, so i wasn't able to read this article.

 

I just found this in an article - makes sense.