Asking for an elcs at debrief?

[PumpkinPie2013]

Hello

I'm hoping someone can offer advice/share their experience.

I have a beautiful little boy who is 17 weeks old. He was delivered by emcs after 41 hours of labour as I was still only 9cm dialated

I found the labour and delivery extremely traumatic for many reasons including that the internal examinations were excrutiating for me even with g&a so the mw persuaded me to have an epidural even though I didn't want one. Of course I then couldn't move and ds was back to back so things were even slower. There were other things too which I won't bore you with.

Anyway, I have a debrief soon to go through things and I want to ask the doctor to document that I can have an elcs next time as I honestly can't bear the thought of having another baby if I can't have an elcs Me and dh really do want another child but I can't face the thought of trying for a vb.

Has anyone asked about this at a debrief? Does anyone have any advice?

I'm so nervous about it

[Booboostoo]

Congratulations on the new arrival!

I am so sorry you had a traumatic birth. I don't know the answer to your specific question, but NICE guidelines now allow for women to request a CS, so even if this is not discussed in your debrief (which I would imagine it would be) you will be able to ask for it for your next pregnancy.

[jumpingjelly]

Hi,
If you've had a previous c-section then you will automatically have a choice between repeat elective c-section or vbac (vaginal birth after caesarean). Some consultants will try to sway you either way but because you've had a previous section ultimately it is your decision - if a consultant were to refuse it (highly doubt it), you would just ask them to refer you to a consultant who would support it xx

[MyDarlingClementine]

then you will automatically have a choice between repeat elective c-section or vbac

Its down to pot luck, not only which trust you are in but the consulant you see on that day, you may have a waiting list in a room, and one will grant you one, but the other who you may have seen will not.

I think its a good idea though to jump the gun here and try and get something in writing. You may find you move by the time of no 2 or the docs/consultants have changed, however....of course it will strengthen your case to have anything in writing ....

[MyDarlingClementine]

Bottom line, its your body, its your choice.

Don't feel guilty, numbers are coming out, as per panorama, how much money is heaomarging and wasted into the BILLIONS by the NHS. Dont let them cut costs on your body!

I had elc second time round and it was bliss, compared to labour.

[cravingcake]

Good luck with your debrief. You can by all means ask about it (i did after a very traumatic birth with my DS). Be prepared for them to probably say 'lets worry about this birth first' or something along those lines. Thats what i was told at first by the counsellor, gp and the midwife who did my debrief.

However i had a 4th degree tear which required seeing a gynae consultant and they put it in writing after my first appointment (about 4 months post birth) that any future births should be by elcs.

[PumpkinPie2013]

Many thanks to you all for your kind replies sorry to those who also had a traumatic time

Debrief is Mon and I'm ready with notes and the NICE guidelines.

GP who did the referral seemed to think it won't be a problem.

I'll update on Mon when I've had my debrief xx

[PrincessOfChina]

I had a similar experience, and never had a debrief etc. DD is now 3 and I'm vaguely thinking about having another (yes - it's taken me this long!) and will insist on an ELCS. Every Dr I've mentioned it to has agreed that this is perfectly reasonable, and even medically appropriate.

[PumpkinPie2013]

Well I went to my debrief and the lady doctor I saw was lovely

She went through my notes and said the syntocin drip should have been started much sooner than it was which would have shortened my labour although I would probably still have ended up with an emcs as ds was over 9lb and I'm tiny

She agreed I could have an elcs next time with no arguements and is putting a note in my medical notes to that effect

Thanks, once again for everyone's replies and I hope anyone wanting an elcs after birth trauma gets one x

[Booboostoo]

That is great! I hope it reassures you for any future pregnancies.