Tried to request a c section

[emxx20]

I am 35 weeks and was sick of waiting around on my midwife to get me an appointment with someone to discuss it I told her at 20 weeks I wanted a planned c section. So I brought it up to an ob at the hospital and literally got laughed at and could tell that the midwives were talking about me. I am absolutely terrified to give birth and do Not want to do it I also have bad asthma which worries me I want a c section and nothing will make me change my mind. The woman told me that I don't have a right to one which I'm sure that you do I should have the right to chose how I want to give birth, I know all of the risks and complications but at the end of the day it's my choice and if anything goes wrong well that's my own fault and I wouldn't blame anyone else. They did say they would make me an appointment with birthing choices clinic but I feel like they will take the piss and leave it too late as the woman at reception with a smirk on her face said "I don't know when it will be" the woman also was saying that I will hear them talk a lot about my age they say I'm too young I'm 20 someone please help how do I convince them to agree to one I refuse to give birth

I’m sorry you were treated like this - I’m afraid I don’t have much advice except, as I understand it, you are correct and it’s your choice.

Hi,
You have a right to a c section however there is a process to go through, if at the end of the process you still feel a c section is the only way forward then you should be offered this.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/caesarean-section/

Depending on where you live I.e England, Scotland, Wales etc will depend on the guidance that your NHS trust will follow.

You have to stand firm and dig your heals in. My sister had a c section with twins and then her following pregnancy which was very soon after the birth of the twins she had to sit in a consultants office for hours until the decision was made. In the end she said to the consultant I have no where to be and will not leave until my rights are being upheld. Low and behold she had a c section.

I am currently 23 weeks pregnant with my first. I have severe asthma to the extent that I have been shielding since March. I literally have not left my house apart from hospital and GP appointments and apparently my asthma isn't bad enough to warrant a c section.
I have not yet decided what I want to do but if it is an elective c section I will fight for it but I know that it will not be easy.

I refused to budge with my second (my first was a EMCS). Refused to go to VBac clinic. Refused midwife led care. From booking in I told them this. C Section was agreed but they dicked me about over the date. In the end I went into early labour on the day of my pre op.

@GlennRheeismyfavourite thank you and yeah they made me feel really silly There all so judgmental and they just sit and gossip all day long it's not a nice place there not nice people I might even switch hospitals

@dietnopelovechocolatetoomuch thanks for your reply :) I'm glad I'm not the only one I definitely will be putting my foot down I knew that I had rights I can't believe she sat and told me that I didn't

Which hospital is that at? Very worrying, I would put a complaint in. You deserve to be treated with compassion and respect!

@cabinbythelake20 it's Ponterfract hospital and yea I might do the way I heard them laughing at me And the smirk the woman had on her face almost laughing whilst she was talking telling me that she doesn't know when my appointment will be I felt really embarrassed and angry I wanted to cry but I didn't

I just realised aswell the obstetrician told me I don't have a right to request one.. if that's the case then why book me an appointment she knows that I have rights she is just spiteful

Have a look on here for advice

www.birthrights.org.uk/campaigns-research/maternal-request-caesarean/

The short answer is, NICE guidelines say you should be allowed one but hospitals don't have to stick by them and many do not; they do have to have a conversation with you and if you still want a c-section and they won't do it they should refer you to another hospital. If you are making no progress withh teh hospital/midwife try your GP.

In some hospitals it will be a huge battle to get a maternal request section. You are starting very late (due to not being listened to) as it can take weeks to get appointments, so if this is what you want, get on it right now or you will run out of time (this may be what your hospital intend!).

It's worth saying that the risks and benefits of c-section do depend on your age, although this is often not communicated to pregnant women. Basically a c-section is a more sensible choice if you are older. At 20, statistically you are likely to have an uncomplicated vaginal birth if you attempt it (not so for someone in their late 30s). Also, having more than about 3 c-sections carries a fairly risk for the laer babies, so it's worth considering how many children you might want in your lifetime (not to make assumptions about you but if you were, say, 40 and having your first child it would be unlikely you were going for a large family). It's your decision to make but Drs will want to know you are informed about the risks/benefits of both options.

Yes, you have a right to a CS

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg132/chapter/1-Guidance#planned-cs

I tried to copy the relevant bit of the guidance but failed on phone. It is at 1.2.9 on the page. I would complain and mention that they have failed to follow the procedure so far - ie to refer you for mental health support and to the choices clinic already. They either have to make this referral urgently, or should be skipping it and giving you what you want.

@MotherOfCrocodiles she did tell me something like 3 sections in a lifetime is safe or something and I do think that there trying to put it off and drag it out as I have been asking since 20 weeks now who should I contact now I really want to speed up the process I've told my midwife and the hospital and there just leaving me in the dark I want an appointment ASAP

Well I think your options are :

1 complain to midwife (as per wholelottaworry's post)
2 try to contact the birthing choices clinic directly (by phone as it's urgent - you don't want to wait and see if they reply)
3 contact your GP for an urgent referral to the birthing choices clinic

I'd go for 2 or 3

@MotherOfCrocodiles thank you I have been looking for the number everywhere for the clinic but can't find it anywhere :(

Sounds like the GP is your only option then. Do have a look at that birthrights website too.

Here's the contact details to complain to the hospital about your treatment. You shouldn't have been made to feel like they were gossiping about you etc that is completely out of order.

I would contact your midwife team ASAP to discuss the fact you have been fobbed off regarding your request for a c section for the last 15 weeks and you want an immediate referral to the birthing choices team. Also mention that you have already contacted PALS with a complaint about your treatment.

PALS (Patient advice and liaison service)
[email protected]k_
You can talk to PALS who provide confidential advice and support to patients, families and their carers, and can provide information on the NHS and health related matters.

PALS
Tel:
01924 5429722_

I had a similar situation when I was pregnant with twins and had severe tokophobia - except I first saw a consultant at 20 weeks, every 4 weeks, and they were so incredibly rude and dismissive.

Eventually at my 32 week appointment my DH spoke up and told them what it was doing to me and how much I was struggling - panic attacks, not sleeping etc. After that they booked me in but I ended up having an emergency section at 35+1

Birth Rights is a good organisation to contact for advice. You could call your midwife and chase up your birth choices appointment. You could also contact PALS, and you could call the unit and ask to speak to the head of midwives.

@SinkGirl @passthemustard thank you both for your replies I will definitely do that x

Well done OP - definitely PALs and loud complaints to midwife etc is needed, as per PP advice.

By the way, regardless of whether they are true for you, OP (though would advise you to be cautious about multiple sections or sections close together - I had an EMCs last time, will have an elective this time and then I am done), I would say up front when you do discuss your choices

1. I do not intend to have the Whole cast of the sound of music; and

1. I do not plan to get immediately pregnant and am happy to wait at least a year if that is what is advised.

For some reason, medical professionals do often insist on treating you like a naughty child who will "get themselves into trouble" (I cannot tell you how many times a doctor tried to get me to put a coil in ASAP after my section - I got to 31 without getting preggo and am capable of understanding the risks, thanks!), so sometimes it helps to vocalise this loudly to stop the assumption that you cannot possibly be trusted to manage the risk of future sections.

@wholelottaworry thank youu I will x I want to email PALS but don't really know how to word it I'm not good with stuff like that what's the key things that I should say ?

Just say that you have some concerns about the treatment that you have received from medical professionals working for the trust (including your midwife) when you have tried to discuss a c section with them, that you feel that they have failed to take you seriously and that they have not made any onward referrals for you to even speak to the birth choices clinic. Mention that you have become aware that this is specifically against NICE guidance not to even refer you for further discussion, that you feel disappointed and ignored and that you would like some advice as to how best to approach the matter so that you can obtain proper advice regarding birth choices and put in a request for a maternal C section as soon as possible, given that you are now 35 weeks and time is not on your side.