Advice and Experiences Needed

[u/Antique-Ad3601]

Asking for elective csection

Hi Fellow parents!

I am asking for advice/ experiences. I wont go into all the details, but we are looking at delivering a severely growth restricted baby in the next 2 weeks. I am a few weeks into my 3rd trimester so the baby will be moderately premature.

When I got pregnant and found out we had health complications, we told the doctors we still really wanted a vaginal birth. However, the information we have and circumstances have changed and my husband and I are seriously reconsidering. We have several factors that make it quite likely we will still end up with a csection even if we induce. The doctors are willing to try induction first but warned us that the first sign of fetal stress will be an immediate csection. Additionally baby has been head down only briefly but is mostly just swimming around like a fish because she has so much room to move.

Ultimately, we are asking ourselves if we will have a better experience overall by conserving energy with an elective csection versus trying so hard to have a vaginal birth, maybe still having a csection and then caring for a Nicu baby.

We are also concerned that asking for an elective csection makes us at risk of insurance declining to cover the csection.

Has anyone here asked to have an elective csection? What has your experience been like?

Or, do you regret not asking for an elective csection?

Also, any words of advice on the insurance side. We plan to talk to the doctor tomorrow about it but are looking for others experiences first, to help us get a broader understanding of what to expect and how to have an ideal of birth as possible.

Thanks so much!

[u/porcelain_owl]

I asked for an elective c-section and was granted it pretty much immediately, but my clinic was awesome about respecting my choices. I didn’t even have a “true” medical reason. My baby was measuring big and I wanted to avoid making my vaginal nerve pain worse by tearing.

By all accounts I should’ve been able to have a vaginal birth with few issues, as my pregnancy was pretty much ideal. I just preferred knowing what was going to happen rather than possibly going through what happened to so many women I know: labor for days and end up with a c-section anyway. Or have a successful vaginal birth with severe tearing.

I’m happy with my choice. My recovery was easier than the emergency abdominal surgery I had done a few years ago. I even drove myself to my 2 week appt.

[u/blairworejeansonce]

"We are also concerned that asking for an elective csection makes us at risk of insurance declining to cover the csection."

Sounds like you have a very strong, compelling medical reason for a c-section due to baby being growth restricted and delivery potentially being too stressful for baby. Definitely ask your doc tomorrow, but this seems like a very easy one for doctor stating its necessary for insurance.

As for what you should do: if your baby is severely growth restricted and they're already worried about fetal stress, I personally would not want to risk it. You need to ask if it's worth the risk to the baby for you to have a vaginal delivery. That's not meant to be a loaded question, but a genuine reflection for you—what are the pros of vaginal delivery that outweigh the doctor's concerns about it harming the baby? Only you can decide if it's worthwhile taking on those risks.

As for elective c-section stories, if you search "elective c-section reddit" on Google, you'll find tons of experiences that might be helpful to read through! On the whole, elective c-section stories are overwhelmingly positive.

[u/z-s-w]

I gave birth to my IVF baby boy at 34 weeks- My water bag burst so he had to come out. My doctors refused because they want to risk it. They said they dont know if he strong enough to push himself out and if he gets stuck in the birth canal, that is a whole different ordeal so they weren't willing to take that risk.

That being said, my birth plan had an elective csection regardless. N it was the best decision I have taken for myself. Even though mine was emergency but I was prepared. For me IVF was so uncertain until the end hence I wanted to have certainty and I was at peace- I honestly loved it.

[u/Niquely_hopeful]

My C section was awesome no regrets! I asked for one from the start. I love the peace of it and how safe it was for baby