Maternal requests for C sections

[littlepippip]

AIBU to ask for your experiences of a maternal request for C sections? What are your experiences asking your GP/Midwife/consultants through to the birth and after. Very much appreciated thank you

[rogertherabbit]

Depends a lot on where you live and what your reason is for wanting a section I think. Also depends on the individual consultant that you ask (midwife or GP couldn't grant an elective section) - some are quite happy to book elective sections on maternal request and others are not

Where roughly in the country are you?

[littlepippip]

I'm in the north west. I'm generally just curious about how women in this position are treated and what their experiences are and what the result is. I feel there is a lot of pressure on women to have perfect natural births.

[HappyGirl86]

I am in the north west. had my first baby 8 months ago and it was an emergency c section. When I went for my birth debrief I said that if I ever had another baby I would want a planned section as it was the emergency part of my experience that was so traumatic and stressful. They were very much pushing me towards "trying" a natural birth. They said that a natural birth still carries less risk than a planned c section. This definitely pushed me more towards not having another baby BUT i will wait and see how I feel in a few years and discuss with a consultant.

[HiDBandSIL]

There are lots of threads on maternal request c sections in the Childbirth topic. I'm not suggesting a new thread isn't welcome, just that if you'd like to read about experiences there are lots of good accounts there (including mine - under a different username - I've had 2)!

[DonkeyOaty]

Why are you asking? Are you a journo?

[elliejjtiny]

I had the opposite problem, wanted a natural birth and ended up with a C-section.

Dr at my antenatal appointment with my youngest asked me which I wanted and I think she would have been fine with either.

[Tattoosandteadresses]

I had a emcs with my first so when it came to my second I was under consultant led care. They asked what sort of birth I wanted, I explained I wanted to try a vbac but should I go overdue I did not want induced but cs. This was agreed to immediately and marked on my notes.

I did go overdue and had the date for my cs. Actually went into labour the same day the cs was booked for so when I arrived at the hospital they asked me what I wanted to do, try vbac or they could arrange a cs for me? Really could not fault my hospital at all as I felt every step of the way was my choice.

[littlepippip]

DonkeyOaty god no! I was having a chat about it with my friend, she was saying she would only have a baby if she could have a C-section (she scared of a natural birth) but she feels as though this would not be an option for her and that she would not be taken seriously. The other women in the office said that women who request C-sections do so because of vanity - which I think is a terrible thing to say. Why are us women so hard on each other?

[littlepippip]

Tattoosandteadresses its nice to know your choices were taken seriously X

[littlepippip]

NameChangeDrama nice to know you got what you wanted - I heard midwives can be condescending and dismissive about it, that's such a shame.

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

Interested in this as definitely want a c section next time and worried to get pregnant in case they say no!

[OhtoblazeswithElvira]

My midwife sneered at me, laughed and said "we won't be talking about your birth plan until 36 weeks". I put my foot down and she reluctantly agreed to refer me to the consultant. She managed to "lose" the referral 3 times . I only managed to get an appointment by ringing the hospital myself and explaining what had happened...

The consultant approved an ELC in under 5 minutes - the reason was a previous birth with a 4th degree tear and incontinence issues. This is contemplated in NICE guidelines (thank you MN!).

CS was a positive experience.

[Tattoosandteadresses]

Thank you little. It really helped me as I had a lot of issues surrounding my first birth and how they arrived. My second was almost healing as I felt very in control that time round. The midwives were all lovely regarding my choices.

[RedGrapeCornSnake]

DC1 was a high rotational forceps delivery necessitating both internal and external repairs to be made

DC2 was a last minute (day before) planned c section for being huge (10lb 13oz)

DC3 was my choice, I was strongly advised to go for a trial of labour but decided in the end to go with a section as the baby was looking to be a decent size again and I'd recovered far better from the section than I did from DC1.

[Chrisinthemorning]

The first time I asked I was 16 weeks and got a big lecture on how CS was really unsafe and I could die, very risky etc etc.
The next appointment at 22 weeks I asked for a referral for counselling and she just wrote ELCS 39 weeks maternal request in big letters on my notes. Same consultant, no idea why she changed her mind.
In the end I would have needed a CS anyway.

[littlepippip]

OhtoblazeswithElvira cannot believe the midwife laughed at you, how cruel! good to know that your experience was positive in the end.

[DonkeyOaty]

Ah I see. We can be a bunch of suspicious bastards.

[reallyanotherone]

I listened to the midwives, told them I had an open mind, went to their vbac clinic, read all their pamphlets.

Then went into my 36 week appointment with all the pros and cons fully worked through, said i wanted a section, and was referred immediately, no arguments.

I think medical staff have a duty of care to make sure you're fully informed of all the risks of both vbac and section.

Showing you've made an informed decision ans have weighed all risks and benefits will more likely get you what you want than simply demanding a section- the m/w's job is to make sure you know the risks, so you have to hear it:

[R1nderCella]

I'm from the North West, DD was breech. Midwife told me a natural birth was possible (I think she wanted me to have a natural birth). Monday I had an unsuccessful and very painful ECV, doctor asked me what I wanted. I opted for a csec. By Weds the same week, I had DD in my arms.

All in all a very positive experience.

[superking]

I requested a section for my second after having an EMCS for my first. My EMCS was due to foetal distress in very early labour, so I would have been a good candidate for VBAC, and indeed the policy of some trusts would have been to force me to VBAC.

From my booking appointment onwards my decision was never questioned, the risks were outlined to me but I was put under no pressure to change my mind. I was very impressed and relieved. (South East, not London).

[MadameJosephine]

littlepip it is sometimes possible to have a preconception appointment with an Obs/gynae consultant if your friend has reasons why she would prefer a caesarean that she would like to discuss before ttc. Maybe if she has an initial discussion with her GP they might refer? I am a midwife and I have referred a woman in the past who had a traumatic delivery in the past and wanted it documented in her notes that she could have an elective section before she decided whether to add to her family

[CarrotVan]

I'm in the NW and have been told it's up to me entirely. I had an emergency section with DS1 which is the reason I've been offered one with no argument.

I think there would be more resistance if the reason is only 'I don't want a natural birth' unless there are mental health implications

[Mozfan1]

I have severe anxiety about giving birth again after having ds along with damage to my pelvic floor, consultant midwife was a complete cunt to me when I mentioned elective section. So I have an appointment with a consultant in November, thank god. I was in her office in hysterics over the mere thought of giving birth and she made me out to be a fucking fool.

[littlepippip]

MadameJosephine that's really good to know, thank you I'll pass that on. Honestly though what do midwifes make of woman asking for Electives? it seems Mozfan1 has had a really rough time of it which I'm really sad to hear about....