ELECs in Birmingham - easy or hard?

[Snobble]

Hi, im 30+6 at the moment. I spoke to my consultant a couple of weeks ago about opting for an elecs as im terrified of a natural birth. My immediate family have all tried for natural births and have told me they have been extremely traumatic or have ended in an emergency c-section anyway.

Im dead against having a VB now as the idea makes me want to cry.

Does anyone have any experience about how easy it is to obtain an elective in the Birmingham area? My hospital will be Good Hope in Sutton Coldfield. I would like to know what kind of battle i have on my hands as my consultant has referred me to the midwife, but my appointment isnt till 24/02/14. Im worried that if she refuses me, it will be too late to appeal.

Thanks.

If the idea of VB is so bad it is upsetting you Snobble you should have a psychological reason for a caesarean. I should read up on the risks and benefits of caesarean versus vaginal (i.e. caesarean limits family size as you can't have multiple caesareans, ) Take the NICE guidance with you - if the midwife comes up with lots of additional c/s risks ask her to point them out on the NICE summary of risks

They may even argue that vaginal birth gives a better experience - wrong again! Women who choose caesarean have a better experience than vaginal birth - its been compared in several studies so your family's experience is right.

Some people argue previous abuse as grounds for c/s , others decline to have intimate parts of their body touched.

Most of the Birmingham hospitals seem to have around 24-28% caesarean rate so should not be ideologically driven to lower their caesarean rate. There are one or two consultant hospitals in the West Midlands with very low caesarean rates - avoid them like the plague.

Birth choices is a good place to look <a class="break-all" href="http://www.birthchoiceuk.com/BirthChoiceUKFrame.htm?www.birthchoiceuk.com/Access.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.birthchoiceuk.com/BirthChoiceUKFrame.htm?www.birthchoiceuk.com/Access.htm

Good luck and hope you get your c/s

Wow thats for the great reply Ushy, and i've already got my print out to hand of the NICE guidelines + the consultant has gone through the pros and cons with me as well. I've read it cover to cover about 5-6 times now and im still convinced elec is absolutly the way for me. Its the least risk for both me and the baby, but im most worried about little girl. I cant even contemplate the thought of forceps being used on her, how traumatising must that be for them? And they say this is a better option and less distressing then a c-section???

I checked the website and my hospital has a 26% c-sec rate which seems pretty good with an 11% elec rate. Fingers crossed they dont refuse me else i'll be kicking up a right stink.

Am i correct in thinking it would be better to bring along DH? Providing he's being 100% supportive of course.

I had a maternal request ELCS at Birmingham Women's in 2012. It was difficult to get in terms of having to jump through certain hoops - but I demonstrated that I understood the risks/benefits and it was eventually agreed.

Fwiw, I damaged my tailbone giving birth to dd1 vaginally I 2009. I don't think I could have laboured because if I'd felt that same pain again, I wouldnt have been able to push through it (literally). An ELCS was the right way to bring dd2 into the world, I think.

Ushy is right: you do need to consider family size. I'm very happy with my 2 wonderful dds but am considering a 3rd ... and the fact that I would choose a repeat CS is on my mind. I knew previously when electing for the 2012 CS that we probably wouldn't have more than 3 children anyway, but still.

The associated risks of CS rise with the more you have. I think 4 is a safe limit?

Go into it with your eyes open. Check out Leigh East's book Cesarean Birth: A positive approach to preparation and recovery

Good luck.

Sonething completely separate (but relevant) has just entered my mind: even if I'd VB'd dd2, who knows how my tailbone would have fared? I was told by a chiropractor that I was likely to incur damage to the same area with another VB. Asecond VB might have damaged my body further, making a 3rd pg/birth out of the question ...

I'm working this ouy in my mind as I go along, sorry

I think im prepared to jump through any hoops required if im honest. Is it normal to have to see a consultant twice and a midwife before they decide if they will book you in? I completely understand all the risks, tho from what i've read there seem to be plenty of risks for both ELEC and VB.

I dont intend on having more then 2 children either, so i should be fine in that respect.

I'll check that book out though, you can never be too prepared, i like to know as much as i can.

Sounds like you went through a lot, it just isnt the worth the risk damaging your body like that when you have a high chance of doing so. You were right to request your ELECs.

Snobble I had an ELCS at Good Hope through choice as did a friend of mine. It was booked at around 28 wks from memory. This was 3.5 years ago. I put forward my case and didn't meet any obstacles.
Good luck x

I first met with the consultant at 20w; he scared me with tales of what could go wrong. He was very dismissive but told me to 'go away and think about it'; meanwhile he booked an appointment for me to meet with a consultant midwife at 28w.

I met with her and although she was lovely and I think I would have been well-supported with a VB, I just wasn't convinced.

I thought some morr and then made an appointment to see the consultant ob again when I was 32w. He was still against me having the CS; cue another lenghly discussion where I almost cried

The upshot was that he would agree, but to think about it some more

He asked that I hand-deliver my consent form at 35w pg. The receptionist told me that there had been no need to do that, so I have no idea why I has to traipse across town, heavily pregnant, to do that.

Once it was agreed and signed, there were no problems. He was an excellent surgeon, The Womens is brilliant, and I would deliver there again. I just hope I wouldn't have so many hoops to jump!!

Wow Scoop yours was booked in at 28 weeks??? They are making me wait until im 35 weeks before even making the decision im allowed one.... im actually quite annoyed about this as its making me stress out for a month now and i cant make any arrangements with my work place because i dont know what kind of birth im having or whats going on.

Molotov that sounds like a RIGHT hassel, why do they try and make this a stressful time rather then just accepting and being respectful of your decision. That was a terrible thing for them to make you do. Im already aggravated i have to wait so long just for an answer and its so close to my due date as well, i get the impression they are hoping i will just go into labour before its signed off & then i'll have no choice in the matter

I think NHS hospitals make it difficult for you and try to sway you because they are driven by targets. There is a particular number of CS births that they should ideally have per month and therefore, they don't want to give ELCSs to women who could birth vaginally.

I could have birthed vaginally again, but who knows how the goddamn tail bit at the bottom of my spine would have fared. 'Twas agony first time! I never even knew I had a tailbone until very simple movements became incredibly painful.

I think hospitals/consultants are right to warn about the possibilities of what can go wrong with CSs. But the data between ELCS and EMCS are very, very different and get bundled together. Likewise, warn about the risks of CS birth but also warn about the risks of vaginal birth.

The problem is that the best-case VB is currently compared with the worst-case CS. I think this, at heart, is the problem.

If you would like to know any more, I'm happy to talk. Good luck to you with getting the birth you want

Hi, I had a ELCS in Feb last year at Good Hope.
I was seen by Dr Rhodes she's a Consultant there. I explained my fears of having a natural childbirth and she booked me in for a ELCS there and then.
I was referred to her from my midwife, maybe you could ask your midwife to do the same
Good luck