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Is a c-section elective with first pregnance??
I currently have a 2 year old, my first. And my sister in law is currently 28 weeks pregnant. She has had major problems falling pregnant n eventually went n had fertility treatments. She has palvic instability and is allergic to lignocane. The doctors told her that she cannot have epidural because that is the lignocane that is injected or any pain relief if she tears or they need to do an episiotomy.
What I want to know is: is a c-section an option with a first child going through the public system as a public patient? She will need to be under a general anistetic to have a c-section done.
When I had my son, I don't remember even being asked that question. She doesn't have a appointment again until 3 weeks so she is really stressing out about this. It seams inhumane to give someone an episiotomy with no pain relief.
Please someone help me out here so I can help her calm down until she can see her doctor
What I want to know is: is a c-section an option with a first child going through the public system as a public patient? She will need to be under a general anistetic to have a c-section done.
When I had my son, I don't remember even being asked that question. She doesn't have a appointment again until 3 weeks so she is really stressing out about this. It seams inhumane to give someone an episiotomy with no pain relief.
Please someone help me out here so I can help her calm down until she can see her doctor
For my first son I had an epidural and loved it. I just had my second 13 days ago and was looking forward to getting another one. Like all things related to pregnancy and birth, things didn't go as planned. My labor was too quick, lasting only 3 hours from start to finish, and there was no time for any pain relief. I was so scared to go through the pain, but I managed it just fine. I think our own fears can make it worse and the more prepared we are, the better things will go.
I won't lie, it hurt like hell, but the moment my son was born, all the pain disappeared. It's amazing what we can go through and how quickly our minds turn away from ourselves to the little life we created.I know your SIL is scared of the pain, but it is manageable and it is so much better to have a vaginal birth than a c-section.
Besides it being major surgery, she will miss out on the bonding with her baby and the recovery time is so much longer. Do as the other posters suggested and have her look into lamaze classes and speak to a midwife and a doula on how to best manage her pain. As for an episiotomy, there are other types of numbing meds they can use, though there is also perineal (sp) massage and other techiques that can be done to prevent the need for one in the first place.
I think in the long run she would be happier to have a vaginal birth, even though she may no think so right now.
I won't lie, it hurt like hell, but the moment my son was born, all the pain disappeared. It's amazing what we can go through and how quickly our minds turn away from ourselves to the little life we created.I know your SIL is scared of the pain, but it is manageable and it is so much better to have a vaginal birth than a c-section.
Besides it being major surgery, she will miss out on the bonding with her baby and the recovery time is so much longer. Do as the other posters suggested and have her look into lamaze classes and speak to a midwife and a doula on how to best manage her pain. As for an episiotomy, there are other types of numbing meds they can use, though there is also perineal (sp) massage and other techiques that can be done to prevent the need for one in the first place.
I think in the long run she would be happier to have a vaginal birth, even though she may no think so right now.
She raelly really really needs to look into natural birthing techniques. While childbirth IS painful, it is something many women endure drug free. I have had a c-section, 3 epidurals and a drug free birth. I have to tell you my fastest recovery and best experience was the drug free. Relaxtion techniques can help her tremendously. Being in some pain isn't necessarily going to stress her or her baby. Encourage her to contact a midwife or labor coach or find a lamaze class or get some of the birthing books others have suggested.
Thank you all for your comments, it will be quite helpful for her.
I have given her my oppinion on the birthing aspect of it all but she keeps saying to me that she doesn't want to start going through the pain of begining labour and putting both herself and her baby through the additional stress it will cause her because she has been told by the hospital that her only choice is to go into labour n
hav NO pain relief or simply have a csection and be knocked out for it.
She is totaly upset about loosing that time with her baby n to not to b able to experience giving birth. She was there when I had my son, and there was major complications there but still she feels like she will b less of a mother if she can't experience it herself
I have given her my oppinion on the birthing aspect of it all but she keeps saying to me that she doesn't want to start going through the pain of begining labour and putting both herself and her baby through the additional stress it will cause her because she has been told by the hospital that her only choice is to go into labour n
hav NO pain relief or simply have a csection and be knocked out for it.
She is totaly upset about loosing that time with her baby n to not to b able to experience giving birth. She was there when I had my son, and there was major complications there but still she feels like she will b less of a mother if she can't experience it herself
C-sections should ONLY be done when absolutely necessary. If she were to have a c-section she would have to be knocked out (general anesthesia) most likely which would mean hours before she got to hold her baby.
As far as public patient going through the system- that shouldn't matter. Everyone should be treated equally. If she elects to have a c-section on her own choice she needs to know ALL the risks involved because it is major abdominal surgery. I know people talk about it so nonchalantly but the USA has the highest c-section rate and the highest maternal deaths; there is a connection.
Okay so that is kind of off subject. Just make sure that no matter what she chooses (and it IS her choice) that she is completely informed.
As for episiotomy she can elect to not have one. It shouldn't be mandatory at all. These are typically done by old-school doctors who have been doing them for the past 30 decades already and don't want to change their ways. It is better to tear than to be cut. And most doctors who do them do not numb anything up. There usually is not any time if it is a necessary cut to help baby get out.
As far as public patient going through the system- that shouldn't matter. Everyone should be treated equally. If she elects to have a c-section on her own choice she needs to know ALL the risks involved because it is major abdominal surgery. I know people talk about it so nonchalantly but the USA has the highest c-section rate and the highest maternal deaths; there is a connection.
Okay so that is kind of off subject. Just make sure that no matter what she chooses (and it IS her choice) that she is completely informed.
As for episiotomy she can elect to not have one. It shouldn't be mandatory at all. These are typically done by old-school doctors who have been doing them for the past 30 decades already and don't want to change their ways. It is better to tear than to be cut. And most doctors who do them do not numb anything up. There usually is not any time if it is a necessary cut to help baby get out.
Something else that hasn't been mentioned. Being as she would have to be knocked completely out for the c-section, she loses valuable bonding time with her baby. I can tell you from experience that it's hard to get that time back. I wasn't knocked out but I was sedated and was completely out of it until the next morning. If I could have changed anythign about my c-section it would ahve been that I would have been able to bond with my daughter immediately.
If she can't ahve an epidural with local numboing she would not be able to have a spinal block with local numbing for a c-section either!! That means she woudl have to be fully put to sleep for the whole thing! There are differenent things to numb the area, my mom and myself are both allergic to lidocane but novicane can be used. There are other things as well. Also an episitomomy is never routin and she should not get one no matter what! They do not numb you to give you one anyway and just cut if it is nessisary to get the baby out if it is in detress. It is better to tear then be cut but the only thing they numb you for is the stiches and they can use ice instead. It is no different really depending on how bad you ahve ripped. I sugest she read some books on natural child birth such as Ina May Gaskins "Guide To Childbirth" It talks how a womans bosy works naturally to labor and birth and then breaks down all proceedures used in the hostpitals and the risks and benifits of each. The more she knows the better she willfeel.A c-section is major surgery and it carries like 40% higher risk or more for something to go wrong woth baby and mom when not used when medically nessisary! Also if the mother goes into labor on her own then has a c-section it si better!
Most doctors don't offer up c-sections for a first time birth unless it is medically necessary. A c-section is considered major surgery and is far more expensive than a vaginal birth.
If you research there are other drugs that can be used in an epidural aside from the lidocaine or other "caine" dirivitives. Drugs such as meperidine, morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil are not -caine dirivites, but narcotics and are used as a "walking" epidural.
As for giving birth naturally and having an episiotomy. Many women do NOT require one. Perineal massage is a great way to relax and ready the muscles in the perineum in order to avoid an episiotomy or natural tear. I think your SIL needs to check into natural birthing techniques. Women give birth every day without any type of drug intervention.
By electing to do a c-section she is setting herself up for higher risks of complications, both immediate and later downt he road. REcovery time is longer, the pain is worse becuase it lingers AFTER the birth where as with a vaginal birth it pretty well disappears as soon as its over. You can have complications from the incision including infections, etc. I had a medically necessary emergency c-section with my first. I refuse to have another one unless I ABSOLLUTELY have to. The recovery was lousy and I recovered faster than most people.
My point is there are other options out there for her. Have her contact a midwife or birthing center to inquire about natural birth techniques that focus on pain relief without drug intervention.
Back to the episiotomy, she can refuse one. Some women prefer to tear natural, if they do at all, in order to avoid being cut more than necessary.
If you research there are other drugs that can be used in an epidural aside from the lidocaine or other "caine" dirivitives. Drugs such as meperidine, morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil are not -caine dirivites, but narcotics and are used as a "walking" epidural.
As for giving birth naturally and having an episiotomy. Many women do NOT require one. Perineal massage is a great way to relax and ready the muscles in the perineum in order to avoid an episiotomy or natural tear. I think your SIL needs to check into natural birthing techniques. Women give birth every day without any type of drug intervention.
By electing to do a c-section she is setting herself up for higher risks of complications, both immediate and later downt he road. REcovery time is longer, the pain is worse becuase it lingers AFTER the birth where as with a vaginal birth it pretty well disappears as soon as its over. You can have complications from the incision including infections, etc. I had a medically necessary emergency c-section with my first. I refuse to have another one unless I ABSOLLUTELY have to. The recovery was lousy and I recovered faster than most people.
My point is there are other options out there for her. Have her contact a midwife or birthing center to inquire about natural birth techniques that focus on pain relief without drug intervention.
Back to the episiotomy, she can refuse one. Some women prefer to tear natural, if they do at all, in order to avoid being cut more than necessary.
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