would like elcs after emcs

[BIMBLEBERRY]

Hello,I had an emcs with dd due to fetal distress and I am now currently 27 weeks pregnant with 2nd.Would really prefer to have an elcs but midwife has not said if this is likely to happen.I know I need to talk to her about this,but I am worried she will say I have to try for a vbac and I will be stressed for the rest of the pregnancy knowing that.Last time I was induced due to pre-eclampsia and I really do not want an induction again. Anyone been in a similar situation? Is an elcs a strong possibilty?

Do you have a consultant? If not you need to see your GP and insist on being referred to one to discuss your birth options. It isn't up to the MW.

Re whether a consultant will say yes to ELCS, it seems to depend very much on the individual consultant, and of course on your previous history, which they will go through with you.

I was offered an ELCS after an EMCS and didn't have to fight for it, although I think I was relatively lucky in that respoect.

The official line from RCOG is that women should be encouraged to try for a VBAC if their's and the baby's health indicates this to be a safe option. This is because of the many and various risks associtated with major surgery. However, some consultants are more 'persuadable' than others and will comply with maternal request. Most consultants dislike inducing women with a scar on the uterus so I'd be surprised if they suggested this. It would most likely be a section in the absence of spontaneous labour in my experience.
Btw, you don't get referred to a consultant via the GP, the midwife swill refer you for 'shared care' and this will entail an appointment with an obstetric consultant.
Good luck.

BIMBLEBERRY I was in similar position before birth of DD2 (DD1 having been EMCS with all sorts of repercussions) I was strongly encouraged to go for a VBAC but I said I wanted to see a consultant. I was v well-informed re statistics on higher rates of forceps deliveries etc during VBACs etc and confident about my decision and the consultant was v happy to let me have one.

Also, I may be wrong about this but a GP (whose friend is an obs consultant) told me that it's v difficult for the CON/MW to force you into a VBAC because it does carry a risk (albeit v small) of rupture and if you were, God forbid, to experience that and it were then to emerge that you'd been pressurised into a vbac it wouldn't look at all good.

Either way I'd say stick to your guns and I'm sure you'll get what you want.

BTW, I had my ELCS in Feb - it was absolutely lovely, a world away from my first childbirth experience. Admittedly the recovery is frustrating particularly when you're looking after a toddler so it's not a decision to be taken lightly but if you're sure it's what you want then argue strongly for it and you should be fine. It was definitely the right choice for me - I still have twinges of regret about not having had a natural birth but I really did give it my best shot first time round and this time I just wanted the reassurance of knowing what would happen.

Good luck

I am in the same situation, and after several "discussions" with consultants where they have strongly tried to persuade me to VBAC, I complained to my midwife that I felt they were not actually listening to me.

She was quite clear and said that all I needed to know was that I was entitled to have an elective c-section if I so wished.

I assume that this is as somethinganything said ie due to the risk of scar rupture.

At least now I know and will be "empowered" when I next have hospital appointment.

Good luck.

Having just fought (and won) to get an ELCS after a traumatic first birth then I would say you should ask either your midwife (1st port of call) or GP to request a consultant apptmnt for you. The decision lies with the consultant and not the midwife and if you don't get a favourable response you are entitled to a second consultants opinion.

It might be worth asking around locally (or on here) if anyone knows which consultants at your hospital are more favourable disposed towards ELCS

Had my meeting re this with the consultant yesterday and she explained 80% of women who gofor a vbac manage it. DH and I said we had read the literature that came with the appointment letter and said we were anxious about the risks and scar rupture and she said no problem and booked section there and then.

I was expecting a struggle but she was understanding and seemed to listen.

Thank you for your replies.Didn't meet my consultant last time until I was admitted with pre-eclampsia.I have heard from a work colleague that you meet them at about 36 wk to go through your notes and discuss your options.I need to get as much info as I can about vbac and elcs and then I will feel more confident about meeting consultant.As I am getting pain around my emcs scar now, concerned about how it would be if I have to go through labour.At 39 don't think the old body would cope well with the demands of childbirth!

Hi, 36 weeks seems very late to me, a) for your own peace of mind and b) because the hospital bookings diary for ELCSs gets full up quite far in advance. If I were you I would ask if you can see the consultant sooner than that.

(I had first consultant appointment at 14 weeks when they agreed to the ELCS, and booked the actual date at 28 weeks, for 6th Oct which will be at 38+6 weeks.)

I too had an EMCS following induction (failure to progress after 55 hours) with DS. When I saw my consultant at the Chelsea & Westminster with DD (around 14 weeks like Jacks) we discussed then the options for second birth and he basically gave me the facts and left it up to me to decide either way.

He advised that if I was planning on having more than 2 DCs I should try for a VBAC in at least one of the births, preferrably this one, as they don't like to do more than 3 CSs per patient.

He also told me that unless I went into labour naturally I would have a CS as they do not allow induction on previous CS mothers due to strength of contractions and chance of rupture.

I went away to think about it and when I went back at 34 weeks I then made the decision to definitely go for the ELCS. Consultant was prefectly happy with my decision - absolutely no fight required but I do believe this is down to the individual.

FWIW it was, as somethinganything said, a very different and actually really pleasant experience.