UK fight for Caesarean section

[Buttercup28]

Hey ladies

I'm just wondering if anyone could give me some advice and/or success stories of your fight for a caesarean in the UK please?

I have an underlying medical condition which my OB says is not as risky as a c section. However my gut instinct is taking over and I want to be super safe by having this section.

My husband and I have decided to push for a c section due to this underlying medical condition, we think it best all round and more so for the baby.

Well my anxiety about it has been through the roof. I am 25 weeks.

I had an appointment with the obstetrician to discuss this last week.

In a nutshell I was a total emotional wreck and could not stop crying.
Therefore I couldn't put my thoughts and concerns across as much as I should have been able to.

She suggested I was depressed (I am not!) I'm just extremely anxious about the birth due to medical reasons.

She wants me to have a vaginal birth and there was no telling her otherwise.

She said if I see someone about my "depression" then I will have a clearer head as will understand why they want me to have a vaginal birth!!!! I couldn't be more clear on anything else in my life!!

So I have emailed Birth Rights to ask them for help with regards to my next steps.

Since the OB appointment, I have requested to be seen by an OB who is more sympathetic to my medical condition and my overwhelming anxiety that has developed over this. I have emailed PALS at the hospital as I believe the OB did not follow the NICE guidelines.
A supervisor of midwives has scheduled in an appointment with me on Monday to discuss my requirements and concerns re caesarean.

I also had my general 25 week midwife appointment a few days ago. She read the notes and was horrified by what the OB had said. She is 110% behind me with my reasons and agrees a c section would be best.

So I had my appointment today with the birthing reflections midwife at the hospital today.

It was ok, just as I expected. She told me the c section risks and then I spoke about my concerns etc.

She understands my concerns and even said she would feel like how I feel.

However, she isn't confident I will get my section. She said they never do cs on maternal request and that my underlying medical condition wasn't enough risk to warrant the section!!!

If the underlying condition effected my baby, it could be fatal. I am not willing to take that risk.

On top of this, my anxiety is through the roof..really bad.

I have a meeting with he lead obstetrician next Tuesday but she doesn't think it will be granted.

I am so stressed, anxious and upset. I don't know where to turn.

I have 2 good reasons to request this c section and I don't feel anyone is taking me seriously.

Ladies that were granted their section due to anxiety, can I ask how your process was and which hospital it was at?

Thank you

P.s Applogies for any typos I'm on my phone!

I am English and live here in England. The county that still supports good old fashioned home birth unlike the USA.

Reported, because I'm sorry, Dolly, of you're real you are a very sick individual

I'm having an ELCS in 10 days due to position of the baby. They offered to attempt an ECV but as soon as I said I wasn't prepared to try that they accepted my choice and booked my op for me, said it was entirely my decision. I was under the impression that women had the right to chose now, under NICE guidelines? I hope you can find a doctor to listen to you OP x

Jesus wept! Dolly are you for real? I'm gobsmacked! I've read some utter bullshit on here, but you literally take the mumsnet biscuit and I have reported you.

Op I hope you get your section. It didn't effect my bonding with either of my sons nor my ability to breastfeed them until they were 2.5.

I never report threads due to the opinions people spout (only obvious things like spam and trolls) but I've reported a couple tonight.

I'm really sorry your plea for advice has descended into this, OP.

I've reported too.

As it happens I am all in favour of less intervention in labour and childbirth but VB is NOT the right choice for every woman, whether for physical or psychological reasons.

Having said that my v unhurried 'emergency' (as in 'not planned', but not a crash section) was a lovely experience. Shame it happened at 31 weeks.

Round of applause for Thurlow.

My 'maternal request' as it is recorded on my notes, was for clinical anxiety. I was ADVISED that I had a medical indication for an ELCS. The NICE guidance recognises this too. The trouble is that mental health is somehow not regarded as a health reason by fuckwits, managers and politicians. The terminology has not caught up with the research or the guidance yet.

OP I had an easy ride getting my ELCS but I've been following these threads for several years. There have been two where a poster didn't get an ELCS agreed eventually (and one of these switched hospitals and got one). As difficult as it is, it seems being persistent seems to be the key.

Just so the 'clever' fuckwits know, I took medical advice BEFORE getting pregnant and had an ELCS agreed in principle because it was a clinical issue...

Something to bare in mind here. You don't have a right to an ELCS but you do have the right to have appropriate care for your health. This means if you are suffering from anxiety, they are obliged to take steps to help you. So what options are they offering you to cope with it during the birth in a way you feel confident and comfortable with? By simply phobing you off like this they are not taking your anxiety seriously and are contributing to it. That is not acting in your best interests and effectively poor care in itself. They need to make sure your anxieties are dealt with rather than just saying no you can't have an ELCS.

If you approach things from this angle, it may help you to argue your case.

*Quote-I've reported too.

As it happens I am all in favour of less intervention in labour and childbirth but VB is NOT the right choice for every woman, whether for physical or psychological reasons.

Having said that my v unhurried 'emergency' (as in 'not planned', but not a crash section) was a lovely experience. Shame it happened at 31 weeks.*
Why did you have a C section at 31 weeks?

Anxiety is a mental health issue. It doesn't mean you are 'mentally ill'.

HTH

OMG isn't it obvious?

Dolly go away. You are rude and provocative.

I'm glad Dolly's been reported. It saves me from having to tell her to fuck off.

Buttercup sweetie, the bottom line is that NICE guidelines say that you do get to have the birth of your choosing but the experiences of some of us indicate that you have to be quite insistent to achieve it.

Arm yourself with the facts so you can prove that you've weighed up any risks and stand your ground. PALS are your friend here. Good luck.

Hi OP, I just thought I would add that I had no bonding or breastfeeding problems related to the CS. Also, upthread someone mentioned Hypnobirthing and I found this incredibly helpful at all three births. I actually used Natal Hypnotherapy as they do one specifically for CS (and I generally preferred the style).

www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/shop/Natal-Hypnotherapy-Prg-Caesarean-9781905220168.html

Lots of goady boocks on this thread.

OP. You are anxious about vaginal birth with reason, albeit transmission is a v small risk. In your position, if I was as anxious as you are, I would fight tooth and nail for a cs.

An ELCS is a lovely experience and no-one should force you to have a vb if you are suffering from anxiety about it

I really hope you get the birth you want.

Well DollyBarb I'm at risk of cord prolapse if I go into labour naturally so I'm very grateful for the hospital intervention and scar I'm going to get next week.

Dolly, not that it's any of your beeswax, but I had a CS as my life and that of my baby were at risk.
Seemed a good enough reason for me. And like I said, an experience I have lovely memories of.
As I do of my 3 VBs

DollyBarbs, I imagine Pacific's reason is none of your effing business. Why don't you just knob off back under your rock bridge ?

Dolly, you understand that there can be very valid reasons for CS that are not of a physical nature, yes?

Dolly....

Then may we all be thankful for small mercies....that you are not a medical professional and thankfully never likely to be one

Thank The Lord

"I still think the OP is a bit mad or funny in the head for wanting a C Section.
If I was a doctor and some came to me and said that but there was nothing wrong with the pregnancy, the baby or the mother. I would not do one."

The op is "a bit mad or funny in the head"? Thank God you're never likely to be trusted with a stethoscope, much less a scalpel, Dolly.

Its a good job you aren't a doctor then dolly, and there are doctors and midwives who have down research in this area and shock horror, understand the problem.

Buttercup, if you are still reading, I've sent you a PM.

Op ....have a read through some of the past threads regarding elcs....there are some really great posts particularly from RedToothbrush. Lots of interesting points regarding putting your case across and exploring all your choices....NICE guidelines etc....