Interesting - I had 'maternal request' on my notes [other lengthier notes and a letter from the perinatal psychiatrist in my file if anyone wanted more info] -
It definitely got me rolling eyes from a couple of MWs at the hospital, and there was a rather nasty incident where I wasn't given the painkillers I was supposed to be on (I was left to manage on 2 paracetamol less than 24 hours after op). When I requested them, it was explained to me by an unpleasant MW that 'you will get pain after a caesarian, which you chose...' - well, not if you're given adequate pain relief, as agreed by the consultant....
I was grudgingly given them, but they made me wait. This was the only instance of actual pain I had during recovery.
In the interests of fairness, I should say that my community MW, who was my main point of contact, and the Consultant MW at the hospital were great, and I couldn't have asked for better.
The MWs at the MW led unit were horrible - like a group of nasty girls in the playground. At one point there were three of them behind the desk, talking about someone else's holiday, when this awful long wail/moan/scream from a woman in labour in one of the rooms stopped conversation. They all sniggered, and one of them said, really sarcastically, 'I think Miss Waterbirth is realising it's going to hurt now...'
I mean, wtf. This particular hospital's maternity services has had a lot of bad press and investigation in the last 2 years, so I think it's unusually bad.
Anyway, just an aside.