To C or not to C? That is the question…

Faye Colegate - 26 Jun 16

Like around 25% of women, I had a c-section. No drama. Well, quite a lot of drama at the time. But I think you know what I’m getting at. Looking forward, I’m not sure what my next birth story (if I’m lucky enough to have one) will be. Do I ‘C’? Or do I not?

My pregnancy was by no means the worst. But it wasn’t plain sailing either. After much puking that wasn’t solved through ginger biscuits, ice pops or mint tea came the swelling. Painful, difficult, gigantic. Ill. I was ill. Behold, the prankles.

High blood pressure and a baby that ‘wasn’t happy’ led to an induction. It was explained to me that the risk of the baby staying in was greater than getting him out. I was full term so nothing too unexpected really.

Skip 36 hours. Only 2cm dilated. Baby in distress. Emergency section required. Epidual/spinal; epic fail. I could still feel the cold spray and the doctor was saying to the anesthetist there wasn’t time to wait. Mask on. Over and out. I woke up groggy and a bit bewildered asking a blurry face in a hair net where my baby was? My son was handed to me and I was so relieved.

He was safe. He was here. And I had a rather nifty button that helped with the pain.

In all seriousness, recovery was painful. I sobbed to the hospital staff holding my arms as I tried to stand up. The midwife reminded me that a general anesthetic can slow down recovery after a section and not to be hard on myself. But I was hard. It was hard.

The doctor came to me when we were ready to go home and said that there was no reason I couldn’t have a natural vaginal birth next time. If I wanted a next time. But, that I had the option.

I’m 18 months on now and thinking about the future. If I have another child – do I opt for a section from the outset? To begin with, I didn’t discuss it at all. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that I just wasn’t prepared to go through another emergency scenario like the one that happened to me. You see, as a result of a traumatic birth, my milk was delayed. A lot. My son ended up in A&E after losing over 20% of his birth weight. But now, I’m not sure…

You can see where I’m coming from here. Why I’m wondering about it all. When I asked my husband what he thought we were lying in bed. He looked at me for less than a second before saying; “If you have the choice, why would you put yourself through that horror show again?” Would you risk another emergency operation so you could have the chance experience a natural birth? Or, would you hedge your bets and go for a planned cesarean, knowing that even though it is major surgery, it is a tough recovery, it isn’t ‘natural’, that you aren’t going to end up being rushed in to theatre, being pep-talked by a midwife, panicking as you say as seriously as you can ‘I CAN STILL FEEL THAT’. I’d be awake. I’d meet my child first. I’d be in control.

I guess, should the time come, we’ll listen to the advice given and discuss the options. But I will make sure it is our decision. There’s time yet.

Faye Colegate

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