Second time cesaerian-will I automatically get offered it?

[Rowanhart]

I've a rare inner ear disorders which rarely triggers but when does leaves me unable to move and nauseaous which can last for several weeks.

Its so rare the doctors and midwives throughout my first pregnancy had no experience of it at all. But childbirth can trigger it. Despite this it was a real battle to get a cesaerian. Luckily a specialist in my disorder happened to move to my maternity hospital 5 weeks before my daughter was born and said that he agreed with my decision and from there they stop trying to persuade me.

Now I've moved to a new area and I've just found out I'm pregnant with my second. I'm worried I'll have to battle all over again but I remeber someone once told me if I've had one you're automatically offered a second. Does any one know if that's true in the case of an elective cesaerian? I can't face the fight!

No I don't think you can rely on being automatically offered one. I had an emergency section with DD1 due to a very narrow pelviz....when I got pregnant with DD2 I had a meeting with a specialist and she tried VERY hard to make me go for a vaginal birth despite me telling her about my narrow pelvis and why I'd not been able to give birth naturally.

I went and spoke to my midwife who did something and then they booked me in for an elective.

If you want a section you tell them that's what you're having. Don't let anyone bully you.

Pelvis obviously...not Pelviz.

Pelviz sounds like some foreign footballer!

They will always try to get you to vbac but they can't force you to. It really does depend on hospital etc but I had elcs due to previous without any fight at all

I had the second csection due to previous for pre-eclampsia and didn't have to fight at all. No one really tried to even persuade me to go for a vbac. The registrar just asked the question and noted down the answer, so it does seem to be largely dependant on where you are. I am Medway if it helps anyone.

Hi my name is x, I'm y weeks pregnant. My last pregnancy was a, b and c. I'm having an elective csection delivery. So far I am well in my pregancy.

Full stop, no arguing and the nice guidance if needed.

I was told that a previous elective cs was not a clinical reason in and of itself to be offered a subsequent elcs. I had a vbac. It was grim. I was hoping that as a result of the hideous vbac that I would be offered elcs with dc3. I wasn't. I asked and was told no clinical reason.

Post code lottery, obv. No guarantee that one elcs will lead to another...

I have had four kids by 3 ELCS.
The decision for the first was made on account of babies head size , my age and my narrow pelvic opening at 30wks .
VBAC were not even mentioned in the two following pregnancies even though they were all at diff hospitals.

you will not have so much of a battle, and if there is a battle you will win.

stick to your guns and keep insisting that an elcs is the best plan for you but any resistance they put up will be half-hearted.

nice guidelines are on your side.

There doesn't seem to be an automatic right to a section just because you've had one before.

I had a section with my first and I'm now pregnant again.

When I went to my first antenatal appointment they were v v pushy about having a vbac. I felt they were comparing a trouble free vbac with all the things that could go wrong in a caesarean delivery. They must have thought I was stupid that I couldn't see that.

I had to keep repeating over and over that I'm not going to consider a vbac. It's still not 'approved' as I'm only 14 weeks but no one will be forcing me to have a vbac.

Obviously you have to be polite and respectful but in my opinion you really have to speak up about what you want and show you have considered the risks or they will try to bully you.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Hot air I have Menieres disease which is really rare under age of 40. I was 24 when it first started. I had two short bouts during my pregnancy but when there's a serious bout it is so debilitating I couldn't risk it happening just after I'd had my baby. I wouldn't have been able to care for her at all did several weeks.

I am going to stick to my guns again. It was exhausting last time though and I had to go for about a dozen additional appointments where Someone basically tried to persuade me otherwise.

But I will gear myself up for the fight again. At least I've got Mumsnetters to cheer me on!

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Hot air I have Menieres disease which is really rare under age of 40. I was 24 when it first started. I had two short bouts during my pregnancy but when there's a serious bout it is so debilitating I couldn't risk it happening just after I'd had my baby. I wouldn't have been able to care for her at all did several weeks.

I am going to stick to my guns again. It was exhausting last time though and I had to go for about a dozen additional appointments where Someone basically tried to persuade me otherwise.

But I will gear myself up for the fight again. At least I've got Mumsnetters to cheer me on!

You won't necessarily be offered one. Its really dependant on the hospital. Some are much more willing and supportive and won't question you at all. Others can be somewhat obstructive. There is no consistency.

However, two things in your favour.

NICE guidance says that the option of women should be an important deciding factor.

NICE guidance says that if you want an ELCS you should get an ELCS. This primarily is aimed at women who have anxiety, but is applicable to any reason for requesting one.

Both of these give you a strong backup in case of opposition. Virtually all women who want an ELCS do eventually get one - especially if they have had a previous ELCS now - which is largely regarded as a medical reason to support a request for an ELCS in its own right.