ELCS - When to raise this?

[CouldBeAGreatMum]

Hi all, posted this on pregnancy but no response so wondering if this board is more apt. As per my other posts, I am a total pregnancy newbie.

I've got my very first midwife appointment on Thursday. Is this the appropriate / best time to say that I want an ELCS?

Context is I have history of MH anxiety / desperation & attachment trauma from childhood disfunction resulting in tokophobia and I am literally liable to burst into tears or panic even just talking about birth. I have had weekly therapy for a number of years and my therapist would be able to write a letter of required. I am 40 years old.

My care is booked in at St Thomas's London, and I have read mixed stories about ELCS requests there, some straightforward, others not so.

I have no clue when the right time is to bring this up with my midwife who I've not met yet, or how to do so. Is this week's appointment too early, or should I get the ball rolling now? Is there anything I should prepare?

Thank you x

You need an appointment with a consultant at the hospital, I don’t know how you go about doing this for a first time pregnancy but your midwife should be able to point you in the right direction

Ok thanks. So it sounds like it isn't too early to raise it at my first midwife appt this week.

@CouldBeAGreatMum I started a whole thread on the ask me anything section about my experiences of ELCS and tokophobia- different hospitals I'm afraid but happy to give advice- if you want to PM please do but let me know on here if you do as I'm mainly on the app

I mentioned it at 16 weeks I think; I was also under a specialist midwife team and perinatal mental health for a number of reasons which also contributed to me wanting an ELCS. My experience (in London albeit at a different hospital) was that everyone was fully supportive and I had no issues getting one.

Thank you all. @FullMoony did you raise ELCS at your very first appt? x

@CouldBeAGreatMum yes I did- I think it's important you tell them ASAP so they take you seriously

@CouldBeAGreatMum as part of your booking appointment they will ask you about your MH history so I think this would be the right time to raise this. They can then refer you to any consultant or specialists at this point.

Definitely raise it at the first appointment. Better to get the midwife on board with getting a consultant appointment to talk through your fears and requests etc. It might take a few appointments to get it all sorted, so I know for me personally I’d rather get it all sorted earlier rather than later and not have that stress hanging over me

Good luck!

Also just to add...this charity is set up to help advocate for women if you come into any issues

Also will give you more info around the specific hospital and their adherence to NICE guidelines

www.birthrights.org.uk/

Thank you!

Hope you get an understanding midwife and you get all the support you need OP!

First appt I would say. I have already got my consultant referral which was booked during booking in.

Yes raise it at the booking appt because many health trusts require a consultant appt for ELCS, and you need to get these arranged as soon as possible.