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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

elective second or third c section

26 replies

Mimixx · 01/03/2006 10:47

Hi everyone - I would like to know about your experience in trying to get an elective c section for second or third birth, after having had a previous c sections. I'm struggling here - I had an emergency c section after a long labour, and I am so traumatised about the experience that I don't want to go through labour again (I'm NOT too posh to push, i just had a really really difficult labour - no labour is easy but trust me, it was traumatic). I am not sure that I'll have the courage to get pregnant again because I am so scared of the birth. I just want to choose to have a planned c section. Has anyone had this experience and how did you manage? Thanks...

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KBear · 01/03/2006 11:14

I had an elective after a traumatic first c-section after two days of labour. Midwives were all for it in the circumstances but had to meet with the consultant at 34/5 weeks to put my case and he agreed to it. Good luck.

uwila · 01/03/2006 11:17

Yes, I've been exactly where you are. I looked for hospital with a high section rate (figuring they would be more likely to give me one) and I took every opportunity to tell them I had no desire to give birth vaginally. I put in writing (all over my birth plan). I said I wasn't prepared to take any risk of scar abruption. They wouldn't schedule the section unti 36 weeks, but I got it then. I went in with a copy of the nice guidelines on sections and highlighted the bit about taking a womans preference into consideration.

You may have to jump up and down a bit, but you can have one if you stick to your demands.

Oh, and choose your hospital carefulyy. See www.birthchoice.co.uk and www.drfoster.co.uk. Where are you?

uwila · 01/03/2006 11:23

I had sevral midwives and one consultant try to convince me that a trial of labour was okay.... but I am not easily persuaded so they were wasting their time.

I did sist down with the consutant and gave her the opportunity to convince me. I did this at about 16 weeks, when she said "this is way too early to be having this conversation" I said, no it isn't. I want to plan. I don't a last minute panic. So, now is your opportunity to convince me that a section is a bad idea because if the decision was mine to make today, it would be an elective section. And she wrote down something like "patient undecided about method of delivery. Happy to discuss at 36 weeks" And I then added my own interpretation of the conversation to the notes.

uwila · 01/03/2006 11:24

Sorry, it was a registrar,not the consultant.

FairyMum · 01/03/2006 11:37

I had similar experience and was not allowed a c-section. Do you actually have the right to choose?
(I was induced and ended in emergency c-section too). I probably wasn't pushy enough. Felt very intimidated by the midwives.

uwila · 01/03/2006 11:40

Oh, you have to get passed the midwives. The are merely an obstacle between you and the doctor. (ooo, I'm going to be in trouble for saying that) If Mears is reading htis, I just want to say that I think you are fab. Too bad for me I've never seen you in a delivery suite.

lahdeedah · 01/03/2006 11:50

I am in exactly the same position as you Mimixx.

I brought this up on here a while ago and someone recommended \link{http://www.csections.org\this website.}

There's lots of useful information on there re the pros and cons of elective section versus VBAC.

FairyMum · 01/03/2006 11:51

I am deeply impressed by anyone who manages to get passed my midwives! I have met lots of nice midwives too of course, but sadly they have never been on duty while I have been in labour

uwila · 01/03/2006 11:58

So, Fairymum, did you ever get to the doctor. Or did the midwives squash your request? Mind if I ask what hospital?

FairyMum · 01/03/2006 12:03

My request was squashed, but I think I let myself be squashed pretty easily too. Luckily I had a fairly easy birth, but the pregnancy was hell because I was dreading labour too much. It was Farnborough hospital in Kent.

Normsnockers · 01/03/2006 12:06

If you have already had a c-section then you should not have too hard a battle to get one for a subsequant pregnancy as there is a risk of uterine scar rupture if labour is attempted. If you politely let them know that any complications arising from a trial of labour are not acceptable to you and you will make a complaint about your wishes not being respected if you are denied the option to go straight for a c-section then alarm bells should ring for them in terms of claims against the hospital.
I think they will put you down as "demanded a c-section - no medical need" but it gets you where you want to be so who cares.

You can insist on a c-section although they may be jolly rude to you about doing so but hey it's your body not theirs. I think I will be following uwila's tip about writing my own interpretation of discussions in my notes underneath that of any dr or midwife as I already have issues with what the midwife wrote after my booking in appointment 2 weeks ago.

I will be insisting on a second c-section unless I have a mad moment of some sort and get my head round the idea of a VBAC.

I am only 11 weeks pregnant but already starting to get stressed about it but I know I will relax the moment I have a c-section date agreed.

uwila · 01/03/2006 12:06

SOrry fairmum. I think a woman who has had a section should have an automatic right to another one. I remember when the doc was giving me resons not to have a section, one of her cons was "if you have another child then you will HAVE to have a section" and I said "Okay."

Snook · 01/03/2006 12:08

Hi - my first time on the site but I had an elective c-section first time (breech baby) and am currently 18 weeks pregnant with my 2nd. Have been told if the baby is bigger than last time it will have to be c-section. Has anyone else heard this? Also I have the chance to consult a doctor about my decision on vbac vs c-section at my 20 week scan. Has anyone else had this consultation?

uwila · 01/03/2006 12:11

Well, in case anyone wants to know, Queen Charlotte was pretty good with the section. I recommend them if you are in London. But, I have a friend who had a really bad experience there (with the midwives). They tried to convince her nothing was wrong and she should stay home. She went in anyway and told a couple of lies to get them to scan her. It was then deemed that the baby had lost a lot of blood and she had an emergency section within the hour. If she hadn't gone in when she did, the baby would have surely died. Baby is fine by the way.

janinlondon · 01/03/2006 13:03

Bypassed midwives, saw consultant with my speech and supporting references in my briefcase. He okayed my c section at 20 weeks. Chelsea and Westminster. Midwives did try to talk me out of it when labour began at 37 weeks, but I held firm and got my c section.

TuttiFrutti · 01/03/2006 13:16

at Uwila's and Fairymum's stories.

The NHS pays lip service to a "woman's right to choose" how to give birth, but sometimes that choice is only respected if it's for a natural, drug-free birth (which of course saves the NHS a lot of money). If you want a C-section, even for very good reasons, they can be difficult about it. (And don't get me started on charging women for epidurals, which is on another thread...)

Mimixx, I'm horrified that you are so scared of the birth that you are wondering if you have the courage to get pregnant again. This shouldn't happen to any woman. You have every right to insist on a C-section after your previous trauma.

hockeymum · 01/03/2006 14:35

mimixx. I was worried about this too but when I went to my 12 week appointment with the consultant she ok-ed the section straight away. She said there are far less risks with electives than emergencies. They booked my date for this section when I saw them at 28 weeks and I'll have it at 39 weeks.

It depends where you live, but in Cardiff I know it is entirely the womans right to choose another section if she had a section last time.

You need to go in absolutely sure of yourself and your reasons and if they do not listen to you, you need to demand a second opinion. Write on your notes. Extremely anxious about further emergency section or VBAC. Request elective caesarian section.

I hope you get to find out that like me, it was just a question of asking for it and that you don't have too much of a battle.

uwila · 01/03/2006 14:44

\link{http://www.nice.org.uk/pdf/CG013NICEguideline.pdf\NICE Guideline for caesareans}

zephyrcat · 01/03/2006 15:07

Hiya Mimixx - I had an emergency cs with my dd after a nightmare labour and, ike you, I was so scared of going into labour again I was desperate to have an elective cs when I fell pregnant again. LUckily my midwife was brill and helped me out - I was turned away 3 times by the consultant telling me to 'go and think about it' even though I had told him exactly why I wanted one. He was horrible. My midwife got a copy of my original birtyh notes from the hospital and sent them to the consultant and wrote a letter to him to say that I had felt too traumatised by the first labour and eventually he agreed.

I'm about to have my 3rd baby in 5 weeks and this time the consultant (different hospital) was fairly nice about it and didn't need too much convincing.

Don't let them try to 'bully' you into what they think is best - it's your body and your right to have the birth you want, you will find the whole pregnancy so much easier once you know you have got it all sorted. I really hope you get it.xx

Original poster

Mimixx · 01/03/2006 20:51

Thanks for all your replies, it's good to know I'm not the only one. I'm not surprised that women have to 'fight' their corner on this one, and I will be very persistent. My hospital is Newham General, one of the busiest maternity wards in the country, they are very anti-c section - not by principal, but because it's more work for them!! I really don't want to give birth there again they were awful. I'll have to find another hospital....

OP posts:

jampots · 01/03/2006 20:57

My consultant insisted I had an elective with my second after a long labour/em cs with my first. He decided at 29 weeks and I immediately got onto BUPA

uwila · 02/03/2006 13:21

Oh oh... I can tell you all about jumping ship when it comes to hospitals. The most important thing is to do it EARLY. Like, the second the test is positive. I'm in the catchment for St. Peters in Chertsey which doesn't exactly have the greatest reputation. I refused to go there. Full stop. 5 weeks pregnant and I said "HELL NO". Had to change GPs and then got into the 3rd hospital I tried. But it was Queen Charlotte and they were lovely. Look on www.birthchoice.co.uk and www.drfoster.co.uk and decide where you want to go. Personally,I looked for a high caesarean rate.

Highlander · 02/03/2006 18:11

I had an elective first time round. At my booking appt last week I told the midwife I'm having another (told, natch). She was fine, said I'd see the OB at 36 weeks.

Highlander · 02/03/2006 18:13

I agree with uwila about looking for a hospital for a high CS rate. My hospital in Canada was 50% - and boy, were they slick, and I was up and about on my feet the same day.

bigbaubleeyes · 02/03/2006 18:33

I had an elective CS after a late breach diagnosis - does this mean I have the right to ask for a CS with second one? i found it a very positive experience.

But also I thought a second CS is more risky as they are cutting through scar tissue? ... but after reading the thread am I right in thinking there is just as much risk from scar abruption for a natural delivery?

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