Can you request a C-section?

happytracy · January 2009

Just wondering if I can request a C-section or if the OB needs to have some sort of medical necessity for it?

My issue is that I have an accessory lobe on my placenta. I go to a high risk OB and they told me its not a big deal and I could still have a vaginal birth. I have been researching this quite a bit and there is a lot of stuff out there that is saying this situation can be dangerous for the baby during vaginal birth, even deadly in certain situations.

It just scares the crap out of me... I know I should trust my Dr... however if I can get a c-section for peace of mind I would take it! I don't want to do ANYTHING to even put my baby at a small risk for complications.

Anyone know how that works? I plan on talking to my OB at my next appt. Can I just request one?

Sorry if this sounds paranoid... but I am.

firsttogo · January 2009

I would print out the articles. and take them to your MFM. Then outlay your concerns. See what he suggests.

FaithRocks · January 2009

I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your question but I have the same concerns as you - I have an accessory lobe as well. Let me know what you find out, I wish you the best and no complications from it!

hannah&ben · January 2009

You can ask for one and tell them why. However, not all docs will do one unless they feel it's medically indicated (meaning the risks of a vaginal delivery are worse than those of a c-section).

I have to say though, I have no idea why anyone would ever want a c-section unless having a vaginal delivery truly puts you or your child's health at risk. I've had 2 sections - they are not fun to recover from (even if you don't have any complications).

Having a c-section puts your health at risk for lots of things... infection, blood clots, too much blood loss needing transfusion, scar tissue and adhesions on your uterus and surrounding organs, accidental trauma to bladder and bowels, reaction to anesthesia, etc.

Hannah

ETA: I don't mean to sound like a B. I understand that you feel like you would do anything to keep your baby safe (that's why I ended up with sections - to keep my babies safe - #1 almost had a cord accident and #2 had severe cardiac issues and couldn't handle labor). I think you should talk it over with your docs again - but understand that it might be riskier to have a section than to deliver vaginally.

pamela-matt · January 2009

I would bring your concerns to the attention of your docs. I am with hannah&ben on this one...a c/s is a major surgery and with that comes some significant risks for complications as well as a much longer recovery time

talentedgirl · January 2009

Definetly talk to your ob about your concerns. I had a c section and it is not something I would wish on anyone, nor do I understand why people would have one voluntarily. It was not a good experience for me, but was medically necessary.

happytracy · January 2009

BTW- If I was in a "normal" pregnancy I would never concider this.

FredsNey · January 2009

I'd discuss your concerns with your doctor.

I had an accessory lobe and would have been able to have a vaginal delivery if not for other, completely unrelated complications (DD was breech and I had high BP so it was kind of a rush). If not for that, I was a great candidate for a vaginal delivery and I think I would have preferred that to the section.

I tried to research the accessory lobe, but didn't come up with a whole lot of information. Just out of curiosity, where have you had luck in your research? All I could find was scary stuff on a vasa previa site and that did more to freak me out than reassure me.

I think a lot depends on the placement of your placenta and the accessory lobe. The extra lobe on mine was wrapping around toward the front, toward the top of my uterus (I had a posterior placenta). I was a little freaked out when we found out about it, but my doctor told me that as long as they knew about and paid attention, it was fine and most of the risk would come after a vaginal delivery if part of it were left behind. If I had had a vaginal delivery, they would have made sure nothing was left behind.

Good luck. The only effect that mine had was that I bled a little more than average and they gave me extra pitocin after my c-section to make sure things were clamping down properly. Other than that, it had no real effect on my pregnancy or delivery.

kittylove · January 2009

In your situation I would say yes, you can request a c-section but your dr still has final say on if you get one or not. I would print the articles and take them with you when you talk to the Dr.

happytracy · January 2009

FredsNey- I have spent quite of bit of time and I have looked at countless websites and medical journals. My placenta placement is starting to improve - but it was directly over my cervix for a while which caused lots of bleeding and I was on bedrest for a while. At my last u/s it is starting to move to a better spot which is good.

I am probably being paranoid... but after all the IF treatments and my RE telling me we were wasting time and the IF treatments weren't working - I finally get pregnant just to have heavy bleeding and placental problems... I just want to do what is safest for my baby.

Anyway... thanks for the info! I do plan on having a long discussion with my OB at my next appt.

FredsNey · January 2009

I hope my previous post didn't come across as rude...I was just curious where you have found information because I wasn't successful when I was searching. If it did, I'm sorry--that really wasn't my intention.

That's very good that it is starting to move to a better spot. Best wishes to you for a healthy pregnancy and delivery!! It's OK to be a little paranoid : )

happytracy · January 2009

No its ok! I wish I bookmarked/saved all the articles... I don't have the names/websites off the top of my head. I will have to search for them again and print them for when I go to the OB. I work in the medical field and I like to research everything

jodynjames2005 · January 2009

I've had three and they were all medically necessary so there was no real decision involved. So I have no idea. But, I just wanted to say that I experienced 12 hours of unmedicated labor with my oldest son before having a c/s, and two c/s without labor with my two sets of twins, and I'd take a c/s any day. Not everyone hates their c/s, so if you end up with one, you might find it to be a good experience

skoorbnibor · January 2009

hannah&ben:
You can ask for one and tell them why. However, not all docs will do one unless they feel it's medically indicated (meaning the risks of a vaginal delivery are worse than those of a c-section).
I have to say though, I have no idea why anyone would ever want a c-section unless having a vaginal delivery truly puts you or your child's health at risk. I've had 2 sections - they are not fun to recover from (even if you don't have any complications).
Having a c-section puts your health at risk for lots of things... infection, blood clots, too much blood loss needing transfusion, scar tissue and adhesions on your uterus and surrounding organs, accidental trauma to bladder and bowels, reaction to anesthesia, etc.
Hannah
ETA: I don't mean to sound like a B. I understand that you feel like you would do anything to keep your baby safe (that's why I ended up with sections - to keep my babies safe - #1 almost had a cord accident and #2 had severe cardiac issues and couldn't handle labor). I think you should talk it over with your docs again - but understand that it might be riskier to have a section than to deliver vaginally.

I agree completely with Hannah. I totally understand your fears, but a cesection really is major surgery and the risks of complications are so great. My csection was hellish and I would not want anyone to go through that unnecessarily.

Keep us posted, I am really interested in what your OB says.

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