To ask you about choosing C section in Scotland?

[Qwertys]

Hi mumsnetters, do any of you have any experience of requesting a C section in Scotland? Especially Glasgow.

First birth, no physical medical requirement for section, as far as I know so far. NHS.

In England, NICE guidelines give some indication of how likely it might be that a maternal request C section will be approved. But I can’t find guidelines for Scotland on this.

I’d love to hear from anyone with any knowledge, or any advice about how to approach this - thank you!

Hi @Qwertys yes, I am booked in next week for a maternal request elective CS in Aberdeen.

Surprisingly I didn't have to fight to get it. My reasons were because this is my 4th pregnancy after 3 mcs so I just simply don't trust my body to do as it should, and would rather put my trust in a surgeon. For me I feel like this is the lowest risk birth, but of course all types come with risks. I feel I have 'medical' grounds to request a CS, but of course the doctors don't class this as a medical reason, so it was a maternal request. I was already consultant led (just because of history) but I think normally you tell your mw you'd like an ELCS and they refer you to a consultant. My consultant said I would need to state my reasons as anxiety and being too stressed to go through natural labour, as medically I didn't have any grounds. Which tbf are actually my reasons I suppose, but I just didn't 'word' it like that when I asked for it.

Thanks so much for responding @Daffodil21, this is very helpful. Congratulations on your pregnancy, and I’m so sorry to hear about your MCs. I hope you’re doing well now. I don’t have your history but my thinking around this is similar to yours.

Thanks again and good luck next week - wishing you and your wee one all the best!

Scotland follow the NICE guidelines. If a consultant refuses your request, ask to see another one. I see plenty of women who have may request sections, it’s no problem

Thank you bettercalljimmy .

Based on googling only (!) my understanding was that Scotland didn’t have to follow NICE guidelines and they were often more of a rough reference point here, so your post is reassuring.

@Qwertys to be honesty history didn't seem to make any difference to the consultants, I think it was granted solely on anxiety surround labour etc. I probably wouldn't have had those anxieties if this was my first pregnancy, but it doesn't matter why you have them. If you have them then they should listen. Good luck!

I would like to request one in Glasgow too, will you let us know how you get on? (I'm not pregnant yet but trying)

Yes I will Animallover87! Hope all works out with your TTC.

I had an elective c section last week at the QEUH and I had no problems requesting it. I’m slightly different as I had a first traumatic birth at the RAH so requested it based on that but it went through as a maternal request.

At my first midwife appointment I requested the c section and also a change of hospital to the qeuh and my midwife was completely fine about it. I then had a consultant phone appointment at 14ish weeks who ran through the risks but never tried to talk me out of it. All in all a really positive process and the best decision I’ve made! I hope it goes well for you too.

I’m glad it worked out so much better for you this time, Winter. It’s good to hear about your experience. Congrats on your new arrival!

There’s a blogger called Forever Amber who got a maternal request Caesarean section and has written quite a lot about it, and I’m 90% sure from memory that she is based in Scotland. Maybe check her blog out!

I had an ELCS at QEUH in Glasgow in 2019. It wasn't as difficult as I had thought at all—as long as you make them aware you're not thinking of it as an "easy" option, and you tell them that's what you want and you're clear about what it entails, I think they're pretty relaxed about it. They had a half-hearted attempt at talking me out of it/into counselling, but once I'd politely declined that they admitted they have to make a vague attempt to dissuade you in that way but they were actually more than happy to do it. In my case I just said I was willing to have a longer physical recovery in order to (as far as it's possible) guarantee that I wouldn't be traumatised.

As it happens, my experience was very much an easy option—painless, relaxed, a really lovely experience. I'd do it again tomorrow.

Also, at QEUH they do enhanced recovery, so you can leave the next day if you want, but they don't pressure you to go if you don't feel ready (or at least they didn't with me). Good luck!

I had a ELC in QEUH 6 months ago and had no problem requesting it. Though I did have an awful first birth.

Then my SIL requested one a few months later and got told no because it was her first. Though I was under the impression if they said no you can find a consultant who will agree.

@RaginaPhalange

I had a ELC in QEUH 6 months ago and had no problem requesting it. Though I did have an awful first birth.

Then my SIL requested one a few months later and got told no because it was her first. Though I was under the impression if they said no you can find a consultant who will agree.

Did your SIL get one with a different consultant? Or was she happy enough to have a VB?

I have had two ELCS. Based in central belt Scotland.

Second ELCS request was a breeze, based on the fact I had the first.

First was a bit of a battle. I had a (female) consultant that actively tried to discourage me going down the ELCS route. I explained my reason but she continued to push for it, to the point my husband had to act as referee between us.

Eventually she agreed on the basis I went for counselling (another veiled attempt to talk me out of it), but the counsellor backed me and eventually I got it.

She made a horrible dig at me the last time I saw her (thankfully she didn’t actually do the op). But I since found out through a midwife friend she has four kids all ELCS, so was blatantly a hypocrite to boot.

It can be difficult, but worth sticking to your guns if important to you.

@Animallover87

She went for a VB but ironically she went on to having a c section due to induction not working.

Thanks all - bit of a range of experiences! Seems like a bit of a lottery depending on which HCP you get. Like all things NHS, I suppose. It looks like I’m going to have to prepare for the possibility I’ll need to really assert myself. Not something I’m good at so I’ll have to psych myself up for it.

I’ll check out the Forever Amber blog too - thanks for the recommendation!

I'm in Lanarkshire and didn't have much resistance getting my maternal request c-section in 2019. The first consultant told me to think about having a vaginal delivery. I spoke to a second consultant a couple of weeks later and told him I'd thought about it and I was sure on what I wanted to do. He agreed and booked me in right there and then.

Make sure you have properly researched the risks, including anaesthetic risks etc so you are as clued up as you can be. You don't need to be assertive as such, you just need to be clear and concise and not show any chance of backing down. You're entitled to the birth of your choice, you just need to make sure you fully understand each option to make an informed choice.