Scotland, Maternal request C section

[somersault]

Hi everyone,

Thinking of TTC soon (regular poster but I have changed my username for the v slim possibility family/friends might recognise me!)

Fairly sure I have a lifelong phobia of vaginal childbirth that is to the extreme of tokophobia, but also considering the risks and benefits rationally, think that I prefer the risks of a C-section also.

I'm aware that NICE guidelines don't apply in Scotland, but are often used as a reference.

How have peoples experiences been of trying to have maternal request c section in Scotland, without any ''medical'' reason to so speak.

Pretty nervous already about this and I'm not even pregnant yet, so any experiences good or bad, or any tips much appreciated. Thank you!

This was absolutely me a few months ago! I’m in Scotland. I have spent years, even on holiday, lying by the pool watching YouTube videos of how people managed to get an elective section etc. I’ve read every possible document and article on the internet about it. I’m beyond petrified of giving birth to the point I don’t even consider it an option, like it’s not a maybe, it’s not a ‘I’ll try some hypnobirthing’ it’s just NO! I had basically decided I either wasn’t having a child or I’d have one but it would be when I was 40 so when I died giving birth it wouldn’t be as bad if I’d lived more of my life first 🙈😂 Last year I changed my mind when I went on the birth rights website. I looked up my local hospital and read their response to the freedom of information request birth rights had sent to every hospital in the UK asking for their policy on elective sections. My hospital said they had a process of conversations to complete but if a woman was still set on having a section at the end it would be granted (and had been for over 30 that year with no other medical or mental health reason). So we started trying and 3 months later I found out I was pregnant 😊 After the initial 5 seconds of ‘wow this is amazing’ I straight away thought god, how am I going to get this section 😂 my midwife did my booking appointment over the phone. It was meant to be around 8 weeks but I think mine was earlier than that. I had psyched myself up for the phone call thinking at what point do I mention this? She confirmed everything was straight forward with my health and I’d be on the green pathway. She started saying where in the hospital I’d be giving birth and I just jumped in and told her the whole thing 🙈 She explained that if I really wanted one I would be able to get one after a series of referrals. I went to my 12 week scan and it wasn’t with my midwife and I was too anxious to mention it and knew I was speaking to her at 16 weeks so I didn’t say anything. When she phoned at 16 weeks I asked about it again and she said after the 22 week appointment where a midwife comes to the house, she will refer me to a midwife led service the hospital offers to discuss my fears of birth. I am now 22 weeks and waiting for my midwife appointment to be referred to this service to see what happens. It seems that they often then refer you on to things like hypnobirthing to try to convince you to do it naturally but there is absolutely no chance, no way, no possibility (even for a million pounds) that I’d even consider attempting it 🤣 I don’t think they will ever have had anyone who has spent as many hours as me to looking into it and is THIS SURE that regardless of whatever risks they tell me are related to a section, I will still choose it!

I’d say go on to birth rights if you haven’t already and read what your hospital replied to their request. Most in Scotland are rated ‘Amber’ for how well they follow the guidelines. Only one that I saw was green and it was Dumfries and Galloway because they seem to have proper paperwork in place to prove you can have one if you want one!

If I can do it so can you! Get pregnant then sort all that out, you will manage to get your section! X

@sarah13xx

This was absolutely me a few months ago! I’m in Scotland. I have spent years, even on holiday, lying by the pool watching YouTube videos of how people managed to get an elective section etc. I’ve read every possible document and article on the internet about it. I’m beyond petrified of giving birth to the point I don’t even consider it an option, like it’s not a maybe, it’s not a ‘I’ll try some hypnobirthing’ it’s just NO! I had basically decided I either wasn’t having a child or I’d have one but it would be when I was 40 so when I died giving birth it wouldn’t be as bad if I’d lived more of my life first 🙈😂 Last year I changed my mind when I went on the birth rights website. I looked up my local hospital and read their response to the freedom of information request birth rights had sent to every hospital in the UK asking for their policy on elective sections. My hospital said they had a process of conversations to complete but if a woman was still set on having a section at the end it would be granted (and had been for over 30 that year with no other medical or mental health reason). So we started trying and 3 months later I found out I was pregnant 😊 After the initial 5 seconds of ‘wow this is amazing’ I straight away thought god, how am I going to get this section 😂 my midwife did my booking appointment over the phone. It was meant to be around 8 weeks but I think mine was earlier than that. I had psyched myself up for the phone call thinking at what point do I mention this? She confirmed everything was straight forward with my health and I’d be on the green pathway. She started saying where in the hospital I’d be giving birth and I just jumped in and told her the whole thing 🙈 She explained that if I really wanted one I would be able to get one after a series of referrals. I went to my 12 week scan and it wasn’t with my midwife and I was too anxious to mention it and knew I was speaking to her at 16 weeks so I didn’t say anything. When she phoned at 16 weeks I asked about it again and she said after the 22 week appointment where a midwife comes to the house, she will refer me to a midwife led service the hospital offers to discuss my fears of birth. I am now 22 weeks and waiting for my midwife appointment to be referred to this service to see what happens. It seems that they often then refer you on to things like hypnobirthing to try to convince you to do it naturally but there is absolutely no chance, no way, no possibility (even for a million pounds) that I’d even consider attempting it 🤣 I don’t think they will ever have had anyone who has spent as many hours as me to looking into it and is THIS SURE that regardless of whatever risks they tell me are related to a section, I will still choose it!

I’d say go on to birth rights if you haven’t already and read what your hospital replied to their request. Most in Scotland are rated ‘Amber’ for how well they follow the guidelines. Only one that I saw was green and it was Dumfries and Galloway because they seem to have proper paperwork in place to prove you can have one if you want one!

If I can do it so can you! Get pregnant then sort all that out, you will manage to get your section! X

Thank you! That's so helpful. That's pretty much exactly how I feel- I literally feel I cannot have a NVD.... like I know there is always a possibility of extremely quick labour preterm, but hoping that is a very remote possibility. Equally about hypnobirthing, but feel may need to 'play the game' so to speak in getting these things ticked off. That's so helpful. And about Dumfries and Galloway. I think you can request birth anywhere in Scotland, so worst, case good to know the options. Thank you!

Yes I have already thought if they completely reject my request for one at my hospital, I’ll ask to be moved to another consultant and if they still say no I’ll ask to be moved there because it’s not actually too far from me! I just want everything sorted and to know what’s happening and when it’s happening as soon as possible but I think it will all be fine and they’ll give me one without too much of a fight. I’ll go to whatever course they send me on as long as they listen at the end when I say I’m still not doing it 😂 I will let you know if and when mine gets booked in! X

My mind was set on a section for my second before she was even conceived, I was consultant led so discussed with her my concerns, we spoke about risks etc but ultimately she said it was my decision.

Thanks both of you for your thoughts, reassuring! I think I will go with TTC then doing whatever needed to get a C section. Hope you do get booked in @sarah13xx and thanks for sharing your experience

Definitely, do it! I was always so worried about the birth part that I thought I’d hate being pregnant too but it’s actually completely fine 😂 I can’t even tell I’m pregnant 99% of the day, I just forget about it! Good luck! Worry about this bit later, they will give you one! X

Hey I'm NHS Tayside and got a maternal request approved yesterday. I had a traumatic first birth but they were pushing for a natural birth.

This baby is weighing 7lb13 roughly already and I'm 37weeks. The midwife asked what I was thinking and when I said section she asked why, I heard them taking outside the room and they agreed.

Consultant came in asked the same questions and spoke about the risks. I told him I'd already done pros and cons list etc, called down to book it in and that was it.

I did think I'd have to have more of a fight but honestly was fine, he did say maternal request about 6 times though 🤣🤣

@Rebecca299 congratulations on getting it approved! Hope it goes well for you 🎉

I had my 22 week appointment with a different midwife today, she came out to the house. I explained that my midwife has told me she’d refer me to someone at the hospital after this appointment to discuss my fears etc. At first she thought I was looking for hypnobirthing and I said there’s only one way I can see me being able to do this! I went in to detail about how I’ve worried about it all of my life etc and I’m just panicking about the lack of control and how I’d feel after it if I had been forced into a natural birth. She said I seem intelligent and like I have researched it all so she would have no doubts about passing my concerns on to a consultant. She’s away to do that now. She’s the first person who has fully got how much I’m petrified about it so I think I’m getting somewhere now 🎉 It has been worrying me the last few weeks in case I end up past 30 weeks and still haven’t got anywhere then go into labour early but hopefully now I will get to speak to someone soon 😊